Which is cheaper, Fathom or Hotjar?

Fathom is 3.3x cheaper than Hotjar. Fathom starts at $15/mo, Hotjar starts at $0/mo.

Does Fathom have a free tier?

No, Fathom does not have a free tier.

Fathom has drop-in switching cost. Hotjar has moderate switching cost. Fathom is easier to switch away from.

Analytics

Fathom

← More affordable

Privacy-focused web analytics with no cookie banners required and forever data retention

Switching Cost: drop-in

Hotjar

Heatmaps and session recordings platform for understanding user behavior (now part of Contentsquare)

Switching Cost: moderate

Price sensitivity favors Fathom, which costs about 3.3x less than Hotjar.

The free tier advantage goes to Hotjar, which offers a no-cost entry point that Fathom lacks.

Pricing philosophy differs — Fathom charges flat-rate, but Hotjar takes a tiered approach.

If budget is your primary constraint, Fathom is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

If budget is your primary constraint, Fathom is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

Price Difference

3.3x

Fathom is cheaper by $34/mo

Free Tier

Hotjar

Has a free tier option

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies

Switching Costs

Fathom

Lower switching costs for easier migration