AppAdvize Score
out of 10 · How we scoreShort answer
Hotjar scores 8.8/10 in our review and is best for agencies doing cro and landing page optimization for clients and consultants validating design changes with real user data. The standout: Heatmaps show exactly where users click, move, and stop scrolling. Watch out: Free plan caps at 35 daily sessions. There's a free plan to start with.
Reviewed by the AppAdvize editorial team · last verified March 2026
Overview
Hotjar reveals what users actually do on your website through heatmaps (where they click and scroll), session recordings (watch real visits), and feedback tools (surveys, polls, on-page feedback widgets). It's the go-to tool for UX research, conversion rate optimization, and understanding why people leave a page without converting. The free plan captures 35 daily sessions. Hotjar is particularly valuable for agencies doing CRO work for clients and for product teams validating design decisions.
Pricing
Free — Free — 35 daily sessions, basic heatmaps
Enterprise plans available on request
Pros & Cons
What we like
- ✓Heatmaps show exactly where users click, move, and stop scrolling
- ✓Session recordings reveal real user behavior — no guessing
- ✓On-page surveys and feedback widgets capture qualitative context
- ✓Easy one-script install — works on any website
- ✓Free plan sufficient for many small sites
Watch out for
- ✕Free plan caps at 35 daily sessions
- ✕Session recordings can raise privacy concerns — ensure GDPR compliance
- ✕Not a replacement for Google Analytics for traffic/SEO data
Best for
- Agencies doing CRO and landing page optimization for clients
- Consultants validating design changes with real user data
Not ideal for
- Traffic analytics — use Google Analytics or Plausible for that
- Large-scale enterprise analytics platforms
Alternatives
See all Hotjar alternatives, compared →Hotjar FAQ
Is Hotjar worth it?
Hotjar scores 8.8/10 in our review and is a strong fit for agencies doing cro and landing page optimization for clients. Standout: Heatmaps show exactly where users click, move, and stop scrolling. Main trade-off: Free plan caps at 35 daily sessions.
Is Hotjar free?
Hotjar is free to use — Free — 35 daily sessions, basic heatmaps.
What are the best Hotjar alternatives?
Top Hotjar alternatives are Airtable, Notion, HubSpot. See our full comparison at /tools/hotjar/alternatives.
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AppAdvize Scores
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2014
- Users
- 1.3M+ websites
- Setup time
- ~15 min
- Complexity
- simple
- Maturity
- established
Last verified: 2026-03-01