HotjarFreemium
Session recordings, heatmaps, and on-site surveys — see exactly how visitors use your website.
Analytics comparison
Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity
Pricing, pros, cons, and ideal use cases — side by side.
Free session recordings, heatmaps, and AI-powered insights from Microsoft — no limits, no tiers.
At a glance
| Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | FreemiumBasic free plan (35 sessions/day). Plus $32/month. Business $80/month. | FreeFree forever with no limits. |
| Category | Analytics | Analytics |
| Ideal for | EcommerceAgenciesSaaSAny SMB with a website | Any SMB with a websiteEcommerceBootstrapped Startups |
Pros & cons
Hotjar
Pros
- Watch real user sessions
- Heatmaps and click maps
- On-site surveys built in
- Free tier for testing
Cons
- Can slow down sites
- Privacy considerations
- Sample-based on lower plans
Microsoft Clarity
Pros
- Completely free, no caps
- AI behavior insights
- Heatmaps included
- GDPR/CCPA compliant
Cons
- Ties you to Microsoft ecosystem
- Less polished than Hotjar UI
- Integration with other tools is limited
Which should you choose?
Microsoft Clarity is the lighter-weight option (Free), while Hotjar sits higher on the pricing ladder (Freemium). Hotjar is built around ecommerce; Microsoft Clarity leans more toward any smb with a website. Shortlist the one whose strengths line up with your biggest constraint.