Best Free Heatmap Tools in 2026
You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars monthly to understand how users interact with your website. Several excellent heatmap tools offer genuinely useful free tiers—and one is even completely free with unlimited usage. If you're new to heatmaps, start with our complete beginner's guide to what heatmaps are.
This guide covers the best free heatmap tools available in 2026, comparing what each offers, their limitations, and which free option makes the most sense for different situations.
Quick Comparison: Free Tier Limits
| Tool | Session Recordings | Heatmaps | Retention | Surveys | Catch | |------|-------------------|----------|-----------|---------|-------| | Microsoft Clarity | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days | No | None (truly free) | | Hotjar Basic | 35/day | Unlimited | 30 days | 3 surveys, 20 responses | Very limited recordings | | PostHog | 5,000/month | Yes | 1 year | Yes | Technical setup | | Lucky Orange | Limited | Yes | Limited | Yes | Session caps | | Smartlook | 3,000/month | 10 | 1 month | No | Heatmap limits | | Mouseflow | Very limited | Yes | 30 days | No | Severely limited |
1. Microsoft Clarity — Best Overall Free Tool
Rating: 5/5 for a free tool
Microsoft Clarity isn't just the best free heatmap tool—it's genuinely one of the best heatmap tools period, competing with paid options while costing nothing. Read our complete Clarity review for an in-depth feature analysis.
What You Get (Free)
- Unlimited session recordings — No daily or monthly caps
- Unlimited heatmaps — Click, scroll, and area heatmaps
- Rage click detection — Automatic frustration identification
- Dead click detection — Find non-responsive elements
- AI Copilot — Natural language session summaries
- Mobile app support — iOS and Android SDKs
- Google Analytics integration — Link sessions to GA4 data
Free Tier Limits
Technically, there are soft limits:
- 100,000 pageviews per heatmap
- 100,000 sessions per project per day
In practice, these numbers are so high that 99% of websites will never hit them. For most users, Clarity is effectively unlimited.
What's Missing
- No surveys or feedback tools — Clarity is observation-only
- 30-day data retention — Recordings expire after a month
- No customer support — Community and docs only
- Limited privacy controls — Doesn't respect DNT, limited deletion options
- Industry restrictions — Cannot use on healthcare, finance, or government sites
Who Should Use Clarity
- Almost everyone starting out — It's free and powerful
- Small businesses and startups — No budget required
- Agencies managing multiple sites — Unlimited projects
- Anyone who just needs heatmaps — Surveys aside, it does everything
Setup Difficulty
Easy — Add a JavaScript snippet to your site. Takes under 5 minutes.
The Verdict
Microsoft Clarity is the no-brainer recommendation for free heatmaps. Unless you specifically need surveys or extended data retention, there's no reason to pay for a heatmap tool when Clarity exists. If you're curious about when paid tools make sense, check out our free vs paid heatmap tools comparison.
2. Hotjar Basic — Best for Survey Integration
Rating: 3/5 for a free tool
Hotjar's free tier is heavily limited compared to Clarity, but it includes one thing Clarity doesn't: surveys.
What You Get (Free)
- Unlimited heatmaps — Click, move, and scroll heatmaps
- 35 session recordings per day — About 1,050/month
- 3 surveys/feedback widgets — Limited but functional
- 20 survey responses per month — Very limited
- Basic integrations — Google Analytics, Slack, etc.
Free Tier Limits
The limits are significant:
| Feature | Free Limit | Context | |---------|------------|---------| | Daily recordings | 35 | A site with 500 daily visitors only captures 7% | | Survey responses | 20/month | One decent survey could use this in a day | | Active surveys | 3 | Enough for basic feedback | | Data retention | 30 days | Same as Clarity |
What's Missing
- Adequate recording volume — 35/day is too few for real analysis
- Survey depth — 20 responses/month barely scratches the surface
- No frustration detection — Rage clicks are paid-only
- No trends — Can't compare data over time
- Hotjar branding — Widgets show Hotjar logo
Who Should Use Hotjar Free
- Testing before committing — See if Hotjar's interface works for you
- Very low traffic sites — If you get fewer than 35 sessions/day, it's fine
- Occasional survey needs — Quick, low-volume feedback
- Existing Hotjar users evaluating downgrade — See what you'd lose
Setup Difficulty
Easy — Standard JavaScript snippet installation.
The Verdict
Hotjar's free tier feels designed to get you to upgrade rather than be genuinely useful. The 35 session/day limit is too restrictive for meaningful analysis. Use Clarity for heatmaps and only consider Hotjar Free if you specifically need basic surveys.
3. PostHog — Best for Technical Teams
Rating: 4/5 for a free tool
PostHog is an open-source product analytics platform that includes session recordings and heatmaps alongside product analytics, feature flags, and A/B testing. Learn more about how session recordings complement heatmap data in our session recordings guide.
