Hotjar vs Plausible Analytics:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Hotjar had more branded searches than Plausible Analytics among web analytics tools in New Zealand. Hotjar had about 280 branded searches, while Plausible Analytics had 20. Hotjar made up 2.6% of all web analytics tool searches we track, and Plausible Analytics accounted for 0.19%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about web analytics tools, Plausible Analytics appeared in four of the five answers and Hotjar in three. Plausible Analytics was mentioned before Hotjar in four out of five answers.

Among web analytics tools in New Zealand in September 2026

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Top web analytics tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Plausible Analytics was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Hotjar was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Plausible Analytics was listed before Hotjar in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

Mentioned by AI

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

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
Google Analytics	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Matomo	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Adobe Analytics	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Plausible Analytics	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Hotjar	Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
Microsoft Clarity	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
PostHog	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	1 of 5
Mixpanel	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	1 of 5
Amplitude	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	1 of 5

Google Analytics5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Matomo5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Adobe Analytics4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Plausible Analytics4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hotjar3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Microsoft Clarity2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
PostHog1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Mixpanel1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Amplitude1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about web analytics tools

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which web analytics tool should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best web analytics tools in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best web analytics tool in New Zealand for a marketing team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best web analytics tool”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“website analytics software”

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Hotjar or Plausible Analytics more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Hotjar and Plausible Analytics by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine web analytics tools we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Hotjar and Plausible Analytics among web analytics tools in New Zealand, by month

Month	Google Analytics	PostHog	Microsoft Clarity	Hotjar	Mixpanel	Matomo	Adobe Analytics	Amplitude	Plausible Analytics
Oct 2025	79.3%	4.5%	4.5%	5.7%	2.6%	1.9%	0.65%	0.37%	0.28%
Nov 2025	78.6%	3.7%	4.4%	5.5%	5.4%	1.5%	0.45%	0.09%	0.18%
Dec 2025	78%	5.4%	4.5%	4.6%	4.6%	1.8%	0.41%	0.41%	0.27%
Jan 2026	79.4%	5.5%	5.5%	4.7%	3%	1.2%	0.22%	0.11%	0.45%
Feb 2026	80.4%	4.5%	6.8%	3.9%	1.8%	1.7%	0.45%	0.23%	0.23%
Mar 2026	84.4%	4.9%	4.9%	2.3%	0.96%	1.7%	0.4%	0.16%	0.32%
Apr 2026	82.2%	3.8%	7.2%	2.9%	1.4%	1.4%	0.38%	0.19%	0.48%
May 2026	83.4%	4.7%	5.8%	3%	1.1%	0.96%	0.48%	0.1%	0.38%
Jun 2026	77.8%	7.9%	6.5%	3.8%	1.7%	1.4%	0.35%	0.09%	0.61%
Jul 2026	80.4%	6.7%	6.8%	2.6%	1.5%	1%	0.27%	0.18%	0.46%
Aug 2026	80.9%	6.7%	6.8%	2.6%	1.1%	1.1%	0.37%	0.09%	0.28%
Sep 2026	81.2%	7%	5.7%	2.6%	1.5%	1.1%	0.38%	0.19%	0.19%

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

3 findings

Hotjar was ahead of Plausible Analytics in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hotjar’s share of searches among web analytics tools in New Zealand moved from 5.7% to 2.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 620 to 280.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Plausible Analytics’ share of searches among web analytics tools in New Zealand moved from 0.28% to 0.19%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 30 to 20.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand web analytics tools in September 2026?

2 changes

In September 2026, Plausible Analytics fell from 8th to 9th among web analytics tools in New Zealand.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Hotjar in New Zealand fell 54.8% over 12 measured months, from 620 to 280 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hotjar’s and Plausible Analytics’ 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.