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Fathom Analytics vs Microsoft Clarity

Fathom Analytics logo

Fathom Analytics

Software

Website analytics made simple

From
$14/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Clarity logo

Microsoft Clarity

Software

Free behaviour analytics tool with session recordings, heatmaps, and AI insights

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Clarity has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fathom Analytics there is no free tier, only a 7 day trial; 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 Fathom Analytics and Microsoft Clarity actually diverge.

Attributes where Fathom Analytics and Microsoft Clarity differ
AttributeFathom AnalyticsMicrosoft Clarity
Starting price$14/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2014Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Fathom Analytics

  • Page view tracking
  • Goal tracking
  • Real-time analytics
  • Referrer tracking
  • Privacy-focused
  • GDPR compliant
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

Only in Microsoft Clarity

Nothing recorded that Fathom Analytics does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Fathom Analytics

  • Privacy-focused web analytics without cookie bannersnot Microsoft Clarity
  • A lightweight Google Analytics replacementnot Microsoft Clarity
  • Tracking many sites from one accountnot Microsoft Clarity
  • Long-term historical reporting while subscribednot Microsoft Clarity

Microsoft Clarity

  • SaaS product teams identifying checkout and signup funnel frictionnot Fathom Analytics
  • E-commerce sites optimising product discovery and purchase flowsnot Fathom Analytics
  • Content websites understanding reading patterns and article engagementnot Fathom Analytics
  • Mobile app teams (iOS/Android) analysing user journey and drop-off pointsnot Fathom Analytics
  • B2B platforms optimising onboarding and feature discoverynot Fathom Analytics
  • Agencies and consultants providing UX analysis to clients free of chargenot Fathom Analytics

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Fathom Analytics

  • There is no free tier, only a 7 day trial
  • Priced on pageviews, from $45 a month at the 500,000 pageview level
  • Custom events count against the pageview allowance rather than being tracked separately
  • Site allowances come in packs, with additional 50-site packs at $10 a month
  • Data is retained forever only while the subscription is active

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

Fathom Analytics

$14/month
  • Starter$14/month
    • Unlimited page views
    • 1 site
    • Real-time analytics

Microsoft Clarity

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Clarity review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Fathom Analytics if

  • You need page view tracking.
  • You also want goal tracking.
Fathom Analytics review

Choose Microsoft Clarity if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
Microsoft Clarity review

Questions people ask

Is Fathom Analytics or Microsoft Clarity better?
Neither clearly leads. Fathom Analytics starts at $14/month and Microsoft Clarity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fathom Analytics or Microsoft Clarity?
Microsoft Clarity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14/month for Fathom Analytics and Free for Microsoft Clarity.
Does Fathom Analytics or Microsoft Clarity run on more platforms?
Fathom Analytics runs on Web. Microsoft Clarity runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Microsoft Clarity for free?
Yes. Microsoft Clarity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fathom Analytics starts at $14/month.
What is Fathom Analytics best used for?
Fathom Analytics is most often used for privacy-focused web analytics without cookie banners, a lightweight google analytics replacement, tracking many sites from one account, long-term historical reporting while subscribed. Of those, privacy-focused web analytics without cookie banners and a lightweight google analytics replacement are not what Microsoft Clarity is typically brought in for.
What can Fathom Analytics do that Microsoft Clarity cannot?
Fathom Analytics covers Page view tracking, Goal tracking, Real-time analytics, Referrer tracking.

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.

Source
Microsoft 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.

Source
Microsoft 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
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Related pages

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