Marketing & Analytics · head to head
Countly vs Microsoft Clarity
Microsoft Clarity
Marketing & Analytics
Free behaviour analytics tool with session recordings, heatmaps, and AI insights
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Countly the private cloud plan starts at $175 a month and is described as usage based without stating the unit; Microsoft Clarity no paid tier means no premium support; enterprise SLAs and dedicated account management are unavailable
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Countly and Microsoft Clarity actually diverge.
| Attribute | Countly | Microsoft Clarity |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile, Api | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2012 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Marketing & Analytics).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Countly
- Event tracking
- Crash reporting
- Analytics dashboard
- User retention
- Open-source
- Cloud deployment
- On-premise deployment
- Web support
Only in Microsoft Clarity
Nothing recorded that Countly does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Countly
- Product analytics for mobile and web applicationsnot Microsoft Clarity
- Self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisationnot Microsoft Clarity
Microsoft Clarity
- SaaS product teams identifying checkout and signup funnel frictionnot Countly
- E-commerce sites optimising product discovery and purchase flowsnot Countly
- Content websites understanding reading patterns and article engagementnot Countly
- Mobile app teams (iOS/Android) analysing user journey and drop-off pointsnot Countly
- B2B platforms optimising onboarding and feature discoverynot Countly
- Agencies and consultants providing UX analysis to clients free of chargenot Countly
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Countly
- The private cloud plan starts at $175 a month and is described as usage based without stating the unit
- No event cap, data point limit or user limit is published for either paid plan
- The self hosted Enterprise edition is custom priced and billed annually
- Adaptivity and intelligence features are separately priced add ons on the cheaper plan
Microsoft Clarity
- No paid tier means no premium support; enterprise SLAs and dedicated account management are unavailable
- Dependency on JavaScript tracking; websites with strict CSP (content security policy) may struggle with integration
- Session replay is limited to browser-based interactions; native app behaviour in web wrappers is not captured
- AI Chat and summaries require adequate session volume; low-traffic sites lack sufficient data for meaningful pattern detection
- Privacy masking is automatic but lacks granular configuration; custom masking rules for proprietary data require workarounds
Pricing, plan by plan
Countly
Free- Open SourceFree
- Open-source
- Self-hosted
- Full features
Microsoft Clarity
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Clarity review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Countly if
- You need event tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
- You also want crash reporting.
Choose Microsoft Clarity if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
Questions people ask
- Is Countly or Microsoft Clarity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Countly starts at Free and Microsoft Clarity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Countly or Microsoft Clarity?
- Countly starts at Free and Microsoft Clarity at Free.
- Does Countly or Microsoft Clarity run on more platforms?
- Countly runs on Web, Mobile, Api. Microsoft Clarity runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Countly for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Countly best used for?
- Countly is most often used for product analytics for mobile and web applications, self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisation. Of those, product analytics for mobile and web applications and self hosting analytics where data cannot leave the organisation are not what Microsoft Clarity is typically brought in for.
- What can Countly do that Microsoft Clarity cannot?
- Countly covers Event tracking, Crash reporting, Analytics dashboard, User retention.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft Clarity: Is Microsoft Clarity truly free?
Yes. Microsoft Clarity is completely free with no traffic limits, no paid tier, and no restrictions based on session volume. It integrates with web properties via a single tracking snippet.
SourceMicrosoft Clarity: Does Clarity comply with GDPR and CCPA?
Yes. Clarity automatically masks sensitive form field data before transmission and supports privacy-by-default configuration. EU and California data residency options are available.
SourceMicrosoft Clarity: Can Clarity track mobile apps?
Yes. Clarity provides native SDKs for iOS and Android, as well as support for React Native and Flutter apps.
Source