Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft Clarity had more branded searches than Hotjar among heatmap tools worldwide. Microsoft Clarity had about 165,000 branded searches, while Hotjar had 115,000. Microsoft Clarity made up 28.1% of all heatmap tool searches we track, and Hotjar accounted for 19.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about heatmap tools, both Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity appeared in all five answers. Microsoft Clarity was mentioned before Hotjar in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft Clarity, about 43% more searches than Hotjar
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Clarity, named ahead of Hotjar in 4 of 5 answers
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Top heatmap tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity showed up in all five answers. Microsoft Clarity was listed before Hotjar in four of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Microsoft Clarity1st
Hotjar2nd
Mouseflow3rd
Crazy Egg4th- Contentsquare5th
Fullstory6th
Lucky Orange7th
PostHog8th
Smartlook–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Microsoft Clarity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Hotjar5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Crazy Egg4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Mouseflow4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PostHog2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Contentsquare2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Fullstory2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Lucky Orange1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Smartlook0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about heatmap tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which heatmap tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best heatmap tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best heatmap tool for a website?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“heatmap tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“website heatmap software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine heatmap tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft Clarity, Hotjar. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PostHog | Microsoft Clarity | Hotjar | Contentsquare | Smartlook | Fullstory | Crazy Egg | Lucky Orange | Mouseflow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.6% | 24.8% | 30.9% | 5% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 26.6% | 26.7% | 27.3% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 2% |
| Dec 2025 | 28.7% | 28.8% | 24.4% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 1.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.2% | 29.4% | 24.6% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 23.8% | 35.7% | 20.6% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 1.7% |
| Mar 2026 | 37.1% | 30.8% | 14.6% | 5% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 28.3% | 35% | 17% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 1.7% |
| May 2026 | 32.1% | 39.7% | 13.4% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.1% | 32.3% | 15.5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 0.87% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 41.8% | 34.7% | 10.9% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.76% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.7% | 34.4% | 10.9% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 0.93% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 41.8% | 28.1% | 19.6% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.77% | 0.75% |
How has the Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Microsoft Clarity took it in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hotjar’s share of searches among heatmap tools worldwide moved from 30.9% to 19.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 138K to 115K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Clarity’s share of searches among heatmap tools worldwide moved from 24.8% to 28.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 111K to 165K.
How did search popularity change for heatmap tools worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Hotjar gained share of searches among heatmap tools worldwide, from 10.9% to 19.6%.
In September 2026, Microsoft Clarity lost share of searches among heatmap tools worldwide, from 34.4% to 28.1%.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hotjar’s and Microsoft Clarity’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Hotjar
2 branded search terms
- hotjar
- hotjar heatmap
Microsoft Clarity
2 branded search terms
- microsoft clarity
- microsoft clarity heatmap
Other head-to-heads among heatmap tools
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