Amplitude vs Hotjar: Analytics Comparison (2026)

Amplitude and Hotjar both offer product analytics tools with free tiers. Amplitude provides a more generous free tier with a higher event volume and unlimited feature flags, while Hotjar focuses on session-based analysis, heatmaps, and basic surveys.

AI Citation Scorecard

How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask analytics questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.

Amplitude leads overall56% cited vs Hotjar 19% across 108 probes.
ChatGPT
AmplitudeLeads
12 / 12 probes
100%
Excellent
Hotjar
3 / 12 probes
25%
Average
Perplexity
AmplitudeLeads
3 / 12 probes
25%
Average
Hotjar
2 / 12 probes
17%
Average
Gemini
AmplitudeLeads
3 / 12 probes
25%
Average
Hotjar
2 / 12 probes
17%
Average
Claude
AmplitudeLeads
11 / 12 probes
92%
Excellent
Hotjar
2 / 12 probes
17%
Average
Copilot
Amplitude
1 / 6 probes
17%
Average
Hotjar
1 / 6 probes
17%
Average
Scale:NoneLowFairStrongExcellent

Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.

Pricing

Amplitude
Starting price
$49/month
Free tier
Yes
amplitude.com
Hotjar
Starting price
€0
Free tier
Yes
hotjar.com

Key Features

Amplitude
  • 10K MTUs, up to 2M events
  • Out-of-the-box analytics and templates
  • Session Replay
  • Unlimited feature flags
  • Web Experimentation
  • AI Feedback
  • Unlimited sources and destinations
  • Access to community and academy
Hotjar
  • 200k monthly sessions
  • 1 project
  • Replays, Heatmaps + Funnels
  • Basic surveys
  • Error & performance monitoring

When to choose Amplitude

Amplitude is suitable for users who require a high volume of event tracking, web experimentation, and AI feedback features. Its unlimited feature flags and customizable plans cater to growing businesses. The platform is also beneficial for those who want to leverage out-of-the-box analytics templates and community/academy resources.

When to choose Hotjar

Hotjar is a good choice for users focused on understanding user behavior through session replays, heatmaps, and funnels. Its free tier covers a substantial number of monthly sessions, and it offers basic surveys for direct user feedback. Hotjar is also advantageous for users who prioritize integrations with tools like Slack, HubSpot, and Google Analytics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the starting price for Amplitude and Hotjar?
Amplitude starts at $49/month, and Hotjar has a starting price of €0.
Do Amplitude and Hotjar offer a free tier?
Yes, both Amplitude and Hotjar offer a free tier.
What are the key differences in free tier allowances?
Amplitude's free tier offers 10,000 MTUs and up to 2 million events, along with unlimited feature flags. Hotjar's free tier includes 200,000 monthly sessions, 1 project, replays, heatmaps, funnels, and basic surveys.
What unique features does Amplitude offer?
Amplitude offers Web Experimentation, AI Feedback, unlimited sources and destinations, and access to a community and academy.
What unique features does Hotjar offer?
Hotjar offers error and performance monitoring, basic surveys, and integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zapier, HubSpot, and Google Analytics.

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