Learn how to track user actions that actually matter. A practical guide to event analytics, naming conventions, implementation, and turning behavioral data into product improvements.

Event Analytics: The Complete Guide to Tracking Real User Behavior (2026)


Session recordings have become essential for understanding how users actually experience your website or app. This guide covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques—whether you're evaluating tools or trying to get more value from your current setup.

## Table of Contents

1. [What Are Session Recordings?](#what-are-session-recordings)
2. [How Session Recording Technology Works](#how-session-recording-technology-works)
3. [What Session Recordings Capture](#what-session-recordings-capture)
4. [Session Recordings vs. Other Analytics Tools](#session-recordings-vs-other-analytics-tools)
5. [Use Cases and Applications](#use-cases-and-applications)
6. [How to Analyze Session Recordings](#how-to-analyze-session-recordings)
7. [Privacy and Compliance](#privacy-and-compliance)
8. [Implementation Best Practices](#implementation-best-practices)
9. [Common Mistakes to Avoid](#common-mistakes-to-avoid)
10. [Frequently Asked Questions](#frequently-asked-questions)

---

## What Are Session Recordings?

Session recordings (also called session replays or user recordings) are video-like reconstructions of how visitors interact with your website. They show mouse movements, clicks, scrolling, typing, and navigation—everything a user does during their visit.

Unlike actual video recordings, session replays don't use cameras. They capture DOM changes and user events, then reconstruct the experience for playback. This means they're lightweight, privacy-friendly, and don't impact site performance.

**Think of it this way:** Traditional analytics tell you *what* happened (50% of users dropped off at checkout). Session recordings show you *why* (users couldn't find the promo code field).

### Key Characteristics

- **Individual-level data**: See exactly what one specific user did
- **Full journey visibility**: Follow users across multiple pages
- **Retroactive analysis**: Watch recordings after issues are reported
- **No actual video**: Reconstructed from event data, not screen capture

---

## How Session Recording Technology Works

Understanding the technology helps you evaluate tools and set realistic expectations.

### The Recording Process

Session recording works in three phases:

**1. Data Collection**

A JavaScript snippet on your website captures:
- DOM mutations (every change to the page structure)
- User events (clicks, scrolls, mouse movements, keystrokes)
- Metadata (timestamps, browser info, screen size)

This data is sent to the recording platform in small batches, typically every few seconds.

**2. Storage and Processing**

The raw event data is stored and indexed. Most tools compress this data significantly—a 10-minute session might only require 500KB-2MB of storage.

**3. Playback Reconstruction**

When you watch a recording, the tool reconstructs the page by:
- Loading the initial DOM snapshot
- Applying each mutation in sequence
- Overlaying cursor movements and interactions

This creates a video-like experience without storing actual video files.

### Performance Impact

Modern session recording tools have minimal performance impact:

- **Network**: 10-50KB per minute of recording (compressed)
- **CPU**: <1% overhead in most cases
- **Memory**: 5-15MB buffer for event batching

Well-implemented tools use web workers and efficient compression to stay invisible to users.

---

## What Session Recordings Capture

### User Interactions

| Interaction | What You See |
|-------------|--------------|
| Mouse movements | Cursor path and hesitation patterns |
| Clicks | Every click with element identification |
| Scrolling | Scroll depth and speed |
| Typing | Keystrokes (masked for sensitive fields) |
| Touch events | Taps, swipes, pinch-zoom on mobile |
| Form interactions | Field focus, completion, abandonment |

### Page Context

| Context | What You See |
|---------|--------------|
| DOM changes | Dynamic content, pop-ups, animations |
| URL changes | Navigation between pages |
| Viewport size | Screen dimensions and responsive behavior |
| Console errors | JavaScript errors during the session |
| Network failures | Failed API calls and timeouts |

### Session Metadata

Most tools also capture:

- Browser and device information
- Geographic location (country/city level)
- Referral source and UTM parameters
- Session duration and page count
- User identification (if provided)

---

## Session Recordings vs. Other Analytics Tools

Session recordings work best alongside other tools, not as a replacement.

