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Marketing & Analytics · head to head

Northbeam vs Microsoft Clarity

Northbeam logo

Northbeam

Marketing & Analytics

Marketing intelligence for growth brands

From
$1500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Clarity logo

Microsoft Clarity

Marketing & Analytics

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: Northbeam limited creative-level reporting focused on campaign and ad set rather than individual ad performance; 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 Northbeam and Microsoft Clarity actually diverge.

Attributes where Northbeam and Microsoft Clarity differ
AttributeNorthbeamMicrosoft Clarity
Starting price$1500/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryMarketing & AnalyticsUnknown
Founded2020Unknown

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

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 Northbeam

  • Cross-platform attribution
  • Media mix modeling
  • Creative analytics
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Incrementality testing
  • Customer journey
  • Cohort analysis
  • LTV predictions

Only in Microsoft Clarity

Nothing recorded that Northbeam does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Northbeam

  • Marketing attributionnot Microsoft Clarity
  • Media optimizationnot Microsoft Clarity
  • Creative testingnot Microsoft Clarity
  • Budget allocationnot Microsoft Clarity

Microsoft Clarity

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

Where each one falls short

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

Northbeam

  • Limited creative-level reporting focused on campaign and ad set rather than individual ad performance
  • Lack of transparency in attribution modeling methodology and how credit is assigned
  • Pageview-based pricing that can scale faster than perceived value for high-traffic, lower-conversion brands
  • Slower reporting cadence limits real-time feedback for teams requiring immediate performance data

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

Northbeam

$1500/month
  • Starter$1500/month
    • Multi-touch attribution
    • Media mix modeling
    • Up to 1M monthly pageviews
  • Professional$2500/month
    • All Starter features
    • Creative analytics
    • Export API access

Microsoft Clarity

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Clarity review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Northbeam if

  • You need cross-platform attribution.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want media mix modeling.
Northbeam review

Choose Microsoft Clarity if

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

Questions people ask

Is Northbeam or Microsoft Clarity better?
Neither clearly leads. Northbeam starts at $1500/month and Microsoft Clarity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Northbeam or Microsoft Clarity?
Microsoft Clarity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1500/month for Northbeam and Free for Microsoft Clarity.
Does Northbeam or Microsoft Clarity run on more platforms?
Northbeam runs on Web, API. 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. Northbeam starts at $1500/month.
What is Northbeam best used for?
Northbeam is most often used for marketing attribution, media optimization, creative testing, budget allocation. Of those, marketing attribution and media optimization are not what Microsoft Clarity is typically brought in for.
What can Northbeam do that Microsoft Clarity cannot?
Northbeam covers Cross-platform attribution, Media mix modeling, Creative analytics, Real-time dashboards.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Northbeam: How is Northbeam priced?

Northbeam offers three tiers: Starter ($1,500/month), Professional ($2,500/month), and Enterprise (custom quote). Pricing is based on monthly pageviews and refreshed data frequency. There are no setup fees, free plan, or free trial.

Source
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
Northbeam: What platforms does Northbeam integrate with?

Northbeam integrates with Shopify, Meta Ads, Google Ads, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, Klaviyo, Recharge, and others. It pushes attribution data to Meta CAPI, Google Conversion API, GA4, and TikTok Events API.

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
Northbeam: What does Northbeam measure?

Northbeam uses multi-touch attribution (MTA), media mix modeling (MMM), and Northbeam Apex to measure how paid media spend translates to revenue. Apex sends attribution data directly back to ad platforms for algorithm optimization.

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
Northbeam: Who should use Northbeam?

Northbeam is ideal for intermediate to advanced ecommerce operators at Shopify-based DTC brands generating $1M+ annual revenue and spending at least $1.5M yearly on paid media across multiple channels.

Source
Northbeam: What are Northbeam's main limitations?

Key limitations include a steep learning curve and complex interface, shallow creative-level reporting, lack of model transparency, pricing that can scale faster than value for high-traffic brands, and slower reporting cadence compared to real-time dashboards.

Source
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