A PostHog alternative made for mobile apps
Apparent is analytics for iOS and Android apps that tells you how each app is doing in plain words. It puts App Store and Google Play downloads, RevenueCat sales and what people do in your app on one page, for all your apps at once. PostHog is an all-in-one platform for product engineers, from analytics to feature flags. If you make apps and want a calm page that answers "how is it going?", Apparent is the simpler fit.
The short version
Pick Apparent if
- You make iOS or Android apps and want a clear picture without learning a platform
- You want store downloads, reviews and RevenueCat money next to what people do
- You have several apps and want them on one page
Pick PostHog if
- You want session replay, feature flags, experiments and surveys in the same tool
- You ship a web product too, or want SQL over all your data
- You'd like to self-host or rely on open source
Apparent and PostHog, side by side
| Topic | Apparent | PostHog |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | iOS and Android apps, and the people who make them | Engineers building web and mobile products |
| How you read it | A few sentences in plain words first, then the numbers behind them | Dashboards and insights you build, with SQL when you need it |
| Downloads, ratings and reviews | Built in, from App Store Connect and Google Play | Not a focus |
| Sales and subscriptions | Built in, from RevenueCat and the stores | Through integrations and its revenue tools |
| Several apps | All on one page, with one sentence for all of them | Usually one project per product |
| What people do in the app | Opens, screens, actions, purchases and crashes, from Apparent's SDK | Yes, in depth, with autocapture on the web |
| Funnels, cohorts, retention | The journey from store to sale and who comes back, in plain words. No custom report builder | Yes, very flexible |
| Session replay, flags, experiments | Not included | Yes, plus surveys, error tracking and more |
| Good news as it happens | Built in: first sale in a new country, best day, milestones, new reviews | Alerts you set up |
| Setup | SDK for Expo and React Native, then connect your stores and RevenueCat | SDKs for web, iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter and more |
| Price | Free during the beta | Generous free tier, then paid by usage |
| Availability | Private beta: join the waitlist | Available now, cloud or self-hosted |
Something out of date about PostHog? Tell us at hello@apparent.fyi and we'll fix it.
Where they overlap
Both record what people do in your app, show how many people use it each day and who comes back, and work with React Native apps.
Where Apparent is different
- It's made only for apps, so it starts from what app makers ask: how many downloaded it, who paid, what they did, and what people say in reviews.
- Downloads, ratings and reviews come straight from App Store Connect and Google Play, and money from RevenueCat, without setting up pipelines.
- It reads like a story, with the numbers under the sentence, and tells you when something good happens.
- All your apps sit on one page, with one sentence for all of them together.
Where PostHog goes further
- A whole platform in one: product and web analytics, session replay, feature flags, experiments, surveys, error tracking and a data warehouse.
- SQL over your data, and open source you can self-host.
- Web products as well as apps.
Moving from PostHog
Bringing in PostHog history is next on the list. Until then, add Apparent's SDK and run both side by side: downloads and sales come in from the stores and RevenueCat right away, so your first look isn't empty.
Questions
Is Apparent a PostHog alternative?
For iOS and Android apps, yes. Apparent covers what app makers check every day: downloads, sales, what people do and who comes back, in plain words. It doesn't do feature flags, experiments or session replay.
Can I use Apparent next to PostHog?
Yes. Many people run two tools while they decide. Apparent's numbers don't depend on PostHog.
Does Apparent work with Expo and React Native?
Yes. The SDK is made for Expo and React Native apps.
What does Apparent cost?
Nothing while it's in beta.