Which is cheaper, Hotjar or Plausible?

Plausible is 5.4x cheaper than Hotjar. Hotjar starts at $0/mo, Plausible starts at $9/mo.

Does Hotjar have a free tier?

Yes, Hotjar offers a free tier with sessionsPerMonth: 200000, projects: 1.

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

Analytics

Hotjar

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

Switching Cost: moderate

Plausible

← More affordable

Privacy-friendly, lightweight web analytics platform with simple dashboard, goal tracking, and UTM analysis

Switching Cost: drop-in

You're paying a premium for Hotjar — expect around a 5.4x higher bill compared to Plausible.

Startups take note: Hotjar provides a free tier, while Plausible requires payment from day one.

You'll notice different pricing structures: tiered for Hotjar versus flat-rate for Plausible.

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

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

Price Difference

5.4x

Plausible is cheaper by $40/mo

Free Tier

Hotjar

Has a free tier option

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies

Switching Costs

Plausible

Lower switching costs for easier migration