HotjarHotjar is now Contentsquare: heatmaps, recordings and surveys.
vs
PlausibleSimple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative
Comparison · Web Analytics · weekly run Nov 2
Hotjar vs Plausible
Which one do AI engines recommend, and how do they differ on price, fit and features?
The short answer
Plausible is the stronger AI pick in Web Analytics: it has a visibility score of 31.7 versus 4.9 for Hotjar, and ranks ahead in 57% of the answers that name both.
Choose Hotjar if…
- You need ISO 27001 or ISO 27017 or ISO 27018 or ISO 27701 or SOC 2 Type 2 coverage
- Session replay and heatmaps for behavior analysis
- Combines visual behavior with quantitative and feedback data
- Basic free tier or trial available
Choose Plausible if…
- You want the brand AI engines rank higher (31.7 vs 4.9)
- AI answers describe it more positively (54% vs 6% positive)
- You need a self-hosted or on-premises option
- Lightweight, privacy-friendly analytics
AI visibility side by side
Latest weekly run · Nov 2
| Metric | Hotjar | Plausible |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 4.9% | 31.7% |
| Change vs last week | New | New |
| Rank in Web Analytics | #15 | #3 |
| Share of voice | 1.9% | 8% |
| Mentions this run | 10 | 40 |
| Positive in AI answers | 6% | 54% |
The stronger value in each row is marked with a ✓.
Visibility score trend
Weekly runs over the last 60 days
Hotjar 0pp · Plausible 0pp over 0 weekly runs.
Engine by engine
Plausible leads on 3 of 3 engines
ChatGPT
AI Mode
Perplexity
HotjarPlausible
Head to head in AI answers
7 engine answers name both brands
3Hotjar ranked higher
4Plausible ranked higher
| Prompt | Engine | Hotjar | Plausible |
|---|---|---|---|
| What are the best Web Analytics tools in 2026? | Perplexity | #10 | #2 |
| Compare the leading Web Analytics platforms | Perplexity | #7 | #9 |
| Which Web Analytics vendors do analysts recommend? | Perplexity | #13 | #8 |
| What is the typical pricing model for Web Analytics software? | AI Mode | #6 | #1 |
| Which Web Analytics tools offer annual discounts? | ChatGPT | #4 | #5 |
| Official website of the top web analytics tool vendors | ChatGPT | #16 | #11 |
| Official website of the top web analytics tool vendors | Perplexity | #7 | #12 |
Features, pricing & fit
| Dimension | Hotjar | Plausible |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Usage-based | — |
| Entry price | Free; paid from $39 / mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Deployment | — | Managed cloud (EU-hosted) or self-hosted community edition |
| Integrations | 10+ | — |
| Compliance | ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, SOC 2 Type 2 | — |
| Support | AI-powered support on the free plan, Priority support on Pro and Enterprise, Community, Education | Priority support (Enterprise plan), Documentation, Contact form |
| Founded | — | 2018 |
| Headquarters | — | Tartu, Estonia |
| Employees | — | 1–10 |
| Funding | — | Bootstrapped |
| Best for | Midsize and SMB businesses that want heatmaps, session recordings and surveys in one product experience platform. | Website owners and teams who find Google Analytics more complex than they need |
Plans side by side
Hotjar
Free$0forever
Growth$39month, billed yearly ($49 billed monthly); from 7k monthly sessions
ProCustomcustom
EnterpriseCustomcustom
Plausible
Pricing not available.
Pros and cons
Themes from the AI answers that mention each brand
Hotjar
- Session replay and heatmaps for behavior analysis
- Combines visual behavior with quantitative and feedback data
- Basic free tier or trial available
Plausible
- Lightweight, privacy-friendly analytics
- Transparent, publicly listed pricing
- Simple dashboard and reporting
- Affordable starting price
- Free trial without a credit card
- Less review data available
Data collected ·ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Mode·coverage 100%·next run
Cite as: SlateIndex, “Hotjar vs Plausible”, https://slateindex.ai/compare/hotjar-vs-plausible, data of Nov 2, 2026. Licence: CC BY 4.0.