Hotjar has been a popular choice for session recordings and heatmaps since 2014. But in 2026, many teams are looking for alternatives—whether due to pricing changes after the Contentsquare acquisition, removed features, or simply needing capabilities Hotjar doesn't offer.
We've tested the leading Hotjar alternatives to help you find the right fit for your team.
Why Teams Are Switching from Hotjar in 2026
Before diving into alternatives, here's why many users are searching for Hotjar replacements:
Confusing Multi-Product Pricing
Hotjar now splits features across three separate products (Observe, Ask, Engage), each with four tiers (Basic, Plus, Business, Scale). Want heatmaps AND surveys? You're paying for two products. The real costs:
| Product | Basic | Plus | Business | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observe (recordings/heatmaps) | Free (35 sessions/day) | $32/mo | $80/mo | $171/mo |
| Ask (surveys/feedback) | Free (limited) | $48/mo | $64/mo | $128/mo |
| Engage (user interviews) | Free (5/mo) | $280/mo | $440/mo | Custom |
A full-featured setup easily costs $300-500/month.
Key Features Were Removed (Then Paywalled)
Hotjar removed form analytics entirely. Funnels were removed, then reintroduced in 2023—but only on the Scale plan ($171+/month). Cross-domain tracking? Also removed. Teams relying on these capabilities were forced to pay more or find alternatives.
Restrictive Session Limits
The free Basic plan only includes 35 daily sessions. Plus gives you 100/day. Even Business only offers 500/day. For sites with real traffic, you'll hit limits fast and lose visibility—or pay $171+/month for Scale.
Limited User Identification
Hotjar shows sessions, but connecting them to individual users is difficult. The Identify API (for tracking custom user attributes) is only available on Business plans and above. You see anonymous recordings without understanding who the person is.
Feedback Response Limits
Even on paid Ask plans, Hotjar limits how many survey responses you can collect. Competitors like Mouseflow offer unlimited responses.
Performance Impact
Multiple users report that Hotjar's tracking code slows down their sites—a problem for both user experience and SEO rankings.
Best Hotjar Alternatives in 2026
1. Peeke — Best for User-Centric Analytics
Why switch from Hotjar: Where Hotjar focuses on aggregate heatmaps, Peeke focuses on individual user journeys. Every visitor gets a profile with their complete session history, events, and behavior patterns.
Key advantages over Hotjar:
- Real user profiles — See every session, click, and event tied to individual users (identified by email or anonymous)
- Unlimited event tracking — Track custom events without per-event costs
- No session limits on free tier — Generous free plan without arbitrary caps
- Lightweight script — Under 5kb, minimal performance impact
- User identification built-in — Connect sessions to real users with one line of code
Best for: Product teams who want to understand individual user behavior, not just aggregate patterns. SaaS companies tracking user journeys from signup to conversion.
Pricing: Free tier available, then affordable scaling based on usage.
2. Microsoft Clarity — Best Free Option
Why consider it: Completely free with unlimited recordings. Backed by Microsoft infrastructure, it's reliable and won't disappear.
Advantages over Hotjar:
- Truly unlimited recordings (Hotjar caps you quickly)
- Free forever, no paid tiers to upsell you
- Integrates with Microsoft ecosystem
Limitations:
- Basic user identification
- Limited event tracking
- No surveys or feedback tools
- Cannot connect sessions to individual users
Best for: Teams with zero budget who need basic session recordings.
Pricing: 100% free
3. FullStory — Best Enterprise Solution
Why consider it: Arguably the best session replay quality on the market. Their "Omnisearch" lets you search for any element users interacted with.
Advantages over Hotjar:
- Superior replay quality and accuracy
- Powerful search and filtering
- Strong event tracking
- Better for technical debugging
Limitations:
- Very expensive (enterprise pricing)
- Can be overwhelming for simple use cases
- Overkill for small teams
Best for: Enterprise teams with budget who need the most powerful replay technology.
Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing (typically $$$$/month)
4. PostHog — Best Open Source Option
Why consider it: Open-source product analytics with session replay, feature flags, and A/B testing in one platform. You can self-host for complete data control.
Advantages over Hotjar:
- All-in-one platform (analytics + replay + experiments)
- Self-hosting option for privacy
- Transparent pricing
- Strong developer community
Limitations:
- Session replay is good but not exceptional
- Complex to set up if self-hosting
- Jack of all trades, master of none
Best for: Technical teams wanting an open-source, all-in-one solution.
Pricing: Generous free tier, then usage-based pricing
5. LogRocket — Best for Developers
Why consider it: LogRocket captures console logs, network requests, and Redux state—making it invaluable for debugging production issues.
