What is a session recording?
A session recording is a replay of a single visitor's activity on your website, showing their cursor movement, clicks, taps, and scrolling. Teams watch recordings to see where people get confused or stuck.
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What recordings reveal
Recordings show behavior that numbers can hide, such as repeated clicks on something that isn't a link, hesitation over a form field, or a page that breaks on a certain device.
They are especially useful for explaining a drop-off you've already found in your funnel or analytics.
How to review them well
Don't watch at random. Filter to a question, such as visitors who abandoned a form or left the cart page, and look for patterns across several sessions before making a change.
Privacy considerations
Recordings can capture what people type, so mask form fields and sensitive information. Disclose their use in your privacy policy and follow the rules that apply to your visitors.
Common questions
What is the difference between a session recording and a heatmap?
A session recording replays one visit. A heatmap combines many visits into a single view of clicks or scrolling.
Are session recordings legal?
They can be, but rules depend on where your visitors are and how you handle consent and data. Mask sensitive fields, disclose the practice, and check the requirements that apply to you.
How many session recordings should you watch?
Enough to see a pattern, which is often a handful for each question. One odd recording isn't evidence, but the same problem across several is.
Do session recordings slow down a website?
They add a script that can have a small effect on performance. Test your page speed after installing a tool and adjust its settings if needed.
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