Google Optimize Sunset Means It's Time to Find a Replacement

Google Optimize was a free tool that allowed users to conduct A/B testing and personalization on their websites. It was discontinued on September 30, 2023.

The sunset of Google Optimize means you'll no longer be able to use it to test and optimize your website. This change affects all users, regardless of the size or type of website.

If you're still using Google Optimize, you should start exploring alternative tools to avoid any disruptions to your website's functionality.

Google Optimize sunset refers to the discontinuation of Google Optimize, a freemium web analytics and testing tool by Google. It was announced that Google Optimize would be sunset on September 30, 2023, and users are encouraged to find alternative tools for running experiments.

Google Optimize allowed running some experiments to help online marketers and webmasters increase visitor conversion rates and overall visitor satisfaction. The tool was part of the Google Marketing Platform and was used to design experiments and open a WYSIWYG editor for each version tested in the experiment.

Google Optimize was available in a free version, which allowed running a few experiments at the same time, and a paid version, Google Optimize 360, which allowed running more experiments. However, the free version had limited audience targeting options.

Here are some key features of Google Optimize:

However, Google Optimize had some limitations, particularly for complicated, dynamic pages. Manual work by programmers was required to integrate experiments into frontend or backend code.

If you're looking for an alternative to Google Optimize, Optimizely is a popular experimentation platform that offers a wider and more established set of capabilities.

Optimizely is a top choice for A/B testing platforms, trusted by the world's leading brands, including Google. It's the most used platform and continues to offer more features and services than Google Optimize.

There are few free alternatives for A/B testing platforms on the market, which is why the loss of Google Optimize hurts for the A/B testing community. However, there are testing platforms with low entry prices that offer more features and flexibility.

Noble Studios has been a regular user of VWO, which offers advanced targeting, multiple goals per experiment, integration with GA4, and many more advanced features. This makes VWO a great choice for those looking to add several insights to their testing program.

Omniconvert is a user-friendly tool for conversion rate optimization, including running A/B tests. It's a multifaceted platform that offers great support, according to many reviewers.

Omniconvert's key features include advanced audience segmentation, which allows you to split up your audience by more than 40 parameters. This means you can choose to run a test on just returning visitors, or on visitors from Ohio.

CRO tools beyond experimentation are also included, such as setting up exit-intent surveys and pop-up banners. This can help you gather more data and insights from your users.

Prices start from USD 273/month, which is competitive pricing. Additionally, Omniconvert offers discounts for businesses switching from Optimize 360.

It's worth noting that clicking 'sign up free' on Omniconvert's website means signing up for a free trial, rather than a freemium version of the product.

VWO could be a good solution for migrating Google Optimize customers. It offers a free plan for users who only want to test up to 50k visitors a month, and its tier for >100k users is also reasonably priced.

VWO offers a range of experimentation options, including A/B, multivariate, and URL split testing. It's worth noting that only higher membership tiers can edit the mobile display of VWO's tests, which is a significant drawback considering 60% of web traffic comes from mobile.

VWO offers a discount on its Enterprise plan to defecting Optimize 360 users. This can be a major incentive for those looking to switch to a new platform.

Google announced that Google Optimize will be discontinued on September 30th of this year, so it's essential to start preparing for the sunset. This means that Experiences using the service will stop running and users are encouraged to find alternative tools for running experiments.

To make a smooth transition, it's crucial to review your current contract to understand the financial implications and next steps. The sunset applies to both the standard free version and the paid upgrade, Optimize 360.

Here's a simple 5-step plan to help you prepare for the sunset:

As you prepare for the Google Optimize sunset, it's essential to review your current contract. Review your current contract to understand the financial implications and next steps.

Your contract will likely outline the terms of your Google Optimize usage, including any recurring fees or commitments. Review your contract to understand what you're obligated to pay and when your payments are due.

You may need to negotiate a new contract or agreement with Google to continue using their services. Review your contract to see if there are any provisions for transitioning to a new agreement or service.

Reviewing your contract can be a time-consuming process, but it's crucial to understand your financial obligations and next steps. Don't be afraid to seek help from a lawyer or accountant if you need assistance.

The lights will go off on Google Optimize (GO) on September 30, 2023, whether you're using the standard free version or the paid upgrade, Optimize 360.

Taking action now will be critical to making a smooth transition should Google decline to provide a native testing tool.

You have plenty of time to migrate to another tool to keep experimenting, so don't panic. Google's announcement gives users a heads up to plan ahead.

To make a healthy breakup with GO, follow these five steps:

As you prepare for the sunset, review your current contract to understand the financial implications and next steps.

Google Optimize is being sunsetted because it can't keep up with the changing and more advanced needs of marketing teams.

Google Optimize and Optimize 360 were successful gateways to start building an experimentation practice, but they offered a basic set of A/B testing capabilities.

Google is heavily invested in moving users to Google Analytics 4, and this is part of the reason for the sunset.

Prior to Universal Analytics' upcoming sunset, Google is shifting focus to Google Analytics 4, which promises a better user experience for experimentation.

Google promises a better user experience for experimentation, with integrated AB testing data accessible in GA4.

Experimentation and A/B Testing is a crucial aspect of any business strategy, and with Google Optimize's sunset, it's time to rethink your approach.

Optimizely Experimentation offers all the features you need for web experimentation, including personalized experiences, targeted messages, and recommendations. It's also the world's fastest experimentation platform, with experiment load times under 50 milliseconds.

To create a robust experimentation strategy, consider combining quantitative data from A/B testing with qualitative insights from platforms like Hotjar. This will help you learn more about your users and create a product that delights them.

Here are some key benefits of using Optimizely Experimentation:

Companies that run user tests are often the ones that experience success in their online endeavors. The sun always shines on these companies, but for others, it's more like a sunset - a frustrating news that might be a wake-up call to rethink their experimentation strategy.

Running user tests is not just about discovering which variant converts better, but also about learning more about your users. Quantitative data from A/B testing answers closed-ended questions about what users respond to.

Companies should create an experimentation strategy that involves both quantitative data from A/B testing and qualitative insights from platforms like Hotjar. This approach will help you build a product that delights your users.

The right tool can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your experimentation strategy. Optimizely Web Experimentation is a powerful tool that builds upon Google Optimize with more capabilities for personalization and performance improvement.

Optimizely Web Experimentation is a top choice for those looking to replace Google Optimize.

It offers all the features you need for web experimentation, including creating personalized experiences, targeted messages, and recommendations.

With Optimizely Web Experimentation, you can run more experiments simultaneously in more places without affecting user experience or page performance.

This is thanks to its maximum performance capabilities, which provide less than 50 millisecond experiment load times.

Personalization with confidence is also a key benefit, as Optimizely Experiment gives insights into your personalization efforts like never before.

To get started with Optimizely Web Experimentation, you can replace Google Optimize with a single update, and it works on any website.

Here are some key features to consider:

Optimizely Web Experimentation also integrates with Google Analytics 4 and Google Ads, making it a seamless replacement for Google Optimize.