Head-to-head · October 2026
MonsterInsights vs HotJar
MonsterInsights comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against HotJar.
MonsterInsights
With over 3 million active installs, MonsterInsights is the most popular Google Analytics plugin for…
HotJar
Hotjar is a new, powerful tool that reveals the online behavior and voice of your users. By combining both A)…
| Metric | MonsterInsights | HotJar |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 2M+ | 100+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 1.8M | 117 |
| Download trend | -62.9% | +6.4% |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 3,156 | 1 |
| Health score | 93/100 | 32/100 |
| Last updated | 1 month ago | 9 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 4.9.34 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.2+ | 5.2.4+ |
| First released | Sep 2007 | Dec 2017 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
MonsterInsightsHotJar
Choose MonsterInsights if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- One of the most-used plugins on the web — 2M+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.5/5 from 3,156 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Responsive support — 100% of recent threads resolved
Choose HotJar if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: analytics
FAQ
MonsterInsights vs HotJar: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Which is better, MonsterInsights or HotJar?
MonsterInsights comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against HotJar. Choose MonsterInsights if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose HotJar if you care most about download trend.
Is MonsterInsights more popular than HotJar?
MonsterInsights is the more popular of the two with 2M+ active installs, compared with 100+ for HotJar.
Can I use MonsterInsights and HotJar together?
Both plugins cover analytics, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are MonsterInsights and HotJar free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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