What You Get (Free)
- 5,000 session recordings per month — Generous allowance
- Heatmaps via toolbar — Clickmaps, scrollmaps
- 1 million analytics events — Full product analytics
- Feature flags — Unlimited flags
- A/B testing — Basic experiments
- Surveys — Basic survey capabilities
- 1-year data retention — Much longer than competitors
Free Tier Limits
| Feature | Free Limit | After Free Tier | |---------|------------|-----------------| | Session recordings | 5,000/month | $0.005/recording | | Analytics events | 1 million/month | ~$0.0003/event | | Feature flags | 1 million requests | $0.0001/request | | Surveys | 250 responses | $0.20/response |
What's Missing
- Ease of use — More complex than dedicated heatmap tools
- Heatmap sophistication — Basic compared to Hotjar/Clarity
- Non-technical users — Interface assumes technical proficiency
- Instant setup — Requires more configuration than alternatives
Who Should Use PostHog
- Developer-led teams — Built for engineers
- Startups wanting all-in-one — Analytics + recordings + feature flags
- Open-source advocates — Can self-host for full control
- Teams needing experiments — A/B testing included
- Product teams — Strong product analytics integration
Setup Difficulty
Moderate — JavaScript snippet plus configuration for full features. Self-hosting requires infrastructure.
The Verdict
PostHog is incredibly powerful and generous for teams who can handle the technical complexity. If you're an engineering-led team that wants product analytics alongside recordings, PostHog's free tier is exceptional. For non-technical teams just wanting heatmaps, Clarity is simpler.
4. Lucky Orange — Best Free All-in-One
Rating: 3.5/5 for a free tool
Lucky Orange offers a free tier that includes all features—heatmaps, recordings, surveys, and even live chat. The limitation is session volume rather than feature access.
What You Get (Free)
- Session recordings — Limited number
- Dynamic heatmaps — Real-time visualization
- Surveys — Basic survey tools
- Live chat — Yes, even chat is included free
- Form analytics — Conversion tracking
- All features — Nothing locked behind paywall
Free Tier Limits
Lucky Orange doesn't publish exact free tier limits prominently, but expect:
- Limited session recordings per month
- Limited heatmap data collection
- All features available but at reduced capacity
What's Missing
- High session volumes — Free tier is restrictive
- Clear limit documentation — Hard to know exact caps
- Support priority — Free users get slower responses
- Data retention — Shorter than paid tiers
Who Should Use Lucky Orange Free
- Teams wanting to test everything — All features available to try
- Small sites needing live chat — Chat included free is unique
- Budget-constrained with survey needs — Surveys without Hotjar pricing
- Evaluating before purchase — See full feature set before committing
Setup Difficulty
Easy — Standard JavaScript installation.
The Verdict
Lucky Orange's "all features on all plans" philosophy makes their free tier great for evaluation. However, the session limits mean it's more of an extended trial than a permanent free solution. For ongoing free usage, Clarity is more generous.
5. Smartlook — Best Free Mobile Analytics
Rating: 3/5 for a free tool
Smartlook supports both web and mobile app analytics, making it unique among tools with meaningful free tiers.
What You Get (Free)
- 3,000 sessions per month — Decent for small sites
- 10 heatmaps — Limited but functional
- 1-month data retention — Short
- Web + mobile support — Both platforms included
- Event tracking — Basic automation
- 2 funnels — Basic conversion tracking
Free Tier Limits
| Feature | Free Limit | Paid Upgrade | |---------|------------|--------------| | Sessions | 3,000/month | 5,000+ | | Heatmaps | 10 | 30-100+ | | Funnels | 2 | 5-20+ | | Data retention | 1 month | 3-12 months | | Events | 10 definitions | 20-60+ |
What's Missing
- Adequate heatmap allowance — 10 is very limiting
- Long retention — 1 month isn't much
- Higher volumes — 3,000 sessions is tight for growing sites
- Advanced features — Filtered to paid tiers
Who Should Use Smartlook Free
- Mobile app owners — One of few free mobile options
- Dual web + mobile teams — Unified analytics free
- Small sites — 3,000 sessions is enough for many
- Testing mobile analytics — Evaluate before committing
Setup Difficulty
Easy (web), Moderate (mobile) — Web is standard snippet. Mobile requires SDK integration.
The Verdict
Smartlook's free tier is notable for mobile support—most competitors don't offer it at all. If you have a mobile app and want free analytics, Smartlook is worth considering. For web-only, Clarity is more generous.
6. Mouseflow — Most Limited Free Option
Rating: 2/5 for a free tool
Mouseflow offers a free tier, but it's extremely limited—more of a trial than a sustainable free solution.
What You Get (Free)
- Very limited recordings — Handful per month
- Basic heatmaps — Click and scroll
- 30-day retention — Standard
- 1 website — Single site only
Free Tier Limits
Mouseflow's free tier is severely restricted:
- Minimal session recording quota
- Limited functionality compared to paid
- Single website only
- Basic features only
What's Missing
- Usable recording volume — Too few for real analysis
- Form analytics — Mouseflow's strength, limited free
- Geo heatmaps — Paid feature
- Funnels — Paid feature
Who Should Use Mouseflow Free
- Trialing before purchase — Test the interface
- Very low traffic sites — If minimal recordings suffice
- Mouseflow-specific evaluation — Comparing against other options
Setup Difficulty
Easy — Standard installation.
