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Hotjar vs Heap
If you're evaluating Hotjar and Heap, you're looking at two of the strongest tools in the analytics space — and they're more different than they appear at first glance. Hotjar is known for actionable product insights, while Heap tends to win on actionable product insights. This guide cuts through the marketing to give you a straight answer on which one fits your situation.
Our Pick
Hotjar
Wins for most teams. Choose Heap if actionable product insights is your top priority.
Hotjar
🏆 WinnerBehavior analytics with heatmaps and session recordings.
Starting price
Free plan available
Heap
Digital insights platform with autocapture analytics.
Starting price
Free plan available
⚡ Category-by-Category Breakdown
Hotjar: 2 wins · Heap: 1 winsWho Should Choose Which?
Choose Hotjar if you…
- →Need actionable product insights
- →Need supports growth experiments
- →Need flexible reporting
Starting price
Free plan available
Choose Heap if you…
- →Need actionable product insights
- →Need supports growth experiments
- →Need flexible reporting
Starting price
Free plan available
🔍 Feature Details
Hotjar
- ✦Event tracking
- ✦Funnels and retention
- ✦Dashboards and cohorts
- ✦Session replay or heatmaps
- ✦Data exports and APIs
Heap
- ✦Event tracking
- ✦Funnels and retention
- ✦Dashboards and cohorts
- ✦Session replay or heatmaps
- ✦Data exports and APIs
🎯 How Teams Use These Tools
Hotjar
Visualise user behaviour flows
Build funnels showing how visitors move through your site — pinpoint drop-off points and test improvements.
Compare performance across segments
Slice data by device, location, source, or custom attributes to find which segments convert best.
Set up alerts for anomalies
Get notified when metrics spike (good or bad) so you can investigate and respond faster than competitors.
Heap
Visualise user behaviour flows
Build funnels showing how visitors move through your site — pinpoint drop-off points and test improvements.
Compare performance across segments
Slice data by device, location, source, or custom attributes to find which segments convert best.
Set up alerts for anomalies
Get notified when metrics spike (good or bad) so you can investigate and respond faster than competitors.
💰 Pricing Compared
Verify current prices on each vendor's site — SaaS pricing changes frequently.
Hotjar
Heap
👍 Strengths & Weaknesses
Hotjar
Heap
Our Verdict
🏆 Hotjar wins — a close call
After comparing features, pricing, and real-world fit, Hotjar comes out ahead — a close call. Its advantage is clearest when it comes to actionable product insights and supports growth experiments. That said, Heap is the smarter pick if actionable product insights is your top priority, and you're comfortable with the fact that instrumentation effort required.
Not sure which tool is right for your team?
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- ✓15+ years Salesforce experience
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- ✓Free 30-min discovery call
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hotjar better than Heap?▼
Hotjar is the stronger all-round pick for most users, thanks to actionable product insights. However, "better" depends on your priorities — Heap is a strong choice if actionable product insights.
Which is cheaper — Hotjar or Heap?▼
Both tools offer paid plans only. Check their pricing pages for the most current numbers, as SaaS pricing changes frequently.
Can Hotjar and Heap be used together?▼
In many cases, yes — some teams use both tools for different purposes. That said, if you're choosing one, focus on which covers your primary workflow. You can always add the other later.
Who is Hotjar best for?▼
Hotjar is best for teams that prioritise actionable product insights. It tends to suit users who need supports growth experiments without the overhead of more complex platforms.
What are the main drawbacks of Heap?▼
The most common criticisms of Heap are: instrumentation effort required, and can be costly at scale. Whether these matter depends heavily on your specific use case.
🔗 Related Comparisons
Make your decision
Ready to try Hotjar?
Most teams see results within the first week. Start with the free plan if available.