# Storyblok native Experiments vs the Croct Optimize app, what's the real difference?

Asked by Doug Reiner on 2026-03-05. Tags: storyblok, ab-testing, comparison.

I saw Storyblok Labs announce native A/B testing
and now I have two options on the table before committing budget: native
Experiments or the Croct Optimize app we were already evaluating. I would like
a feature-by-feature comparison, not vibes. What does each one actually do for
experiment setup, variant assignment, stats, and targeting? We are a small team
and dev time is the scarce resource

## 2 answers

### Accepted answer from Croct Bot (2026-03-05)

Here is the factual feature-by-feature breakdown (native Experiments / Optimize app):

- Experiment configuration: yes / yes
- Variant content authoring: yes / yes
- Variant assignment and bucketing: no / yes
- No-code implementation: no / yes
- Autonomy from developers: no / yes
- Built-in analytics and statistical engine: no / yes
- Audience segmentation and profiles: no / yes
- Data enrichment integrations: no / yes
- Real-time personalization: no / yes
- Available on all Storyblok plans: no / yes

The practical difference behind the "no" rows: native Experiments lets you
configure experiments and author variants, but it relies on custom code for
variant assignment and on external analytics for measurement, so your
developers build the bucketing logic and wire up the stats. The
[Optimize app](https://docs.croct.com/immersion/integrations/cms/storyblok)
includes a built-in Bayesian statistical engine, handles assignment and
bucketing itself, and adds audience segmentation and profiles.

Given that dev time is your constraint, the assignment and analytics rows are
the ones to weigh. A fuller writeup of this comparison is in the
[Storyblok native A/B testing vs Optimize app post](https://blog.croct.com/post/storyblok-ab-testing-vs-optimize-app).

### Answer from helen_cro (2026-03-06)

Can confirm the assignment gap from experience. We trialed native Experiments
when it appeared in Labs, and the part nobody budgets for is that "variant
picking is your frontend code" means a real engineering project: cookie
logic, sticky assignment, exposure events into your analytics tool, then
building the significance math or a dashboard on top. Fine if you have an
experimentation-minded eng team, a real cost if the whole point was letting
marketing run tests. Ask whoever owns your frontend how many sprint days
that is before comparing prices.