Hotjar vs Heap: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Hotjar and Heap.
Quick answer
Hotjar and Heap rate almost identically on G2 (4.3/5 vs 4.4/5), so the decision usually comes down to price and workflow fit. Heap is the cheaper option, starting at Free/mo versus $32/mo for Hotjar.
Heatmaps, session recordings, and feedback tools
Auto-capture analytics — no tagging required
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Hotjar | Heap |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $32/mo | Free/mo ✓ Cheaper |
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| G2 rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 ↑ |
| Capterra rating | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Founded | 2014 | 2012 |
Hotjar: pros & cons
- ✓Easy to install
- ✓Great heatmap visualisations
- ✓Good free plan
- ✓User-friendly interface
- ✗Session limits on lower tiers
- ✗Less powerful for event analytics
- ✗Can slow down pages slightly
Heap: pros & cons
- ✓No manual event tagging needed
- ✓Retroactive analysis
- ✓Good session replay
- ✓Easy to get started
- ✗Pricing not transparent
- ✗Can generate too much noise
- ✗Advanced features expensive
Choose Hotjar if...
- →You want to see exactly where users click, scroll, and drop off on landing pages using visual heatmaps without digging through event data
- →Your UX team needs session recordings to watch real user journeys and identify friction points before running A/B tests
- →You want to trigger on-site surveys at specific moments — post-purchase, exit intent, or after a feature interaction — to capture qualitative feedback
Choose Heap if...
- →You want to analyse user behaviour retroactively — answering questions about events that happened before you thought to track them
- →Your team lacks engineering bandwidth to manually tag every click and form interaction before analysis can begin
- →You need to combine session recordings with funnel data to pinpoint exactly where users drop off in a specific flow
Our verdict
Hotjar and Heap are closely matched on user ratings. Heap is the more affordable option. The right pick depends on your team size and workflow.
Hotjar vs Heap: frequently asked questions
Is Hotjar better than Heap?
Heap has a higher G2 score (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5). The best tool depends on your specific use case and budget.
Which is cheaper, Hotjar or Heap?
Heap is cheaper, starting at Free/mo.
What is the main difference between Hotjar and Heap?
Hotjar focuses on heatmaps, session recordings, on-site surveys. Heap focuses on auto-capture events, funnel analysis, retention analysis. Both serve similar use cases but differ in approach and pricing model.
Can I migrate from Hotjar to Heap?
Most teams migrate between Hotjar and Heap within a day or two. Export your data from Hotjar (typically as CSV or via API), then use Heap's import wizard to bring it across. Check each tool's help centre for a step-by-step migration guide before switching.