Brandwave

Hotjar vs Microsoft Clarity:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Microsoft Clarity had more branded searches than Hotjar among session replay tools worldwide. Microsoft Clarity had about 165,000 branded searches, while Hotjar had 115,000. Microsoft Clarity made up 28.3% of all session replay tool searches we track, and Hotjar accounted for 19.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about session replay tools, Microsoft Clarity appeared in four of the five answers and Hotjar in one. Microsoft Clarity was mentioned before Hotjar in every answer that named either.

Among session replay tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Microsoft Clarity, about 43% more searches than Hotjar

Microsoft Clarity 165K searchesHotjar 115K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Microsoft Clarity, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Hotjar in 1

Microsoft Clarity in 4 of 5Hotjar in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Microsoft Clarity, named ahead of Hotjar in 4 of 4 answers

Microsoft Clarity first in 4Hotjar never first

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Top session replay tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Clarity was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Hotjar was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Clarity was listed before Hotjar in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Fullstory1st
  2. PostHog2nd
  3. LogRocket3rd
  4. Microsoft Clarity4th
  5. Contentsquare5th
  6. OpenReplay6th
  7. Hotjar7th
  8. Smartlook–
  9. Glassbox–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • PostHog5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Fullstory5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Clarity4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • LogRocket4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Contentsquare3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenReplay3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hotjar1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Smartlook0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Glassbox0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about session replay tools

5 answers

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 session replay tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Hotjar and Microsoft Clarity among session replay tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Microsoft Clarity, Hotjar. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPostHogMicrosoft ClarityHotjarContentsquareSmartlookFullstoryLogRocketOpenReplayGlassbox
Oct 202525.2%25.2%31.6%5.1%4.2%4.2%3.4%1%0.01%
Nov 202527.5%27.5%28.2%4.5%4.5%3.7%3%0.9%<0.01%
Dec 202529.4%29.4%25%4%4.8%3.3%3.2%0.96%<0.01%
Jan 202629.9%29.9%25.1%4.9%4%2.7%2.7%0.8%<0.01%
Feb 202624.7%36.9%21.4%6.1%4.9%2.8%2.2%0.98%<0.01%
Mar 202638.4%31.4%15.1%5.2%4.2%2.4%2.3%1%<0.01%
Apr 202629.2%35.8%17.5%5.9%4.8%3.3%2.6%0.95%<0.01%
May 202633.1%40.5%13.8%4.4%3.6%2.1%1.6%0.88%<0.01%
Jun 202639.3%32.2%15.5%3.5%2.9%2.9%2.9%0.7%<0.01%
Jul 202642.4%34.8%11.1%3.8%3.1%2.1%1.7%0.93%<0.01%
Aug 202641.7%34.3%10.9%3.1%3.1%3.1%2.5%1.4%<0.01%
Sep 202642.2%28.3%19.8%3.1%2.5%1.7%1.1%1.1%<0.01%

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 session replay tools worldwide moved from 31.6% to 19.8%, 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 session replay tools worldwide moved from 25.2% to 28.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 165K.

How did search popularity change for session replay tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Hotjar gained share of searches among session replay tools worldwide, from 10.9% to 19.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Microsoft Clarity lost share of searches among session replay tools worldwide, from 34.3% to 28.3%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 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

1 branded search term

  • microsoft clarity

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among session replay tools

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