Best Usability Testing Tools

Skip the fluff - here are the top usability testing tools that actually work:

Tool	Best For	Starting Price	Key Features
Hotjar	Heat maps & recordings	$32/mo	Click tracking, session replays, user feedback
UserTesting	Video feedback	$15k/year	Live interviews, prototype testing, AI analysis
Maze	Fast prototype testing	$75/mo	No-code testing, Figma integration
Lookback	Screen recording	$25/mo	Live observation, mobile testing
UsabilityHub	Quick design feedback	$75/mo	First click tests, 5-second tests
Optimal Workshop	Navigation testing	$208/mo	Card sorting, tree testing
Crazy Egg	Visual analytics	$24/mo	Heat maps, A/B testing
UserZoom	Enterprise research	$70k/year	Full testing suite, huge user panel
Trymata	Basic testing	$1k/year	Video feedback, task analysis
Loop11	Website testing	$179/mo	AI test creation, path analysis
Userfeel	Pay-per-test	$30/test	No subscription needed
UXtweak	All-in-one testing	Free - $179/mo	Card sorting, surveys, heat maps

Quick Comparison:

Testing Need	Best Tool	Why
Heat Maps	Hotjar	Easy setup, free plan available
User Videos	UserTesting	Huge tester panel, AI insights
Prototypes	Maze	Direct Figma/Adobe integration
Live Sessions	Lookback	Real-time observation tools
Basic Testing	UsabilityHub	Simple interface, quick results

Bottom Line: Pick Hotjar for basic tracking ($32/mo), Maze for prototype testing ($75/mo), or UserTesting for deep research ($15k/year). Start with free trials to test features before buying.

Related video from YouTube

What Are Usability Testing Tools

Usability testing tools show you exactly how people interact with your website or app. Let me break down the two main types:

Testing Type	How It Works	Best For	Limitations
Moderated	You watch and guide users through tasks	- Complex products - Early testing - Deep feedback	- Costs more - Tests fewer people - Takes longer
Unmoderated	Users complete tasks on their own	- Fast feedback - Testing lots of users - Tight budgets	- Basic feedback only - Can't ask questions - No help for stuck users

You can run these tests in two ways:

Method	Setup	Benefits	Drawbacks
In-Person	Everyone in one room	- See reactions - Control testing - Talk directly	- Limited by location - Expensive - Hard to schedule
Remote	Users test from home	- Test anyone, anywhere - Users in normal setup - Save money	- Internet problems - Less oversight - Miss body language

"Remote testing is just like regular testing - except your user is somewhere else." - Nielsen Norman Group

What to Look For in These Tools:

• Recording (screen + voice)
• Task tracking
• Heat maps
• User paths
• Session playback
• Surveys
• User recruiting

Pick Your Method:

1. Moderated Testing

Perfect when you need to know WHY users do things. Use it for:

• Testing new designs
• Hard tasks
• New features
• Private info

2. Unmoderated Testing

Great for quick answers from lots of users. Best for:

• Testing two versions
• Menu testing
• Text clarity
• Big studies

3. Numbers to Watch

Track these:

• Where people click
• How they move around
• Where they leave
• Time spent
• Mistakes made

Most teams mix these methods to see the complete picture of how people use their stuff. Pick based on what you need, what you can spend, and how much time you have.

How to Choose the Right Tool

Here's what you need to know about picking a testing tool:

Factor	What to Check	Why It Matters
Testing Goals	- Website vs app testing - Desktop vs mobile - Moderated vs unmoderated	Helps you pick the right tool
Features	- Templates - Dashboard - Data analysis - Recording options	Speeds up your workflow
Team Size	- Number of seats - Collaboration tools - Data sharing	Matches your team setup
Budget	- Monthly vs annual billing - Per-user costs - Hidden fees	Keeps costs in check

Here's What Different Tools Cost:

Tool	Starting Price	Best For
Hotjar	$32/month	Heat maps, basic tracking
Maze	$75/month	Remote testing, small teams
Lookback	$25/month	One-on-one sessions
UserTesting	$15,000/year	Large companies
Loop11	$199/month	Mid-size teams

1. What Tests Do You Need?

Different tools shine at different things:

• Want heat maps? Go with Hotjar or Crazy Egg
• Need user interviews? Pick Lookback or UserTesting
• Looking for quick feedback? Try Loop11 or Maze

