Pendo vs Heap: The Smarter Choice for Product Growth
Pendo combines analytics with in-app guidance but lacks depth, and Heap captures rich data but grows costly fast. Userpilot unites both, giving you powerful insights, guided experiences, and transparent pricing built for scalable SaaS growth.
Schedule a Userpilot Demo
Join 1,000+ companies that are Accelerating Product Growth with Userpilot
| Category | Pendo | Heap | Userpilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform focus | Product experience and analytics mix, strong on feedback, limited usability for small teams ⚠️ | Deep analytics focus, no engagement or feedback layer ⚠️ | ✅ Unified platform for analytics, engagement, and feedback built for SaaS growth |
| Setup & usability | Complex setup, manual tagging, steep learning curve ❌ | Easier setup, but analytics parameters can be confusing ⚠️ | ✅ Fastest setup, intuitive no-code UI, live in hours not weeks |
| Data collection | Basic pageviews auto-tracked, all other events require tagging ❌ | Full autocapture for all user actions ✅ | ✅ Full autocapture plus event grouping and labeling with no code |
| Retroactive insights | Limited to tagged Pages and Features ⚠️ | Full retroactive analysis across all data ✅ | ✅ Retroactive tagging and analysis with visual filters and reports |
| Engagement & onboarding | Built-in tooltips, modals, checklists but limited flexibility ⚠️ | No in-app experiences ❌ | ✅ Full suite of tooltips, modals, hotspots, checklists, and guided walkthroughs |
| Surveys & feedback | NPS and polls built-in, limited customization ⚠️ | No survey features ❌ | ✅ NPS, CSAT, CES, and custom in-app surveys with targeting and analytics |
| Session replay | Included in higher tiers only ⚠️ | Available as an add-on ⚠️ | ✅ Built-in session replay from Growth plan onward |
| Segmentation & targeting | Segment by behavior or demographics, needs setup ⚠️ | Segments by attributes and events ✅ | ✅ Dynamic segmentation by behavior, feedback, and lifecycle triggers |
| Dashboards & reports | Customizable dashboards, limited drill-down ⚠️ | Deep reports (funnels, paths, retention) ✅ | ✅ Comprehensive dashboards for usage, retention, feedback, and growth |
| Pricing transparency | Quote-only, add-ons for NPS, localization, replay ❌ | Usage-based, can grow costly with more sessions ⚠️ | ✅ Transparent pricing from $299/month, all key features included |
| Best for | Enterprises with analytics and onboarding budgets ⚠️ | Teams needing deep analytics only ⚠️ | ✅ Product-led SaaS teams that need insight and engagement in one place |
Userpilot: Turn Insights into Action Without Extra Tools or Complexity
While Heap makes you wade through event setup and Pendo hides key analytics behind add-ons, Userpilot combines autocapture, engagement, and feedback in one no-code workspace. You can act on drop-offs instantly instead of waiting on devs or switching tabs.
| Category | Category | Pendo/Heap |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Speed & Time to Value | ✅ Go live within hours using no-code setup and instant event autocapture | ⚠️ Pendo setup requires manual tagging and developer input, Heap setup is easy but learning curve is steep |
| Ease of Iteration | ✅ Unified dashboard for analytics, onboarding, and feedback with real-time editing | ⚠️ Pendo requires switching between modules and tagging interfaces, Heap demands advanced query setup |
| Product Data Agility | ✅ Automatically captures all user actions — clicks, inputs, and pageviews — from day one | ⚠️ Pendo requires feature tagging for every tracked event, Heap autocaptures but data exploration is complex |
| Guide Building & Customization | ✅ Design, preview, and launch guides visually with modals, tooltips, and checklists — all no-code | ⚠️ Pendo’s visual studio is slow and CSS-heavy, Heap has no in-app guidance or customization layer |
| User Insight Depth | ✅ Drill into reports, funnels, and session replays directly to reveal the “why” behind user actions | ⚠️ Pendo lacks contextual drill-downs, Heap analytics are powerful but detached from engagement data |
| Personalized Targeting | ✅ Trigger flows and surveys by behavior, segment, or event in real time | ⚠️ Pendo relies on metadata setup for personalization, Heap supports segmentation but lacks engagement targeting |
| Self-Service Help Experience | ✅ Customizable Resource Center with global search, analytics, and in-app support | ⚠️ Pendo’s RC has no global search or analytics, Heap offers no self-service or in-app help features |
| Scalability Without Complexity | ✅ Simple to maintain and scale, no engineering dependency as teams grow | ⚠️ Pendo’s modules require ongoing maintenance, Heap’s complex data model slows down iteration |
| Pricing Fairness | ✅ Transparent pricing from $299/month with all key features included | ❌ Pendo hides pricing and charges add-ons, Heap scales fast with costly data storage and session overages |
| Who It’s Built For | ✅ Product-led SaaS teams focused on growth, activation, and retention | ⚠️ Pendo fits enterprise analytics-heavy orgs, Heap suits data teams that prioritize analysis over engagement |
What Userpilot's Customers that Switched from Pendo or Heap Say
Teams switching from Pendo or Heap often cite frustration with hidden pricing, costly add-ons, and heavy setup requirements. With Userpilot, they finally get transparent pricing, automatic event tracking, and full control without engineering help.
Bouwe Metz
Customer Journey Expert
1000+ Training Hours Saved with Userpilot
“Userpilot helps us reduce a lot of 1:1 onboarding calls. We never had such a high rate of trained people getting live on the first day.”
Leyre Iniguez
Customer Experience Lead
100% Built Without Developer Involvement
"Pendo was complicated to set up and maintain. Userpilot is easier to configure and to work with. I’m getting much more value.”
Moving from Pendo or Heap? Userpilot's Dedicated Migration Services
Our team ensures a fast, hands-free migration so you keep every event, user flow, and insight intact. You’ll be fully operational in Userpilot within days, not weeks.
Streamline your transition to Userpilot:
- Like-for-like rebuilds of key flows, checklists, and surveys
- Event & segment mapping (including autocapture enablement)
- Analytics parity (dashboards, funnels, cohorts set up for you)
- Data & integration handover (HubSpot/Salesforce/Segment, etc.)
-
Timeline-driven plan with QA, A/B validation, and rollout support
One Platform for Analytics, Feedback, and Adoption. No Engineering Required
Stop stitching tools together. Switch to Userpilot, a platform that lets your team capture insights, guide users, and measure success from one intuitive workspace.