Fullstory vs Hotjar: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Fullstory and Hotjar? Both are popular session replay & heatmaps tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
Quick verdict
Both Fullstory and Hotjar are strong session replay & heatmaps choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
Fullstory vs Hotjar — Side by Side
| Fullstory | Hotjar | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Session Replay & Heatmaps | Session Replay & Heatmaps |
| Pricing | Free · paid plans by quote | Free · paid from $49/mo |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Best for | Session Replay & Heatmaps — digital-experience, analytics | Session Replay & Heatmaps — heatmaps, ux |
Pros & Cons
- Retroactive analysis: everything is captured, so no tagging plan is needed
- Strong search, funnels and frustration signals
- Enterprise-grade privacy controls
- No public pricing; annual contracts only
- Overkill for a marketing site that just wants heatmaps
- Costs scale with sessions
- Easiest heatmaps and replays for non-technical teams
- Surveys and feedback widgets alongside behaviour data
- Much larger free plan since the Contentsquare merger
- Pricing climbs steeply with session volume
- Brand and plans in flux after the Contentsquare merger
- Less useful for debugging than developer-focused replay tools
Key Features Compared
Fullstory
- Auto-capture, search and funnels
- Session-volume pricing
- Annual contract
Hotjar
- 7,000 sessions / month at entry tier
- 13 months of data
- 3 projects
- Scales to $739 / month at 200k sessions
Choose Fullstory if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Retroactive analysis: everything is captured, so no tagging plan is needed
- Strong search, funnels and frustration signals
- Enterprise-grade privacy controls
Choose Hotjar if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Easiest heatmaps and replays for non-technical teams
- Surveys and feedback widgets alongside behaviour data
- Much larger free plan since the Contentsquare merger
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fullstory better than Hotjar?⌄
Both Fullstory and Hotjar are strong session replay & heatmaps choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
What is the difference between Fullstory and Hotjar?⌄
Fullstory — Enterprise digital experience analytics: pixel-accurate replay, auto-captured events and funnels. It is quote-based, with a free tier. Hotjar — The best-known heatmap and session recording tool, now sold as part of Contentsquare. Growth starts at $49/month for 7,000 sessions. Both are session replay & heatmaps tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.
Fullstory vs Hotjar: which is cheaper?⌄
Fullstory pricing: Free · paid plans by quote. Hotjar pricing: Free · paid from $49/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
Which is rated higher, Fullstory or Hotjar?⌄
In our catalog, Fullstory rates 4.5 out of 5 and Hotjar rates 4.4 out of 5, so Fullstory has a slight edge on reviews.
See more options in our guide to the best session replay & heatmaps tools for startups.
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