Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity
Vishnu Prasadh
Last updated on
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The short answer
Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity are the two most widely deployed behavioral analytics tools for seeing how visitors actually use a website (where they click, how far they scroll, where they hesitate). Both give you heatmaps and session recordings. The honest split comes down to one thing: Hotjar is a metered, paid CRO suite that bundles surveys and feedback with recordings, while Microsoft Clarity is a 100% free, uncapped tool for the core heatmap-and-recording job.
If you want heatmaps, session recordings, on-site surveys, and feedback polls integrated in a single conversion-optimization suite, and you have budget for a metered, per-session plan, Hotjar puts the “what” and the “why” in one workspace.
If you primarily need unlimited heatmaps and session recordings at zero cost, at any traffic volume, and can run surveys through a separate tool, Clarity covers the core job that most teams buy Hotjar for, with no caps and no credit card.
At a glance
| Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Hotjar (Contentsquare) | Microsoft |
| Free plan | Yes — Basic, capped (~35 daily sessions) | Yes — fully free, no caps |
| Starting price | Free Basic; paid from ~€32/mo | Free (no paid tier) |
| Public rating | 4.3 — G2 (~337 reviews) | 4.5 — G2 (~55 reviews) |
| Best for | Recordings + surveys in one paid suite | Free, uncapped heatmaps and recordings |
Tool profile
Hotjar
Hotjar is a behavior analytics and feedback platform that pairs quantitative behavioral data (heatmaps, recordings, funnels) with qualitative voice-of-customer tools (surveys, feedback polls). It was acquired by Contentsquare, with the acquisition completed in July 2025, and its products are now billed through Contentsquare entities. Its appeal is breadth: it is closer to a full CRO research suite than a single-purpose recorder, with usage metered by daily sessions across paid tiers.
- Vendor
- Hotjar (acquired by Contentsquare, July 2025)
- Free plan
- Yes — Basic, capped at ~35 daily sessions (verify live)
- Pricing model
- Freemium; per-product, session-metered
- Public rating
- 4.3 — G2 (~337 reviews)
- Notable usage
- Default behavioral-analytics tool many product/UX/CRO teams reach for first
Microsoft Clarity
Microsoft Clarity is a free behavioral analytics product from Microsoft. It provides heatmaps, session recordings, frustration signals (rage clicks, dead clicks), code-free funnels, and an AI “Copilot” that summarizes patterns across recordings, all at no cost and with no caps on sessions or traffic. It is the clearest counterweight to metered tools like Hotjar, with a native GA4 tie-in that many paid tools charge for or omit.
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Free plan
- Yes — the entire product is free, no session or traffic caps
- Pricing model
- Free (no paid tier exists)
- Public rating
- 4.5 — G2 (~55 reviews)
- Notable usage
- Popular with startups, bootstrapped sites, and high-traffic sites avoiding per-session bills
Pricing — what you'll actually pay
Hotjar uses a freemium, per-product, session-metered model; Microsoft Clarity has exactly one tier (free). Hotjar’s pricing page now redirects to its Contentsquare parent, prices are listed in EUR and the per-tier figures below are approximate, so verify current figures live before purchase.
| Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes — Basic, ~35 daily sessions (verify live) | Yes — entire product, unlimited |
| Paid tiers | Plus ~€32/mo; Business from ~€80/mo; Scale ~€171/mo+ (approx, verify live) | None — no paid tier exists |
| Caps | Metered by daily sessions; scales with traffic | No session or traffic caps |
| Pricing model | Freemium, per-product (Observe/Ask/Engage), session-metered; Contentsquare migration in progress (verify live) | Free, $0, no credit card |
Capability comparison
Both tools cover the core heatmap-and-recording job, so the differences are at the edges: surveys, traffic caps, and pricing model.
