Best Hotjar Alternatives in 2026

Hotjar has been the go-to tool for heatmaps and session recordings since 2014. But with pricing that can reach $200+/month and limitations like no mobile app support, many teams are looking for alternatives that better fit their needs and budget.

Whether you're looking for a free option, more advanced analytics, or specific features Hotjar lacks, this guide covers the 10 best alternatives available in 2026.

Quick Comparison Table

| Tool | Starting Price | Free Tier | Best For | |------|---------------|-----------|----------| | Microsoft Clarity | Free | Unlimited | Budget-conscious teams | | Crazy Egg | $29/mo | 30-day trial | A/B testing + heatmaps | | Lucky Orange | Free | Limited sessions | All-in-one with live chat | | Mouseflow | $31/mo | Free plan | Form analytics | | FullStory | ~$300/mo | 30K sessions/mo | Enterprise digital experience | | Smartlook | $39/mo | 3K sessions/mo | Mobile + web analytics | | PostHog | Free | 5K recordings/mo | Product analytics + recordings | | Plerdy | $32/mo | ~100 views/day | SEO + UX combined | | Contentsquare | Custom | None | Enterprise-scale analytics | | UXHeat | Coming Soon | TBA | Simple, focused heatmaps |

1. Microsoft Clarity

Best For: Teams who want powerful heatmaps and recordings without paying anything

Overview

Microsoft Clarity is the most generous free alternative to Hotjar. Backed by Microsoft's resources, it offers unlimited session recordings and heatmaps at zero cost—no trials, no credit cards, no hidden limits.

Clarity has rapidly become the default recommendation for anyone starting with user behavior analytics who doesn't want to commit to paid tools. For a detailed breakdown of features and limitations, see our complete Microsoft Clarity review.

Pricing

100% Free — No paid tiers exist

Key Features

Unlimited session recordings
Unlimited heatmaps (click, scroll, area)
Rage click and dead click detection
AI Copilot for session summaries
Mobile app support (iOS and Android)
Google Analytics 4 integration
No traffic caps for most sites

Pros

Completely free with no usage limits
AI-powered insights save analysis time
Dead click and rage click detection built-in
Works on mobile apps (Hotjar doesn't)
Easy Google Analytics integration

Cons

No surveys or feedback tools
Only 30-day data retention
Limited privacy controls (no DNT support)
No customer support (community only)
Can't use on healthcare, finance, or government sites

Best For

Small businesses, startups, and anyone who needs basic heatmaps and recordings without budget constraints.

2. Crazy Egg

Best For: Teams who want heatmaps combined with A/B testing

Overview

Crazy Egg is one of the original heatmap tools, founded in 2006 by Neil Patel and Hiten Shah. While Hotjar focuses on user research, Crazy Egg leans toward conversion optimization with built-in A/B testing alongside its heatmaps. Read our comprehensive Crazy Egg review for the complete feature breakdown.

Pricing

Basic: $29/month (30,000 tracked pageviews)
Standard: $49/month (75,000 pageviews)
Plus: $99/month (150,000 pageviews)
Pro: $249/month (500,000 pageviews)
Enterprise: $499/month (custom)

All plans include a 30-day free trial. No free tier.

Key Features

Five types of heatmaps per report
Session recordings
A/B testing built-in
Traffic analysis and segmentation
Unlimited team members on all plans
AI-powered heatmap interpretation
Instant heatmaps (automatic, site-wide)

Pros

A/B testing included (Hotjar doesn't have this)
No per-session limits—based on pageviews instead
Unlimited team members and domains
Strong historical track record (18+ years)
No overage charges

Cons

No free tier (trial only)
No surveys or feedback tools
Less intuitive interface than competitors
No mobile app support
Can feel dated compared to newer tools

Best For

Marketing teams and CRO specialists who want to combine heatmap insights with A/B testing in a single tool.

