Introduction
#Heatmaps and session replay deliver complementary insights. Heatmaps show patterns. Session recordings show intent. Use both to understand user behaviour deeply.
What Are Heatmaps?
#Heatmaps provide aggregate visual data—clicks, scrolls, mouse movements—highlighted via color overlays to show where users focus.
Use Cases
- Design evaluation
- Identifying attention hotspots and cold zones
- Comparing layout or CTA effectiveness
What Are Session Recordings?
#Session recordings replay individual user sessions—clicks, scrolls, navigational flow—as if watching a video.
Use Cases
- UX debugging
- Conversion funnel analysis
- Identification of hesitation or form friction
Heatmaps vs Session Recordings: Comparison
#| Feature | Heatmaps | Session Replay |
|---|---|---|
| Data Type | Aggregate | Individual sessions |
| Insight Level | ‘Where’ users interact | ‘Why’ users behave that way |
| Best For | Layout design, content optimization | Debugging, conversion flow analysis |
| Analysis Speed | Fast overview | Time-intensive review |
| Privacy Impact | Lower (anonymised, aggregated) | Higher (individual data replay) |
| Ideal Workflow | Initial pattern spotting | Drill-down into specific user behaviour |
When to Use Heatmaps
#- After design changes or A/B tests
- To measure CTA visibility or engagement zones
- Quick visualization of content scroll depth and attention areas
When to Use Session Recordings/Replay
#- When conversions drop or forms fail
- To analyze confusing navigation or UI misalignment
- To observe exact user behaviours causing friction
Combined Use: The Full Picture
#Heatmaps identify anomalies. Session recordings reveal causes. For example, a heatmap may show low clicks on a CTA. Recordings may reveal users don’t scroll to it—indicating poor placement.
Practical Integration
#Tools like Userbird allow linking heatmap zones directly to relevant session recordings—select a hotspot and view sessions where users interacted there.
Conclusion
#Use heatmaps to map user attention. Use session recordings to understand their intent. Together they form a powerful UX toolkit for data-driven optimization.
Looking for a privacy-first solution with both capabilities? Check out Userbird’s heatmaps and session replay.
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