Hotjar
Plausible Analytics
| Feature | Hotjar | Plausible Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $32/mo | From $9/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | ux-designers, product-managers, marketers, conversion-optimizers | privacy-conscious-businesses, bloggers, developers, eu-businesses |
| Founded | 2014 | 2019 |
| Heatmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Session Recordings | ✓ | ✗ |
| Surveys | ✓ | ✗ |
| Feedback Widgets | ✓ | ✗ |
| Funnels | ✓ | ✗ |
| User Interviews | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dashboards | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pageviews | ✗ | ✓ |
| Referrers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Events | ✗ | ✓ |
| Utm Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Plausible Analytics Pros
- No cookies — GDPR compliant without consent banner
- Script is under 1KB (vs GA's 45KB)
- Open-source and transparent
- Simple dashboard — no overwhelming data
✗ Plausible Analytics Cons
- Less detailed than Google Analytics
- No free tier (but affordable)
- Limited segmentation and custom reports
The Verdict
Hotjar is built for ux designers and product managers, with a focus on heatmaps and session-recordings. Plausible Analytics targets privacy conscious businesses and bloggers and leads with pageviews and referrers.
On pricing, Plausible Analytics is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $9/mo compared to $32/mo for Hotjar. That $23/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Hotjar has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Plausible Analytics requires a paid subscription from day one.
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.