| Service | Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity |
|---|---|---|
| Heatmaps (click, move, scroll) | ✓ Core | ✓ Core, unlimited |
| Session recordings | ✓ Core (metered) | ✓ Core, unlimited |
| Surveys / feedback widgets | ✓ Native (Ask product) | Partial — via integration; verify scope |
| Conversion funnels | ✓ Offered | ✓ Code-free funnels |
| Frustration detection (rage/dead clicks) | ✓ | ✓ |
| GA4 integration | Via integrations | ✓ Native GA4 tie-in |
| Traffic / session caps | Metered by daily sessions | ✕ None |
| AI features | Suite features | ✓ AI Copilot summaries |
Decision matrix — who fits which side
| Criterion | Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity |
|---|---|---|
| Native on-site surveys and feedback widgets | ✓ | – |
| Unlimited heatmaps and recordings, no caps | – | ✓ |
| Free at any traffic volume | ✕ | ✓ |
| Integrated “what plus why” CRO workspace | ✓ | – |
| Native GA4 integration | – | ✓ |
| Predictable cost for high-traffic sites | – | ✓ |
| AI summaries across recordings | – | ✓ |
| Single tool for qualitative research | ✓ | – |
Check = clear edge. Dash = capable but not the stronger pick. Cross = outside the model.
Strengths & tradeoffs
Both tools are excellent at the core job (heatmaps and session recordings that surface usability issues). The honest differences are at the edges, and each side wins some rows.
| Axis | Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Freemium; paid tiers metered by daily sessions | 100% free, no caps, no credit card |
| Surveys and feedback | Native (the Ask product) alongside recordings | Not fully native; partial via integration (verify scope) |
| Traffic scaling | Costs climb with daily sessions on high-traffic sites | No traffic level triggers a bill |
| Integrations | Established ecosystem (Slack, GA, etc.) | Native GA4 tie-in; AI Copilot summaries |
| Data retention | Longer on paid tiers | Shorter retention window |
| Suite breadth | Heatmaps, recordings, surveys, funnels in one suite | Heatmaps, recordings, funnels; no native A/B testing |
| Vendor status | Billing migrating to Contentsquare (verify live) | Stable Microsoft product, single free tier |
Ratings & track record
| Metric | Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity |
|---|---|---|
| G2 rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| G2 review count | ~337 | ~55 |
| Vendor | Hotjar (Contentsquare, July 2025) | Microsoft |
| Free / paid | Freemium (paid from ~€32/mo) | Free (no paid tier) |
| Session / traffic caps | Metered by daily sessions | None |
Both tools carry strong public ratings, with Hotjar at 4.3 across a much larger review base (~337) and Clarity slightly higher at 4.5 across fewer reviews (~55). The larger review count gives Hotjar more breadth of feedback, while Clarity’s higher score reflects satisfaction with a free, uncapped product. The numbers measure different things (a metered paid suite versus a free tool), so weigh them against the job you are buying for rather than the headline figure alone.
Both tools’ data is sourced from publicly available information as of June 2026. Pricing, ratings, and plan structures change (and Hotjar’s billing is migrating to Contentsquare), so verify directly with each vendor before deciding. This comparison is independent; we take no affiliate fees from either.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity?
Is Microsoft Clarity better than Hotjar?
Is Microsoft Clarity really free?
Does Hotjar have a free plan?
Can Microsoft Clarity do surveys like Hotjar?
Did Contentsquare acquire Hotjar?
Sources and references
- Hotjar — homepage and product (accessed June 2026)
- Hotjar — pricing (redirects to Contentsquare parent) (accessed June 2026)
- G2 — Hotjar reviews (4.3, ~337 reviews) (accessed June 2026)
- Capterra — Hotjar reviews (accessed June 2026)
- Microsoft Clarity — homepage and product (accessed June 2026)
- G2 — Microsoft Clarity reviews (4.5, ~55 reviews) (accessed June 2026)
- Capterra — Microsoft Clarity reviews (accessed June 2026)
Want an outside opinion before you commit?
This comparison is independent — we don't take referral fees from either agency. If you'd like a second read from a B2B SaaS specialist on which fits your stage, PipeRocket is happy to give you an honest one. No obligation.
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