3. Lucky Orange

Best For: Teams wanting an all-in-one suite including live chat

Overview

Lucky Orange bundles heatmaps, session recordings, surveys, live chat, and form analytics into one affordable package. Unlike tools that charge separately for each feature, Lucky Orange includes everything on every plan—even the free tier. Learn more in our detailed Lucky Orange review.

Pricing

Lucky Orange uses a session-based pricing model with 8 tiers:

Free: Limited sessions, all features included
Build: $32/month (basic session allowance)
Grow: $64/month (increased sessions)
Expand: $128/month (scaling businesses)
Scale: Custom pricing

All features are available on all plans. You only pay for session volume.

Key Features

Dynamic heatmaps (real-time updates)
Session recordings with live view
Surveys and announcements
Live chat functionality
Form analytics
Conversion funnels
AI-powered Discovery insights
AI referral tracking (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude traffic)

Pros

All features on every plan (including free)
Live chat included
AI Discovery answers questions about your data
Tracks AI search engine referrals
Very affordable for feature set
Real-time session viewing

Cons

Interface can feel cluttered
Session limits can be restrictive on lower tiers
Less sophisticated than enterprise tools
Limited integrations compared to Hotjar
Smaller user community

Best For

Small to medium businesses wanting maximum features at minimal cost, especially those who need live chat.

4. Mouseflow

Best For: Teams focused on form optimization and conversion tracking

Overview

Mouseflow specializes in detailed form analytics alongside standard heatmaps and recordings. If forms are central to your business—lead generation, checkouts, applications—Mouseflow provides deeper insights than most competitors. See our in-depth Mouseflow review for more details.

Pricing

Free: Limited features
Starter: $31/month
Growth: $109/month
Business: $219/month
Pro: $399/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing

14-day free trial on all plans, no credit card required.

Key Features

Session recordings
6 types of heatmaps (including geo heatmaps)
Form analytics (field-level drop-off)
Conversion funnels
Friction detection (rage clicks, U-turns)
User journey visualization
Custom dashboards

Pros

Best-in-class form analytics
Geo heatmaps show regional behavior differences
Automatic friction detection
No sampling on heatmaps
Strong European presence (GDPR-focused)

Cons

Pricing scales quickly with traffic
Interface learning curve
Limited survey capabilities
No mobile app support
Free plan very limited

Best For

B2B companies, lead generation sites, and any business where form completion is a key conversion metric.

5. FullStory

Best For: Enterprise teams needing comprehensive digital experience analytics

Overview

FullStory is an enterprise-grade platform that goes beyond basic heatmaps. It offers advanced product analytics, session replay, and AI-powered insights designed for large organizations with complex digital experiences.

Pricing

FullStory doesn't publish prices; you need to contact sales. Based on industry data:

FullStoryFree: 30,000 sessions/month, 12-month retention
Business: Starting ~$300/month
Advanced: Custom pricing
Enterprise: Custom pricing (typically $10K-$100K+/year)

Median reported price on Vendr: $27,500/year.

Key Features

Session replay with advanced search
Product analytics and trends
Conversion funnels
Heatmaps and scrollmaps
DX Data Platform (warehouse integration)
AI-powered insights
Mobile app support
Advanced privacy controls

Pros

Most powerful search and filtering
Excellent for product teams
Strong mobile support
Enterprise-grade security and compliance
AI automatically surfaces issues

Cons

Expensive (enterprise pricing)
Complex setup and implementation
Overkill for small sites
Steep learning curve
Opaque pricing requires sales calls

Best For

Enterprise companies with dedicated analytics teams who need deep product insights beyond basic heatmaps.

6. Smartlook

Best For: Teams needing both web and mobile analytics in one tool

Overview

Smartlook combines session recordings, heatmaps, and event analytics for both websites and mobile apps. Acquired by Cisco, it offers a middle ground between basic free tools and enterprise platforms.