2. How Often Will You Test?

Your testing frequency affects your tool choice:

• Testing every day? Get an unlimited plan
• Monthly tests? Look at pay-per-test options
• Occasional testing? Free plans might do the job

3. Must-Have Features

Don't skip these core features:

• Screen recording
• User feedback tools
• Results dashboard
• Testing templates
• Data export

4. What Other Tools Need to Connect?

Your testing tool should work with:

• Your design software
• Analytics tools
• Project management apps

Price vs Features Breakdown:

Budget Level	Tool Options	What You Get
Under $100/mo	Hotjar, Lookback	Basic features, limited tests
$100-500/mo	Maze, Loop11	More features, good support
$500+/mo	UserTesting, Optimal Workshop	Full features, large scale

Here's the bottom line: Start with a free trial. Test with your team before buying. Pick a tool that nails your main testing needs instead of chasing every possible feature.

Hotjar

Hotjar combines visual analytics and user feedback in one platform. It shows you exactly how people use your website through heatmaps, recordings, and direct feedback.

Here's what you get:

Feature	What It Does	When to Use It
Heatmaps	Shows where users click and scroll	Find what attracts attention
Session Recordings	Captures real user sessions	See why users get stuck
Surveys	Collects user feedback	Get answers to specific questions
Form Analysis	Tracks form completion	Fix abandoned forms
Funnels	Maps user journeys	Spot conversion dropoffs

Quick Facts:

• Powers 1.3M+ websites
• 10-minute setup for 67% of users
• Free plan includes 1,050 monthly recordings

Plans and Pricing:

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	Basic heatmaps + limited recordings
Plus	$32/month	Full heatmaps + more recordings
Business	Custom	Team tools + advanced filters

Connects With:

• Google Analytics
• Optimizely
• Slack
• Mixpanel

Get Started Fast:

1. Set up heatmaps first
2. Add feedback buttons where needed
3. Create targeted surveys
4. Connect feedback to Slack

The free plan works for basic testing. Need more? The $32/month Plus plan removes limits and adds features.

What makes Hotjar different? You can jump from a heatmap straight to related recordings or match feedback to specific user sessions. It's like having X-ray vision for your website problems.

2. UserTesting

UserTesting is a platform where teams get direct feedback through videos, interviews, and surveys. Their Feedback Engine comes packed with 100+ templates to test websites, prototypes, and marketing materials.

Feature	Description	Best For
Live Conversations	Talk to users in real-time	Deep insights
Video Feedback	Watch + listen to users	Behavior analysis
Mobile Testing	Phone/tablet testing	App feedback
AI Themes	Smart response analysis	Survey insights
Template Gallery	Ready-to-use tests	Fast testing

Here's what makes UserTesting stand out:

• 4.4/5 score on G2 (from 540 reviews)
• Get results in hours, not days
• 40+ networks for finding test participants

Test Type	What You'll Learn
Usability	How people use your site/app
Marketing	If your message works
Competitive	Where you beat (or trail) rivals
Site Structure	If users find what they need

"The survey tool is super easy to use. Setting up and reordering questions is a breeze. They're adding features that'll make research faster and simpler - no more jumping between different tools." - Kevin Smith, Senior UX Researcher, ADT

Here's How Simple It Is:

1. Choose a template (or build your own)
2. Pick your testers
3. Get video/written responses
4. Check AI-powered results

Product teams LOVE this tool because it delivers quick feedback on designs and features. You get hard data PLUS real people showing you exactly where they get stuck.

Need help? They've got:

• Phone support
• Email help
• Live chat
• Clear docs

The big win? UserTesting mixes AI smarts with real human feedback. Their tester panel saves you recruitment headaches, and those templates mean you can start collecting insights right away.

3. Maze

Maze is a no-moderator testing platform that connects with Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD. Teams use it to test designs before they write a single line of code.

Feature Type	What You Get
Design Testing	Prototype testing, heatmaps, user paths
Research Tools	Surveys, card sorting, tree testing
Analytics	Task success rates, time-on-task metrics
AI Features	Question rephrasing, automated insights

Here's what you can test with Maze:

Test Type	Purpose
Prototype Tests	See if designs work before coding
Live Site Tests	Check how real websites perform
Card Sorting	Find out how users group information
Tree Testing	Check if navigation makes sense
User Interviews	Talk directly with users

The numbers speak for themselves: 121,000+ testers worldwide, and teams get results 2x faster than old-school methods.

