Middleware vs PostHog
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted web analytics options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Middleware
Tool designed to help engineering leaders measure and analyze the
VS
PostHog
Open-source product analytics platform
| Feature | Middleware | PostHog |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Web Analytics | Web Analytics |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,620 | ★ 37,548 |
| First released | 2025 | 2020 |
| Replaces | — | Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude |
Why pick each one
Choose Middleware if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.6k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Middleware or PostHog better?
Neither is universally better. PostHog has the larger community, while Middleware is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Middleware and PostHog free and open-source?
Yes. Middleware is licensed under Apache-2.0 and PostHog under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Middleware and PostHog with Docker?
Middleware: yes. PostHog: yes.