451 lines
17 KiB
JSON
451 lines
17 KiB
JSON
{
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"slug": "smartlook-alternative",
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"page_type": "alternative",
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"seo": {
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"title": "5 Best Smartlook Alternatives in 2026 (Free & Open Source)",
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"description": "Looking for a Smartlook alternative? OpenPanel is open source with product analytics, session replay, funnels, and retention. Self-hostable, cookie-free, and no consent banners required.",
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"noindex": false
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},
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"hero": {
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"heading": "Best Smartlook Alternative",
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"subheading": "OpenPanel is an open-source alternative to Smartlook with event-based product analytics, session replay, funnels, and retention\u2014with self-hosting, transparent pricing, and no Cisco vendor lock-in.",
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"badges": [
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"Open-source",
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"Self-hostable",
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"No session limits",
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"Product analytics"
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]
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},
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"competitor": {
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"name": "Smartlook",
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"logo": "/logos/smartlook.svg",
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"url": "https://www.smartlook.com",
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"short_description": "Combined product analytics and visual insights platform with session recordings, heatmaps, and event tracking. Acquired by Cisco in 2023.",
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"founded": 2016,
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"headquarters": "Brno, Czech Republic"
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},
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"overview": {
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"title": "Why consider OpenPanel over Smartlook?",
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"paragraphs": [
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"Smartlook combines product analytics with visual insights \u2014 session recordings, heatmaps, and event tracking in one platform. Since its acquisition by Cisco in 2023, it has positioned itself as an enterprise-ready analytics and observation tool. But enterprise ownership often means enterprise pricing, proprietary lock-in, and cloud-only infrastructure with no option for self-hosting.",
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"OpenPanel delivers event tracking, funnels, retention analysis, cohort breakdowns, and session replay in a focused, open-source package. The result is a tool that covers both product analytics and visual session review \u2014 at a dramatically lower cost with transparent, event-based pricing starting at $2.50 per month.",
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"Being open source under the MIT license gives OpenPanel advantages that Smartlook's proprietary, Cisco-owned platform can't match. You can self-host on your own infrastructure for complete data sovereignty, audit the source code for security compliance, and avoid the vendor lock-in risk that comes with acquisition-prone platforms. Self-hosting also means unlimited data retention, compared to Smartlook's plan-based limits.",
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"If you need advanced heatmaps or Unity/game analytics, Smartlook has the edge. But for teams that want product analytics plus session replay with open-source transparency, self-hosting, and predictable pricing, OpenPanel delivers more value without the Cisco enterprise complexity."
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]
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},
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"summary_comparison": {
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"title": "OpenPanel vs Smartlook: Which is right for you?",
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"intro": "Both platforms offer product analytics and session replay. Smartlook adds heatmaps and frustration signals; OpenPanel adds self-hosting, open source, and simpler pricing.",
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"one_liner": "OpenPanel is open source with self-hosting, product analytics, and session replay; Smartlook adds heatmaps and deeper visual behavior tools.",
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"best_for_openpanel": [
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"Teams needing self-hosting for data ownership and compliance",
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"Open source requirements for transparency and auditability",
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"Product analytics plus session replay without Cisco vendor lock-in",
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"Teams wanting unlimited data retention with self-hosting",
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"Server-side SDKs for backend tracking"
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],
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"best_for_competitor": [
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"UX designers requiring comprehensive heatmaps (click, scroll, movement)",
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"Mobile app crash reports with linked session recordings",
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"Teams needing Unity game analytics",
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"Teams requiring Cisco/AppDynamics ecosystem integration"
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]
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},
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"highlights": {
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"title": "Key differences at a glance",
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"intro": "Here's how OpenPanel and Smartlook compare on the factors that matter most.",
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"items": [
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{
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"label": "Open source",
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"openpanel": "Yes (MIT)",
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"competitor": "No (proprietary, Cisco-owned)"
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},
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{
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"label": "Self-hosting",
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"openpanel": "Yes, with Docker",
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"competitor": "No (cloud only)"
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},
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{
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"label": "Session replay",
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"openpanel": "Yes",
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"competitor": "Yes, with heatmaps & friction detection"
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},
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{
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"label": "Heatmaps",
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"openpanel": "Not available",
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"competitor": "Click, scroll, movement"
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},
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{
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"label": "Pricing model",
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"openpanel": "Event-based / free self-host",
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"competitor": "Session-based from $55/mo"
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}
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]
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},
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"feature_comparison": {
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"title": "Feature comparison",
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"intro": "OpenPanel focuses on product analytics; Smartlook combines analytics with visual behavior insights.",
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"groups": [
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{
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"group": "Core analytics",
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"features": [
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{
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"name": "Event tracking",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Funnels",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Retention analysis",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": "Basic",
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "User profiles",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Cohorts",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": "Limited",
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Custom dashboards",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": "Limited",
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Real-time data",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": null
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}
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]
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},
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{
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"group": "Visual behavior analytics",
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"features": [
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{
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"name": "Session recordings",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": "Smartlook additionally links recordings to crash reports and heatmaps"