"Maze has put our design process into overdrive. We're shipping faster and our users are happier." - Yuna Akazawa, Product Designer at Braze

What It Costs:

Plan	Cost	Features
Free	$0	1 study/month, 5 seats
Starter	$99/month	Unlimited blocks, AI features
Team	$1,250/month	Advanced features, more seats
Organization	Custom	Enterprise features

Getting started is simple:

1. Build your prototype
2. Move it to Maze
3. Create your test tasks
4. Add questions
5. Send to users
6. Check your data

Users LOVE Maze - it scores 4.5/5 on G2. Setup (9.6/10) and ease of use (9/10) get top marks. Plus, it's SOC 2 Type II certified, so your data stays safe.

Pros	Cons
Smooth Figma integration	No mobile app testing
Quick to set up	Basic user filtering
Ready-to-go testers	Can't customize reports much
AI tools included	Prototypes can be glitchy

Maze fits teams who need quick feedback and use tools like Figma. It's perfect if you test designs often and want to move fast.

4. Lookback

Lookback helps you run moderated usability tests with screen and face recording. It works through a Chrome plugin for desktop and dedicated apps for mobile.

Feature Type	Capabilities
Testing Types	Live moderated sessions, unmoderated tests, 1:1 interviews
Recording	Full-screen capture, face recording, touch indicators
Collaboration	Real-time observer chat, note-taking, video sharing
Device Support	Web, iOS, Android (limited versions)

Here's what it costs:

Plan	Price/Year	What You Get
Freelance	$300	10 sessions, core features
Team	$1,788	100 sessions, unlimited team members
Insights Hub	$4,128	300 sessions, priority support
Enterprise	Custom	Unlimited sessions, dedicated support

What you can test:

Test Type	How It Works
Website Testing	Uses Chrome plugin
Mobile Testing	Uses participant apps
Prototype Testing	Direct design feedback
Remote Interviews	Face-to-face sessions

Getting Started:

1. Add Chrome plugin or mobile app
2. Set up your test project
3. Pick participant specs
4. Send test link
5. Record the session
6. Share or download

What's Good	What's Not
Cloud storage for recordings	No built-in testers
Live session control	Needs Chrome plugin
Project folders	Works on limited devices
Easy video sharing	Some tech glitches

Lookback works best if you:

• Want detailed recordings
• Plan to run live sessions
• Have your own testers
• Use Chrome browser

What You Need:

• Fast internet
• Mic + headphones
• Chrome browser
• Supported mobile device

All recordings go straight to the cloud - no local files to manage. The platform meets WCGA 2.1 accessibility standards, making it work for all kinds of users.

5. UsabilityHub

UsabilityHub (now Lyssna) helps you test designs fast with prototype testing, preference tests, first-click tracking, and 5-second impressions.

Here's what you can test:

Test Types	What You Get
Prototype Testing	See how users interact with your designs
First-Click Testing	Find out where users click first
5-Second Testing	Learn what people remember after 5 seconds
Preference Testing	Let users pick between designs
Survey Tools	Get direct user feedback

How Much It Costs:

Plan	Price	What's Included
Free	$0	2-min tests, 15 responses from your testers
Basic	$75/month	5-min tests, no response limits
Pro	$175/month	No time limits, 30 interviews/month
Enterprise	Custom	Everything unlimited + extra features

What You Get:

Feature	The Details
Test Panel	Built-in pool of testers
Response Control	Set your own limits
Data Export	Get CSV files (paid plans)
Team Access	3-15 people (depends on plan)
Smart Logic	Pro plan feature
Your Branding	Pro and Enterprise only

"UsabilityHub is perfect for quick tests but not ideal for big, complex research projects." - Jana Filusova, Marketing Executive at UXtweak

What's Missing:

Can't Do
Test live websites
Test mobile apps
Record sessions
Run A/B tests

Panel Costs:

• 1-24 responses: $2.50 each
• 25+ responses: $1.00 each

Best For:

• Quick design feedback
• Basic prototype tests
• Simple surveys
• Small-medium projects

Look Elsewhere If You Need:

• Live website testing
• Mobile app testing
• Session recordings
• A/B testing

Money-Saving Tip: Panel testers cost $60/15-min session. Want to save? Bring your own testers instead.

