Hotjar Review
UX & Conversion · Analytics & Conversion
Heatmaps and recordings plus on-site surveys — behaviour data with the "why" attached.
Our take
Worth paying for only because of the surveys. Run Clarity for the recordings and Hotjar for asking people why — that combination is stronger than either alone.
At a glance
- Category
- Analytics & Conversion
- Type
- UX & Conversion
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Free option
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best for
- CRO, UX research
What Hotjar does
Hotjar covers similar ground to Clarity but adds the thing Clarity lacks: asking people directly. On-site polls, exit surveys and feedback widgets let you pair what visitors did with what they say, which is usually where the actual insight lives.
How marketers actually use it
Add an exit survey to the page where people abandon most, asking one question: what stopped you today? Pair the answers with the recordings of those same sessions, and you get both the behaviour and the reason behind it.
Best for
- Exit surveys asking why someone did not convert
- Pairing behavioural data with direct feedback
- Testing landing page hypotheses before rebuilding
- Collecting qualitative input at scale
Watch out for
The free plan’s daily session cap is low, and paid plans are hard to justify when Clarity does the recording half for nothing.
Hotjar pricing
Free plan with a daily session limit; paid plans add sessions, surveys and integrations.
Checked August 2026. Pricing changes constantly — confirm on the official site before you buy. There are no affiliate links on this page.
Check current Hotjar pricingHotjar FAQ
Is Hotjar free?
Yes, with a daily session limit that is fairly low. Paid plans add sessions, surveys and integrations.
Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity?
Clarity does recordings and heatmaps better, and free. Hotjar’s advantage is surveys — asking people directly. Running Clarity for behaviour and Hotjar for surveys is the strongest combination.
Are heatmaps actually useful?
For spotting that nobody scrolls to your CTA or nobody clicks your main button, yes. They show behaviour, not intent — you still have to interpret.
What should I ask in a Hotjar exit survey?
One question, not five. "What stopped you from getting in touch today?" on the page people abandon most will out-perform any longer survey.
Is Hotjar worth paying for alongside Clarity?
Only for the surveys. Clarity covers recordings and heatmaps for free, so justify Hotjar on the qualitative feedback alone.
Hotjar alternatives
Other analytics & conversion tools worth comparing before you commit: