Looking for a free or open-source alternative to Hotjar? Hearback is the closest direct swap — MIT-licensed source on GitHub, or a $29 one-time packaged install. Since you're already auditing what you pay Hotjar every month, here are four more pay-once tools from the same catalog worth a look while you're at it — different jobs, same idea: buy the software once instead of renting it forever.
1. Hearback — replaces Hotjar
Self-hosted feedback + NPS widget with an inbox, dashboard and CSV export — unlimited responses. $29 once vs Hotjar's $32/mo. Free on GitHub, or the packaged installer on Whop.
See Hearback → · Source on GitHub
2. Docwell — Self-hosted knowledge base with instant FTS5 search, helpful-vote analytics and full SEO.
Replaces GitBook ($79/mo (Premium)). $29 once. See Docwell →
3. Chatlet — Self-hosted live chat — real-time widget, agent dashboard, canned replies, offline messages.
Replaces Crisp ($95/mo (Plus)). $49 once. See Chatlet →
4. Boardly — Self-hosted kanban — drag & drop boards, checklists, labels, attachments, full JSON export.
Replaces Trello ($5/user/mo). $19 once. See Boardly →
5. Timevault — Self-hosted time tracking — one-click timers, hourly rates, weekly timesheets, billable reports.
Replaces Toggl ($10/user/mo). $29 once. See Timevault →
Why this list is worth bookmarking
Every app above is a one-time purchase with MIT-licensed source, no accounts with us and no telemetry. None of them are trying to be the next Hotjar — they're trying to be the last subscription you pay for that specific job.
Try Hearback — $29, once
Self-hosted feedback + NPS widget with an inbox, dashboard and CSV export — unlimited responses.