6. Optimal Workshop

Optimal Workshop is a UX testing platform focused on website navigation and information structure. Here's what each tool does:

Tool	What It Does
OptimalSort	Shows how users organize content
Treejack	Tests navigation without design distractions
Chalkmark	Records where users click first
Reframer	Organizes research notes and interviews

The data shows why first clicks matter:

• Right first click = 70% task completion
• Wrong first click = 24% task completion

Plan	Price/Month	Features
Free	$0	1 active study, basic responses
Pro	$208	No limits on studies or responses
Team	$416	2+ users ($208/user)
Enterprise	Custom	Built for your needs

Core Features:

Feature	Details
Card Sorting	See how users group your content
Tree Testing	Find navigation problems
First Click Tests	Track initial user behavior
Survey Tools	Collect user feedback

What's Missing:

Can't Do
Mobile testing
Prototype testing
User interviews
Website usability

"Tree testing, Card Sorting, Research Analysis, and Qualitative tagging are excellent!" - Anand B., G2

"We are a user research agency and have used Optimal Workshop tools for a number of client projects over the last 10+ years." - John Nicholson, Team Lead - Research & Development, Marketade

Perfect For:

• Navigation testing
• Info structure research
• Early development phases
• Card sorting projects

Not Great For:

• Mobile apps
• Live websites
• User interviews
• Prototypes

Save Money: Test the free plan with one study before buying a subscription.

7. Crazy Egg

Crazy Egg shows you exactly how people use your website through heatmaps and visual tracking. Here's what you get:

Feature	Description
Snapshots	See how users interact with each page
Heatmaps	Track where visitors click most
Scrollmaps	Find out how far people scroll
Confetti	See clicks by traffic source
Overlay Report	Get click data for every element
A/B Testing	Test different page versions

The tool works. Here's proof:

Company	Results
Conversion Rate Experts	Got 25.9% more signups by removing their sidebar
Couple (ex-Pair)	Boosted app downloads 25% with simpler navigation
Pronto	Increased contact page clicks 17% by moving their CTA

Here's what it costs:

Plan	Price	What You Get
Basic	$24/mo	Basic snapshots
Standard	$49/mo	More snapshots + recordings
Plus	$99/mo	All core features
Pro	$249/mo	Power user features

The main tools:

Tool	What It Does
Dead Click Maps	Shows wasted clicks
CTA Creator	Makes pop-ups and sticky bars
Device Tracking	Splits data by device type
Password Pages	Tracks member-only pages

Watch out for these limits:

Feature	Limit
User Recordings	Max 500/month on yearly plan
GA4	No integration
HubSpot	No connection
Support	Can be slow

"Crazy Egg lets us see where users click most. It shows us what people care about on our site." - Verified Director

Perfect for:

• Finding popular click spots
• Testing layouts
• Checking scroll depth
• Building better CTAs

Skip it if you need:

• Deep user testing
• Heavy-duty analytics
• Marketing automation
• Enterprise-level tools

Pro tip: Take the 60-day free trial first. Test everything before you pay.

8. UserZoom

UserZoom is a UX testing platform that lets you run studies on websites, apps, and prototypes. Here's what it does:

Feature	Description
Study Types	Usability tests, interviews, card sorts, tree tests, surveys
Participant Pool	120M+ verified users from 40+ research panels
Testing Options	Desktop, mobile, prototypes
Analysis Tools	Video analysis, auto-generated results
QXscore	Measures UX impact on business KPIs

They offer two main plans:

Feature	Quick Start	Enterprise
Studies per year	40+	Unlimited
Researcher seats	2+	Unlimited
Countries covered	6	14
Languages	3 (EN, DE, ES)	22
Test types	Basic	Advanced + SDK

The numbers speak for themselves. Forrester Research found:

Metric	Result
ROI	537%
Total benefits	$2.3M over 3 years
Payback period	Under 6 months

"The panel delivers fast, high-quality responses, helping us get detailed insights even in niche markets." - Verified User in Online Media

Perfect if you:

• Need enterprise-level UX research
• Want automated participant recruiting
• Must track UX impact on business metrics

Skip it if you:

• Have a small budget
• Just need basic website analytics
• Want quick setup

Watch for these gotchas:

• Enterprise plans start at $70,000/year
• Survey features cost extra
• Limited device options in research sessions

Quick tip: Test the waters with Quick Start before jumping into Enterprise.

