Refactoring Legacy Products with Analytics Tools: Best Practices and Insights
In the fast-evolving world of software development, legacy products often present unique challenges. Outdated codebases, redundant features, and inefficient workflows can hinder performance, increase maintenance costs, and limit scalability. As part of our investigation into modernising a legacy product, we explored tools that enable automatic user journey tracking, feature usage analysis, and seamless integration with end-to-end (E2E) testing workflows using Playwright. Our goal? To rebuild or refactor the product without introducing issues, while identifying under-utilised features to optimise costs and enhance high-impact functionalities.
This blog details our findings, focusing on three leading analytics tools—Heap, Userpilot, and Usermaven—and how they can help teams log feature usage, streamline testing, and drive data-informed decisions during a legacy product overhaul.
The Challenge: Modernising a Legacy Product
Legacy products often accumulate technical debt over time, with features that may no longer serve users effectively. Before embarking on a rebuild or refactor, it's critical to understand how users interact with the product. Key questions include:
- Which features are actively used? Identifying high-engagement features helps prioritize enhancements.
- Which features are underutilized or obsolete? Removing or deprecating unused features reduces maintenance costs and simplifies the codebase.
- How can we ensure a seamless transition? Refactoring without disrupting user experience requires robust testing and validation against real user behavior.
Why Analytics Tools Matter for Legacy Product Refactoring
Refactoring a legacy product without understanding user behavior is like renovating a house without knowing which rooms are used. Analytics tools provide a clear picture of feature usage, enabling data-driven decisions. By integrating these tools with Playwright E2E testing, teams can:
- Log all feature interactions to identify high- and low-usage features.
- Generate automated test cases based on real user journeys.
- Validate refactored features against actual usage patterns to avoid regressions.
- Reduce costs by deprecating unused features and focusing on high-value enhancements.
Tool Evaluation: Heap, Userpilot, and Usermaven
Heap: The Comprehensive Powerhouse
Best for: Teams with budget flexibility seeking maximum tracking and testing integration.
Why it stands out:
- Industry-leading autocapture: Heap automatically logs every user interaction—clicks, page views, form submissions—without requiring manual event setup.
- Retroactive analysis: Teams can analyze historical data, even for events not initially defined.
- Playwright integration: Heap's robust API and webhook support enable seamless data export for test script creation.
- Feature usage insights: Heap's path analysis and event correlation provide granular visibility into which features drive engagement.
Challenges:
- Cost: Heap's custom pricing model (estimated at $3,600+ annually) may be prohibitive for smaller teams.
- Learning curve: Non-technical users may find Heap's advanced features complex.
Userpilot: The Balanced Choice
Best for: Mid-market teams seeking transparent pricing and robust documentation.
Why it stands out:
- No-code feature tagging: Userpilot's Chrome extension allows non-technical team members to tag features.
- Session replay: Built-in session replays help debug user interactions.
- Advanced journey analysis: Userpilot's flow tracking and segmentation capabilities provide clear insights into user paths.
- Transparent pricing: Starting at $249/month.
Challenges:
- Limited webhook support: Automation for Playwright testing requires custom development.
- Web-focused: Userpilot lacks mobile app tracking.
Usermaven: The Budget-Friendly Option
Best for: Startups or cost-conscious teams needing basic analytics with AI insights.
Why it stands out:
- Affordable pricing: Starting at $49/month.
- AI-powered insights: Automated funnel and journey analysis reduce manual effort.
- Cookieless tracking: Privacy-friendly tracking aligns with modern data regulations.
Challenges:
- No session replay: Lack of visual debugging tools.
- Basic integrations: Limited webhook and API capabilities.
Playwright Integration: Bridging Analytics and Testing
| Capability | Heap | Userpilot | Usermaven | |------------|------|-----------|-----------| | API Access for Test Data | Excellent | Good | Basic | | Real-time Event Capture | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Data Export for Tests | Multiple formats | CSV/JSON (add-on) | CSV/JSON | | Session Replay Debugging | Built-in | Built-in | None | | Webhook Integration | Full support | Limited | Limited | | CI/CD Pipeline Support | Good | Possible | Basic |
Implementation Roadmap
Phase 1: Quick Setup (Week 1)
- Install tracking snippet and enable autocapture
- Configure user identification
- Tag key features using no-code interfaces
Phase 2: Testing Integration (Weeks 2–3)
- Set up API access for data export
- Create export scripts for Playwright test automation
- Configure webhooks for CI/CD pipelines
Phase 3: Documentation and Optimization (Week 4+)
- Automate journey exports
- Validate features using analytics
- Deprecate unused features
- Integrate with CI/CD for continuous testing
Cost-Benefit Analysis
By logging feature usage, these tools help identify opportunities to save costs and enhance high-value features:
- Eliminate unused features to reduce maintenance overhead
- Focus on high-impact features that users frequently engage with
- Streamline testing with Playwright integration
Pricing Snapshot
| Tool | Starting Price | Mid-Tier | Enterprise | Free Plan | |------|---------------|----------|------------|-----------| | Usermaven | $49/month | $199/month | Custom | Limited | | Userpilot | $249/month | $749/month | Custom | None | | Heap | Custom (~$3,600+/yr) | Custom | Custom | 10k sessions/month |
Final Recommendations
Choose Heap if you need:
- Comprehensive autocapture and retroactive analysis
- Robust Playwright integration for advanced testing automation
- Mobile and web tracking for multi-platform legacy products
Choose Userpilot if you want:
- Transparent pricing and excellent documentation
- Session replays for debugging and strong journey analysis
- A balance of automation and manual control
Choose Usermaven if you prioritize:
- Low cost and quick setup
- AI-powered insights for basic feature analysis
- Privacy-friendly tracking
Next Steps
- Evaluate your budget and requirements
- Trial the tools with free plans or demos
- Follow the implementation roadmap
- Engage stakeholders with feature usage reports
Disclaimer: Pricing and feature details are based on information available as of June 5, 2025, and may change. Always verify with vendors for the latest plans.