### Session Recordings vs. Traditional Analytics

| Aspect | Traditional Analytics | Session Recordings |
|--------|----------------------|-------------------|
| Data type | Quantitative (numbers) | Qualitative (behavior) |
| Scope | Aggregate patterns | Individual sessions |
| Question answered | "What happened?" | "Why did it happen?" |
| Sample size | All traffic | Sampled or filtered |
| Analysis time | Quick dashboards | Manual review |

**Best practice:** Use analytics to identify *where* problems occur, then recordings to understand *why*.

### Session Recordings vs. Heatmaps

| Aspect | Heatmaps | Session Recordings |
|--------|----------|-------------------|
| View | Aggregated overlay | Individual journey |
| Best for | Page-level patterns | User-level behavior |
| Analysis | Quick visual scan | Detailed investigation |
| Context | Limited | Full journey context |

**Best practice:** Start with heatmaps for quick patterns, dive into recordings for specific segments.

### Session Recordings vs. User Testing

| Aspect | User Testing | Session Recordings |
|--------|--------------|-------------------|
| Users | Recruited participants | Real visitors |
| Tasks | Predefined scenarios | Natural behavior |
| Volume | 5-20 sessions | Thousands of sessions |
| Cost | $50-200 per session | Included in tool cost |
| Feedback | Verbal think-aloud | Behavior only |

**Best practice:** Use recordings for scale and real behavior, user testing for deep qualitative insights.

---

## Use Cases and Applications

### Product Teams

**Identify UX friction**

Watch users struggle with features you thought were intuitive. Common discoveries:
- Buttons that don't look clickable
- Forms that confuse users
- Navigation paths that don't match mental models

**Validate new features**

After launching a feature, watch how real users interact with it:
- Do they discover it?
- Do they use it as intended?
- Where do they get stuck?

**Prioritize fixes**

When you can show stakeholders a recording of users struggling, prioritization conversations become easier.

### Marketing Teams

**Optimize landing pages**

See exactly where visitors lose interest:
- How far do they scroll?
- What do they click (or try to click)?
- Where do they abandon the page?

**Improve conversion funnels**

Identify the specific step causing drop-offs:
- Form field that stops users
- Confusing pricing tables
- Missing trust signals

**Understand traffic segments**

Compare behavior between:
- Paid vs. organic traffic
- Mobile vs. desktop users
- New vs. returning visitors

### Support Teams

**Reproduce customer issues**

When a customer reports "it's not working," find their session to see exactly what happened. No more back-and-forth asking for screenshots.

**Identify common problems**

Patterns in support tickets often have visual evidence in recordings. Find them, fix them, reduce ticket volume.

**Train new team members**

Show real examples of user confusion to build empathy and understanding.

### Development Teams

**Debug production issues**

When errors occur, see:
- What the user did before the error
- The exact state of the application
- Console errors and network failures

**Validate bug fixes**

After deploying a fix, watch sessions to confirm the issue is resolved.

**Understand edge cases**

Real users do things you'd never think to test. Recordings reveal unexpected usage patterns.

---

## How to Analyze Session Recordings

Watching random recordings is a waste of time. Strategic analysis gets results.

### Start with a Question

Don't ask: "What can I learn from recordings?"

Do ask:
- "Why are users abandoning the checkout at step 3?"
- "How do mobile users interact with our navigation?"
- "What happens before users contact support?"

### Use Filters and Segments

Most tools let you filter recordings by:

- **Pages visited**: Focus on specific flows
- **Events triggered**: Find users who clicked a specific button
- **Duration**: Short sessions often indicate problems
- **Errors**: Sessions with JavaScript errors
- **User properties**: Segment by plan, geography, device

### Look for Patterns

Individual recordings are anecdotes. Patterns across multiple recordings are insights.

