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FullStory vs Hotjar
A detailed comparison to help you choose between FullStory and Hotjar.
Last reviewed:
| Feature | FullStory | Hotjar |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Monthly Cost (Solo) | $500+ | $0 |
| Target Audience | startups, enterprise | startups, creators, small-business |
| Verified | No | No |
| Solo-Friendly | No | Yes |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Editorial Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Categories | Analytics | Analytics, Marketing |
| Key Features | Session replay, Heatmaps, Frustration signals detection, Conversion funnels, Error tracking | Heatmaps (click, scroll, move), Session recordings, Feedback surveys, User interviews, Funnel analysis |
| Free Tier Quality | None | good |
Pricing Breakdown
FullStory
Quote-based. Business: estimated $500-2,000/month. Advanced and Enterprise: custom. 14-day free trial available.
Hotjar
Basic (Free): 35 daily sessions, unlimited heatmaps. Plus: $39/month (100 sessions). Business: $99/month (500 sessions). Scale: $213/month (unlimited).
Integration Overlap
Shared Integrations (3)
SegmentGoogle AnalyticsSlack
Only in FullStory (5)
JiraSalesforceIntercomZendeskOptimizely
Only in Hotjar (7)
HubSpotZapierGoogle Tag ManagerShopifyWordPressWixWebflow
Use Case Fit
FullStory
- * User experience debugging
- * Conversion optimization
- * Bug reproduction
- * Customer support context
- * UX research
Hotjar
- * Website heatmap analysis
- * Session recording and replay
- * User feedback collection
- * Conversion rate optimization
- * UX research and usability testing
FullStory
Pros
- + Best session replay quality in the industry
- + Frustration signal detection is unique
- + Comprehensive DX insights
- + Strong privacy controls
Cons
- - Expensive for high-traffic sites
- - Can be resource-intensive on client side
- - Free plan discontinued
- - Data retention limits on lower plans
Hotjar
Pros
- + Generous free tier (35 daily sessions)
- + Visual insights beyond numbers
- + Easy to install (one script tag)
- + Feedback and survey tools included
Cons
- - Session recordings can feel voyeuristic
- - Limited integration options
- - Sampling on free tier misses data
- - GDPR compliance requires careful setup
Editorial Verdict
For solo founders on a budget, Hotjar wins with solo-friendly pricing and a good free tier. For the highest-rated experience, FullStory edges ahead with a 4.3/5 editorial rating.
Sarah Chen
Editor-in-Chief