Best User Research Tools Shortlist
Here’s the shortlist of the best user research tools that I selected for this article, with detailed summaries below:
User research tools are essential to determining how customers will experience your product, service, or software. You’ll need to conduct usability testing, ask insightful interview questions, conduct surveys, and run specialized tests — preferably all in one place. To ensure you have the best user research tools to make it happen, I’ve put together this list of the top options.
What are user research tools?
User research tools are a collection of surveys, tests, and analytics that can help businesses better understand user behaviors, motivations, and needs. These evaluation tools offer a number of feedback methodologies that clarify how and why people interact with products. Additionally, they establish which design solutions best reflect their needs.
Overviews Of The 10 Best User Research Tools
Here’s a brief description of each user research tool that showcases every tool’s best use case and standout features.
UserTesting
Best for targeting specific audiences with demographic filtering
As a customer experience software, UserTesting is a solution that helps businesses create, launch, and manage custom tests, including audio, video, and written testing that captures user feedback about any service, product, app, or marketing campaign.
User tracking software is an essential part of the UserTesting experience. The platform includes a testing panel that integrates with a user database, providing detailed data about specific user audiences. These scalable insights provide essential information that could improve CRM, allow designers to create rapid prototypes, and help teams across multiple departments align goals.
UserTesting offers solutions for businesses of all sizes across a variety of verticals, including automotive, consumer technology, financial services, gaming and gambling, ecommerce, healthcare, and travel. This UX research tool has a paid plan for startups, small businesses, mid-level organizations, and enterprise companies.
UserTesting Standout Features and Integrations
Features include test builder, template gallery, demographic filters, screener questions, dashboard, metrics and analytics, transcripts, sentiment analysis, unlimited workspaces, live conversations, interactive path flows, click maps, card sorting, tree testing, and smart tags.
Integrations include Slack, Jira, Trello, Qualetrics, Adobe XD, Outlook Calendar, Google Calendar, Unbounce, Pendo, and Contentsquare.
Pros
- Easy to learn user interface
- Places an emphasis on discoverability
- Flexible product with many uses
Cons
- Pricing is steep
- Account managers rotate out
Survicate
Best for sharing survey data across all tools and integrations
Survicate strives to deliver an all-in-one customer feedback solution that utilizes one-click email surveys, targeted website surveys, mobile application surveys, and questionnaires to deliver actionable insights into the user experience.
Survicate is able to sync data in real-time across a number of native integrations and supported software to provide relevant, actionable information to every part of a team. They deliver solutions that explore product experience, customer experience, and marketing feedback — all integrated with CRM, marketing automation platforms, and visual reporting tools.
This user research tool provides support for organizations of all sizes, including free plans for solo-run businesses, flexible plans for SMBs, and custom options for companies that plan to scale their processes.
Survicate Standout Features and Integrations
Features include net promoter score, email and link surveys, feedback button, website surveys, mobile app surveys, in-product surveys, feedback hub, intercom messenger surveys, A/B testing, real-time reporting and analytics, negative feedback management, and response validation.
Integrations include Slack, Pardot, Zendesk, Smartlook, Mailchimp, Segment, Mixpanel, Productboard, Marketo, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros
- Provides survey automation tools
- Simple, clean interface
- Allows unlimited workspaces
Cons
- Unable to combine in-app chat NPS survey with the email version
- No tools that visualize change in sentiment over time
Hotjar
Best for user behavior analytics and reporting on websites
Hotjar focuses on helping businesses understand the user journey through interviews, frequent feedback, and behavior tracking. This research platform offers all-in-one analytics tools and insights into website activity from your users.
Hotjar is on this list of best UX research tools because it doesn’t just show businesses what their users are doing, it also helps them understand why. By visualizing conversion flows, cutting snippets of recordings and heatmaps, and getting a high-level view of user data, Hotjar extracts and shares the most meaningful data to allow businesses to stay on top of their metrics
With Hotjar, businesses can explore four plan types: heatmaps and recordings, surveys and feedback, user interviews, or some custom combination of all three developed just for their needs. These analytics tools can be helpful for organizations of all sizes across any industry using Hotjar as a survey tool to reach real research participants for better data.
