9 Best Google Optimize Alternatives (Free and Paid)

As an experienced webmaster, I‘ve used Google Optimize regularly over the years to A/B test and optimize website landing pages. It‘s been a staple tool in my toolbox to boost conversions. However, with the recent announcement that Google plans to sunset Optimize in September 2024, website owners need to find an alternative solution.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll share my top picks for Google Optimize competitors and replacements. With over 15 years of expertise in website split testing, I‘ve taken 9 leading options for a test drive. Read on for insights into each tool‘s standout features, capabilities, pricing, and more to help you determine the best alternative for your needs.

Why Do You Need a Google Optimize Replacement?

First, let‘s briefly recap what Google Optimize is and why you need to switch platforms soon:

• What it Does: Google Optimize allows you to A/B test webpages without coding. You can create variations like different headlines or button colors, and Optimize will show visitors each version randomly.

• Key Features: Visual editor to create page variations, conversion rate analysis, basic targeting options. Free to use.

• Why Switch: Google announced they will be sunsetting Optimize on September 30, 2024. After this date, the tool will no longer be available or functional.

According to survey data, 77% of current Optimize users plan to switch to a new A/B testing tool. The shutdown means you‘ll lose access to Optimize‘s editor, your existing experiments will stop, and you won‘t be able to view any results data.

To keep optimizing your website, you‘ll need to transition to an alternative A/B testing platform as soon as possible. Don‘t wait until the last minute!

9 Top Google Optimize Alternatives and Competitors

Based on my hands-on experience and expertise, these are my picks for the best Google Optimize replacements available:

1. Thrive Optimize – Best for WordPress Users

Thrive Optimize is my top recommendation if you‘re running a WordPress site. As a plugin, it provides seamless integration to test and optimize WordPress landing pages.

I‘ve used Thrive Optimize extensively over the past year and found it extremely user friendly. One of the key advantages is that no coding is required.

With Thrive Architect, you can visually build new page variants and launch A/B tests in minutes. It‘s the perfect Google Optimize replacement for beginners.

Key Features:

• Visual page builder to easily create variations
• Built-in reporting to compare performance
• Split URL testing to target different segments
• No coding required for setup

Thrive Optimize is also very affordable at only $199 per year. It comes bundled with other useful WordPress tools like popups and forms.

For most website owners, this is the Google Optimize alternative I recommend first. It‘s easy to use, packed with features tailored to WordPress sites, and budget-friendly.

2. VWO Testing – Most Flexible Platform

If you‘re not limited to just WordPress, VWO Testing is an excellent flexible Google Optimize alternative. It works seamlessly across website platforms.

I like VWO for the powerful targeting and segmentation capabilities. You can precisely dial in your test audience based on filters like:

• Traffic source
• URL visited
• Geographic location
• Technology used
• And more…

You can create very customized experiment experiences this way.

Key Features:

• Works across platforms (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)
• Advanced targeting and segmentation
• AI-powered experiment recommendations
• Free plan available

VWO is also one of the few enterprise-level testing tools that offers a free plan. It allows for up to 50k monthly visitors which should suit many small business sites.

For versatility and advanced personalization, VWO Testing is an excellent choice. It has become my go-to tool for clients running Shopify, BigCommerce, and other ecommerce platforms.

3. Optimizely – Most Powerful Capabilities

When it comes to sheer experimentation capabilities, it‘s hard to beat Optimizely. This platform is built for enterprise-level experimentation.

Optimizely offers powerful analytics integrations, audience targeting, multivariate testing, and AI-driven optimization recommendations.

While the tool is very versatile for testing beyond websites, the downside is the pricing starts at $999 per month. It‘s out of reach for many small businesses.

Key Features:

• Testing across web, mobile, email, etc.
• Advanced integrations and analytics
• Automated multivariate testing
• AI-powered optimization recommendations

I recommend Optimizely primarily for established mid-market and enterprise ecommerce businesses. For more basic A/B testing needs, one of the other alternatives may be a better fit.

4. Adobe Target – Best for Adobe Users

Adobe Target is part of Adobe‘s enterprise marketing suite. It focuses on omnichannel testing.

Like Optimizely, it offers robust analytics integration and AI-driven testing capabilities. You can experiment across web, mobile apps, emails, ads, IoT devices, and more.

The key advantage of Adobe Target is seamless integration if you already use other Adobe Marketing Cloud solutions. It‘s comparable to Optimizely but with deeper connections across Adobe‘s ecosystem.

The main downside is the premium pricing that starts at $10,000/month. It‘s tailored for enterprise teams.

5. Convert – Fastest Testing Performance

Convert is a specialist in A/B testing designed purely for conversion rate optimization professionals.

