Fathom vs Hotjar: Analytics Comparison (2026)
Fathom and Hotjar are both analytics platforms, but they differ significantly in their feature sets, pricing models, and philosophies regarding data and privacy.
AI Citation Scorecard
How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask analytics questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.
Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.
Pricing
Key Features
- ✓Up to 50 sites included
- ✓Ecommerce/event tracking included
- ✓Easy integration with all CMSs/frameworks
- ✓API access
- ✓Forever data retention
- ✓100% data ownership
- ✓No cookie banners required
- ✓Unlimited email reports
- ✓200k monthly sessions
- ✓1 project
- ✓Replays, Heatmaps + Funnels
- ✓Basic surveys
- ✓Error & performance monitoring
When to choose Fathom
Choose Fathom if your priority is privacy-focused analytics with unlimited site tracking, data ownership, and no cookie banners. It
When to choose Hotjar
Choose Hotjar if you need a free tier, robust user behavior analytics including heatmaps and session replays, and integrations with other platforms like Slack and Google Analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
AI visibility profiles
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