Are there alternatives to UserTesting that won't break the bank? And is there a platform besides UserTesting that offers the flexibility your team needs?

These are just some of the questions we'll explore in this in-depth guide to UserTesting alternatives.

Whether you've been using UserTesting for a while and are looking to switch to other options or you’re just starting out with user research tools, this in-depth guide is for you.

We start by looking at UserTesting's limitations and why you might want to consider using other alternatives to uncover user insights. Then, we'll examine each UserTesting alternative, including its key features, pros and cons, pricing, and user reviews (both the good and the bad!).

After reading this guide, you'll feel more confident exploring UserTesting alternatives to unlock powerful user research insights and create user experiences that truly resonate. 

Note: All prices displayed in this article are in USD.

UserTesting's limitations: Why make the switch and look for alternatives?

UserTesting is a popular UX research platform that facilitates real-world testing and feedback collection. Businesses and teams use it to gain valuable information about their customers' experiences.

However, it's not the best fit for everyone and has limitations that you should be aware of.

Lack of transparent pricing

One of UserTesting's downsides is that users have expressed frustration with its unclear pricing structure. The move to hidden pricing makes it harder for customers to compare prices and adds uncertainty to the buying experience.

This lack of transparency is a significant limitation for several reasons:

• Hidden costs: Users report encountering unexpected charges, making it difficult to budget for their research needs. As one Redditor noted, "Their pricing model is # of seats + credits for using their platform/panel." With additional fees for features like moderated tests and BYO (Bring Your Own) participants, this complex pricing system can lead to unexpected costs.

• Sales pressure: Contacting sales for pricing information can be a time-consuming and unpleasant experience. One Redditor expressed a reluctance to "go through the sales thing with them," highlighting many customers' aversion to this process.

• High costs and limited flexibility: Even with estimates, the cost of UserTesting can be high, especially for smaller teams or individual researchers. The credit system can also feel restrictive, with varying costs per credit depending on the type of test and the need to purchase credits even when using your own panel.

Panelist quality and representativeness

Another limitation of UserTesting that’s often discussed is the quality and representativeness of its panel.

Redditors observed that the platform attracts a group of seasoned testers who are interested in providing design critiques and feedback rather than representing users who reflect real-world user behavior. These results can skew feedback, and generalizing the results to the broader user population can be challenging.

Lucas L., a UserTesting Enterprise user, has the same sentiment: "One downside is the quality of participants at times. There are professional test takers and bots trying to simply make money."

Other limitations

G2 reviews also highlight the following UserTesting limitations:

• Difficulties managing and communicating with participants during testing.

• Challenges in setting up and running tests smoothly, including technical glitches and navigation issues.

• Dissatisfaction with the quality and depth of testing options.

• Users report the lack of certain desired features and functionalities.

• Some reviewers find the provided data and insights lacking in detail or clarity. 

With these limitations in mind, it's high time to consider other UserTesting alternatives. The following user research platforms are excellent places to start.

1. Lyssna

2. Maze

3. Userlytics

4. Optimal Workshop

5. dscout

6. Hotja

7. Useberry

8. Lookback

Best 8 UserTesting alternatives at a glance

Here’s a quick rundown of the top eight alternatives to UserTesting.

1. Lyssna

Best for: Teams looking for an all-in-one user research platform and value for money.

Lyssna (formerly known as UsabilityHub) is a strong competitor to UserTesting, especially for those on a budget. Its extensive participant pool and diverse testing options, combined with its competitive pricing, make it an attractive alternative for conducting usability testing at any stage of the design process.

If you prioritize ease of use, a wide range of user testing capabilities, and cost-effectiveness, pick Lyssna for your user research needs.

G2 user rating: 4.5/5

Overview of key features

• A broad range of panelists: Access a vast research panel of 530,000+ participants, filterable by demographics, or recruit your own. 

• Interviews: Plan, recruit, and manage remote interviews, including setting up screener questions and tracking sessions.