Hotjar Standout Features and Integrations
Features include session recordings, heatmaps, moderated usability testing tools, user insights through interaction tracking, journeys, and research analysis, feedback, surveys, user interviews, poll management, text analysis, trend analysis, sentiment analysis, and real time data.
Integrations include Google Analytics, Slack, Unbounce, Mixpanel, Zapier, Segment, HubSpot, WordPress, Shopify, and Facebook Conversions.
Pros
- User-friendly toolkit
- Simplified dashboard
- Free forever plan for trial
Cons
- Plans get expensive for enterprise-level organizations
- Pricing model separates various analytics tools
WEVO
Best for more insight with less effort
A UX research platform, WEVO claims that it can help businesses uncover more insights with less effort than most other tools. They offer synthesized quantitative and qualitative insights and scores and benchmarks with less than 30 minutes of effort.
The reason WEVO claims to cut down on work while providing more valuable insights is due to a combination of high-volume feedback, AI evaluation, and expert human analysis. These tools are designed to cut down on your work time and help you follow the user journey, close the gap expectation, score your experiences, and stay ahead of the competition.
Wevo was built for UX/CX researchers, product managers, marketers, and agencies across a variety of industries. They offer a flexible subscription plan that’s based on user needs to include just what will help their company without bloating the price or muddying the interface with unnecessary tools.
WEVO Standout Features and Integrations
Features include test building, surveys, AI test collection and review, collaboration tools, continuous testing, recruitment pool, sorting, data visualization, demographic targeting, website testing, sentiment evaluation and mapping, human analysts, and qualitative data.
Integrations N/A
Pros
- Allows for larger sample data
- AI-driven analysis
- Easy to learn and use
Cons
- Limited testing for lengthy flows
- Key Findings layout is cluttered
Centercode
Best for automated beta testing with real-world audiences
Centercode provides a client satisfaction tracking platform to help businesses manage their entire product lifecycle with feedback in the form of net promoter scores and KPI metrics from customers, prospects, and employees.
There are several key features that drive Centercode’s platform, from task prioritization to AI-based technology that helps evaluate user products. With the platform product analytics dashboard, product managers can review all organizational data, browse client reviews, and detect and resolve bugs to develop better products based on this data.
Centercode provides several solutions that are separated into two categories: one for users that need to test a product and another for organizations that need to share data across several teams and workflows. Custom plans are available for medium and large businesses
Centercode Standout Features and Integrations
Features include project planning and scheduling, website management, customizable questions and surverys, content moderation, external reviewer support, ideation and crowdsourcing, a question library, aggregate reports, rater tracking, and self-service portal.
Integrations include Google Analytics, Jira, and flexible API.
Pros
- Ability to anonymize testers
- Honest insights into products
- Replaces Teams, Google Forms, and PowerPoint
Cons
- Many co-dependent processes
- Can be hard to navigate
Feedback Loop
Best for continuous product testing pre- and post-release
Feedback Loop is a web-based user research tool that’s designed to help businesses with product concept testing, feedback management, and ongoing product research.
Using real audiences that businesses can target based on demographics and user behavior, Feedback Loop enables functionality testing for new products with data they can share with internal and external stakeholders.
Feedback Loop specializes in concept and idea testing for medium and large businesses. They offer several plan options based on testing needs, billed as solutions that continually inform decisions with actionable insights.
Feedback Loop Standout Features and Integrations
Features include recruitment pool, data import and export, data visualization, insights and analytics, prioritization, collaboration tools, survey management, survey builder, survey templates, customization, question types, branching/skip logic, and multimedia support.
Integrations include Slack.
Pros
- Comprehensive cycle-based option
- Keeps respondents engaged
- Unique functionality features
Cons
- Surveys only available in English
- Limited question types
Userback
Best for managing the user feedback lifecycle
As a cloud-based customer feedback tracking platform, Userback focuses on bug tracking, collecting respondent feedback, and information management for website owners, agencies, and developers.
