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Smartlook

A qualitative analytics platform that provides session recordings, heatmaps, and event tracking to understand user behavior.

Our take: Smartlook was a strong qualitative analytics platform with best-in-class mobile session recording and automatic event tracking.

Best forProduct and UX teams analyzing user behavior
ReviewedPricing: Freemium
6.6 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try SmartlookFree tier; Pro $55/mo (no new sales)
The bottom line

Smartlook is no longer available to new customers; existing users should plan migration before September 2027.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

Community ratings

Shown for context only. Our score is independent.

G2
4.6 out of 5
870+ reviews
Capterra
4.7 out of 5
130+ reviews

4.6 / 5 aggregate · across 2 sources

Third-party ratings shown verbatim; aggregate weighted by review volume.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isSmartlook — session recording and behavior analytics tool, now discontinued under Cisco.
Our takeSmartlook was a strong qualitative analytics platform with best-in-class mobile session recording and automatic event tracking.
However, Cisco acquired Smartlook in 2023 and announced end-of-sale effective May 31, 2026 — no new subscriptions can be purchased. The platform will be fully decommissioned by September 30, 2027. Smartlook is a UX and behavior analytics tool, with the Pro plan at $55/mo.
Why we rate itSmartlook earned a loyal user base for its performance-light recording, automatic event capture, and one of the best mobile SDKs in the category.
Its shutdown is a loss for mid-market teams that did not want Hotjar pricing or FullStory complexity.
The catchProduct is being sunset — Cisco ended new sales May 31, 2026; full platform shutdown September 30, 2027.
Existing users face forced migration with no historical data portability to Cisco's Splunk successor.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Mobile app teams needing native iOS/Android session recording
  • Product managers wanting automatic event tracking without tag setup
  • Small-to-mid teams seeking affordable behavior analytics (legacy customers only)
Not good for
  • Anyone looking to start a new subscription (no longer available)
  • Teams needing built-in surveys or NPS feedback collection
  • Enterprises requiring deep A/B testing or experimentation tooling
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Fast: SDK or snippet install to first session recordings typically under 30 minutes.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Per-session pricing becomes expensive above 200K sessions/mo; enterprise tier required with custom negotiation.
  3. Walled garden
    High: no historical data migration to Cisco's Splunk replacement; manual export required before Sept 2027.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try Smartlook

A look inside

Smartlook product screenshot

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Smartlook actually record?

Smartlook captures real user sessions on your website or app, showing exactly how people interact with your product. This includes every click, scroll, form entry (except passwords), and navigation path - helping you identify where users struggle or drop off.

How is this different from Google Analytics?

While Google Analytics shows numbers, Smartlook shows you the real human behavior behind those numbers through: Session recordings (watch real people use your product) Heatmaps (see where everyone clicks/scrolls) Automatic event tracking (no coding needed) Conversion funnels with session replays

Is it difficult to set up?

Setup takes under 10 minutes: Websites: Add one JavaScript code snippet Mobile apps: Install lightweight SDK (iOS/Android) No server configuration required Data starts appearing in your dashboard immediately.

How does Smartlook protect user privacy?

Smartlook automatically: Blurs all sensitive fields (credit cards, passwords) Complies with GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws Lets you exclude specific pages from recording Provides data residency options (US/EU)

What results can I expect?

Customers typically: Reduce checkout drop-offs by 15-30% Cut support tickets by identifying UX issues Improve conversion rates through data-backed changes Most see actionable insights within their first week.

Alternatives

  • Step up

    FullStory or Microsoft Clarity for comparable session analytics at scale.

  • Lighter alternative

    Microsoft Clarity (free) or Hotjar Observe free tier for basic session recording.

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Tags

#SessionRecording#Analytics#Heatmaps

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