What is a heatmap?
A heatmap is a visual report that uses color to show how visitors interact with a web page. Warm areas show where people click, move their cursor, or scroll the most, and cool areas show where there is little activity.
Last reviewed .
Types of heatmaps
Click maps show where people click or tap. Scroll maps show how far down a page they go, and move maps track cursor movement on desktop.
Each answers a different question. Click maps reveal whether people find your calls to action, while scroll maps show where attention drops.
What heatmaps help you find
They can show people clicking elements that aren't links, missing a key button, or never reaching content lower on the page. Those findings give you ideas to test rather than final answers.
Limits to keep in mind
A heatmap shows what people did, not why. It also needs enough visits to be reliable, and desktop and mobile behavior should be viewed separately. Pair it with session recordings and user feedback.
Common questions
What is a heatmap used for?
It's used to see where visitors click, scroll, and pay attention on a page. Teams use it to find layout problems and decide what to test.
How many visits do you need for a reliable heatmap?
More is better. A few visits can mislead, so wait until you have a meaningful number of sessions on the page, and view desktop and mobile separately.
What is the difference between a heatmap and a session recording?
A heatmap combines many visitors into one picture. A session recording replays a single visit so you can watch how that person moved through the page.
Do heatmaps affect page speed?
They add a small script to your pages, which can have a minor effect. Check your page speed after installing one and remove it if it hurts performance.
Want help putting this to work?
Tell us where your marketing stands today, and we'll show you what to do first.