Hotjar vs Plausible: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Hotjar and Plausible. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Plausible starts at $9/mo, making it $40/mo cheaper than Hotjar ($49/mo). Hotjar offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Hotjar vs Plausible: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Hotjar | Plausible |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $9/mo |
| Number of Plans | 4 | 4 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Plausible is the more affordable option, starting at $9/mo compared to Hotjar's $49/mo. Both are Analytics tools with 8 combined pricing plans and 57 features compared.
Hotjar stands out with a free plan for getting started.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Analytics needs.
| Pricing Plans | Hotjar Try it free | Plausible Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free $0/monthCheapest Includes
| Starter $9/month $9 / year Includes
|
| Tier 2 | GrowthPopular $49/month $39 / year Includes
| Growth $14/monthCheapest $14 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Pro Custom pricing Includes
| Business $19/monthCheapest $19 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
| Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
|
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Which Should You Choose?
Choose Hotjar if:
- •You need a free plan with 200k monthly sessions, 1 project—Hotjar offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You prefer Hotjar's usage-based model with its 4-tier structure
- •Hotjar's focused feature set keeps your team in control without tool bloat
Choose Plausible if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Plausible starts at $9/mo, saving $40/mo compared to Hotjar at $49/mo
- •You want more features built-in—Plausible offers 11 additional features across its plans
- •Plausible's 4-tier usage-based structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
Hotjar offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Plausible requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Hotjar a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Hotjar's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $49/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Plausible's tiering starting at $9/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Hotjar's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Plausible's 4 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Hotjar is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hotjar vs Plausible
Which is cheaper, Hotjar or Plausible?
How many pricing plans does Hotjar have vs Plausible?
Does Hotjar or Plausible offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Hotjar or Plausible?
What is the most popular Hotjar plan?
Does Hotjar or Plausible offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do Hotjar and Plausible compare for Analytics?
Sources
- Hotjar Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Plausible Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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