The Userback system enables real-time feedback that comes directly from websites, and provides screenshots that pinpoint bugs and issues. Instant notifications of website concerns allow developers to tag, categorize, and filter in order to prioritize the most important issues. Userback also enhances research processes with an engaging feedback portal with voting, task tracking, and product roadmaps.
Userback offers flexible solutions for businesses of all sizes, including startups and enterprise-grade organizations. With several pricing models, users can choose the one that works best for their needs. Userback doesn’t currently offer any customization for plans.
Userback Standout Features and Integrations
Features include feedback portal, screen annotation, user insights, video recording, session replay, in-app feedback, bug tracking, design feedback, website feedback, user acceptance testing, product roadmapping, software feature requests, audit tracking, and task management.
Integrations include Trello, Jira, ClickUp, Slack, Basecamp, WordPress, Asana, GitHub, Microsoft Teams, and Zapier.
Pros
- Conducts remote user research
- Gets feedback from real users
- Easy to install
Cons
- No powerful project management
- Difficult to navigate between tickets
UsabilityHub
Best for a broad range of testing capabilities
UsabilityHub is a user research tool that provides access to real users for digital product testing with a broad range of test styles.
A benefit that UsabilityHub touts as one of its top features is their variety of testing methods, ranging from five second testing and first click testing to surveys, navigation testing, and card sorting. They have several other test methods that can support design professionals, marketers, and product managers.
UsabilityHub offers a range of plans that may work for freelancers and small businesses, as well as large organizations. With custom options for enterprise-grade companies, this tool can provide solutions for teams of all sizes.
UsabilityHub Standout Features and Integrations
Features include A/B testing, card sorting, design surveys, prototype testing, preference tests, five-second tests, first-click testing, customizable questions, data import and export, quantitative metrics, multi-language, reporting and analytics, unmoderated testing, and heatmaps.
Integrations include Figma, Unbounce, G-Suite, Box, NameSilo, Taskworld, Uniregistry, Asana, Airtable, and GoDaddy.
Pros
- One-stop user research platform
- Simple, easy setup
- Regular updates with new tools
Cons
- Majority of respondents are USA-based
- Limited targeting options
Wynter
Best for small businesses who need B2B messaging
Wynter is a user research platform that helps businesses learn what their B2B SaaS ICPs think with tools that allow them to target and question verified B2B audiences. With B2B message testing, preference testing, customer feedback, and user testing, Wynter offers four ways to get feedback.
Verified B2B audiences on Wynter are manually vetted with a thorough verification process before they’re eligible for message testing participation. Wynter confirms everyone’s real identity, including industry, job title, and LinkedIn profile. After verification, users can target audiences based on industry, role, and seniority.
While Wynter is meant for small businesses, they also offer solutions for enterprise organizations. Their user research shows that over 80% of their clients opt for the Wynter Enterprise package, showing that they can handle large volume testing and research.
Wynter Standout Features and Integrations
Features include message testing, preference testing, B2B customer research, outbound email testing, B2B user testing, value proposition testing, recruitment pool, text and notes, analytics, collaboration tools, sorting tools, workshops, and B2B messaging course.
Integrations include Drift, LastPass, GoToMeeting, and RingCentral Engage.
Pros
- Insightful, actionable feedback
- Customizable message building
- Rapid feedback for testing
Cons
- Pricing model isn’t customizable
- Setup isn’t totally intuitive
Maze
Best for testing prototypes and getting design ideas
Maze is a cloud-based user research tool that offers the optimal workshop for testing prototypes and getting user feedback that helps with design ideas. This platform also includes marketing campaign tools offered through a unified portal. Many companies use Maze to recruit participants and enhance UX design, including Vanguard, GE, ING, Rappi, and Braze.
Built for product design teams, Maze has tools that continuously collect and analyze user insights throughout the product development cycle. Users can run unmoderated product research and use incoming data to transform feedback into actionable metrics that validate design ideas and improve decision-making.
Maze offers design tools and testing for organizations of all sizes, including solo projects and enterprise-grade businesses. Because they offer continuous product discovery, Maze recommends using its tools at every stage of your product lifecycle to get expert-level research and data.
