Brandwave

Hotjar vs UserTesting:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Hotjar had more branded searches than UserTesting among UX research tools worldwide. Hotjar had about 110,000 branded searches, while UserTesting had 100. Hotjar made up 20.5% of all UX research tool searches we track, and UserTesting accounted for 0.02%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about UX research tools, UserTesting appeared in all five answers and Hotjar in four. UserTesting was mentioned before Hotjar in every answer.

Among UX research tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Hotjar, about 1100 searches for every 1 for UserTesting

Hotjar 110K searchesUserTesting 100 searches

Who does AI mention more?

UserTesting, mentioned in every answer we collected

UserTesting in 5 of 5Hotjar in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

UserTesting, named ahead of Hotjar in every answer

UserTesting first in 5Hotjar never first

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Top UX research tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, UserTesting appeared in all five answers. Hotjar was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. UserTesting was listed before Hotjar in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Maze1st
  2. UserTesting2nd
  3. Dovetail3rd
  4. Lyssna4th
  5. User Interviews5th
  6. UXtweak6th
  7. Hotjar7th
  8. Qualtrics8th
  9. Optimal Workshop9th

Mentioned by AI

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

  • User Interviews5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Maze5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Dovetail5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • UserTesting5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hotjar4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Qualtrics3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lyssna3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Optimal Workshop2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • UXtweak2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about UX research tools

5 answers

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 UserTesting more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Hotjar and UserTesting by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine UX research tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Hotjar and UserTesting among UX research tools worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthQualtricsUser InterviewsHotjarLyssnaOptimal WorkshopUXtweakMazeDovetailUserTesting
Oct 202561.3%12.3%22.5%1.7%0.9%0.9%0.26%0.12%0.03%
Nov 202557.7%17.3%21.1%1.6%1%0.84%0.3%0.11%0.05%
Dec 202557.4%17.3%21.1%1.9%0.84%0.84%0.36%0.13%0.05%
Jan 202652.6%19.3%23.5%2.2%0.94%0.94%0.31%0.17%0.04%
Feb 202664.4%15.8%15.8%1.8%0.94%0.77%0.29%0.12%0.08%
Mar 202665.6%19.6%10.8%1.8%0.96%0.64%0.29%0.13%0.17%
Apr 202662.9%23.1%10.3%1.7%0.75%0.62%0.28%0.1%0.15%
May 202659.6%26.7%9.8%1.6%0.71%0.71%0.32%0.12%0.32%
Jun 202651.9%28.5%15.6%1.8%0.76%0.61%0.26%0.13%0.4%
Jul 202653.3%29.2%13.1%2.2%0.77%0.64%0.33%0.14%0.24%
Aug 202650.2%33.7%12.4%2.1%0.72%0.47%0.25%0.15%0.08%
Sep 202645.8%30.7%20.5%1.6%0.67%0.45%0.26%0.12%0.02%

How has the Hotjar and UserTesting comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Hotjar was ahead of UserTesting in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hotjar’s share of searches among UX research tools worldwide moved from 22.5% to 20.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 110K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, UserTesting’s share of searches among UX research tools worldwide moved from 0.03% to 0.02%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 170 to 100.

How did search popularity change for UX research tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Hotjar gained share of searches among UX research tools worldwide, from 12.4% to 20.5%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for UserTesting worldwide fell 41.2% over 12 measured months, from 170 to 100 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hotjar’s and UserTesting’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

1 branded search term

  • hotjar

UserTesting

2 branded search terms

  • usertesting usability testing
  • usertesting user research

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among UX research tools

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