Advantages over Hotjar:
- Excellent technical debugging
- Console and network logging
- Error tracking integration
- Great for reproducing bugs
Limitations:
- Replay quality isn't as smooth
- User-facing analytics are secondary
- Complex setup
Best for: Development teams debugging production issues.
Pricing: Free tier with 1,000 sessions/month, paid plans from $99/month
6. Mouseflow — Best Heatmap Alternative
Why consider it: Strong heatmaps with dedicated form analytics. Shows exactly where users struggle in your forms.
Advantages over Hotjar:
- Six types of heatmaps
- Dedicated form analytics (which Hotjar removed)
- Conversion funnels
- Established since 2010
Limitations:
- Interface feels dated
- User identification is basic
- Event tracking is limited
Best for: Teams who prioritize heatmaps and form analytics.
Pricing: From $39/month
7. Lucky Orange — Best for Real-Time Analytics
Why consider it: Real-time analytics with live visitor tracking. You can watch users browse your site as it happens.
Advantages over Hotjar:
- Real-time visitor monitoring
- Live chat integration
- Conversion funnels
- Survey tools included
Limitations:
- Can feel cluttered
- Learning curve for all features
- Not as focused as specialized tools
Best for: E-commerce teams wanting real-time insights and live chat.
Pricing: From $39/month
8. Crazy Egg — Best Simple Heatmap Tool
Why consider it: One of the original heatmap tools. Simple, focused, does heatmaps well without complexity.
Advantages over Hotjar:
- Five heatmap types (more than Hotjar's three)
- Built-in A/B testing
- Simpler interface
- Snapshots for specific pages
Limitations:
- Session recordings feel basic
- Limited event tracking
- Hasn't evolved as much as competitors
Best for: Teams who only need heatmaps and basic recordings.
Pricing: From $29/month
9. Smartlook — Best for Mobile Apps
Why consider it: Strong support for both websites and mobile apps. Good middle ground between features and pricing.
Advantages over Hotjar:
- Native mobile app support
- Event-based analytics
- Retroactive data analysis
- More affordable at scale
Limitations:
- Heatmaps not as polished as Hotjar
- Smaller brand recognition
- Some features require higher tiers
Best for: Teams with both web and mobile apps to track.
Pricing: Free tier available, paid from $55/month
Comparison Table: Hotjar Alternatives 2026
| Tool | Session Replay | User Profiles | Heatmaps | Free Tier | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peeke | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★ | Yes | Free |
| Clarity | ★★★ | ★ | ★★★ | Yes (unlimited) | Free |
| FullStory | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | No | $$$$ |
| PostHog | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | Yes | Usage-based |
| LogRocket | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | Yes | $99/mo |
| Mouseflow | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | Yes | $39/mo |
| Lucky Orange | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | Yes | $39/mo |
| Crazy Egg | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | No | $29/mo |
| Smartlook | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | Yes | $55/mo |
How to Choose the Right Hotjar Alternative
Choose based on your primary need:
- Need user profiles? → Peeke (individual user journeys) or FullStory (enterprise)
- Need free unlimited recordings? → Microsoft Clarity
- Need the best heatmaps? → Mouseflow or Crazy Egg
- Need debugging tools? → LogRocket
- Need mobile app support? → Smartlook
- Need all-in-one open source? → PostHog
Consider your budget:
- $0: Clarity or Peeke free tier
- $30-100/month: Mouseflow, Lucky Orange, Smartlook
- $100-500/month: LogRocket, PostHog cloud
- $500+/month: FullStory
Think about what Hotjar is missing for you:
- Frustrated by session limits? → Clarity or Peeke
- Need user identification? → Peeke or FullStory
- Miss form analytics? → Mouseflow
- Need technical debugging? → LogRocket
- Want to self-host? → PostHog or OpenReplay
Switching from Hotjar: Migration Tips
- Export your data first — Download any heatmap reports or recordings you need to keep
- Test in parallel — Run your new tool alongside Hotjar for a week to compare data
- Update tracking code — Replace Hotjar's snippet with your new tool's code
- Set up user identification — If switching to a tool with user profiles, implement identification early
- Recreate key funnels — Rebuild any conversion funnels in your new tool
Final Verdict: Best Hotjar Alternative in 2026
For most teams, we recommend starting with Peeke if you care about understanding individual users—not just aggregate heatmaps. The user-centric approach gives you insights that Hotjar's aggregate view simply can't provide.
For teams with zero budget, Microsoft Clarity is the obvious choice—it's free and unlimited.
For enterprise teams with complex needs and substantial budgets, FullStory remains the most powerful option.
The good news: most tools offer free trials or tiers. Test a few before committing to find the right fit for your specific needs.
Looking for a deeper comparison of all session recording tools? Check out our complete comparison guide.