9. Trymata

Trymata (formerly TryMyUI) combines remote usability testing with both unmoderated and live sessions. Here's what you get:

Feature	Details
Test Types	Prototype testing, Live moderated sessions, Unmoderated testing
Data Types	Qualitative + Quantitative insights
Panel Access	Pre-qualified testers available
Monthly Tests	10 tests per month (base plan)
Starting Price	$1,000/year
Extra Credits	$45 per additional test

The platform packs these testing tools:

Tool	Function
UX Crowd	Users submit and vote on design feedback
UX Diagnostics	Built-in psychometric models
Multi-Variate Testing	Compare different versions
Video Analysis	User-narrated session recordings
Task Management	Quick task-based test setup

Here's what works:

• Monthly payment and cancellation options
• Extra tests available on-demand
• Works with both your users and their panel
• Tests everything from early prototypes to live sites

Keep in mind:

• You'll get 60 credits upfront with annual plans
• Base plan caps at 10 tests per month
• Video storage costs more
• Some tools need higher-tier plans

Quick tip: Focus on prototype testing first - it helps catch problems early. Ask specific questions about layouts and navigation to get better feedback.

Perfect fit for:

• Teams switching between quick tests and deep dives
• People who want numbers, not just user videos
• Mid-budget teams with steady testing needs
• Regular prototype testers

Here's the kicker: Trymata costs about 4x less than UserTesting but includes some measurement tools that bigger platforms don't offer, like their UX Diagnostics suite.

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10. Loop11

Loop11 is a testing platform for websites, prototypes, and apps. Here's what you get:

Feature	Details
Test Types	Website testing, Mobile apps, Prototypes
Key Tools	AI project creator, Heatmaps, Navigation paths
Browser Support	Chrome extension required
Free Trial	14 days (Enterprise features)
Starting Price	$179/month (annual)

Here's how the pricing breaks down:

Plan	Price/Month (Annual)	Tests Included
Rapid Insights	$179 ($2,148/year)	Basic features
Pro	$358 ($4,296/year)	Added analytics
Enterprise	$533 ($6,396/year)	Full feature set

The Good Stuff:

• AI speeds up task and question creation
• Tests both live sites and prototypes
• Comes with heatmaps and analytics
• Works on mobile and desktop

The Not-So-Good Stuff:

• Only works with Chrome
• Mobile app needs improvements
• Fixed pricing structure
• Performance can be slow at times

Pro Tip: Jump on the 14-day trial to test ALL Enterprise features. Start with website testing - it's what Loop11 does best.

Perfect Match For:

• Mid-size companies (46.2% of users)
• Teams who want quick test setup
• Frequent website testers
• Analytics-focused companies

Loop11 isn't the cheapest option out there. BUT its AI-powered test creation can cut down setup time big time. It's a solid pick if you need to run lots of website tests and want detailed data about user behavior.

11. Userfeel

Userfeel lets you run user tests without a subscription. With 850,000+ testers across 40 languages, here's what you get:

Feature	Details
Test Types	Website, Mobile Apps, Prototypes
Key Tools	Video Recording, Heatmaps, A/B Testing
Tester Pool	850,000+ testers, 40 languages
Starting Price	$30 per test

Here's how much tests cost:

Test Type	Duration	Own Testers	Userfeel Panel
Unmoderated	20 min	$30	$60
Unmoderated	40 min	$30	$120
Unmoderated	60 min	$30	$180
Moderated	60 min	$60	$180

What's Good:

• Pay only for tests you need
• Works on desktop and mobile
• No limit on screener questions
• Auto-transcripts via Google Speech API

What Could Be Better:

• Limited ways to share videos
• Slower test result delivery
• Few tool integrations
• Basic tester filtering

Money-Saving Tip: Want to test the waters? Start with 20-minute unmoderated tests using your own testers. At $30 per test, it's the cheapest way in.