Pricing

Free: 3,000 sessions/month, 1-month retention
Starter: $39/month (5,000 sessions)
Business: $55-95/month (5,000-15,000 sessions)
Enterprise: Custom pricing

14-day free trial available.

Key Features

Session recordings (web + mobile)
Heatmaps generated from recordings
Event tracking (automatic + custom)
Conversion funnels
Retention analysis
Mobile SDK for iOS and Android
Always-on recording

Pros

True unified web + mobile analytics
Generate heatmaps instantly from recordings
Affordable entry point
Good event tracking capabilities
Clean, modern interface

Cons

Session limits can feel restrictive
Heatmap limits on lower plans
Mobile setup requires SDK integration
Data retention limited on cheaper plans
Fewer integrations than Hotjar

Best For

Product teams building both web and mobile experiences who need unified analytics across platforms.

7. PostHog

Best For: Technical teams wanting open-source product analytics with recordings

Overview

PostHog is an open-source product analytics platform that includes session recordings and heatmaps alongside feature flags, A/B testing, and surveys. It's particularly popular with developer-focused companies.

Pricing

Usage-based with generous free tiers:

Free: 1M events, 5K recordings/month
Paid: Usage-based pricing after free tier
- Session replay: ~$0.005/recording after free tier
- Analytics: ~$0.00031/event after free tier

You can self-host for free or use PostHog Cloud.

Key Features

Session recordings (5K free/month)
Clickmaps and heatmaps (via toolbar)
Product analytics
Feature flags
A/B testing (experiments)
Surveys
Data warehouse connectors
Open-source (can self-host)

Pros

Generous free tier
Open-source and transparent
All-in-one product analytics
Feature flags and A/B testing included
Self-hosting option for full control
Strong developer experience

Cons

More technical setup than competitors
Heatmaps less sophisticated
Session replay is newer feature
UI can overwhelm non-technical users
Self-hosting requires infrastructure

Best For

Engineering-led teams and developer-focused companies wanting product analytics, recordings, and experimentation in one open-source platform.

8. Plerdy

Best For: Teams wanting UX analytics combined with SEO insights

Overview

Plerdy uniquely combines heatmaps and session recordings with SEO auditing tools. It's designed for digital marketers who need to optimize both user experience and search performance.

Pricing

Free: ~100 daily heatmap views, ~500 session recordings
Start: $32/month
Business: $64/month
Premium: $108/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing

Key Features

Click heatmaps
Session recordings
SEO checker and auditing
Conversion funnels
Pop-up forms and surveys
E-commerce tracking
Event tracking
A/B testing

Pros

SEO tools included (unique differentiator)
Very quick setup (30 seconds claimed)
Affordable pricing
Pop-up form builder included
E-commerce focused features

Cons

Less sophisticated than pure UX tools
Smaller user community
Limited integrations
Interface less polished
Support response times vary

Best For

Digital marketing agencies and e-commerce teams who want UX and SEO optimization in a single tool.

9. Contentsquare

Best For: Enterprise organizations requiring comprehensive digital experience analytics

Overview

Contentsquare (which now owns Hotjar) is an enterprise digital experience analytics platform. It offers AI-powered insights, advanced zone-based heatmaps, and comprehensive customer journey analytics at scale.

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing only. Typical contracts range from $50K-$500K+/year depending on traffic and features.

Key Features

Zone-based heatmaps (revenue attribution)
Session replay
AI-powered insights and recommendations
Customer journey analysis
App analytics
Error analysis
Merchandising analytics
Voice of Customer integration

Pros

Most sophisticated analytics available
AI automatically surfaces opportunities
Revenue attribution to page elements
Enterprise-grade security
Dedicated customer success team

Cons

Very expensive (enterprise only)
Long implementation timeline
Overkill for SMBs
Requires dedicated analyst
No self-service pricing

Best For

Large e-commerce and enterprise companies with significant analytics budgets who need revenue-focused optimization.

