Best Google Optimize Alternatives in 2026
Google Optimize was sunset on September 30, 2023. If you were using it to run A/B tests, you need a replacement — and you have a lot of options, ranging from free tools to enterprise platforms costing six figures a year. This guide cuts through the noise.
⚡ TL;DR
- • Want a free Google Optimize replacement → PageDuel free tier
- • Need enterprise features → VWO or Optimizely
- • Privacy-first requirements → Convert
- • Developer-focused → Statsig
Why Google Optimize Was So Popular
Google Optimize offered three things competitors didn't: it was free, it integrated natively with Google Analytics, and it was simple enough for non-developers to use. When it shut down, millions of marketers lost their primary testing tool overnight.
The replacements that come closest to the original formula — lightweight, affordable, visual editor, easy setup — are the ones worth considering for most teams.
The Best Google Optimize Alternatives
PageDuel
★ RecommendedBest lightweight alternative — no agency required
Pros
- ✓Visual editor — no code needed
- ✓AI variant generator to suggest what to test
- ✓One-line script install (just like Google Optimize)
- ✓Statistical significance calculator built in
- ✓Multi-armed bandit auto-optimization
Cons
- ✗Newer product (less brand recognition)
- ✗No server-side testing yet
Best for: Small teams and startups who want a Google Optimize replacement without enterprise complexity.
VWO (Visual Website Optimizer)
Enterprise-grade testing platform
Pros
- ✓Full suite: A/B, split URL, multivariate
- ✓Session recordings and heatmaps
- ✓Server-side testing
- ✓Advanced audience targeting
Cons
- ✗Expensive — overkill for most small teams
- ✗Steep learning curve
- ✗Requires onboarding support
Best for: Large e-commerce or SaaS teams with dedicated CRO resources.
Optimizely
The enterprise standard
Pros
- ✓Most powerful feature set available
- ✓Server-side and edge experimentation
- ✓Feature flags + rollouts
- ✓Dedicated customer success
Cons
- ✗Not for SMBs — pricing is enterprise-only
- ✗Requires a sales call just to get a quote
Best for: Large enterprises running hundreds of experiments simultaneously.
Convert
Privacy-first A/B testing
Pros
- ✓GDPR and CCPA compliant by design
- ✓No data sent to Google
- ✓Solid visual editor
- ✓Good targeting options
Cons
- ✗Expensive for small teams
- ✗UI is dated
Best for: Teams in regulated industries (healthcare, finance) who need strong privacy guarantees.
Statsig
Developer-first feature flags + experiments
Pros
- ✓Excellent SDK for engineers
- ✓Feature gates + experiments unified
- ✓Strong stats engine
- ✓Free tier is generous
Cons
- ✗No visual editor
- ✗Requires engineering resources to implement
- ✗Not a drop-in Google Optimize replacement
Best for: Engineering teams that want to run experiments in code, not via a visual editor.
AB Tasty
Mid-market CRO platform
Pros
- ✓Good visual editor
- ✓AI-powered personalization
- ✓Emotion AI features
- ✓Strong EMEA support
Cons
- ✗Expensive
- ✗Requires a demo call
- ✗Overkill for simple A/B tests
Best for: Mid-market retail and e-commerce teams with a CRO budget.
What to Look for in a Google Optimize Replacement
Before picking a tool, define what mattered most about Google Optimize for your use case:
- 1. Visual editor — If you were using Optimize's point-and-click editor to change text and images without touching code, you need a tool with a comparable visual editor. Not all A/B testing tools have one.
- 2. Script installation — Google Optimize worked with a single snippet added to your site. Any decent replacement should be similarly easy to install.
- 3. Statistical significance — Google Optimize ran basic frequentist statistics. If you were fine with that, you don't need a tool with a full Bayesian engine — but it's a nice upgrade.
- 4. Google Analytics integration — If you relied on GA goals for conversion tracking, check whether the replacement can pull from GA or if it tracks conversions natively.
- 5. Pricing — Google Optimize was free. Some replacements are also free or very affordable. Others cost hundreds per month.
Migration Checklist: Moving from Google Optimize
- □Export your historical experiment results from Google Analytics before they're lost
- □Audit which active experiments you're running and which need to be recreated
- □List the goals/conversions you were tracking — rebuild these in your new tool
- □Remove the Google Optimize snippet from your site
- □Install your new tool's snippet
- □Recreate your highest-priority tests first
- □Verify statistical significance tracking is working
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free Google Optimize replacement?
Yes. PageDuel offers a free tier that covers the core use case: A/B testing with a visual editor. Statsig also has a generous free tier for developer-facing experiments.
What happened to Google Optimize?
Google Optimize and Optimize 360 were officially discontinued on September 30, 2023. Google cited a desire to focus on other tools and pointed users to its partners as alternatives. The move surprised many — the product was widely used and had just received a significant redesign.
Can I still access my Google Optimize data?
Experiment results were stored in Google Analytics. If you had experiments connected to GA, the conversion data should still be accessible there. The Optimize interface and experiment history are no longer available.
Which Google Optimize alternative is best for Shopify?
For Shopify specifically, look at Shoplift (native Shopify app) or PageDuel (snippet-based, works with any Shopify theme). Both let you run A/B tests on product pages, landing pages, and checkout flows.
Switch to PageDuel — Free
Install one script. Build your first test in minutes. No credit card required.
Start Free A/B Testing →