Microsoft Clarity vs Northbeam: Shopify Performance Comparison
Both apps score Grade B — Microsoft Clarity has the edge with 8 ms vs 69 ms desktop CPU execution.
Both apps provide heatmaps, session recording, and analytics functionality for Shopify stores. This page presents StackConflict’s independent lab results for both — measured in a clean-room environment with no other apps installed.
Head-to-Head Metrics
| Metric | Microsoft Clarity | Northbeam | Faster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | B | B | Tie |
| JS Payload | 60.93 KB | 131.23 KB | Microsoft Clarity |
| CPU Desktop | 8 ms | 69 ms | Microsoft Clarity |
| CPU Mobile | 20 ms | 1153 ms | Microsoft Clarity |
| Layout Shift | 0.0 | 0.0 | Microsoft Clarity |
Mobile CPU measured with 4× CDP throttle (mid-range Android). Tested 2026-05-30.
Microsoft Clarity — The Faster Option (Grade B)
Microsoft Clarity scores Grade B with a JS payload of 60.93 KB and 8 ms desktop CPU execution. Mobile CPU: 20 ms. It passes every StackConflict threshold for payload, CPU, and layout stability — making it safe to install on any storefront including mobile-first stores where Time-to-Interactive directly impacts conversion.
View full Microsoft Clarity speed report →
Northbeam — The Heavier Option (Grade B)
Northbeam scores Grade B with a JS payload of 131.23 KB and 69 ms desktop CPU execution. Mobile CPU: 1153 ms. Performance is acceptable but worth monitoring, particularly on stores with high mobile traffic share.
View full Northbeam speed report →
When to Choose Microsoft Clarity
- You need its specific features and can monitor its mobile impact
- Your other apps are lightweight (Grade A) so there is headroom
- You are on desktop-skewed traffic where CPU cost matters less
When to Choose Northbeam
- You need its specific features and can monitor its mobile impact
- Your other apps are lightweight (Grade A) so there is headroom
- You are on desktop-skewed traffic where CPU cost matters less
Performance Verdict
Result: Comparable — Both apps score Grade B — Microsoft Clarity has the edge with 8 ms vs 69 ms desktop CPU execution.
About This Test
StackConflict measures each Shopify app in an isolated clean-room environment — a single development store, no other scripts, Playwright-controlled browser. V8 CPU cost is the ScriptDuration delta before and after injection. CLS is captured from the same browser session. Results represent the median of three independent runs with outliers removed.
Data from the StackConflict Lab. Last updated 2026-05-30.