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Marketing · head to head

Microsoft Clarity vs Optimizely

Microsoft Clarity logo

Microsoft Clarity

Marketing

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Optimizely logo

Optimizely

Marketing

Digital experience optimization

From
$10000/year
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: Microsoft Clarity no paid tier means no premium support; enterprise SLAs and dedicated account management are unavailable; Optimizely no pricing is published and no minimum is stated
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Clarity and Optimizely actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Clarity and Optimizely differ
AttributeMicrosoft ClarityOptimizely
Starting priceFree$10000/year
Pricing modelfreequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile
FoundedUnknown2010

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

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 Microsoft Clarity

Nothing recorded that Optimizely does not also cover.

Only in Optimizely

  • A/B testing
  • Multivariate testing
  • Personalization
  • Feature management
  • Analytics
  • Google Analytics
  • Adobe Analytics
  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

Microsoft Clarity

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

Optimizely

  • A/B testing and experimentation across web and product experiencesnot Microsoft Clarity
  • Feature flagging and personalisation for digital productsnot Microsoft Clarity

Where each one falls short

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

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

Optimizely

  • No pricing is published and no minimum is stated
  • Every plan is individually packaged, so no two quotes are necessarily comparable
  • Reaching a figure requires a demo or sales conversation

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Clarity

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Clarity review.

Optimizely

$10000/year
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • A/B testing
    • Personalization
    • Feature management

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Clarity if

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

Choose Optimizely if

  • You need a/b testing.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want multivariate testing.
Optimizely review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Clarity or Optimizely better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Clarity starts at Free and Optimizely at $10000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Clarity or Optimizely?
Microsoft Clarity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft Clarity and $10000/year for Optimizely.
Does Microsoft Clarity or Optimizely run on more platforms?
Microsoft Clarity runs on Web, iOS, Android. Optimizely runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Microsoft Clarity for free?
Yes. Microsoft Clarity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Optimizely starts at $10000/year.
What is Microsoft Clarity best used for?
Microsoft Clarity is most often used for saas product teams identifying checkout and signup funnel friction, e-commerce sites optimising product discovery and purchase flows, content websites understanding reading patterns and article engagement, mobile app teams (ios/android) analysing user journey and drop-off points. Of those, saas product teams identifying checkout and signup funnel friction and e-commerce sites optimising product discovery and purchase flows are not what Optimizely is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Clarity do that Optimizely cannot?
Optimizely covers A/B testing, Multivariate testing, Personalization, Feature management.

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
Optimizely: How much does Optimizely cost?

Optimizely does not publish pricing rates. The company states that every plan is individually packaged based on specific customer needs. Interested customers must request a demo or contact the sales team to receive customized pricing.

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
Optimizely: What is the pricing model for Optimizely?

Optimizely uses a custom enterprise pricing model rather than published rate cards. Pricing is determined through direct consultation with the sales team based on the customer's digital needs and feature requirements.

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
Optimizely: Is there a free trial of Optimizely?

Optimizely does not specify free trial availability on its website. Customers interested in exploring the platform are directed to request a demo through the company's website to discuss trial options.

Source
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