Watch 10-20 sessions of the same segment before drawing conclusions. Look for:
- Repeated confusion points
- Common workarounds users create
- Consistent abandonment moments

### Document Findings

Create a simple system:
- Timestamp the issue in the recording
- Screenshot or clip the key moment
- Categorize by type (UX, bug, content, etc.)
- Note frequency (one-off vs. pattern)

### Take Action

Insights without action are worthless. For each finding:
1. Decide if it's worth fixing
2. Create a ticket or task
3. Assign ownership
4. Track resolution

---

## Privacy and Compliance

Session recordings can capture sensitive information. Handle this responsibly.

### What to Mask

At minimum, automatically mask:
- **Password fields**: Always, no exceptions
- **Credit card inputs**: Numbers, CVV, expiration
- **Personal identifiers**: SSN, ID numbers
- **Health information**: Medical data, prescriptions

Consider masking:
- Email addresses (depends on your use case)
- Phone numbers
- Physical addresses
- Any field your users expect to be private

### GDPR Compliance

For European users, ensure:

1. **Lawful basis**: Legitimate interest (with balance test) or consent
2. **Privacy policy disclosure**: Mention session recording and its purpose
3. **Data processing agreement**: With your recording tool vendor
4. **Data retention limits**: Don't keep recordings indefinitely
5. **User rights**: Process access and deletion requests

### CCPA Compliance

For California users:
- Disclose session recording in your privacy policy
- Honor opt-out requests
- Include in "Do Not Sell" mechanisms if applicable

### Best Practices

- **Mask by default**: Better to mask too much than too little
- **Respect Do Not Track**: Consider honoring DNT headers
- **Provide opt-out**: Let users disable recording if requested
- **Limit retention**: Delete recordings after 30-90 days
- **Train your team**: Ensure everyone knows what's acceptable

---

## Implementation Best Practices

### Technical Setup

**1. Install on all pages**

Partial installation creates incomplete journeys. Install site-wide, then filter what you don't need.

**2. Test before launch**

Verify recordings work on:
- Key user flows
- Mobile devices
- Different browsers
- Single-page app navigation

**3. Configure privacy settings**

Set up masking *before* you start recording, not after.

**4. Set up user identification**

Connect recordings to user IDs or emails for logged-in users. This transforms anonymous sessions into user profiles.

```javascript
// Example: Identify user after login
peeke.identify('user@example.com', 'John Doe');
```

### Organizational Setup

**1. Define who has access**

Not everyone needs to watch recordings. Define roles:
- Full access: Product, UX, Support leads
- Filtered access: Marketing (their pages only)
- No access: Sales, general staff

**2. Create analysis routines**

Schedule regular review sessions:
- Weekly: Check key conversion flows
- After launches: Watch new feature usage
- After incidents: Review affected sessions

**3. Build feedback loops**

Route findings to the right teams:
- UX issues → Design team
- Bugs → Engineering
- Content confusion → Marketing

---

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

### Watching Without Purpose

Random session watching feels productive but rarely produces insights. Always start with a specific question or hypothesis.

### Generalizing from One Session

One user's confusion might be an outlier. Watch multiple sessions before concluding there's a pattern.

### Ignoring Mobile

Mobile behavior differs significantly from desktop. If you only watch desktop sessions, you're missing half the story (or more).

### Over-Relying on Recordings

Session recordings show behavior, not motivation. You see *what* users do, not *why* they're doing it. Combine with surveys and user interviews for the full picture.

### Collecting Without Acting

The worst outcome: thousands of recordings, zero improvements. Build processes to turn insights into shipped fixes.

### Neglecting Privacy

One data breach or privacy complaint can destroy user trust. Take privacy seriously from day one.

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do session recordings slow down my website?

Modern tools have minimal impact—typically <1% CPU overhead and 10-50KB of data per minute. Users won't notice any difference.

### Are session recordings legal?

Yes, when implemented properly. Include session recording in your privacy policy, implement appropriate masking, and comply with GDPR/CCPA requirements for your user base.

### How many recordings should I watch?

Quality over quantity. Watching 20 focused recordings with a clear question beats watching 100 random sessions. For statistically meaningful patterns, aim for 15-30 sessions per segment.

