Hotjar Alternatives (2026): 9 Heatmap and Recording Tools

Hotjar made heatmaps and session recordings familiar to ordinary website owners. Its own site now tells visitors it's part of Contentsquare, and many owners are looking at what else is out there. Perhaps you want a free option, and you don't want to hand over visitor data, a tool that keeps visitor data on your own server, or something that handles both recordings and analytics.

This page lists nine Hotjar alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. I've mixed smaller and open source tools with a few well-known names. Everything here comes from each tool's own website. If you're thinking about the wider picture, my look at the Hotjar marketing strategy shows how the brand grew, and my guide to email marketing platforms covers what to do with what you learn.

Hotjar alternatives for heatmaps and recordings, side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan, free tier or free software. Trial only means a free trial with no ongoing free plan. Details change, so check each site, especially if a feature such as heatmaps sits on a higher plan.

Tool	Type of tool	Good for	Free plan
Crazy Egg	Heatmap and testing tool	Heatmaps, recordings and A/B tests	Trial only
FullStory	Session replay and analytics	Seeing where visitors get stuck	Yes
Lucky Orange	Behaviour tool for small sites	Heatmaps, recordings and live visitor view	Trial only
Matomo	Privacy-first analytics	Self-hosted analytics you control	Yes
Microsoft Clarity	Free behaviour analytics	Recordings and heatmaps with no plan to choose	Yes
Mouseflow	Session replay and heatmaps	Recordings, heatmaps, funnels and surveys	Yes
OpenReplay	Open source session replay	Hosting session playback yourself	Yes
Plerdy	Conversion tool	Heatmaps, replay and pop-ups together	Yes
PostHog	Product analytics	Tracking in-app behaviour with session replay	Yes

Nine tools to try instead of Hotjar, A to Z

Crazy Egg

Best for: Owners who want heatmaps, recordings, surveys and simple page tests in one tool, with a free trial to start.

FullStory

Best for: Teams who want session replay with analytics behind it, starting on a free plan that needs no card.

Lucky Orange

Best for: Small business owners who like heatmaps, recordings, surveys and live chat together, with a free trial to look around.

Matomo

Best for: Owners who want analytics on their own server, with heatmaps and recordings available as an add-on.

Microsoft Clarity

Best for: Anyone wanting session recordings and heatmaps from a tool its own site calls free forever.

Mouseflow

Best for: Small and mid-sized sites who want replay, heatmaps and feedback surveys, starting on a free tier.

OpenReplay

Best for: Technical teams who want session replay they can host themselves, keeping visitor data on their own servers.

Plerdy

Best for: Marketers who want heatmaps, session replay, pop-ups and page tests in one place, starting on a free plan.

PostHog

Best for: Product and software teams who want analytics and session replay in one place, with a free way to start.

How to choose a Hotjar alternative for your website

Start with the question you want answered. Are visitors missing your button? Do they leave the checkout? Do they scroll past your offer? Heatmaps show where people click and scroll, while recordings show a single visit from start to finish. Surveys let visitors tell you in their own words.

• Heatmaps. Look for click, scroll and move maps, and check they'll work on mobile pages as well as desktop.
• Session recordings. Check you can filter them, so you'll find the visits that matter instead of watching them all.
• Feedback. Short on-page surveys can explain what the maps can't.
• Your website setup. Check it'll work with the site builder or shop platform you use.
• Where the data sits. Some tools are hosted for you, and others you'll be able to run on your own server.

Privacy and consent when you replace Hotjar

Recordings involve real visitors, so privacy matters, and it's worth thinking about before you install anything. Look at how each tool hides sensitive fields such as passwords and form entries, and whether it can be hosted by you. Some tools describe privacy-first or self-hosted options on their own websites, which suits owners who want tight control of visitor data.

• Tell visitors you use recording and analytics tools, in your privacy policy.
• Ask your tool how it masks form fields and personal details.
• Check what the tool says about cookie consent in your region.
• For advice about your own legal duties, speak to a solicitor or data protection adviser.

Which kind of Hotjar alternative suits which business

• Free behaviour tools suit small sites that want to see how people use pages before spending time on anything bigger.
• Heatmap and conversion tools suit marketers who tweak landing pages and want to see the effect of each change.
• Product analytics tools suit software teams who care about what people do inside an app as well as on a web page.
• Self-hosted tools suit technical owners who'd rather keep visitor data on their own server.

If you sell online, a shop platform's own reports can complement a heatmap tool. My guide to shop platforms is useful if you're also reviewing where you sell, and automation tools can send what you learn to your other apps.

Moving away from Hotjar: a simple switching plan

1. Write down the pages and funnels you watch most often.
2. Save any recordings, notes or survey answers you still need from your old tool.
3. Add the new tool's tracking code to one important page first.
4. Let it collect a few days of visits, then check the data looks sensible.
5. Rebuild your key heatmaps and filters, then remove the old code from your site.
6. Update your privacy policy so it names the tools you use today.

Mistakes people make when replacing Hotjar

• Adding a second tracking script without removing the first, which can slow pages down.
• Watching dozens of recordings without a question in mind.
• Forgetting to hide form fields that hold personal details.
• Changing a page the same week they switch tools, so the results can't be compared.
• Expecting a heatmap alone to explain why people leave.

Do you make website analytics or heatmap tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Making your final Hotjar alternatives shortlist

Pick two tools that suit your site and your comfort with privacy. Install each on one page, wait for some real visits and compare what you learn. Keep the one that answers your question in the least time, and remove the old tracking code only when the new tool is working.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free alternative to Hotjar?

Yes. Several tools on this page describe a free plan, a free tier or free software on their own websites. Limits on visits, recordings or features vary, so check the current details.

What is the difference between a heatmap and a session recording?

A heatmap combines many visits into one picture of clicks or scrolling. A recording replays a single visit so you can see what that person did, step by step.

Will these tools slow down my website?

Any tracking script adds some weight. Install one tool at a time, check your page speed afterwards and remove scripts you no longer use.

Do I need to tell visitors I use recordings?

Generally, yes. Mention it in your privacy policy, and speak to a solicitor or data protection adviser about the rules that apply to you.

Can I run these tools on my own server?

Some can. A few tools on this page describe self-hosted options, which keep visitor data on your own server. They usually need someone technical to set up and maintain.