Analytics comparison

Amplitude vs Hotjar

A head-to-head comparison of Amplitude and Hotjar across pricing, features, ease of use, and value. Independently analyzed by our editorial team for 2026.

Our verdict

Amplitude takes the overall edge with a score of 93/100, compared to Hotjar's 89/100. That said, both are credible picks — keep reading for the breakdown by dimension.

Amplitude

Editor Pick

The digital analytics platform that answers your product questions

Overall score
93/100
Editor rating
4.6
Starts at
Custom
Category
Analytics

Hotjar

Understand how users behave on your site

Overall score
89/100
Editor rating
4.4
Starts at
$32/month
Category
Analytics

Score by dimension

DimensionAmplitudeHotjar
Overall93●89
Ease of Use8592●
Features95●86
Support88●85
Value for Money8487●

Higher is better. Winning score in each row marked with ●.

Key features

Amplitude

  • Behavioral analytics
  • Funnel analysis
  • Cohort analysis
  • Experimentation
  • Data governance

Hotjar

  • Heatmaps
  • Session recordings
  • Surveys
  • Feedback
  • Funnels

Pros and cons

Amplitude

Strengths
  • Powerful insights
  • Great visualization
  • Enterprise-ready
Drawbacks
  • Expensive
  • Complex setup

Hotjar

Strengths
  • Visual insights
  • Easy setup
  • Great for UX
Drawbacks
  • Limited free plan
  • Can slow down site

Which one should you pick?

Pick Amplitude if your team values powerful insights and great visualization. At Custom, it's positioned for teams that need analytics that scales with their workflow. Its biggest trade-off: expensive.

Pick Hotjar if your priority is visual insights and easy setup. At $32/month, it's a strong choice when visual insights matters more than feature breadth. The main weakness: limited free plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is Amplitude better than Hotjar?

Amplitude scored 93/100 versus Hotjar's 89/100 in our evaluation, so on overall fit Amplitudenarrowly leads. That said, "better" depends on what you need — see the dimension breakdown above.

What's the price difference?

Amplitude starts at Custom, Hotjar starts at $32/month. Both typically offer free tiers or extended trials — we recommend starting on the free tier for two weeks before committing.

Can I switch between them later?

Most analytics tools support some form of data export, but the migration cost (time, retraining, lost in-app history) is rarely trivial. Choose carefully the first time.