### Can users opt out of being recorded?

Yes. Most tools support opt-out mechanisms. You can also respect browser Do Not Track settings or create your own consent flow.

### How long should I keep recordings?

30-90 days is typical. Longer retention increases storage costs and privacy risk without proportional benefit. Most insights come from recent sessions.

### Do session recordings capture passwords?

No—not if your tool is configured correctly. Password fields should be masked automatically, showing only asterisks in playback.

### What's the difference between session recordings and screen recording?

Session recordings reconstruct the experience from event data. Screen recordings (like Loom) capture actual video of the screen. Session recordings are more efficient, more privacy-friendly, and work retroactively.

### Can I record mobile app sessions?

Some tools support mobile apps (iOS/Android SDKs), but most focus on web. If mobile apps are important, verify support before choosing a tool.

### How do session recordings work with single-page apps (SPAs)?

Modern tools handle SPAs well by tracking virtual page changes and DOM mutations. Verify your chosen tool explicitly supports your framework (React, Vue, Angular, etc.).

---

## Getting Started

Session recordings bridge the gap between quantitative analytics and qualitative understanding. They turn abstract metrics into real human experiences you can watch, understand, and improve.

Start simple:
1. Choose a tool that fits your needs and budget
2. Install on your key pages
3. Configure privacy settings
4. Pick one conversion flow to analyze
5. Watch 20 sessions with a specific question
6. Document what you learn
7. Make one improvement
8. Repeat

The teams that get the most value from session recordings aren't the ones with the fanciest tools—they're the ones who consistently turn observations into actions.


Everything you need to know about session recordings: how they work, when to use them, privacy considerations, and how to turn insights into action.

The Complete Guide to Session Recordings (2026)


Choosing a session recording tool can be overwhelming. There are dozens of options, each with different strengths, pricing models, and target audiences. We've tested the most popular tools to help you find the right fit.

## What We Evaluated

We looked at five core capabilities:

- **Session Replay** — Quality and reliability of recordings
- **Event Tracking** — Ability to track clicks, custom events, and user actions
- **User Profiles** — Individual user timelines and identification
- **Heatmaps** — Click and scroll heatmaps
- **Debug/Technical** — Console logs, network requests, error tracking

Let's break down how each tool performs.

---

## The Contenders

### Microsoft Clarity — Best Free Option

Microsoft's free analytics tool is hard to beat on price. It offers unlimited session recordings, basic heatmaps, and integrates well with other Microsoft products.

**Strengths:** Completely free, no session limits, decent heatmaps, backed by Microsoft infrastructure.

**Weaknesses:** Limited event tracking, almost no user identification features, basic filtering. You see sessions, but connecting them to individual users is nearly impossible.

**Best for:** Teams with zero budget who need basic session recordings.

---

### Hotjar — The Popular Choice

Hotjar (now part of Contentsquare) is probably the most well-known tool in this space. It's been around for years and has a polished interface.

**Strengths:** Excellent heatmaps, good survey/feedback tools, familiar interface, strong brand recognition.

**Weaknesses:** Session replay quality has lagged behind newer tools. Event tracking is limited, and user profiles are basic. The Contentsquare acquisition has also pushed pricing upward.

**Best for:** Marketing teams focused on heatmaps and surveys.

---

### FullStory — Enterprise Powerhouse

FullStory offers arguably the best session replay quality on the market. Their "Omnisearch" feature lets you search for any element users interacted with.

**Strengths:** Exceptional replay quality, powerful search, strong enterprise features, excellent event tracking.

**Weaknesses:** Expensive. Very expensive. Pricing starts high and scales quickly. For startups and small teams, it's often out of reach. The tool can also feel overwhelming for simple use cases.

**Best for:** Enterprise teams with budget who need the most powerful replay technology.

---

### LogRocket — Developer-Focused

LogRocket positions itself as a "frontend monitoring" tool rather than just session recording. It captures console logs, network requests, and Redux state.

**Strengths:** Excellent for debugging. Captures technical details that other tools miss. Good integration with error tracking workflows.