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},
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{
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"name": "Click heatmaps",
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"openpanel": false,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Scroll heatmaps",
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"openpanel": false,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Movement heatmaps",
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"openpanel": false,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Crash reports with replay",
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"openpanel": false,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": "Smartlook links crash reports to recordings"
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}
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]
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},
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{
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"group": "Privacy & compliance",
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"features": [
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{
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"name": "Self-hosting",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": false,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Open source",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": false,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "GDPR compliant",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Cookie-free tracking",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": false,
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "SOC 2 certified",
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"openpanel": false,
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"competitor": true,
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"notes": "Type II"
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},
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{
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"name": "EU data residency",
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"openpanel": "Via self-hosting",
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"competitor": "Yes"
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}
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]
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},
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{
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"group": "Integrations & data",
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"features": [
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{
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"name": "REST API",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": "Pro plans only",
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Data export",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": "CSV (Pro+)",
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"name": "Webhooks",
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"openpanel": true,
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"competitor": "Limited",
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"notes": null
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}
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]
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}
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]
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},
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"technical_comparison": {
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"title": "Technical comparison",
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"intro": "For developers evaluating analytics tools, here's how the implementations compare.",
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"items": [
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{
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"label": "SDK size (JS)",
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"openpanel": "~2.3 KB gzipped",
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"competitor": "Larger (includes recording)",
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"notes": "Smartlook's SDK includes session replay code"
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},
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{
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"label": "Supported platforms",
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"openpanel": [
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"JavaScript",
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"React",
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"Next.js",
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"Vue",
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"React Native",
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"iOS",
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"Android",
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"Flutter",
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"Node.js"
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],
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"competitor": [
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"JavaScript",
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"iOS",
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"Android",
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"React Native",
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"Flutter",
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"Unity",
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"Cordova",
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"Xamarin"
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],
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"label": "Open source",
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"openpanel": "Yes (MIT)",
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"competitor": "No",
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"label": "Self-hosted deployment",
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"openpanel": "Docker, simple setup",
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"competitor": "Not available",
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"label": "Database",
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"openpanel": "ClickHouse + PostgreSQL",
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"competitor": "AWS cloud infrastructure",
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"notes": null
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},
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{
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"label": "Data retention",
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"openpanel": "Unlimited (self-hosted)",
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"competitor": "1-3 months base, up to 12 months",
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"notes": null
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}
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]
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},
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"pricing": {
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"title": "Pricing comparison",
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"intro": "OpenPanel offers event-based pricing with free self-hosting. Smartlook uses session-based pricing.",
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"openpanel": {
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"model": "Event-based, transparent",
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"description": "Start at $2.50/month for 5,000 events. Self-host for free with unlimited events. All features included at every tier."
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},
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"competitor": {
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"model": "Session-based",
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"description": "Free tier: 3,000 sessions/month with basic features. Pro: $55/month for 5,000 sessions with extended retention and exports. Enterprise: Custom pricing for 50,000+ sessions.",
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"free_tier": "Yes (3,000 sessions/month)",
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"pricing_url": "https://www.smartlook.com/pricing"
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}
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},
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"migration": {
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"title": "Migrating from Smartlook to OpenPanel",
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"intro": "Moving from Smartlook to OpenPanel means keeping session replay and product analytics while gaining self-hosting, open source, and simpler pricing.",
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"difficulty": "moderate",
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"estimated_time": "2-4 hours",
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"steps": [
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{
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"title": "Understand feature differences",
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"description": "OpenPanel includes session replay and event-based product analytics. If you rely on heatmaps or Unity analytics, consider using complementary tools like Microsoft Clarity for heatmaps."
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},
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{
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"title": "Create OpenPanel account or self-host",
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"description": "Sign up for OpenPanel cloud or deploy self-hosted using Docker. Configure your project settings."
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},
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{
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"title": "Install OpenPanel SDK",
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"description": "Replace the Smartlook snippet with OpenPanel's SDK. Install via npm or use the CDN. For mobile apps, install the appropriate native SDK."