Best For:

• Teams who need quick feedback
• Budget-conscious companies
• Occasional testing needs
• Multi-language testing

"Love that I can pay-as-go. Allows me to only run the tests I need, when I need them, without feeling that I am going to be beholden to them in the future and end up wasting tests that I don't use." - Verified User in Information Technology and Services, Source: G2

Bottom line: Userfeel hits the sweet spot for teams who want to run tests without monthly fees. It packs solid features at lower prices than most competitors - perfect for small and mid-sized companies.

12. UXtweak

UXtweak combines UX research tools in one platform to help teams test their digital products. Here's what you get:

Feature Type	What's Included
Testing Tools	Card Sorting, Tree Testing, Preference Tests, Five Second Tests
Analytics	Heatmaps, Session Recordings, Screen Activity Tracking
Research	Surveys, User Feedback Collection, PDF Reports
Support	Web Apps, Mobile Apps (Android, iOS), Desktop

Here's the pricing breakdown:

Plan	Monthly Price	Annual Price (per month)	Best For
Starter	Free	Free	Single user, basic testing
Plus	$99	$49	Small teams
Business	$179	$144	Growing companies
Enterprise	Custom	Custom	Large organizations

The Good Stuff:

• Start testing for free
• No limits on studies or storage
• Works on web, mobile, and desktop
• Export reports to PDF

Room for Improvement:

• Costs more than other tools
• Free plan misses key features
• Takes time to learn the platform
• Basic mobile testing features

Want to Save Money? Test it out with the free plan first. When you're ready to upgrade, pick annual billing - you'll cut the Plus plan price in half.

Perfect Match For:

• UX research teams
• Web developers
• Digital product designers
• Companies that need deep user data

Here's the deal: UXtweak gives you ALL the testing tools in one spot. Yes, it's pricier than some other options. But if your team runs lots of tests, the unlimited storage and studies might make it worth the extra cost.

Tools by Testing Type

Here's what you need to know about UX testing tools:

Testing Type	Top Tools	Starting Price	Key Features
Heatmaps & Recordings	Hotjar, Crazy Egg	$32/month	Click tracking, scroll maps, session replays
User Interviews	UserTesting, Lookback	$149/month	Live observation, screen sharing, participant pool
Prototype Testing	Maze, UsabilityHub	$75/month	First-click tests, task analysis, user flows
Card Sorting & Tree Testing	Optimal Workshop, UXtweak	$208/month	Information architecture testing, navigation analysis
A/B Testing	Loop11, VWO Insights	$199/month	Split testing, conversion tracking
Form Analytics	Mouseflow, Hotjar	$24/month	Form abandonment tracking, field analysis

Let's break down the main tools:

Heatmaps & Recordings Hotjar offers a free plan with 35 daily sessions. Want more? Crazy Egg tracks 30,000 page views at $29/month. Both show exactly where users click, move, and scroll on your site.

User Testing UserTesting connects you with their testing panel, while Lookback gives new users a 60-day free test drive. Both come with screen recording and direct user feedback.

Mobile App Testing UXCam and Lookback handle iOS and Android testing. They track touch gestures and screen interactions - perfect for mobile apps.

Here's how different teams use these tools:

Tool Type	Best For	Limitations
Heatmaps	Marketing teams analyzing user behavior	Limited historical data
Session Recording	Dev teams fixing bugs	Storage costs for long sessions
Survey Tools	Product teams gathering feedback	Response rates vary
A/B Testing	Growth teams optimizing conversion	Needs high traffic for results
Mobile Testing	App developers	Platform-specific features

Want to Save Money?

• Test drive free plans first
• Use monthly billing for short projects
• Get 20-50% off with annual plans
• Stick to basic plans for small teams

How to Start Testing

Here's how to run effective usability tests:

Step	Action	Time Required
Tool Setup	Install tracking code, configure settings	30-60 minutes
Test Planning	Define goals, create tasks, write script	2-3 hours
Participant Selection	Recruit 5-15 users per segment	1-2 days
Test Environment	Set up recording software, testing space	1-2 hours
Running Tests	Conduct sessions, gather feedback	30-60 min/user
Analysis	Review recordings, compile findings	4-6 hours

1. Pick What to Test

Focus on specific features like:

• Shopping cart flow
• Product search
• Checkout process
• Mobile experience

2. Select Your Testing Method

Method	Best For	Tools to Use
Moderated	Complex tasks, detailed feedback	UserTesting, Lookback
Unmoderated	Quick insights, large user groups	Maze, UsabilityHub
Remote	Distributed teams, global users	Hotjar, Loop11
In-person	Direct behavior observation	Optimal Workshop

