Session replay records what a user did in your product, every click, scroll and page change, so you can watch it back like a video. For a SaaS it answers the two questions logs never can: what did the user actually see, and what did they do just before it broke?
This guide explains what session replay is good for, what to look out for, and seven session replay tools small SaaS teams use, with prices from each company’s own site.
What session replay is (and isn’t)
A session replay isn’t a screen recording. The tool captures changes to the page and rebuilds them in your browser, which is why replays are small, searchable and can hide sensitive fields. Most tools also capture console errors and network requests alongside, so you can see the error at the exact moment the user hit it.
Teams use replay for three jobs:
- Fixing bugs. Watch what happened instead of asking a customer to describe it.
- Answering support questions. See what the customer saw before you reply.
- Improving the product. Spot where people hesitate, rage-click or give up.
Which job matters most decides which tool fits. A tool built for the third job records everyone and charges by volume. A tool built for the first two attaches replays to the moments that matter.
What to look for
- Console and network logs next to the replay, so bugs explain themselves.
- Privacy controls. Masking for inputs and sensitive text, on by default.
- Search and filters. Find sessions with an error, on a page, for one customer.
- Pricing that fits your volume. Most tools charge per recorded session. A busy marketing site can burn through a plan in days.
- Where replays connect. A replay is most useful attached to the bug report, support chat or feedback it explains.
Seven session replay tools compared
| Tool | Free plan | Paid plans | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectify | 10 replays | From $29 a month (100 replays), with support, feedback and uptime | Replays on bug reports and support chats |
| Microsoft Clarity | Free, no traffic limits | None | Free replays and heatmaps for any site |
| PostHog | 5,000 recordings a month | Pay per use above that | Teams that want analytics, flags and replay together |
| FullStory | 30,000 sessions a month, 10 users | On request | Deep product analytics on larger products |
| LogRocket | 14-day trial | From $176 a month, billed yearly (25,000 sessions) | Front-end performance and errors at scale |
| Hotjar | Free plan | From $49 a month ($40 yearly), 7,000 sessions | Marketing sites and conversion work |
| Sentry | Developer plan | From $29 a month ($26 yearly), 50 replays | Teams already using Sentry for errors |
1. Rectify
Rectify records replays where they matter most for a small SaaS: on every bug report and alongside support conversations. A report from the in-app widget arrives with a replay of the last few minutes, console logs, network requests and the user’s actions, and a Sessions page lists every replay with who sent it and how many events were recorded. Quanta, Rectify’s AI teammate, can read the replay and tell you what broke, then draft the fix.
Price: 10 replays on the free plan, 100 on Build ($29 a month), 1,000 on Launch ($59), 5,000 on Accelerate ($99), with support, feedback, the roadmap and uptime included.
Honest note: if you want to record every visit to a busy marketing site, a volume tool is a better fit.
See bug reports and feedback, or how it compares with LogRocket and Hotjar.
2. Microsoft Clarity
Clarity is free, with no limits on traffic, and includes session recordings, heatmaps and AI summaries of where users struggle. It’s the easiest way to start watching sessions on any site.
Pick it if you want replays and heatmaps for nothing and don’t need them attached to bug reports or support.
3. PostHog
PostHog bundles session replay with product analytics, feature flags, experiments and error tracking. Every month is free up to 5,000 recordings, then you pay per use, with unlimited team members.
Pick it if you want analytics and replay in one developer-friendly product. Compared in Rectify vs PostHog.
4. FullStory
FullStory is a product analytics suite with replay at its core: heatmaps, funnels, journeys and co-browsing. Its free plan covers 30,000 sessions a month for up to 10 users with 12 months of data; paid plans are sold through a demo.
Pick it if you have a larger product and a team that will dig into behaviour data.
5. LogRocket
LogRocket records sessions on web and mobile, with front-end performance monitoring, error tracking and AI that summarises sessions and spots issues. Pricing starts at $176 a month billed yearly for 25,000 sessions, with a 14-day free trial.
Pick it if you need to record everything at scale and care about front-end performance.
6. Hotjar
Hotjar, now part of Contentsquare, pairs replays with heatmaps, funnels and surveys. There’s a free plan; Growth is $49 a month, or $40 billed yearly, for 7,000 sessions.
Pick it if your focus is the marketing site and conversion rate.
7. Sentry
Sentry’s paid plans include 50 session replays alongside its error monitoring, so replays sit next to the errors they explain. Team is $29 a month, or $26 billed yearly.
Pick it if you already use Sentry and want a replay on your most important errors.
How many replays do you actually need?
Fewer than you’d think. If replays are for fixing bugs and answering customers, you need one for every bug report and support conversation, not one for every visit. A small SaaS with a few hundred reports a month is well served by hundreds of replays, not tens of thousands. Record everything only when you’re studying behaviour across the whole product.
Questions founders ask
Is session replay legal under GDPR?
Generally yes, if you mask personal data, say so in your privacy policy and respect consent where required. Check that your tool masks inputs by default, and get advice for your own situation.
Does session replay slow down my site?
Modern tools record in the background and send data in small batches, so the effect is usually small. Load the script after the page has loaded to be safe.
What’s the difference between session replay and heatmaps?
A replay shows one user’s visit. A heatmap adds up many visits to show where people click and how far they scroll. Most tools that offer one now offer both.
Prices and features are taken from each company’s own site: Rectify, Microsoft Clarity, PostHog, FullStory, LogRocket, Hotjar and Sentry. Prices change, so check theirs before you decide.
Watch the bug, then fix it
A replay is only useful if someone acts on it. Hire Rectify free and every bug report arrives with the replay, the logs and Quanta’s diagnosis.
