Hotjar vs Crazy Egg (2026): UX Analytics Suite vs Heatmaps + A/B Testing
By Alex Chen, SaaS Analyst · Updated April 11, 2026 · Based on hands-on testing and 7,600+ user reviews
30-Second Answer
Choose Hotjar if you want the complete UX analytics suite — heatmaps, session recordings, surveys, feedback widgets, user interviews, and funnels all in one platform. It also has a free plan. Choose Crazy Egg if you specifically need A/B testing alongside heatmaps and want a simpler interface with the unique confetti map for per-source click analysis. Hotjar wins 5-2 overall as the more complete platform.
Our Verdict
Hotjar
- Free plan with 35 daily sessions
- Surveys, feedback widgets, user interviews
- Polished heatmaps + funnel analysis
- No A/B testing capability
- Session caps on all plans
- More expensive at higher tiers
Deep dive: Hotjar full analysis
Features Overview
Hotjar is the UX analytics platform that product teams love. Beyond heatmaps and recordings, it offers on-site surveys with NPS scoring, feedback widgets for page-specific ratings, funnel analysis for multi-step flows, and Hotjar Engage for scheduling and recording user interviews. The form analysis feature shows exactly where users abandon forms — incredibly useful for checkout optimization. For CRO teams that need both quantitative and qualitative data, Hotjar is the most complete single-platform solution.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (Free) | $0 | 35 daily sessions, basic heatmaps |
| Plus | $32/mo | 100 daily sessions, surveys, feedback |
| Business | $80/mo | 500 daily sessions, funnels, Engage |
| Scale | $171+/mo | Custom sessions, priority support |
Who Should Choose Hotjar?
- Product teams doing conversion rate optimization
- UX researchers needing surveys and user interviews
- Teams wanting a free tier to start with
- Anyone needing form analysis and funnel tracking
Crazy Egg
- Built-in A/B testing on all paid plans
- Unique confetti map for per-source analysis
- Simpler, more focused interface
- No permanent free plan (30-day trial)
- No user interviews or advanced surveys
- Session recordings less polished than Hotjar
Deep dive: Crazy Egg full analysis
Features Overview
Crazy Egg was one of the original heatmap tools, created by Neil Patel and Hiten Shah. Its standout feature is the confetti map — showing individual clicks color-coded by referral source, search term, or other segments. This lets you see that Google traffic clicks different things than Facebook traffic, which is invaluable for CRO. The built-in A/B testing feature lets you create page variations and test them directly, with results shown alongside your heatmap data. For marketers who want to discover AND test in one tool, Crazy Egg fills a unique niche.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29/mo | 30K tracked pageviews, 25 snapshots |
| Standard | $49/mo | 75K pageviews, 50 snapshots, A/B testing |
| Plus | $99/mo | 150K pageviews, 75 snapshots, priority support |
| Pro | $249/mo | 500K pageviews, 100 snapshots, phone support |
Who Should Choose Crazy Egg?
- Marketers needing A/B testing + heatmaps in one tool
- Teams wanting per-source click analysis (confetti map)
- Users who prefer a simpler, more focused interface
- Landing page optimizers testing variations
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Hotjar | Crazy Egg | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes (35 sessions/day) | 30-day trial only | ✔ Hotjar |
| Session Recordings | Excellent quality + filtering | Good but less polished | ✔ Hotjar |
| A/B Testing | Not available | Built-in on all paid plans | ✔ Crazy Egg |
| Surveys & Feedback | Advanced surveys, NPS, widgets | Basic surveys only | ✔ Hotjar |
| User Interviews | Hotjar Engage — schedule + record | Not available | ✔ Hotjar |
| Heatmap Types | Click, move, scroll | Click, move, scroll + confetti map | ✔ Crazy Egg |
| Funnel Analysis | Multi-step funnel tracking | Not available | ✔ Hotjar |
● Hotjar wins 5 · ● Crazy Egg wins 2 · Based on 7,600+ user reviews
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose Hotjar if:
You want a complete UX analytics suite with surveys, NPS, user interviews, and funnels alongside heatmaps. Hotjar's free plan makes it easy to start, and the depth of qualitative tools is unmatched by Crazy Egg.
→ Choose Crazy Egg if:
You specifically need A/B testing alongside heatmaps in one tool. The confetti map for per-source click analysis is unique and valuable for marketers testing landing page variations. If testing is your primary goal, Crazy Egg fills a niche Hotjar can't.
→ Consider neither if:
You just need free heatmaps and recordings — Microsoft Clarity is 100% free with unlimited everything. For enterprise-level product analytics, FullStory or Heap offer more powerful session replay with behavioral segmentation.
Best For Different Needs
Also Considered
We evaluated several other tools in this category before focusing on Hotjar vs Crazy Egg. Here are the runners-up and why they didn't make our final comparison:
Frequently Asked Questions
Editor's Take
Here's the thing nobody talks about: if A/B testing is your main reason for considering Crazy Egg, you might be better off with Hotjar for analytics + a dedicated A/B testing tool like Google Optimize (free) or VWO. The A/B testing in Crazy Egg is decent but limited compared to standalone tools. Where Crazy Egg genuinely shines is the confetti map — seeing clicks broken down by traffic source is a real "aha moment" for CRO work.
Get our free SaaS Buyer's Guide (PDF)
Save hours of research. We cover pricing traps, hidden fees, and how to negotiate better deals.
Join 0 SaaS buyers. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Our Methodology
We tested both Hotjar and Crazy Egg on identical websites for 6 weeks, comparing heatmap accuracy, recording quality, survey capabilities, A/B testing features, and overall UX. We analyzed 7,600+ reviews from G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. Pricing verified April 2026.
Why you can trust this comparison
This comparison is independently funded. No vendor paid for placement or influenced our scores. Ratings are based on our published methodology using hands-on testing and verified user reviews. We may earn affiliate commissions through links — this never affects our recommendations. Read our full methodology →
Data sources: Official pricing pages, G2.com, Capterra.com. Prices and ratings verified April 2026. We update our top 50 comparisons monthly. Read our methodology
Ready to optimize your website?
Hotjar has a free plan. Crazy Egg offers a 30-day trial.
Verify Independently
Don't take our word for it. Cross-reference these comparisons against real user reviews on independent platforms:
Star ratings shown are aggregate signals from each platform's public listing pages. Click through to read individual reviews and verify our analysis. We update aggregate counts quarterly.
What Real Users Say
Synthesized from public reviews on G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Trustpilot. We update aggregate themes quarterly. Click platform badges in the section above to read individual reviews.
Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.