Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity? 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 Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity are strong session replay & heatmaps choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.
Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity — Side by Side
| Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Session Replay & Heatmaps | Session Replay & Heatmaps |
| Pricing | Free · paid from $49/mo | Free |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Best for | Session Replay & Heatmaps — heatmaps, ux | Session Replay & Heatmaps — heatmaps, free |
Pros & Cons
- 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
- Completely free at any traffic level
- Rage-click and dead-click insights out of the box
- Two-minute install, works alongside GA
- 30-day recording retention with no way to pay for more
- No surveys, funnels or product analytics depth
- Data goes to Microsoft, which some privacy reviews will flag
Key Features Compared
Hotjar
- 7,000 sessions / month at entry tier
- 13 months of data
- 3 projects
- Scales to $739 / month at 200k sessions
Microsoft Clarity
- Unlimited traffic, no sampling
- Recordings retained 30 days
- Heatmaps retained up to 9 months
- Unlimited team members
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
Choose Microsoft Clarity if…
- You want a free tier to validate before paying.
- Completely free at any traffic level
- Rage-click and dead-click insights out of the box
- Two-minute install, works alongside GA
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hotjar better than Microsoft Clarity?⌄
Both Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity 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 Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity?⌄
Hotjar — The best-known heatmap and session recording tool, now sold as part of Contentsquare. Growth starts at $49/month for 7,000 sessions. Microsoft Clarity — Free session recordings and heatmaps from Microsoft, with no traffic limits, no sampling and no paid tier. Both are session replay & heatmaps tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.
Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity: which is cheaper?⌄
Hotjar pricing: Free · paid from $49/mo. Microsoft Clarity pricing: Free. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
Which is rated higher, Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity?⌄
In our catalog, Hotjar rates 4.4 out of 5 and Microsoft Clarity rates 4.6 out of 5, so Microsoft Clarity 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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