Home / Analytics / Hotjar vs Heap
vs

Hotjar vs Heap

Hotjar is behavior analytics tool with heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback surveys, while Heap is digital analytics platform that auto-captures every user interaction without manual event tracking. Hotjar is built for teams wanting heatmaps and session recordings, whereas Heap targets teams wanting auto-captured analytics without tagging.

At a glance

Hotjar Heap
Best for Teams wanting heatmaps and session recordings Teams wanting auto-captured analytics without tagging
Starting price Free Free
Free tier ✓ ✓
Open source — —
Free tier available ✓ ✓
Open source — —
Auto-Capture — ✓
Funnels ✓ ✓
Heatmaps ✓ —
Segments — ✓
Session Recordings ✓ —
Session Replay — ✓
Surveys ✓ —

Hotjar

Strengths

  • Includes Heatmaps as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows
  • Includes Session Recordings as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows
  • Free for 35 sessions/day — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
  • Established product with 12+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

  • Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
  • Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
  • Data accuracy depends on tracking setup — misconfigured events give misleading results
  • Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up
Try Hotjar → Full review

Heap

Strengths

  • Includes Auto-Capture as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows
  • Includes Session Replay as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows
  • Free up to 10K sessions/mo — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
  • Established product with 13+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

  • Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
  • Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
  • Data accuracy depends on tracking setup — misconfigured events give misleading results
  • Mobile experience lags behind the desktop version in features and polish
Try Heap → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Both tools offer free tiers, so you can test each before committing. Hotjar's free plan: Free for 35 sessions/day. Heap's free plan: Free up to 10K sessions/mo.

Feature gaps: Hotjar offers Heatmaps, Session Recordings and Surveys that Heap lacks. Heap brings Auto-Capture, Segments and Session Replay that Hotjar does not have. Both share Funnels.

Team fit: Hotjar is geared toward small teams teams, while Heap is aimed at mid-size teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Where each tool shines: Hotjar's biggest strengths are: includes heatmaps as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows. includes session recordings as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows. Heap's biggest strengths are: includes auto-capture as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows. includes session replay as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows.

Watch out for: With Hotjar, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Heap, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose Hotjar if...

  • Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams wanting heatmaps and session recordings
  • You specifically need Heatmaps and Session Recordings
  • You care about includes session recordings as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows
  • Your team size fits the small teams profile Hotjar is designed for
  • The free tier works for you: free for 35 sessions/day

Choose Heap if...

  • Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams wanting auto-captured analytics without tagging
  • You specifically need Auto-Capture and Segments
  • You care about includes session replay as a core feature, purpose-built for analytics workflows
  • Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Heap is designed for
  • The free tier works for you: free up to 10k sessions/mo

Looking for more options?

Hotjar alternatives
See all 3 alternatives to Hotjar
Heap alternatives
See all 3 alternatives to Heap

Related comparisons

Google Analytics vs Hotjar
Google Analytics vs Hotjar
Google Analytics is built for businesses that need comprehensive, free web analytics. Hotjar is built for teams wanting heatmaps and session recordings. Pick the one that fits.
Plausible vs Hotjar
Plausible vs Hotjar
Hotjar is the free option; Plausible charges $9/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
Fathom vs Hotjar
Fathom vs Hotjar
Hotjar is the free option; Fathom charges $14/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
Umami vs Hotjar
Umami vs Hotjar
Umami gives you open source and self-hosting; Hotjar is a managed service. Which trade-off works for you?
PostHog vs Hotjar
PostHog vs Hotjar
PostHog gives you open source and self-hosting; Hotjar is a managed service. Which trade-off works for you?
Mixpanel vs Hotjar
Mixpanel vs Hotjar
Mixpanel is built for product teams tracking user behavior and funnels. Hotjar is built for teams wanting heatmaps and session recordings. Pick the one that fits.

Explore more

Popular tools

Categories

Comparisons