GrowthBook or Unleash?

GrowthBook if you want the published Optimizely experiment path. Unleash if the job is a feature flag — /compare/growthbook-vs-unleash.

Is this VWO or AB Tasty?

VWO is the same published experiment — /replace/vwo. AB Tasty was skipped so the lander stays one path. Heatmaps stay on /replace/smartlook.

Heatmaps stay on /replace/smartlook (PostHog). This page is an experiment.

GrowthBook core is MIT if you skip enterprise/. Unleash is AGPL-3.0. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.

Stacks / Analytics

Medium

GrowthBook

Experiments you host. GrowthBook is MIT core (skip enterprise/) — Optimizely without the experiment seat.

The problem

Optimizely sells A/B tests and personalization as a seat. VWO is the same experiment seat — this page is a flag and a test, not VWO's every heatmap SKU. You wanted flags and a controlled experiment on a box you run. GrowthBook is MIT core (growthbook/growthbook; last push 26 Oct 2026) — GitHub's license field is Other; skip enterprise/. Unleash is AGPL-3.0 feature flags, not this experiment desk — /compare/growthbook-vs-unleash and /stacks/unleash-flags. PostHog has experiments next to funnels — /replace/amplitude. This is not Optimizely's every personalization, CMS, or Web Experimentation SKU, VWO's every heatmap SKU, or AB Tasty's every widget pack. Heatmaps stay on /replace/smartlook.

Replaces

Optimizely / VWO

Replace Optimizely Replace VWO See all best open-source A/B testing tools

Estimated SaaS saved

$2,400

per year, small team, before lock-in

Start on Railway

Unleash if this is a feature flag, not an A/B test

Sponsor this stack Tip jar

Placeholder: GrowthBook (official docs) plus Mongo/Postgres as the project documents. Persist the database. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway. Feature flags without an experiment UI stay on /stacks/unleash-flags.

The stack

GrowthBook
MIT core flags and experiments (skip enterprise/) — the published Optimizely path
Catalog entry →
Unleash
AGPL-3.0 feature flags if the job is a toggle, not an experiment
Catalog entry →
PostHog
Product analytics with experiments next to funnels
Catalog entry →

Cost table

You stop paying	Typical / year	Self-host instead
Optimizely (small team)	$2,400	GrowthBook + a database

Agent setup prompt

Replace Optimizely with GrowthBook (https://www.growthbook.io).

- Official self-host docs. Persist the database. Create one flag and one experiment. Do not claim Optimizely personalization, CMS, or Web Experimentation SKUs.
- Skip enterprise/. Feature flags without an experiment UI stay on /stacks/unleash-flags — /compare/growthbook-vs-unleash.
- Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.

Also as markdown: /stacks/growthbook-experiments.md

FAQ

GrowthBook or Unleash?: GrowthBook if you want the published Optimizely experiment path. Unleash if the job is a feature flag — /compare/growthbook-vs-unleash.
Is this VWO or AB Tasty?: VWO is the same published experiment — /replace/vwo. AB Tasty was skipped so the lander stays one path. Heatmaps stay on /replace/smartlook.
Is this a heatmap?: Heatmaps stay on /replace/smartlook (PostHog). This page is an experiment.
Are these free?: GrowthBook core is MIT if you skip enterprise/. Unleash is AGPL-3.0. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.