3. Build Your Test Plan

Your script needs:

• Clear task descriptions
• Time limits
• Success metrics
• Follow-up questions

4. Prep Your Testing Space

For remote tests:

• Screen recording software
• Strong internet
• Clear audio
• Backup tools

For in-person tests:

• Quiet room
• Recording gear
• Consent forms
• Screen capture setup

5. Run Your Tests

Keep it simple:

• Give clear directions
• Don't help users
• Take good notes
• Record everything

Here's a real example from Quora:

They tested 5 users with different backgrounds. After running 9 specific tasks, they got a 71% success rate. Users struggled with unclear terms and confusing icons.

6. Check Your Results

Data Type	What to Track
Task Success	Did users finish?
Time on Task	How fast?
Error Rates	Where did they fail?
User Comments	What frustrated them?
Behavior	How did they navigate?

7. Don't Make These Mistakes

• Testing too much at once
• Giving hints
• Skipping practice runs
• Not recording
• Using jargon

Pro tip: Start with 5 users per test round. Research shows this catches most issues without breaking the bank.

Next Steps

Here's what to do after you set up your testing:

Phase	Action Items	Expected Timeline
Initial Testing	Run 5-user pilot test, fix major issues	1-2 weeks
Team Involvement	Share recordings, collect feedback	2-3 days
Improvements	Make changes based on findings	1-2 weeks
Follow-up	Test changes with new users	1 week

Testing Tools and When to Use Them

Test Type	When to Use	Tools
Quick Tests	Early design feedback	UsabilityHub, Maze
In-Depth Studies	Complex features	UserTesting, Lookback
Behavior Analysis	Live site tracking	Hotjar, Crazy Egg
Card Sorting	Navigation testing	Optimal Workshop

What to Measure

Focus on these numbers:

• Task success rate (85%+ is your target)
• Time on tasks
• Error count
• User satisfaction
• Where users drop off

Testing Timeline

Testing Stage	Frequency	Sample Size
Early Design	Weekly	5 users
Beta Testing	Bi-weekly	10-15 users
Post-Launch	Monthly	20-30 users
Feature Updates	Per release	5-10 users

How to Run Tests That Work

1. Keep Tests Small at First

Start with 5-user tests to spot big issues. Fix these before doing bigger studies.

2. Use Different Methods

Combine these:

• Screen recordings
• Click tracking
• User interviews
• Analytics data

3. Keep Good Records

Track:

• Test scripts
• User feedback
• Technical issues
• Team decisions

4. Tell Everyone What You Found

Send weekly updates with:

• Main findings
• Video highlights
• Success metrics
• Next steps

Setting Up Your Tools

Tool Type	Setup Time	First Results
Heat Maps	15 minutes	24-48 hours
Session Recording	30 minutes	1-2 days
User Testing	1-2 hours	2-3 days
Survey Tools	45 minutes	1 week

Pro tip: Start with basic tracking tools. Add more advanced ones as you need them.

FAQs

What is the best user testing tool?

There's no one-size-fits-all solution for user testing. Here's what the top tools do best:

Tool	Best For	Starting Price
Maze	Product discovery & testing	$99/month
Lookback	Screen recording & team collaboration	$25/month
UserTesting	Moderated testing & video feedback	Custom pricing
Optimal Workshop	Basic testing methods	$249/month
UsabilityHub	Pay-per-answer remote research	Pay per response

Let's break down what makes each tool different:

Maze connects with Adobe and Figma to get prototype feedback.

Lookback gives you virtual rooms where your team can watch tests together.

UserTesting uses AI to create reports (and costs between $16,900 and $136,800 for enterprise plans).

Optimal Workshop sticks to the basics of user testing.

UsabilityHub keeps it simple: you only pay for the responses you get.

Here's something most people don't know: UserTesting's average contract is $89,344 - that's WAY above the industry average of $60,665.

"UserTesting will provide an itemized quote if you push for it. We secured an additional ~5.5% discount on a 12-month renewal by leveraging growth."

Quick tip: Don't buy right away. Every tool has a free trial - use it. Get your team to test drive each option before you spend any money.

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