**Weaknesses:** Replay quality isn't as smooth as dedicated recording tools. User-facing analytics (heatmaps, user profiles) are secondary concerns. Can be complex to set up.

**Best for:** Development teams debugging production issues.

---

### Mouseflow — Balanced Middle Ground

Mouseflow has been around since 2010 and offers a solid all-around package. Good heatmaps, decent recordings, reasonable pricing.

**Strengths:** Strong heatmaps, form analytics, funnel tracking, established product.

**Weaknesses:** User profiles and identification are basic. The interface feels dated compared to newer tools. Event tracking is limited compared to modern alternatives.

**Best for:** Teams who prioritize heatmaps but also want session recordings.

---

### PostHog — Open Source Analytics

PostHog is an open-source product analytics platform that includes session recording as one of many features. You can self-host or use their cloud.

**Strengths:** Open source, self-hosting option, good event tracking, feature flags, A/B testing all in one platform.

**Weaknesses:** Jack of all trades, master of none. Session replay is good but not exceptional. Can be complex to set up and maintain if self-hosting.

**Best for:** Technical teams who want an all-in-one open-source solution.

---

### OpenReplay — Self-Hosted Alternative

OpenReplay is another open-source option, but focused specifically on session replay with developer-friendly features.

**Strengths:** Self-hosted (data stays on your servers), good technical debugging features, transparent pricing.

**Weaknesses:** Requires infrastructure management. Heatmaps and user profiles are less developed than commercial alternatives.

**Best for:** Teams with privacy requirements who can manage their own infrastructure.

---

### Crazy Egg — Heatmap Pioneer

Crazy Egg was one of the original heatmap tools. It's simple, focused, and does heatmaps well.

**Strengths:** Great heatmaps, simple interface, A/B testing features.

**Weaknesses:** Session recordings feel like an afterthought. Limited event tracking, basic user identification. The product hasn't evolved as much as competitors.

**Best for:** Teams who only need heatmaps.

---

### Peeke — User-Centric Analytics

Peeke takes a different approach by focusing on individual user journeys rather than aggregate data. Every visitor gets a profile with their complete history.

**Strengths:** Strong user profiles and identification. See every session, click, and event tied to individual users. Clean event tracking with custom events. Generous free tier.

**Weaknesses:** Heatmaps are basic compared to Hotjar or Crazy Egg. Fewer enterprise features than FullStory.

**Best for:** Product teams who want to understand individual user behavior, not just aggregates.

---

## Comparison Summary

| Tool | Replay | Events | User Profiles | Heatmaps | Debug | Pricing |
|------|--------|--------|---------------|----------|-------|---------|
| Peeke | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | Free tier |
| Microsoft Clarity | ★★★ | ★★ | ★ | ★★★ | ★ | Free |
| Hotjar | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★ | $$ |
| FullStory | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | $$$$ |
| LogRocket | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | $$$ |
| Mouseflow | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★ | $$ |
| PostHog | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | $$$ |
| OpenReplay | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | $$ |
| Crazy Egg | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★ | $$ |

---

## How to Choose

**Choose based on your primary need:**

- **Need heatmaps?** → Hotjar, Mouseflow, or Crazy Egg
- **Need debugging?** → LogRocket or OpenReplay
- **Need user profiles?** → Peeke or FullStory
- **Need everything free?** → Microsoft Clarity or Peeke's free tier
- **Need enterprise scale?** → FullStory or Contentsquare
- **Need self-hosting?** → PostHog or OpenReplay

**Consider your budget:**

Free options (Clarity, Peeke free tier) work well for small sites. Mid-range tools ($30-100/month) suit most growing companies. Enterprise tools ($500+/month) make sense when you have dedicated analytics teams.

**Think about your workflow:**

If you care about individual users—understanding who they are, what they did across sessions, and identifying them by email—tools with strong user profiles matter more than heatmap quality.

If you're doing conversion optimization on landing pages, heatmaps might be more valuable than deep user profiles.

