Hotjar
Metricool
| Feature | Hotjar | Metricool |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $32/mo | Free / from $22/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | ux-designers, product-managers, marketers, conversion-optimizers | marketing-agencies, social-media-managers, small-businesses, digital-marketers |
| Founded | 2014 | 2016 |
| Heatmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Session Recordings | ✓ | ✗ |
| Surveys | ✓ | ✗ |
| Feedback Widgets | ✓ | ✗ |
| Funnels | ✓ | ✗ |
| User Interviews | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dashboards | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
| Inbox | ✗ | ✓ |
| Smartlinks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Competitor Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ad Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Hotjar Pros
- Heatmaps show exactly where users click
- Session recordings reveal UX issues
- Easy to install (one script tag)
- Surveys and feedback widgets included
✗ Hotjar Cons
- Can slow down site if not configured well
- Session recordings take time to review
- Limited to web — no mobile app analytics
✓ Metricool Pros
- Comprehensive analytics across platforms
- Ad campaign tracking (Meta, Google)
- SmartLinks for bio pages
- Competitor analysis built in
✗ Metricool Cons
- Interface can feel busy
- Limited reporting customization
- Some features only in higher plans
The Verdict
Hotjar is built for ux designers and product managers, with a focus on heatmaps and session-recordings. Metricool targets marketing agencies and social media managers and leads with scheduling and analytics.
On pricing, Metricool is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $22/mo compared to $32/mo for Hotjar. That $10/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Hotjar offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Metricool takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.