GhostlyX vs Microsoft Clarity
Microsoft Clarity is free and offers session recordings and heatmaps that GhostlyX does not provide. However, Clarity sets cookies, collects personal data including IP addresses and user behaviour recordings, and sends data to Microsoft's servers. For EU-based sites, this raises GDPR compliance questions around data transfers. GhostlyX is cookie-free by default, collects no personal data, requires no consent banner, and adds features Clarity lacks entirely: uptime monitoring, funnel analysis, UTM tracking, and traffic spike alerts.
At a glance
| Feature | GhostlyX | Microsoft Clarity |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy & compliance | ||
| Cookie-free | Yes | No |
| GDPR compliant | Yes | No |
| No data sampling | Yes | No |
| Respects DNT header | Yes | No |
| Respects GPC header | Yes | No |
| Data sold or shared with third parties | No | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Real-time visitors | Yes | Yes |
| Uptime monitoring | Yes | No |
| Traffic spike alerts | Yes | No |
| Funnel analysis | Yes | No |
| Goal tracking | Yes | No |
| REST API | Yes | No |
| Scheduled email reports | Yes | No |
| CSV export | Yes | No |
| TV / big-screen mode | Yes | No |
| Open-source | Yes | No |
| Pricing & ownership | ||
| Script size | Under 2 kB | ~50 kB |
| Starting price | Free plan available | Free |
| Owned by | Independent | Microsoft Corporation (USA) |
| Data location | EU servers | Microsoft Azure (US and EU regions) |
Why teams switch to GhostlyX
GhostlyX advantages
- Cookie-free by default. No consent banner required.
- No personal data sent to Microsoft or any third party.
- GDPR, CCPA, and PECR compliant without configuration.
- UTM campaign tracking built in.
- Funnel analysis to track multi-step conversion paths.
- Built-in uptime monitoring and traffic spike notifications.
- Script under 1.5 kB vs Clarity's roughly 50 kB bundle.
Microsoft Clarity advantages
- Completely free with no usage limits.
- Session recordings to watch individual visitor journeys.
- Heatmaps and scroll maps included.
- AI-powered insights and rage-click detection.
- Native integration with Google Analytics and Ads.
Common questions
Is Microsoft Clarity GDPR-compliant?
Microsoft Clarity collects personal data including IP addresses and records user sessions, which means it requires a valid legal basis under GDPR and a consent mechanism for EU visitors. GhostlyX collects no personal data and requires no consent banner.
Does Microsoft Clarity use cookies?
Yes. Microsoft Clarity uses cookies to identify sessions and track visitors. This means sites using Clarity need a cookie consent banner for EU and UK visitors. GhostlyX sets no cookies whatsoever.
Can GhostlyX replace Microsoft Clarity?
GhostlyX replaces the traffic and pageview analytics that Clarity provides and adds uptime monitoring, funnels, and UTM tracking. However, GhostlyX does not offer session recordings or heatmaps. If those are required, Clarity or a dedicated tool can be run alongside GhostlyX.