What click heatmaps show
Click heatmaps show where visitors click or tap on a page. Areas with more activity appear stronger, helping you see which elements attract interaction.
Use click heatmaps to understand:
- which buttons get attention
- which links are used
- whether visitors click non-clickable elements
- whether calls to action are ignored
- whether mobile taps differ from desktop clicks
How to read click density
Dense click areas usually mean visitors expect that area to do something. If the area is a button or link, that may be good. If the area is not clickable, it may indicate confusion.
Review high-click areas alongside session recordings to understand what visitors expected to happen.
Clicks on non-clickable elements
Clicks on non-clickable elements can indicate that something looks interactive but is not.
Common examples include:
- images that look like cards
- pricing boxes
- icons without links
- underlined text that is not a link
- disabled or unclear buttons
If a non-clickable element receives many clicks, consider making it clickable or changing the design so it no longer looks interactive.
Compare devices
Desktop and mobile click patterns can be very different. A call to action that works on desktop may be too low on mobile, too small to tap, or hidden behind a menu.
Always review click heatmaps by device before making layout changes.
Use click heatmaps with friction
If a click-heavy area also has rage clicks or dead clicks, open the friction heatmap and related recordings. The combination of high click activity and friction is often a strong signal that the page needs improvement.
Click heatmap checklist
- Select the correct page path.
- Filter by date and device.
- Check primary calls to action.
- Look for clicks on non-clickable elements.
- Compare with session recordings.
- Prioritise high-click friction areas.