• Various usability testing methods: Conduct first click tests, five second tests, preference tests, and prototype tests to gather valuable user insights.

• Template library: Product-focused usability testing templates you can use and adapt. 

• Card sorting and tree testing: Understand how users organize information to improve your information architecture.

• Text and design surveys: Collect in-depth qualitative data through design and text-based surveys.

• Screeners: Include qualifying questions in surveys, usability tests, and interviews to recruit participants that meet specific criteria.

• Integrations: Seamlessly test prototypes within the Figma design environment. integrate with Zoom, Microsoft Outlook and Teams, and Google Calendar for user interviews.

Pros

• Panelists from over 100 countries with precise targeting (395+ attributes for audience selection).

• Multilingual support. For example, surveys are available in 30 languages.

• User-friendly interface. Lyssna is often praised for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface.

• Wide variety of testing options to gather both qualitative and quantitative data, catering to diverse research needs.  

• Offers a free plan and affordable paid plans.

• Excellent customer support who are responsive and helpful.

• Lyssna is GDPR compliant, ensuring data privacy for all users.

• Short learning curve, as reported by users.

Cons

• Lyssna doesn't yet have native interview conferencing features (but you can integrate with Zoom and Microsoft Teams) or live website testing.

• While you can have unlimited tests on the free plan, each test has a two-minute limit. For tests longer than this, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Pricing

• Free plan: Up to three collaborators, unlimited self-recruited responses, two-minute test/survey length.

• Basic ($75/month): Up to 10 collaborators, unlimited viewers, unlimited responses, unlimited active tests, CSV exports.

• Pro ($175/month): Everything in Basic, plus up to 15 collaborators, custom branding, test logic, team permissions.

• Enterprise (custom pricing): All Pro features, plus unlimited collaborators, security audits, SSO, and SAML.

• Panel responses are priced separately. Pay-as-you-go or purchase bulk credits.

What users are saying about Lyssna

“Lyssna (formerly UsabilityHub) is the BEST place for quick, reliable user tests! Rather than spending a fortune in time and money to conduct user research (that we'd never get the boss to agree to), we can run fast user tests and get damn-near instant results to help with our important design decisions. It's truly revolutionary, and has already won over even the most skeptical designers! We use it all the time.” - Jack D. (via G2)

“What we need is something that allows us to get up and running very fast, have direct conversations over a trusted tool; a trusted interface that allows us to gain insights and take actions in the same week. Neither competitive product allowed us to do that as swiftly as Lyssna.” - Justin Nowlen, Senior Director of Product Design at TrueCar

Learn more: How TrueCar improve the car-buying journey using Interviews from Lyssna

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2. Maze

Best for: Running unmoderated usability tests on autopilot.

Maze is another UserTesting alternative if you're looking for a platform that combines qualitative and quantitative research methods. This user research tool is suitable for streamlining unmoderated usability testing at scale.

G2 user rating: 4.5/5

Overview of key features

• Unmoderated usability testing: Test prototypes and live websites, integrating with popular prototyping tools.

• Interactive prototyping: Create realistic and immersive user testing experiences.

• Design integrations: Import designs from Figma, Sketch, InVision, and Adobe XD for collaborative testing.

• Automated reporting: Generate reports with heatmaps, design metrics, and path analysis.

• Video recording: Capture user behavior and interactions during remote tests.

• Diverse testing methods: Conduct a wide range of tests, including live website testing, prototype tests, concept validation, and A/B testing.

Pros

• Drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy for anyone to collect user feedback.

• Streamlined testing process and automated reporting enable quick design iterations.

• Video recordings and detailed reports offer in-depth understanding of user behavior.

• Conduct various types of tests to gather comprehensive user insights.

Cons

• Higher cost compared to alternatives like Lyssna.

• Restricted features and responses in the free plan.

• Offers limited depth in analytics compared to some competitors.

