Klar, Polar Analytics and ThoughtMetric get compared often because they overlap on the headline feature, multi-touch attribution for e-commerce, while being built on very different ideas. Klar is a European platform that ties attribution to profitability. Polar is a business intelligence platform with attribution inside it. ThoughtMetric is an attribution tool first. (Disclosure: ThoughtMetric sponsors this site.) Which one fits depends less on the attribution model than on what you want the tool to be.
Side by side
| Klar | Polar Analytics | ThoughtMetric (sponsor) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing basis | Net revenue over the last 12 months | Not listed on the website | Monthly pageviews |
| Published starting price | Core from €200 a month, attribution package extra | Not listed on the website | $99 a month for 50,000 pageviews |
| Contract | No long-term contracts | Quoted after a demo | Monthly, or annual with two months free |
| Attribution models | First, last, unique touch and data-driven multi-touch | Ten models, including Shapley-based Full Impact | Five models, including position-based and multi-touch |
| Incrementality or MMM | MMM listed | Incrementality testing with a data scientist | Not offered |
| Trial | Free trial or demo | Demo | 14-day free trial |
| Best fit | EU brands focused on profit and discount codes | Brands with an analyst who want a governed dataset | Brands that want attribution and surveys without a BI project |
Klar
Klar is built around the question of whether marketing is profitable, not just whether it drives revenue. Its pricing page lists profitability reports, creative reports, and attribution based on discount codes and post-purchase surveys alongside first, last, unique touch and data-driven multi-touch models. It also reports profitability and retention on attribution data. Pricing is based on net revenue over the last 12 months, after returns and taxes, recalculated every three months, or every 12 on a yearly plan. There are no long-term contracts and no setup costs. Core starts at €200 a month and attribution is a separate package. Data is hosted in Germany, which matters for EU brands with strict GDPR requirements.
Polar Analytics
Polar Analytics is the broadest of the three. Multi-touch attribution sits inside a business intelligence product with dashboards, custom reports, an AI assistant and alerts, all on a dedicated Snowflake database. Its pixel uses a Lifetime ID for cross-device stitching, and it offers ten attribution models. It also sells Advertising Signals, which sends conversion events back to ad platforms, and incrementality testing with a dedicated data scientist. Polar’s pricing is not listed on the website, so a demo is required for a number. It suits a brand with an analyst who will use the data layer, and it is a lot of platform if you only want attribution.
ThoughtMetric
ThoughtMetric is an e-commerce attribution tool for Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and custom stores. It offers five models, first touch, last touch, linear paid, position-based and its own multi-touch model, with a lookback window up to 90 days, and it folds post-purchase survey answers into attribution. Server-side tracking, conversion data sent back to Meta and Google, and AI Connectors for Claude and ChatGPT are included. Pricing is based on monthly pageviews, from $99 a month for 50,000, with every feature on every plan and a 14-day free trial. It does not model view-through conversions, has no warehouse and does not run incrementality tests, which are the trade-offs against Polar.
How to choose
Start with pricing basis, because it decides how the bill moves as you grow. Revenue-based pricing, like Klar’s, rises with sales. Pageview pricing, like ThoughtMetric’s, rises with traffic, which tends to favor high-AOV brands. Polar’s cost only becomes clear in a demo, so get a written quote with your expected growth before comparing.
Then decide whether you want a data platform. If someone on your team will build reports in a warehouse, Polar’s depth pays off. If you want profit and contribution margin in the same view as attribution, Klar leans that way. If you want a clear answer on which channels drive sales and how many new customers they bring, without a BI project, ThoughtMetric is the simplest of the three. Run any two on the same week of orders before signing. Earlier comparisons: ThoughtMetric vs Klar, ThoughtMetric vs Polar Analytics and Northbeam vs Polar Analytics.
FAQs
Is Klar cheaper than Polar Analytics?
It is hard to say without a quote. Klar publishes a Core starting price of €200 a month with attribution as a separate package, while Polar’s pricing is not listed on the website.
Which is best for EU brands?
Klar is built in Europe with data hosted in Germany, which simplifies GDPR reviews. Polar and ThoughtMetric also serve European brands, so ask each about data residency if it is a requirement.
Does ThoughtMetric work outside Shopify?
Yes. ThoughtMetric, this site’s sponsor, supports Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and custom stores.
Which of the three offers incrementality testing?
Polar sells incrementality testing with a dedicated data scientist, and Klar lists MMM. ThoughtMetric does not offer either, so pair it with your own geo holdout tests if you need causal reads.
Can I try them before buying?
ThoughtMetric has a 14-day free trial, Klar offers a free trial or demo, and Polar starts with a demo.
Picking one
- EU brand that wants attribution tied to profit and discount codes? Klar.
- Have an analyst and want attribution inside a governed data platform? Polar Analytics.
- Want attribution and surveys at a pageview price on any major store platform? ThoughtMetric (our sponsor).
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