Crazy Egg vs Hotjar: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Crazy Egg and Hotjar comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Hotjar wins this matchup. Our overall Heatmaps pick is FullStory. Our free Heatmaps pick is Microsoft Clarity. Pick Crazy Egg if you need marketing.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Crazy Egg
Optimize your website with heatmaps, recordings, surveys, and A/B testing to understand user behavior.
Best for you if:
- • You want easy to set up
- • You want visual insights
Hotjar
Heatmaps and session recordings
Best for you if:
- • You want easy to use
- • You want visual heatmaps
| At a Glance | Crazy Egg | Hotjar |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Marketing | Heatmaps |
Rating | 4.3/5 | 3.8/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Crazy Egg or Hotjar?
Choose Crazy Egg if
Optimize your website with heatmaps, recordings, surveys, and A/B testing to understand user behavior.
- You want easy to set up
- You want visual insights
- Your work is marketing-shaped, not heatmaps-shaped
Choose Hotjar if
Heatmaps and session recordings
- You want easy to use
- You want visual heatmaps
- Your work is heatmaps-shaped, not marketing-shaped
| Feature | Crazy Egg | Hotjar |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.3/5 214 reviews | ★3.8/5 948 reviews |
| Categories | MarketingWeb Analytics | HeatmapsAnalytics |
In-Depth Analysis
Crazy Egg
Optimize your website with heatmaps, recordings, surveys, and A/B testing to understand user behavior.
Crazy Egg's pricing, particularly at the Starter ($29) and Plus ($99) tiers, appears fair for businesses needing basic to moderate website optimization tools.
Watch out
Overage fees for exceeding pageview limits
Strengths
- +Easy to set up
- +Visual insights
- +Good A/B testing
- +Affordable
Weaknesses
- -Limited free tier
- -Basic compared to Hotjar
- -Pageview limits
Key features
Hotjar
Heatmaps and session recordings
Hotjar (now Contentsquare) offers solid heatmaps and recordings but pricing got complicated after the merger.
Watch out
Three separate products (Observe, Ask, Engage) each billed independently
Strengths
- +Easy to use
- +Visual heatmaps
- +User feedback
Weaknesses
- -Limited analytics
- -Can slow site
Key features
Pricing: Crazy Egg vs Hotjar
| Plan | Crazy Egg | Hotjar |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $29 Starter | Free Basic |
| Tier 2 | $99 Plus | $39 Plus |
| Tier 3 | $249 Pro | $99 Business |
| Tier 4 | $599 Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Crazy Egg pricing and Hotjar pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Crazy Egg
Want the highest-rated option?
Crazy Egg: 4.3/5 (214 reviews). Hotjar: 3.8/5 (948 reviews).
Go with: Crazy Egg
Value user reviews?
Crazy Egg: 214 reviews (4.3/5). Hotjar: 948 reviews (3.8/5).
Go with: Hotjar
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Crazy Egg is a marketing tool. Hotjar is in heatmaps. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Crazy Egg is rated higher: 4.3/5 vs 3.8/5.
Key Takeaways
Hotjar
- Larger review base (948 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Crazy Egg
- Higher user rating: 4.3/5 vs 3.8/5
- Better fit for marketing
The Bottom Line
Hotjar wins this matchup. Our overall Heatmaps pick is FullStory. Our free Heatmaps pick is Microsoft Clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crazy Egg or Hotjar better?
Hotjar is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Crazy Egg and Hotjar used for?
Crazy Egg: Optimize your website with heatmaps, recordings, surveys, and A/B testing to understand user behavior.. Hotjar: Heatmaps and session recordings.
What does Crazy Egg cost vs Hotjar?
Crazy Egg is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Hotjar is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.