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},
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{
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"title": "Map events and properties",
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"description": "Convert Smartlook's event tracking to OpenPanel's event structure. Set up user identification using identify() to track users across sessions."
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},
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{
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"title": "Build analytics dashboards",
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"description": "Create funnels, retention charts, and cohort analyses in OpenPanel to replace Smartlook's analytics."
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}
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],
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"sdk_compatibility": {
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"similar_api": true,
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"notes": "Both use similar event tracking APIs. Main difference is OpenPanel doesn't automatically record sessions."
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},
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"historical_data": {
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"can_import": false,
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"notes": "Historical session recordings from Smartlook cannot be migrated. Event data may be exportable depending on your Smartlook plan."
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}
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},
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"use_cases": {
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"title": "Where OpenPanel is a better fit than Smartlook",
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"intro": "OpenPanel shines when you need product analytics with data ownership and don't require visual replay features.",
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"items": [
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{
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"title": "Product analytics & growth",
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"description": "Deep event-based analytics with funnels, retention analysis, and cohorts. Stronger retention and cohort capabilities than Smartlook.",
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"icon": "chart"
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},
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{
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"title": "Data ownership & self-hosting",
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"description": "Complete data control with self-hosting. Smartlook is cloud-only with no self-hosting option.",
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"icon": "server"
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},
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{
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"title": "Open source requirements",
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"description": "Full transparency and customization with MIT license. Smartlook is proprietary (now Cisco-owned).",
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"icon": "code"
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},
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{
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"title": "Unlimited data retention",
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"description": "Self-hosted OpenPanel has unlimited retention. Smartlook limits data retention even on paid plans.",
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"icon": "database"
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},
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{
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"title": "Cost-effective for high volume",
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"description": "Event-based pricing or free self-hosting. Smartlook's session-based pricing scales up quickly.",
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"icon": "dollar"
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}
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]
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},
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"faqs": {
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"title": "Frequently asked questions",
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"intro": "Common questions about switching from Smartlook to OpenPanel.",
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"items": [
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{
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"question": "Can OpenPanel replace Smartlook's session recordings?",
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"answer": "Yes for session replay — OpenPanel now includes session recording. However, if you need heatmaps (click, scroll, movement), frustration signals, or Unity game analytics, Smartlook still has the edge in those areas."
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},
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{
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"question": "Which tool has better funnel analysis?",
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"answer": "Both tools offer funnel analysis. With OpenPanel you can also watch session recordings of users who dropped off, and OpenPanel offers more advanced funnel customization and cohort breakdowns."
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},
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{
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"question": "Can I self-host Smartlook?",
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"answer": "No, Smartlook is only available as a cloud-hosted service (now part of Cisco). OpenPanel offers both cloud hosting and self-hosted deployment via Docker for complete data ownership."
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},
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{
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"question": "What happened with Cisco acquiring Smartlook?",
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"answer": "Cisco completed the acquisition of Smartlook in June 2023. Smartlook is being integrated into Cisco's AppDynamics platform. The Smartlook product continues to operate independently."
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},
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{
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"question": "How does pricing compare?",
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"answer": "Smartlook uses session-based pricing with a free tier of 3,000 sessions/month and paid plans starting at $55/month. OpenPanel uses event-based pricing with 10,000 free events/month. OpenPanel's self-hosted option is completely free with unlimited events."
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},
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{
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"question": "Does OpenPanel support mobile apps?",
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"answer": "Yes. Both platforms offer mobile SDKs. OpenPanel supports iOS, Android, React Native, and Flutter with event tracking. Smartlook additionally supports Unity, Cordova, and Xamarin with session replay capabilities."
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}
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]
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},
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"related_links": {
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"guides": [
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{
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"title": "Track custom events",
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"url": "/guides/track-custom-events"
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},
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{
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"title": "React Native analytics setup",
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"url": "/guides/react-native-analytics"
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},
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{
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"title": "Swift/iOS analytics setup",
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"url": "/guides/swift-analytics"
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}
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],
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"articles": [
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{
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"title": "9 best open source web analytics tools",
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"url": "/articles/open-source-web-analytics"
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}
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],
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"alternatives": [
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{
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"name": "Mouseflow",
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"url": "/compare/mouseflow-alternative"
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},
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{
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"name": "FullStory",
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"url": "/compare/fullstory-alternative"
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}
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]
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},
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"ctas": {
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"primary": {
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"label": "Start with OpenPanel",
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"href": "https://dashboard.openpanel.dev/onboarding"
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},
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"secondary": {
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"label": "View on GitHub",
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"href": "https://github.com/Openpanel-dev/openpanel"
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}
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}
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}
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