Microsoft Clarity vs Smartlook:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft Clarity had more branded searches than Smartlook among session replay tools worldwide. Microsoft Clarity had about 165,000 branded searches, while Smartlook had 14,800. Microsoft Clarity made up 28.3% of all session replay tool searches we track, and Smartlook accounted for 2.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about session replay tools, Microsoft Clarity appeared in four of the five answers and Smartlook in none.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft Clarity, about 11 searches for every 1 for Smartlook
Who does AI mention more?
Microsoft Clarity, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Smartlook in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Microsoft Clarity, the only one of the two named
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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. Smartlook did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Fullstory1st
PostHog2nd
LogRocket3rd- Microsoft Clarity4th
Contentsquare5th
OpenReplay6th- Hotjar7th
Smartlook–
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which session replay tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best session replay tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best session replay tool for support team insights?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“session replay tool”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“user session recording”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Microsoft Clarity or Smartlook more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft Clarity and Smartlook 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.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft Clarity, Smartlook. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | PostHog | Microsoft Clarity | Hotjar | Contentsquare | Smartlook | Fullstory | LogRocket | OpenReplay | Glassbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 25.2% | 25.2% | 31.6% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 1% | 0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 27.5% | 27.5% | 28.2% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3% | 0.9% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 29.4% | 29.4% | 25% | 4% | 4.8% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 0.96% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.9% | 29.9% | 25.1% | 4.9% | 4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.8% | <0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 24.7% | 36.9% | 21.4% | 6.1% | 4.9% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 0.98% | <0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 38.4% | 31.4% | 15.1% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1% | <0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.2% | 35.8% | 17.5% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.3% | 2.6% | 0.95% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 33.1% | 40.5% | 13.8% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.88% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 39.3% | 32.2% | 15.5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 0.7% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 42.4% | 34.8% | 11.1% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.93% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.7% | 34.3% | 10.9% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 1.4% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 42.2% | 28.3% | 19.8% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 1.1% | <0.01% |
How has the Microsoft Clarity and Smartlook comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Microsoft Clarity was ahead of Smartlook in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Smartlook’s share of searches among session replay tools worldwide moved from 4.2% to 2.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 18.1K to 14.8K.
How did search popularity change for session replay tools worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Microsoft Clarity lost share of searches among session replay tools worldwide, from 34.3% to 28.3%.
In September 2026, Smartlook lost share of searches among session replay tools worldwide, from 3.1% to 2.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft Clarity’s and Smartlook’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.
Microsoft Clarity
1 branded search term
- microsoft clarity
Smartlook
1 branded search term
- smartlook
Other head-to-heads among session replay tools
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