FullStory specializes in comprehensive digital experience analytics with session replay and error tracking for enterprise teams, while Hotjar focuses on user behavior insights through heatmaps and feedback tools at a more accessible price point. FullStory targets larger organizations needing deep technical diagnostics, whereas Hotjar suits mid-market companies prioritizing user experience optimization.
FullStory vs Hotjar — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Enterprise digital experience analytics platform with advanced session replay and error tracking.
User experience analytics platform focused on heatmaps, session recordings, and built-in feedback tools.
Primary Focus. Starting Price (Monthly). Session Replay Quality. Heatmap Capabilities. Error/Performance Tracking. Survey & Feedback Tools. Ideal User Base Size
Choose FullStory if you need enterprise-grade session replay with comprehensive error tracking, JavaScript error diagnostics, and deep technical analysis to improve application performance and user experience at scale. Choose Hotjar if you're a mid-market team prioritizing user behavior understanding through heatmaps, feedback collection, and survey tools on a tighter budget with faster implementation.
FullStory: Native, included in all plans | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Partial - Requires SDKs and setup | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Yes - Dedicated engine for UX issues | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Available via analytics module | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Moderate (SDK integration required) | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Not available | Hotjar: Click, scroll, move, and attention maps
FullStory: AI-enhanced with advanced debugging | Hotjar: Standard with basic filtering
FullStory: No, requires third-party tools | Hotjar: Yes, native functionality
FullStory: 13 months enterprise | Hotjar: 12 months standard
FullStory: 150+ integrations | Hotjar: 200+ integrations
FullStory: Dedicated account teams | Hotjar: Limited enterprise tier
FullStory: SOC2, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, FedRAMP | Hotjar: SOC2, GDPR, CCPA
FullStory: No (requires integration) | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Advanced AI-powered | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Pixel-perfect 1:1 visual fidelity | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Advanced anomaly detection and ML insights | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Included on all plans | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: SOC 2 Type II + HIPAA | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: iOS + Android with replay | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Native included | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: 100M+ per month typical | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Automatic, no setup needed | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Basic funnel support | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: 3/10 (mostly automatic) | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: Standard segmentation | Hotjar: N/A
FullStory: 1,000 sessions | Hotjar: 100 recordings
FullStory: 1 type (session replay focused) | Hotjar: 4 types (click, scroll, move, attention)
FullStory: 365 days (with DOM capture) | Hotjar: 90 days
FullStory: 15-30 minutes | Hotjar: <5 minutes
FullStory: No, requires third-party | Hotjar: Yes, native widgets
FullStory: 2 (click, scroll) | Hotjar: 5 (click, scroll, move, attention, rage)
FullStory: Yes, with stack traces | Hotjar: No
FullStory: No (requires integration) | Hotjar: Yes (native)
FullStory: 5 (HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR, CCPA, ISO 27001) | Hotjar: 3 (SOC 2, GDPR, CCPA)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: $39-$99+ (depending on plan)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 100-500+ (plan dependent)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: ~50KB (moderate impact)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: $199 (Hotjar Basic+)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 90 days (standard)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 4.4 (1,200+ reviews)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 35,000 sessions
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 35 days on free tier
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Limited by plan
Learning Curve (Beginner-Friendly Rating)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 8/10 (visual insights)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: $0 (free tier available)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 100 sessions/month
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 4 types (scroll, click, move, attention)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Yes (custom segments, user profiles)
Session Recordings Per Month (Basic Plan)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: All plans included
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Manual setup required
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Basic funnel builder
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Sampling applied on lower plans
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Free tier, paid from $39/month
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 50+ metrics with custom reports
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 2,500 sessions/month
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Yes - for session recording and cookies
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Compliant with consent management required
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: ~56 KB with session recording
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Available on all plans
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 30 days (standard)
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Attention maps, AI clustering, scroll/click/mouse tracking, element-specific filtering
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Field-level dropout tracking only
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Limited customization, basic conditional logic
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Yes—detailed step-by-step drop-off analysis
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: 50 tracked elements
FullStory: N/A | Hotjar: Included in all plans
How to choose between FullStory and Hotjar
FullStory vs Hotjar — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for FullStory vs Hotjar. Contains 128 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
FullStory vs Hotjar — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for FullStory vs Hotjar.
Which tool is better for tracking JavaScript errors and application crashes?
FullStory is significantly better for error tracking. It provides native JavaScript error detection with full stack traces, performance metrics, and network activity monitoring—all critical for developers debugging production issues. Hotjar lacks native error tracking and requires third-party error monitoring tools like Sentry or Rollbar for similar functionality.
Which tool offers better heatmaps and scroll tracking?
Hotjar offers superior heatmap capabilities with 5 heatmap types including move tracking, attention heatmaps (showing where users focus their gaze), and rage-click detection. FullStory provides basic click and scroll heatmaps. For UX-focused teams, Hotjar's heatmap suite is more advanced and actionable.
Can I collect user feedback without integrations?
Yes, but only with Hotjar. Hotjar includes native survey, poll, and feedback widgets that can be deployed in minutes without external integrations. FullStory requires integrating third-party survey tools like Qualtrics or SurveySparrow, adding complexity and cost to your tech stack.
Which tool is best for small teams with limited budgets?
Hotjar is better for small teams—it starts at $39/month versus FullStory's $99/month, and has a much faster setup time (1-2 days vs 10-14 days). This means faster ROI and lower total cost of ownership for bootstrapped companies and startups.
Which tool works better for HIPAA-regulated industries?
FullStory is the better choice for healthcare and financial services. It holds HIPAA certification, BAA agreements, and SOC 2 Type II compliance—meeting strict regulatory requirements. Hotjar's compliance certifications do not include HIPAA, making it unsuitable for handling patient or PHI data.
How to Choose Between FullStory and Hotjar
Primary Focus: FullStory has Digital Experience Analytics & Session Replay, while Hotjar has User Behavior Heatmaps & Feedback.
Starting Price (Monthly): FullStory has $99, while Hotjar has $39.
Session Replay Quality: FullStory has Pixel-perfect with 90+ data points per session, while Hotjar has Standard replay with limited data capture.
Heatmap Capabilities: FullStory has Basic click/scroll heatmaps, while Hotjar has Advanced scroll, click, move, and attention heatmaps.
Error/Performance Tracking: FullStory has Native error detection and performance metrics, while Hotjar has Limited technical diagnostics.
Survey & Feedback Tools: FullStory has External integrations required, while Hotjar has Native polls, surveys, and feedback widgets.
Ideal User Base Size: FullStory has Enterprise (500+ employees), while Hotjar has Mid-market (10-500 employees).