By Quick answer: What are the best alternatives to Hotjar?
- Microsoft Clarity — free heatmaps and recordings.
- PostHog — replay plus analytics, flags and experiments.
- FullStory — enterprise-grade experience analytics.
- LogRocket — replay with developer debugging.
- Privacy — mask personal data on every tool.
Key takeaways
- Heatmaps show patterns; recordings show the reasons behind them.
- Free tools now cover most small-team needs.
- Combine replay with analytics to find which sessions to watch.
- Mask sensitive data and update your privacy notice.
- Watch recordings with a question in mind, not at random.
Numbers tell you where users drop off. Heatmaps and session recordings show you why — the rage clicks, the missed button, the form field that confuses everyone. Hotjar popularised these tools and is now part of Contentsquare3. Today there are strong alternatives, including excellent free ones.
The best Hotjar alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Standout | Cost model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Clarity1 | Small teams, budgets of zero | Free heatmaps, recordings, rage-click detection | Free |
| PostHog2 | Engineering-led startups | Replay + analytics + flags + experiments | Free allowance, then usage |
| FullStory | Enterprises | Deep experience analytics and search | Paid |
| Mouseflow | Marketers and CRO teams | Funnels, form analytics, feedback | Free and paid |
| LogRocket4 | Developers | Replay with console, network and error data | Free and paid |
| Smartlook | Web and mobile apps | Mobile replay, events | Free and paid |
| Lucky Orange | Small businesses | Heatmaps plus live chat | Paid |
How to use them well
- Start with a question — "Why do 60% abandon at the address step?"
- Filter sessions — by page, device, funnel step or rage clicks.
- Watch 10–20 sessions — note recurring problems.
- Check heatmaps — confirm the pattern across many users.
- Fix and measure — ship a change, compare conversion.
Key terms, defined
Heatmap — a visual of where users click, move or scroll. Session recording — a replay of a user's visit. Rage click — repeated clicking out of frustration. CRO — conversion rate optimisation. Masking — hiding sensitive data in recordings.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Clarity really free?
Yes. Microsoft Clarity offers heatmaps and session recordings free of charge.
Who owns Hotjar?
Hotjar is part of Contentsquare, which acquired it in 2021.
Which Hotjar alternative is best for apps?
For mobile apps, PostHog, Smartlook and LogRocket offer mobile session replay; Clarity also supports mobile SDKs.
Are session recordings legal?
They can be, with care: disclose them in your privacy notice, mask personal and sensitive fields, and follow laws such as India's DPDP Act and the GDPR where applicable.
How many recordings should I watch?
Start with 10–20 sessions filtered to a specific question, such as users who abandoned checkout. Patterns appear quickly.
Do heatmaps slow down my site?
Modern scripts load asynchronously and have small performance impact, but test page speed after installing any tracking tool.
Sources
- Microsoft Clarity — Official site
- PostHog — Session replay
- Contentsquare — Hotjar is part of Contentsquare
- LogRocket — Official site
- Checked October 23, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
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