Hotjar vs Umami — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Hotjar and Umami to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Umami takes the lead with a 4.4 rating and is best for developers who want free self-hosted analytics. Hotjar (4.2) is the better pick if you need product and marketing teams who need to understand the "why" behind user behavior..
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Hotjar | Umami |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.2(312) | ★★★★ 4.4(57) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | open-source |
| Starter Price | $39/mo (Plus, 100 daily sessions) | $9/mo (cloud) |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web | web, docker |
| Learning Curve | easy | medium |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Product and marketing teams who need to understand the "why" behind user behavior. | Developers who want free self-hosted analytics |
| Verdict | recommended | recommended |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Hotjar | Umami |
|---|---|---|
| Heatmaps (click, scroll, move) | — | |
| Session recordings | — | |
| Feedback widgets | — | |
| Surveys | — | |
| Funnel analysis | — | |
| User interviews | — | |
| Self-hostable | — | |
| Privacy-focused | — | |
| Custom events | — | |
| Multiple websites | — | |
| Realtime dashboard | — |
Hotjar
Pros
- ✓Visual insights that quantitative analytics cannot provide
- ✓Session recordings reveal exact user friction points
- ✓Free tier is enough to start finding conversion issues
Cons
- ✕Session recording limits on lower plans are restrictive
- ✕Not a replacement for product analytics (Mixpanel/Amplitude)
- ✕Privacy implications of recording user sessions
Umami
Pros
- ✓Free and open source
- ✓Beautiful clean UI
- ✓Easy to self-host
Cons
- ✕Self-hosting requires technical skill
- ✕Fewer features than GA
- ✕Cloud tier is limited
The Bottom Line
Both Hotjar and Umami are solid tools in the Analytics & Data space. Umami edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and is the better choice for developers who want free self-hosted analytics. However, if you prioritize product and marketing teams who need to understand the "why" behind user behavior., Hotjar is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.