Microsoft recently launched session replay support for iOS on both Native iOS and React Native applications. We decided to see how it performs compared to competitors like LogRocket and UXCam.

This blog discusses what session replay is, how it works, and its benefits for debugging applications and understanding user behavior. We will also quickly integrate Microsoft Clarity in React Native applications and compare its performance with competitors like LogRocket and UXCam.

Below, we will explore the key features of session replay, the steps to integrate Microsoft Clarity into your React Native application, and benchmark its performance against other popular tools.

Key Features of Session Replay

Session replay provides a visual playback of user interactions on your application. This allows developers to observe how users navigate the app, identify any issues they encounter, and understand user behavior patterns. Here are some of the standout features:

• User Interaction Tracking: Record clicks, scrolls, and navigation paths for a comprehensive view of user activities.
• Error Monitoring: Capture and analyze errors in real time to quickly diagnose and fix issues.
• Heatmaps: Visualize areas of high interaction to understand which parts of the app are most engaging.
• Anonymized Data: Ensure user privacy by anonymizing sensitive information during session recording.

Integrating Microsoft Clarity with React Native

Integrating Microsoft Clarity into your React Native application is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Sign Up for Microsoft Clarity:
   
   

a. Visit the Microsoft Clarity website and sign up for a free account.

b. Create a new project and obtain your Clarity tracking code.

1. Install the Clarity SDK:
   

Use npm or yarn to install the Clarity SDK in your React Native project:

CODE: https://gist.github.com/velotiotech/30846d920a29849f5d7f2b966b069437.js

3. Initialize Clarity in Your App:
   

Import and initialize Clarity in your main application file (e.g., App.js):

CODE: https://gist.github.com/velotiotech/333f3bcfe243e3665aeda98b148b5bd6.js‍

4. Verify Integration:

a. Run your application and navigate through various screens to ensure Clarity is capturing session data correctly.

b. Log into your Clarity dashboard to see the recorded sessions and analytics.

Benchmarking Against Competitors

To evaluate the performance of Microsoft Clarity, we'll compare it against two popular session replay tools, LogRocket and UXCam, assessing them based on the following criteria:

• Ease of Integration: How simple is integrating the tool into a React Native application?
• Feature Set: What features does each tool offer for session replay and user behavior analysis?
• Performance Impact: How does the tool impact the app's performance and user experience?
• Cost: What are the pricing models and how do they compare?

Detailed Comparison

Ease of Integration

• Microsoft Clarity: The integration process is straightforward and well-documented, making it easy for developers to get started.
• LogRocket: LogRocket also offers a simple integration process with comprehensive documentation and support.
• UXCam: UXCam provides detailed guides and support for integration, but it may require additional configuration steps compared to Clarity and LogRocket.

Feature Set

• Microsoft Clarity: Offers robust session replay, heatmaps, and error monitoring. However, it may lack some advanced features found in premium tools.
• LogRocket: Provides a rich set of features, including session replay, performance monitoring, Network request logs, and integration with other tools like Redux and GraphQL.
• UXCam: Focuses on mobile app analytics with features like session replay, screen flow analysis, and retention tracking.

Performance Impact

• Microsoft Clarity: Minimal impact on app performance, making it a suitable choice for most applications.
• LogRocket: Slightly heavier than Clarity but offers more advanced features. Performance impact is manageable with proper configuration.
• UXCam: Designed for mobile apps with performance optimization in mind. The impact is generally low but can vary based on app complexity.

Cost

• Microsoft Clarity: Free to use, making it an excellent option for startups and small teams.
• LogRocket: Offers tiered pricing plans, with a free tier for basic usage and paid plans for advanced features.
• UXCam: Provides a range of pricing options, including a free tier. Paid plans offer more advanced features and higher data limits.

Final Verdict

After evaluating the key aspects of session replay tools, Microsoft Clarity stands out as a strong contender, especially for teams looking for a cost-effective solution with essential features. LogRocket and UXCam offer more advanced capabilities, which may be beneficial for larger teams or more complex applications.

Ultimately, the right tool will depend on your specific needs and budget. For basic session replay and user behavior insights, Microsoft Clarity is a fantastic choice. If you require more comprehensive analytics and integrations, LogRocket or UXCam may be worth the investment.

Sample App

I have also created a basic sample app to demonstrate how to set up Microsoft Clarity for React Native apps.

Please check it out here: https://github.com/rakesho-vel/ms-rn-clarity-sample-app

This sample video shows how Microsoft Clarity records and lets you review user sessions on its dashboard.

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References

1. ‍https://clarity.microsoft.com/blog/clarity-sdk-release/‍
2. https://web.swipeinsight.app/posts/microsoft-clarity-finally-launches-ios-sdk-8312‍