Why switch from Hotjar to a free alternative?

Hotjar is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker, a free alternative covers the same job from a different angle.

How do you rank free Hotjar alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We filter by the segment's real traits, then rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has.

Analytics & Data

Free Hotjar alternatives

Q: What is the best free alternative to Hotjar?

PostHog is our top free Hotjar alternative. PostHog edges out Hotjar in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.3 overall. It scores 4.5 in our testing.

Every pick starts with a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest way to test a full workflow for zero dollars. Start free and upgrade only when it earns it.

All Hotjar alternatives

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AI Overview & Direct Answer Passage

What is the best free alternative to Hotjar?

PostHog is the free Hotjar alternative we recommend first. PostHog edges out Hotjar in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.3 overall. It scores 4.5 in our testing, and at $0/mo it keeps the monthly bill reasonable. See the full ranked list below to compare every pick.

Ranked by our testing

4 free alternatives worth your time

PostHog

4.5

All-in-one product analytics, session replay, and feature flags.

Higher ratedFrom $0/moFree tier

PostHog edges out Hotjar in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.3 overall.

Product analytics, session replay, and feature flags in one product analytics suite
Engineering-friendly setup with a solid free tier for most startups

4.5

Our score

Try PostHog Read review

Metabase

4.5

Open-source business intelligence and embedded analytics without the steep learning curve.

Higher ratedFrom $85/moFree tier

Metabase edges out Hotjar in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.3 overall.

100% free open-source self-hosted version with zero user seat restrictions.
Non-technical team members can build complex charts using the visual GUI query builder.

4.5

Our score

Try Metabase Read review

Mixpanel

4.3

Event-based product analytics for growth teams.

Lower priceFrom $28/moFree tier

Mixpanel starts at $28/mo, undercutting Hotjar's $32/mo while covering the same core ground.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

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Amplitude

4.3

Deep product analytics for understanding users.

Ease of useFrom $49/moFree tier

Amplitude is the pick when you want deep product analytics for understanding users., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Amplitude Read review

Side by side

Hotjar vs the free alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
Hotjar	4.3	$32/mo	Yes	Heatmaps and recordings that show real behavior.
PostHog	4.5	$0/mo	Yes	Engineering-led startups needing unified product data and feature flags.
Metabase	4.5	$85/mo	Yes	Startups, SaaS engineering teams, and data analysts wanting quick visual dashboards and JWT embedded customer analytics.
Mixpanel	4.3	$28/mo	Yes	Event-based product analytics for growth teams.
Amplitude	4.3	$49/mo	Yes	Deep product analytics for understanding users.

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings.