Hotjar vs Matomo: Which Is Better in 2026?
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right analytics tool for your needs.
Our Pick: Hotjar (by a slight margin)
Hotjar edges out with a slightly higher rating (8 vs 7.5)
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | H Hotjar(Winner) | M Matomo |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Starting Price | $32/mo | $19/mo |
| Free Plan | ||
| Free Trial | ||
| Best For | small | medium |
| Ease of Use | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Features | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Value for Money | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Support | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Overview
Hotjar combines heatmaps, session recordings, and feedback tools to show how users interact with your website. Great for UX insights and conversion optimization.
Matomo (formerly Piwik) is an open-source analytics platform that can be self-hosted. Full Google Analytics replacement with complete data ownership.
Pricing Comparison
Better value: MatomoHotjar
Matomo
Better ValueFeatures Comparison
Winner: Matomo| Feature | Hotjar | Matomo |
|---|---|---|
| Web Analytics | Basic | |
| Product Analytics | Limited | |
| Heatmaps | ||
| Session Recording | ||
| Funnel Analysis | ||
| Privacy Focused | ||
| Real Time | ||
| Ab Testing | ||
| Data Retention | 365 days | Unlimited (self-host) |
| Custom Events |
0
features unique to Hotjar
2
features unique to Matomo
Pros & Cons
Hotjar
Pros
- Visual heatmaps and recordings
- Easy to understand insights
- User feedback tools
- Free tier available
- Quick to implement
Cons
- Recording limits on lower plans
- Can slow down site slightly
- Privacy considerations
- Limited quantitative analytics
Matomo
Pros
- 100% data ownership
- GDPR compliant
- Similar to Google Analytics
- Free self-hosted option
- No data sampling
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical skills
- Interface feels dated
- Cloud version gets expensive
- Steeper learning curve
The Verdict: Hotjar Edges Out
This was a close comparison, but Hotjar edges out Matomo with a slightly higher overall rating of 8/10 versus 7.5/10. Both are solid choices, but Hotjar offers a marginally better overall package.
Hotjar's advantages include Visual heatmaps and recordings and Easy to understand insights, though Matomo counters with 100% data ownership and GDPR compliant.
Our recommendation: We give the slight edge to Hotjar, but don't count out Matomo if its specific strengths align better with your needs.
Choose Hotjar if you...
- • Need ux research and optimization
- • Need conversion rate optimization
- • Need understanding user behavior visually
Choose Matomo if you...
- • Need organizations needing data ownership
- • Need government and healthcare
- • Need privacy-conscious enterprises
Ready to Get Started?
Read our full reviews:
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