10. UXHeat (Coming Soon)

Best For: Teams wanting simple, focused heatmap analytics without complexity

Overview

UXHeat is an upcoming heatmap tool designed to cut through the complexity that's accumulated in this space. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, UXHeat focuses on doing heatmaps exceptionally well with a clean, simple interface.

Pricing

To be announced. Sign up for the waitlist to get early access and launch pricing.

Key Features (Planned)

Click heatmaps
Scroll depth analysis
Session recordings
Clean, modern interface
Quick setup
Affordable pricing

Why We're Building UXHeat

After reviewing dozens of heatmap tools, we found most are either:

Too limited — Free tools that lack essential features
Too complex — Enterprise tools with overwhelming interfaces
Too expensive — Pricing that doesn't match the value for small teams

UXHeat aims to be the right balance: powerful enough for real insights, simple enough to actually use, and priced fairly for teams of all sizes.

How to Choose the Right Hotjar Alternative

Choose Microsoft Clarity if:

Budget is your primary concern
You need mobile app analytics
Basic heatmaps and recordings are sufficient
You don't need surveys or feedback tools

Choose Crazy Egg if:

You want A/B testing built-in
You're focused on conversion optimization
You prefer pageview-based pricing over sessions
You don't need real-time recordings

Choose Lucky Orange if:

You want live chat included
You need all features at an affordable price
Real-time session viewing matters
You want AI-powered insights

Choose Mouseflow if:

Form analytics is a priority
You need detailed conversion funnels
Geo-based insights matter
You're in Europe (GDPR focus)

Choose FullStory if:

You're an enterprise with dedicated analytics team
You need advanced product analytics
Budget isn't the primary constraint
Mobile and web coverage is critical

Choose Smartlook if:

You have both web and mobile apps
You want unified analytics across platforms
You need event tracking alongside recordings
You want affordable mobile analytics

Choose PostHog if:

You're a technical, developer-led team
You want open-source transparency
You need feature flags and A/B testing
You prefer usage-based pricing

Choose Plerdy if:

You need SEO tools alongside UX analytics
You're running an e-commerce site
You want quick setup and simple interface
Budget is moderate

FAQ

Which Hotjar alternative is completely free?

Microsoft Clarity is the only major alternative that's 100% free with unlimited usage. PostHog also has a generous free tier (5K recordings/month). Lucky Orange has a free plan but with limited sessions.

What's the best Hotjar alternative for small businesses?

Microsoft Clarity for zero cost, or Lucky Orange if you need surveys and live chat. Both offer excellent value for small business budgets.

Which alternative has the best session recordings?

FullStory has the most powerful session replay with advanced search and filtering, but it's enterprise-priced. For more affordable options, Mouseflow and Smartlook offer strong recording capabilities.

Can I switch from Hotjar to an alternative easily?

Yes, most alternatives have similar implementation (add a JavaScript snippet). Historical data won't transfer, but you can run both tools in parallel during transition.

Which tool is best for e-commerce?

Lucky Orange and Plerdy have strong e-commerce features. For enterprise e-commerce, Contentsquare is the industry leader but requires significant budget.

Conclusion

The best Hotjar alternative depends entirely on your specific needs:

Zero budget? Microsoft Clarity
Need A/B testing? Crazy Egg
Want everything included? Lucky Orange
Form-focused? Mouseflow
Enterprise needs? FullStory or Contentsquare
Web + mobile? Smartlook
Technical team? PostHog
SEO + UX? Plerdy

Don't feel locked into one tool. Many teams successfully use multiple analytics tools—a free option like Clarity for baseline monitoring plus a paid tool for specific features they need. If budget is a concern, explore our guide to free vs paid heatmap tools to understand when each makes sense.

Want a simpler approach to heatmaps? UXHeat is launching soon with focused, easy-to-use analytics designed for teams who want insights without the complexity. Join the waitlist to be first in line.