The Verdict
Mouseflow's free tier is essentially an extended trial. For genuine free heatmap needs, Clarity or PostHog are far more generous. Consider Mouseflow free only if you're evaluating their paid plans.
Comparison: Which Free Tool for Which Need?
For General Heatmaps and Recordings
Winner: Microsoft Clarity
Unlimited recordings, unlimited heatmaps, zero cost. No competition.
For Surveys + Heatmaps (Free)
Winner: PostHog or Lucky Orange
Both include surveys in their free tiers. PostHog offers 250 responses/month; Lucky Orange includes surveys at reduced capacity. Hotjar's 20 responses/month is too limiting.
For Mobile App Analytics
Winner: Smartlook
3,000 free sessions for mobile apps. Clarity also supports mobile but Smartlook has stronger mobile-specific features. For e-commerce specific needs, see our best heatmap tools for Shopify guide.
For Technical/Product Teams
Winner: PostHog
5,000 recordings, product analytics, feature flags, A/B testing, and surveys—all free. Perfect for developer-led teams.
For Maximum Features on Zero Budget
Winner: Lucky Orange
All features available on free tier. Limited volumes, but you can access everything to evaluate fit.
For Long-Term Data Retention
Winner: PostHog
1-year retention on free tier. Everyone else offers 30 days (Clarity, Hotjar, Mouseflow) or 1 month (Smartlook).
When to Upgrade to Paid
Free tools have limits. Here's when those limits start hurting:
Upgrade When:
Your traffic exceeds free limits
- Over 5,000 sessions/month? PostHog's free tier runs out
- Over 3,000? Smartlook's free tier runs out
- Clarity handles virtually any traffic for free
You need surveys at scale
- More than 250 survey responses/month? PostHog paid
- Want unlimited surveys with targeting? Hotjar or Lucky Orange paid
You need extended data retention
- Historical analysis requires paid tiers (except PostHog)
- Seasonal businesses need 365-day retention
You need customer support
- Free tools offer community support only
- Complex issues or downtime need paid support access
Compliance requirements kick in
- GDPR right-to-erasure needs tools with proper deletion
- Regulated industries need audit trails and controls
Stay Free When:
- Site traffic is moderate (under 100,000 pageviews/month)
- You only need basic heatmaps and recordings
- Qualitative surveys aren't part of your workflow
- 30-day data retention is sufficient
- Self-serve documentation meets your support needs
FAQ
Is Microsoft Clarity really free?
Yes, with a caveat. Microsoft states it's free but reserves the right to charge for features in the future. As of 2026, everything remains free with no announced changes.
Can I use multiple free tools together?
Yes, many teams run Clarity (heatmaps) plus PostHog (analytics) or Clarity plus Hotjar Ask (surveys). Just be mindful of page load impact from multiple scripts.
Will free tools slow down my site?
Modern heatmap tools load asynchronously and have minimal impact—typically under 100ms. Running multiple tools may have cumulative effects, but single-tool implementations rarely cause noticeable slowdowns.
Do free tools have privacy issues?
It varies significantly:
- Clarity: Limited privacy controls, doesn't respect DNT
- Hotjar Free: Strong privacy controls, GDPR compliant
- PostHog: Can self-host for complete control
- Review each tool's privacy policy for your specific requirements.
What happens when I hit free limits?
Most tools simply stop recording rather than charging overages:
- Clarity: Effectively unlimited, unlikely to hit
- Hotjar: Recording stops at 35/day, resumes next day
- PostHog: Recording stops at 5K/month, resumes next month
- Smartlook: Similar monthly reset behavior
Which free tool has the best heatmaps?
Clarity and Hotjar have the most sophisticated heatmaps. PostHog's are functional but basic. For pure heatmap quality at no cost, Clarity wins.
Conclusion
The landscape of free heatmap tools in 2026 is surprisingly strong. You can run serious user behavior analysis without spending a dollar.
Our recommendations:
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Start with Microsoft Clarity — It's free, unlimited, and powerful. No reason not to use it.
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Add PostHog if you're technical — Generous free tier with product analytics, recordings, and experiments.
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Consider Lucky Orange for all-in-one — All features included on free tier, just limited volumes.
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Skip Hotjar Free unless you need surveys — Clarity beats it for heatmaps; Hotjar's value is in paid survey features.
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Use Smartlook for mobile — Best free mobile analytics option available.
For most websites, Microsoft Clarity alone handles heatmap and recording needs indefinitely. Save your budget for tools that genuinely require payment—surveys, long-term retention, or enterprise compliance.
Want simpler heatmap analytics with fair pricing? UXHeat is launching soon with a focus on what matters most—clear insights without complexity. Join the waitlist to get early access.