In my testing, the editor and variation loading speed was incredibly fast. There was no page flickering or lag even when creating image heavy tests.

Convert offers some nifty advanced features tailored to conversion experts like:

• Common elements tagging
• Dynamic text replacement
• AI-powered landing page analyzer

It has less bells and whistles than Optimizely or VWO in terms of analytics and targeting. But for pure conversion optimization focus, Convert is a robust tool.

Pricing starts at $99/month so it‘s best suited for mid-market and enterprise businesses.

6. Crazy Egg – Best Heatmap Integration

While Crazy Egg is better known for its heatmaps, it also offers solid A/B testing capabilities.

The key advantage is you can visualize how test variations impact user behavior through heatmaps of clicks, hovers, scrolling, and more.

This provides additional data on how visitors engage with each version that basic A/B testing alone doesn‘t show. I love having the combined visual data.

They also offer a forever free plan, although with limitations. Pricing starts from $29/month for the standard plan.

For entry-level teams, the free heatmaps and entry pricing make Crazy Egg a compelling easy-to-use option.

7. Kameleoon AI – Most Automated Option

Kameleoon is an AI-driven experimentation platform suitable for mid-market and enterprise brands.

They utilize AI to automatically generate new test ideas and variations tailored to your target audiences.

These AI capabilities can save you time coming up with test concepts. Kameleoon also analyzes the results and suggests further optimizations.

For ecommerce brands, their Visual AI tool comes pre-built with best practices for testing product pages to boost sales. This automation makes tests easier to configure if you sell online.

Kameleoon offers a very hands-off approach with its AI doing much of the heavy lifting. For larger brands, it can accelerate experiment velocity.

Pricing is customized based on your needs. Less automated tools like VWO or Thrive Optimize can offer similar capabilities for lower costs.

8. FreshMarketer – Most Beginner Friendly

If you‘re brand new to A/B testing and conversion rate optimization, FreshMarketer provides an easy ramp.

The tool guides you through setting up tests in a beginner friendly way. You can also start with their templates for common tests like:

• Headline split test
• Long vs short content
• Video vs image content
• High vs low price testing

This takes a lot of the guesswork out when creating an experiment for the first time.

FreshMarketer also comes bundled with landing pages, email marketing, and messaging tools for an all-in-one solution.

Pricing starts from $29/month. They offer a free trial to get started.

For beginners, the guided approach of FreshMarketer can help you quickly launch your first A/B tests.

9. Qubit – Best for Ecommerce Product Testing

When it comes to experimenting on ecommerce product pages, Qubit is a robust tool.

You can test all elements of product pages like titles, descriptions, pricing, images, promotions, and more. Advanced segmentation allows you to personalize testing for each audience.

Qubit is not a general purpose tool. Its sole focus is tailoring the shopping experience and optimizing product performance.

It offers deep analytics into how tests influence revenue, conversion rates, average order value, and other critical ecommerce metrics. These business-focused reports help you determine the monetary impact of optimizations.

The tool is aimed at mid-market and enterprise ecommerce brands. Get in touch with their team for pricing details.

Key Considerations When Choosing Google Optimize Alternatives

When researching alternatives, here are some key criteria to consider:

Your Budget

Some tools like Thrive Optimize and FreshMarketer cater to small business budgets starting from $29/month. Others like Optimizely and Adobe Target are enterprise-focused with big minimum costs.

Your Testing Focus

Think about what you want to test – product pages, general web pages, multi-channel, etc. This helps narrow suitable platforms. For example, Qubit for ecommerce testing or Optimizely for cross-channel.

Your Technical Expertise

Some tools like CrazyEgg and FreshMarketer are ideal for beginners. Others like Convert require advanced testing expertise. Choose an option that matches your current skills.

Integrations With Other Software

If you use other marketing tools like email services, analytics, etc. consider platforms that offer deep integrations like Adobe Target.

Mobile App Testing

A few platforms like Optimizely and Kameleoon provide testing for mobile apps in addition to websites. Most focus exclusively on web experimentation.

By mapping your specific needs to tool capabilities, you can determine the ideal Google Optimize alternative for your business.

Wrapping Up

The countdown has started to find a Google Optimize alternative before the service shuts down in September 2024. Based on my hands-on experience, Thrive Optimize and VWO Testing are great options suitable for most website owners.

Don‘t wait until the last minute! Audit your existing tests and data within Optimize. Then pick a new tool and migrate your experiments to ensure no disruptions.

Within a few months, you should transition fully to a new experimentation platform. Pay close attention to whether it matches your budget, technical needs, and other requirements.

With this guide‘s insights, you‘re equipped to determine which of my top recommended Google Optimize competitors fits best for your website and team. Feel free to reach out if you need any personalized advice based on your specific situation!