Hotjar review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Hotjar suits site teams who want session replay and heatmaps on a free plan before paying. The free plan is real, so the paid entry point of $39 only matters once you outgrow 35 daily sessions on free plan. Budget for that step, and the upgrade covers heavier traffic.
Key facts
- Best for
- Small site teams who start free and upgrade once session volume grows.
- Price from
- $39 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Usage limits
- 35 daily sessions on free plan (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Free plan
- Official website
- hotjar.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan means the cost of getting started is free
- Entry price of $39 keeps the first paid step modest
- The free plan model means you can test the tool before spending
- Free plans are common in this category, with 58.4% of ranked brands offering one
Cons
- Usage on the free plan is capped at 35 daily sessions on free plan
- The paid entry price of $39 is above the SEO tools median of €25.43
- On entry price, Hotjar ranks 225 of 307 brands, which puts it well down the cost list
Ready to try Hotjar?
Scored 8.5 / 10 by ForgeCue.
Who it suits
- Small business owners running a single site who want replay data without a contract
- Teams that need heatmap and session data before committing to a paid plan
- Anyone comparing site feedback tools on entry price and free tier limits
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers ranking tools purely on entry price, where Hotjar sits at 225 of 307 brands
- Vantage, which starts lower at $30 and sits below the ranked median
- Buyers who need regional tax tooling rather than site behaviour data, such as myGreekTax at €69
How Hotjar compares
- 8.5 vs 9.3
- 8.5 vs 9.1
8.5 vs 8.7- 8.5 vs 9.2
- 8.5 vs 9.3
8.5 vs 9.4
8.5 vs 8.5- 8.5 vs 9.2
- 8.5 vs 8.7
- 8.5 vs 8.0
- 8.5 vs 9.5
8.5 vs 9.4
8.5 vs 9.4- 8.5 vs 9.3
8.5 vs 9.1
8.5 vs 9.1
8.5 vs 9.1- 8.5 vs 9.0
8.5 vs 9.0- 8.5 vs 8.9
8.5 vs 8.9
8.5 vs 8.8- 8.5 vs 8.7
8.5 vs 8.5
8.5 vs 8.5
8.5 vs 8.5
8.5 vs 8.5
8.5 vs 8.5
8.5 vs 8.0
8.5 vs 8.0
8.5 vs 8.0
Frequently asked questions
Does Hotjar have a free plan?+
Yes. Hotjar offers a free plan, so you can start using it without paying anything. On that plan usage is limited to 35 daily sessions on free plan, which means light traffic sites can stay on it while busier sites will need to look at the paid tiers.
How much does Hotjar cost to start?+
Paid plans start at $39. That is the entry point, and it sits above the median entry price of €25.43 across ranked SEO tools, so Hotjar is not the cheapest way into the category.
What usage limits apply on the free plan?+
The free plan is capped at 35 daily sessions on free plan. Once regular traffic pushes past that, the paid entry price of $39 becomes relevant, and the limit is the practical trigger for upgrading.
How is Hotjar priced, and does it use a free tier or a trial?+
The listed model is free plan, so entry is through a free tier rather than a time limited trial. Paid pricing begins at $39, and the free tier is the practical way to judge the tool before spending.
How does Hotjar compare with cheaper alternatives?+
Vantage starts at $30, which is below the Hotjar entry price of $39. Novo is free at $0. For readers weighing entry cost alone, those two come out ahead of Hotjar.
Is a free plan common among similar tools?+
Yes. A free plan appears on 58.4% of ranked SEO tools, so the free tier is normal in this group rather than a Hotjar exception. Hotjar's paid entry price still sits above the €25.43 median.
What kind of tool is Hotjar in this comparison?+
The comparison group here is SEO tools, where Hotjar is listed, and most ranked tools in the group are SEO products at 100%. Hotjar's own entry in the group is a site feedback tool, which is where the free plan and 35 daily sessions on free plan limits matter most.
Who is Hotjar suited to?+
It suits small business owners running a single site who want heatmap and session data before signing a contract. Hotjar's entry price of $39 also fits teams that upgrade from the free plan rather than buying the most expensive tier on offer.
Sources
- blog.uxtweak.com/hotjar-pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan
“Hotjar pricing starts at €0/month for the Free plan”
- crazyegg.com/blog/hotjar-alternatives checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Pricing model, Price from
“Hotjar offers a free plan”
- fullsession.io/blog/hotjar-vs-mixpanel-vs-clicktale checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Usage limits
“lets you track up to 35 daily sessions”
Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.