Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity: Is Free Good Enough?
Clarity offers unlimited free recordings. Hotjar charges but has more features. Here's how to decide.
Quick Verdict
Choose Hotjar
- You need built-in surveys
- You want frustration score metrics
- You prefer a more polished interface
- You need more advanced filtering
Choose Microsoft Clarity
- You have zero budget for analytics
- You need unlimited recordings
- You're already in Microsoft ecosystem
- Basic heatmaps are sufficient
Consider Clickyard
- You want AI recommendations, not just data
- You want conversion-focused insights
- You don't want to watch recordings
- You need actionable to-do lists
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of Hotjar, Microsoft Clarity, and Clickyard
| Feature | Hotjar | Microsoft Clarity | Clickyard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free → $213+/mo | 100% free | Free → $299/mo |
| Recording limits | 35/day (free) | Unlimited | N/A (AI analysis) |
| Heatmaps | Yes | Unlimited | No |
| Surveys | Yes (Ask) | ||
| GA4 integration | Basic | Deep | UTM tracking |
| AI recommendations | Basic | Basic | Comprehensive |
Detailed Overview
Hotjar Overview
Hotjar is a paid behavior analytics tool with heatmaps, recordings, and built-in surveys. It offers more features than Clarity but at a cost.
Strengths
- Built-in surveys and feedback
- Polished, modern interface
- Frustration scoring
- More advanced filtering
- User interviews (Engage)
Weaknesses
- Recording limits on lower tiers
- Not free (costs add up)
- Still requires manual analysis
- Products priced separately
Teams needing behavior analytics with surveys who can afford the cost
Free (35/day) → $39/mo → $99/mo → $213+/mo
Microsoft Clarity Overview
Microsoft Clarity is 100% free behavior analytics backed by Microsoft. Unlimited recordings and heatmaps at no cost.
Strengths
- Completely free forever
- Unlimited recordings
- Unlimited heatmaps
- Deep GA4 integration
- Backed by Microsoft
Weaknesses
- No surveys or feedback
- Basic compared to paid tools
- Limited advanced features
- Still requires manual analysis
Teams with zero budget wanting basic behavior analytics
100% free, no paid tiers
Beyond Free Data: Actionable Insights
Both Hotjar and Clarity show you data. Neither tells you what to do.
Free to start. No credit card required.
Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity FAQ
Yes, 100% free with no limits. Microsoft doesn't charge and there are no paid tiers. It's part of their strategy to compete with Google Analytics.
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