- Usability testing tools side by side
- Eleven usability testing tools to try
- Where to start for your product
- How long a usability session should take
- Moderated versus unmoderated testing
- Questions to ask before you choose a usability testing tool
- Signs it's time to run a usability test
- My plain advice on choosing a usability testing tool
- Frequently asked questions
The best usability testing tools let you watch real people try to complete tasks on your website, app or prototype, so you can see where they get stuck and hear why. Some focus on quick unmoderated tests with a ready-made panel, while others support live interviews and a wide range of research methods. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
You know your website too well to see its problems. You know where the contact page is, what every button means and why the form asks for that detail. Your visitors don't, and they won't email to tell you they gave up. Usability testing shows you the confusion you can't see from the inside.
The eleven usability testing tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. For a head start on what to look for, my guide to improving your website's usability covers the basics.
Usability testing tools side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you rely on it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| dscout | AI-powered feedback and testing platform | Feedback from its own tester panel | Not stated |
| Lookback | Remote user testing and research | Remote sessions with qualitative depth | Not stated |
| Loop11 | Online usability testing tool | Online tests with all features to try first | Trial only |
| Lyssna | User research and usability testing platform | Testing, surveys and recruitment together | Not stated |
| Maze | User research and testing platform | Research at speed in one place | Not stated |
| PlaybookUX | Research platform with built-in methods | Many research methods in one tool | Not stated |
| Useberry | UX research and usability testing platform | Seeing how users think and click | Not stated |
| Userbrain | Real user testing | Regular tests with results in 24 hours | Trial only |
| Userlytics | All-in-one user testing and UX research | A free demo before choosing | Not stated |
| UserZoom | UX research capabilities within UserTesting | Enterprise research teams | Not stated |
| UXArmy | User research and usability testing platform | Unmoderated tests on prototypes, sites and apps | Not stated |
Eleven usability testing tools to try
dscout
Best for: Research teams who want an AI-powered feedback and testing platform with its own panel of participants who sign up to test.
Lookback
Best for: Researchers and designers who want remote user testing with qualitative depth, including a first free session to try it.
Loop11
Best for: Marketers and UX teams who want an online usability testing tool with all features available during a free trial.
Lyssna
Best for: Designers who want usability testing, surveys, interviews and participant recruitment in one place, with sign-up for free.
Maze
Best for: Product teams who want user research and testing in one platform, with every question and its results kept in one place.
PlaybookUX
Best for: Teams who want unmoderated tests, moderated interviews, card sorting, tree testing and five-second tests in one research platform.
Useberry
Best for: Designers who want an all-in-one user testing platform that shows how people think, click and feel about what they have built.
Userbrain
Best for: Teams who want to run user tests regularly, with results back within 24 hours and AI-generated reports on key patterns.
Userlytics
Best for: Companies that want an all-in-one user testing and UX research platform and a free demo before choosing a plan.
UserZoom
Best for: Enterprise research teams already working with UserTesting who want its dedicated platform for deeper UX research capabilities.
UXArmy
Best for: Small teams and agencies who want unmoderated usability testing of prototypes, websites and mobile apps, plus quick surveys and moderated sessions.
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Where to start for your product
- Quick online tests with fast results: Loop11 or Userbrain.
- Testing prototypes, websites and mobile apps: UXArmy.
- All-in-one user testing for designers: Useberry.
- Research questions and results in one place: Maze.
- Testing, surveys and recruitment together: Lyssna.
- Remote sessions with qualitative depth: Lookback.
- Many research methods in one tool: PlaybookUX.
- A tester panel built in: dscout.
- A free demo before you commit: Userlytics.
- Enterprise research teams: UserZoom.
How long a usability session should take
The GOV.UK Service Manual says moderated usability testing is where you watch participants try to complete specific tasks using your service. It also says sessions usually take between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the number and complexity of the tasks.
That's a useful limit. Plan a handful of focused tasks, such as finding a product or booking a call, rather than a tour of every page, and ask people to think aloud as they go.
Moderated versus unmoderated testing
In a moderated test, a researcher watches live and can ask follow-up questions. It's slower, but you learn why people struggle, not just where.
In an unmoderated test, people complete tasks on their own while their screen and voice are recorded. It's quicker and easier to run at scale, which makes it ideal for checking a design before launch.
Questions to ask before you choose a usability testing tool
- Do we need moderated sessions, unmoderated tests or both?
- Can it recruit participants who match our customers?
- Does it test prototypes as well as live sites?
- Does it work on mobile apps?
- How quickly do results come back?
- Can we share clips with the rest of the team?
Signs it's time to run a usability test
- Visitors leave at the same step. Watch someone try it.
- Support gets the same questions. Test the page that causes them.
- A redesign is coming. Test the prototype first.
- The team disagrees on a design. Let users settle it.
Do you make a usability testing or UX research tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a usability testing tool
Test early and often with a small number of people rather than once with a big study. Watching a few people stumble over the same step tells you exactly what to fix, and you can test again once it's changed.
Share short clips of real people struggling with whoever makes decisions. Nothing changes minds faster. And if you'd like a checklist of what usually goes wrong, my round-up of common UI and UX mistakes is a good companion.
Frequently asked questions
What is usability testing?
Usability testing means watching real people try to complete tasks on a website, app or prototype to find out where they struggle.
How many people do I need for a usability test?
A small group often reveals the biggest problems. Run several rounds as you fix issues rather than one large study.
What's the difference between moderated and unmoderated testing?
Moderated tests have a researcher watching live, while unmoderated tests are completed independently and recorded.
How long should a usability test take?
The GOV.UK Service Manual says moderated sessions usually take between 30 and 60 minutes.
Can I test a prototype before building it?
Yes. Many tools test clickable prototypes and design files as well as live websites.
Are there free usability testing tools?
Some offer free trials or free sign-ups. The free plan column above shows what each vendor's site says.