---

## Final Thoughts

There's no single "best" tool. The right choice depends on what you're trying to learn and how much you're willing to spend.

For teams focused on understanding individual user journeys and behavior patterns, user-centric tools offer insights that aggregate heatmaps can't provide. For pure conversion optimization on landing pages, traditional heatmap tools remain valuable.

The good news: most tools offer free trials or free tiers. Test a few before committing.


An in-depth comparison of 9 session recording and user analytics tools, from free options to enterprise solutions.

Session Recording Tools Compared: Finding the Right Fit for Your Team


Traditional analytics tell you *what* happened. Session recordings show you *why*.

## The Problem with Traditional Analytics

Google Analytics and similar tools are great at answering questions like:
- How many visitors did we get?
- What pages are most popular?
- Where do users drop off?

But they can't answer the most important question: **Why?**

## What Session Recordings Reveal

When you watch a real user navigate your site, patterns emerge:

### 1. Confusion Points
Users often hesitate, scroll up and down, or move their mouse in circles when confused. These micro-behaviors are invisible in traditional analytics.

### 2. Rage Clicks
Repeated clicks on non-interactive elements signal frustration. Maybe a button looks clickable but isn't, or a form isn't submitting properly.

### 3. Form Abandonment
See exactly which field caused a user to give up on your signup form. Was it the phone number requirement? The password complexity message?

## Getting Started

Setting up session recording takes less than 5 minutes:

1. Sign up for a free Peeke account
2. Copy your tracking snippet
3. Paste it into your website's `<head>` tag
4. Start watching real user sessions

## Privacy First

Session recordings don't have to compromise user privacy. Peeke automatically:
- Masks password fields
- Hides credit card inputs
- Excludes sensitive data

You see the behavior, not the personal information.

## Conclusion

Session recordings bridge the gap between quantitative data ("50% drop-off at checkout") and qualitative understanding ("users can't find the discount code field").

Start watching your users today and turn confusion into clarity.


Learn how session recordings help you understand what users actually do on your website, not just what they click.

Understanding User Behavior: Why Session Recordings Matter


Not all user actions are created equal. Learn how to track the events that actually impact your business.

## Why Custom Event Tracking?

Automatic click tracking captures everything, but custom events let you focus on what matters:
- Signup button clicks
- Pricing page visits
- Feature usage
- Checkout completions

## Setting Up Custom Events

### Using data-peeke Attributes

The simplest way to track specific elements:

```html
<button data-peeke="signup-button">Sign Up</button>
<form data-peeke="checkout-form">...</form>
```

Every click on these elements creates a named event you can filter and analyze.

### Programmatic Tracking

For more complex scenarios, use the JavaScript API:

```javascript
// Track a custom event
peeke.trackEvent('plan_selected', {
  plan: 'pro',
  price: 29
});

// Track after user identifies themselves
peeke.identify('user@example.com', 'John Doe');
```

## Best Practices

### 1. Name Events Consistently
Use snake_case and be descriptive:
- ✅ `checkout_started`
- ✅ `plan_upgraded`
- ❌ `click1`
- ❌ `btn`

### 2. Add Relevant Properties
Include context that helps analysis:

```javascript
peeke.trackEvent('item_added_to_cart', {
  product_id: '123',
  product_name: 'Pro Plan',
  value: 29
});
```

### 3. Don't Over-Track
Focus on conversion-critical events. Too many events create noise.

## Analyzing Events

Once events are flowing, you can:
- Filter session recordings by event
- See event timelines per user
- Build conversion funnels

## Conclusion

Custom event tracking transforms generic analytics into actionable insights. Start with 5-10 key events and expand from there.


A practical guide to setting up custom event tracking for clicks, form submissions, and user interactions.

Latest articles

Event Analytics: The Complete Guide to Tracking Real User Behavior (2026)

The Complete Guide to Session Recordings (2026)

Session Recording Tools Compared: Finding the Right Fit for Your Team

Understanding User Behavior: Why Session Recordings Matter

Event Tracking Guide: Track What Matters