Maze Standout Features and Integrations
Features include tree testing, prototype testing, 5-second tests, card sorting, surveys, panels, video recordings, live website testing, in-product prompts, customizable reports, data import and export, poll management, visual analytics, unmoderated usability testing, and performance metrics.
Integrations include Figma, Slack, Adobe XD, Sketch, InVision, Sitoo, and Marvel.
Pros
- User friendly reports and test building
- Access to qualitative and quantitative questions
- Simple to implement
Cons
- Limited testing conditions
- Slow loading times for tests
The 10 Best User Research Tools Comparison Chart
Here is a table where you can compare all the tools we just covered in the overviews.
| Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UserTesting Best for targeting specific audiences with demographic filtering | Free demo available | Pricing available upon request | Visit Website |
| 2 | Survicate Best for sharing survey data across all tools and integrations | Free plan available | From $99/month | Visit Website |
| 3 | Hotjar Best for user behavior analytics and reporting on websites | 15-day free trial + free plan available | From $59/month | Visit Website |
| 4 | WEVO Best for more insight with less effort | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 5 |  Centercode Best for automated beta testing with real-world audiences | Free version available | Pricing Upon Request | Visit Website |
| 6 |  Feedback Loop Best for continuous product testing pre- and post-release | Free one-month trial with unlimited testing | From $20,000/year | Visit Website |
| 7 |  Userback Best for managing the user feedback lifecycle | 14-day free trial available | From $79/month | Visit Website |
| 8 |  UsabilityHub Best for a broad range of testing capabilities | Free plan available | From $89/month | Visit Website |
| 9 |  Wynter Best for small businesses who need B2B messaging | Free forever plan available | From $1,787/month | Visit Website |
| 10 |  Maze Best for testing prototypes and getting design ideas | Free plan available | From $99/month | Visit Website |
Other User Research Tools Options
Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best user research tools list:
- Discus
Best for aerospace and automotive inspection planning
- Userlytics
Best for managing digital assets
- Respondent
Best for understanding target audiences
- Userfeel
Best for remote usability testing applications for UX researchers
- UXArmy
Best for short surveys and quick results
- Suzy
Best for integrating quant, qual, and high quality audiences
How I Picked the Best User Research Tools
When I started building this top 10 list, there were hundreds of options to compare. I started by looking for those with positive user ratings, and then continued on with a deeper examination of their features.
My criteria for honing down this long list of top choices included usability, standout features, software integrations, and pricing. Then, I compared how each user research platform stacked up against the others. Finally, I drew on my years of product management experience to ensure the features available actually added a lot of value.
Selection Criteria
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list.
Usability
I look for software that’s easy to learn and use with an interface that’s simple to navigate. The layout should provide quick access to all essential tools and a central place to interpret and use customer feedback. My usability criteria also explored options with more accessibility for people with low vision, situational disabilities, and color blindness.
Standout Features
A powerful user research solution provides all the tools you need for comprehensive testing to aid in decision-making. I look for those platforms that include standout features that make your job easier. For example, those with data visualization, targeted tools, and collaboration tools.
Software Integrations
There are a number of standard business tools most organizations use on a regular basis. I wanted to ensure these user research platforms offered integrations with the most popular software in your current workflow. This list includes those tools that are most accessible and usable with other business essentials.
Pricing
You want cost-effective software that’s useful for your business. Therefore, I searched for tools that provided customization, flexibility, and versatility with affordable pricing. Several of the options on this list even have free forever plans that are ideal for individual users and small businesses. You’ll also find plans with generous trials to test tools before committing.
User Research Tools FAQs
Find answers to common questions other people ask about this topic.
What is user research?
What are the benefits of user research?
What are the benefits of user research tools?
What are the key features of user research tools?
What are commonly used user research methods?
How do you collect data for UX research?
What's Next?
Since the customer experience is now an essential part of navigating an increasingly competitive market, it’s more important than ever before to develop a customer feedback loop strategy. This list should have provided a comprehensive overview of tools to help guide you toward the appropriate platform for your organization.
Related tool lists:
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