Skip to content
Reviews onG2Capterra
878 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Easy to use

Biggest con

Limited analytics

TL;DR - Hotjar

  • Behavior analytics tool with heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback surveys.
  • Visualizes clicks, scrolls, and mouse movements to understand how visitors interact with pages.
  • Free plan with 35 daily sessions and Plus at 39 dollars per month for more recordings.
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
4.5/5 across review platforms

What is Hotjar?

Editorial review
Hotjar shows how visitors actually use your website. Heatmaps visualize where users click, move, and scroll. Session recordings replay individual visits. Surveys and feedback widgets collect user opinions. Funnels identify where users drop off. See your site through your users' eyes.

Available on: Web

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Visual heatmaps
  • User feedback

Cons

  • Limited analytics
  • Can slow site

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(878 reviews)

Hotjar holds an aggregate rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 878 reviews across G2 and Capterra, last checked March 18, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

HeatmapsSession recordingsSurveysFeedback widgetsFunnelsForm analytics

Pricing Plans

15-day Free Trial

Pricing checked Aug 22, 2026

Basic

Free

  • 35 sessions/day
  • 20 survey responses/month
  • 5 user interviews/month

Plus

$39/month

  • 100 daily sessions
  • 250 survey responses
  • 15 user interviews

Business

$99/month

  • 500 daily sessions
  • 500 survey responses
  • 30 user interviews
  • Funnels

Is Hotjar worth the price?

50/100

Hotjar (now Contentsquare) offers solid heatmaps and recordings but pricing got complicated after the merger.

The free plan is generous at 200K sessions/mo, but Growth at $49/mo is steep when Microsoft Clarity offers unlimited sessions free.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Three separate products (Observe, Ask, Engage) each billed independently

Growth plan sessions start at just 7,000/mo despite paying $49/mo, confusing jump from 200K free sessions

Invoice billing costs $118/year more than credit card payment ($588 vs $470 annually)

Pro and Enterprise pricing is completely opaque, contact sales only

Data retained for only 365 days with no paid extension option

No option to buy additional SMS credits, hit the cap and recordings stop

How Hotjar Compares to Competitors

Microsoft Clarity is completely free with unlimited heatmaps and session recordings, hard to beat on value. FullStory offers deeper product analytics but starts at custom enterprise pricing. Amplitude focuses on product analytics with a generous free tier (50K MTUs). Hotjar wins on survey/feedback tools (Ask product) but loses on value for pure heatmaps/recordings.

How Hotjar's pricing compares

At $39/mo, Hotjar is mid-range of its 5 direct competitors ($25 to $299/mo across the set).

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Aug 22, 2026.

Reviews

Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT cover
$99Free with your review

Review Hotjar, get a free AI guide

Share your experience and we will send you Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT, free.

Write a review
4.5/5

Across 878 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2

Add your hands-on experience using the offer above to help the next buyer.

Best Hotjar Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

View full list →

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Explore More

Hotjar FAQ

How does Hotjar help improve website user experience?

Hotjar helps improve user experience by visualizing how visitors interact with a website through heatmaps, which show clicks, movement, and scroll behavior. It also offers session recordings to replay individual visits and surveys to collect direct user opinions, providing comprehensive insights into user behavior.

Which teams would benefit most from using Hotjar?

Teams focused on UI/UX design, product management, and marketing would benefit most from Hotjar. Its features like heatmaps and session recordings provide valuable data for understanding user behavior and identifying areas for website improvement.

How does Hotjar compare to Microsoft Clarity?

Hotjar offers heatmaps and session recordings similar to Microsoft Clarity, but it also includes survey tools and feedback widgets to directly collect user opinions. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of user behavior and sentiment.

What kind of limitations should users be aware of when using Hotjar?

Users should be aware that Hotjar has limited analytics capabilities compared to dedicated analytics platforms. Additionally, implementing Hotjar on a website can potentially slow down site performance.

Does Hotjar include a free tier for users?

Yes, Hotjar is available on a free tier, allowing users to access basic features. Paid plans are offered for those requiring more extensive usage and additional features.

Can Hotjar help identify where users abandon a process on a website?

Yes, Hotjar can help identify where users drop off during a process by utilizing its funnels feature. This allows users to pinpoint specific stages where visitors abandon their journey on the website.

Source: hotjar.com

Guides & Articles