• Surveying capabilities may not be as robust as dedicated survey tools.

• Some G2 reviewers have commented on its uploading issues. 

Pricing

• Free: Up to 300 responses per year, with limited features.

• Starter: $99/month, unlimited blocks, Clips, AI question rephrasing, etc.

• Organization: Custom pricing, with additional features like open card sorting, tree testing, and interview studies.

What users are saying about Maze 

“Maze helps me put my user research on autopilot. As a Product Manager at an early-stage startup, I don't have the time to talk to as many users as I would like, so a tool like Maze allows me to get data from my users as if I were observing them in person. The seamless integration with prototyping tools like Figma and Adobe XD makes the process of creating usability tests so easy and straightforward.” - Federico C. (via G2)

“I don't appreciate how prototypes frequently crash for users, especially mobile users. Sometimes a user will go through the test more than once, causing our final number of participants to be inaccurate. I wish Maze allowed for blocks of questions where conditions could take users to a new block. That would allow us to build out better, more detailed tests without overwhelming users. I also wish the reports were easier to edit (change content, order of slides) or if they even gave the option to combine multiple test reports! I tend to go into Adobe Acrobat and do it myself if I need to combine reports, which adds time.” -  Sophia S. (via G2)

3. Userlytics

Best for: Teams seeking extensive customization options for user research.

Userlytics is another UserTesting alternative worth looking into because it provides a cost-effective approach to user research. It distinguishes itself through its unlimited team collaboration and diverse global panel. Its scalable pricing also makes it a flexible solution for organizations of all sizes seeking a comprehensive and budget-friendly user testing platform. However, its user interface isn’t as modern or intuitive as some other UserTesting alternatives.

G2 user rating: 4.4/5

Overview of key features

• Wide-ranging panel: Access a global panel of nearly 2 million testers across 150 countries, enabling you to map personas and target specific demographics for your research.

• Global appeal: Conduct studies in 79 countries with multilingual support for studies, transcriptions, and reports.

• VR testing: Test VR prototypes on Oculus to assess usability and purchase intent.

• Integrations: Connect with popular design tools like Adobe XD, Figma, InVision, and Sketch for prototype testing.

Pros

• Access a vast and diverse panel of testers worldwide.

• Conduct studies and generate reports in multiple languages.

• Advanced reporting capabilities and the ability to record users’ audio and video.

• Tailor tasks, questions, and user ratings to your exact specifications using a variety of pre-built templates.

Cons

• Outdated interface.

• Limited multilingual transcriptions.

• Advanced features are only available on higher-priced plans.

• Some users have reported audio quality problems during testing.

• Limited demographic information. Targeting options may be limited due to less detailed participant demographics.

Pricing

• DIY (self-recruitment) Premium: $499/month, 2 seats, 20 AI transcriptions/month.

• DIY (self-recruitment) Advanced: $999/month, 5 seats, 100 AI transcriptions, access to Userlytics panel services.

• Custom and enterprise plans: Tailored pricing based on your needs.

What users are saying about Userlytics

“The platform keeps all tests very organized, which is great for a team or a company using the product at an enterprise level. My team runs a lot of repeat tests throughout the year (ex: website homepage every quarter), which is easy to duplicate within the platform and run against various audiences.” - Catherine Stockdale G. (via G2)

“The transcription has a lot of problems when the person has an accent, and since it's used in the IA analysis we can't trust the analysis and we can't use it. The videos given are very small when the test is on mobile in landscape mode, it's very hard to analyse. Also there are missing features compared to the conccurents (playtestcloud). I'm frustrated to not be able to do multi-session tests, which means tests with the same person multiple times, or longitudinal study, a test that lasts multiple days with the same person.” - Laila B. (via G2)

4. Optimal Workshop

Best for: Teams looking for a beginners tool for UX research.

Optimal Workshop is a user research platform designed to provide a suite of usability tools to improve website navigation, information architecture, and overall user experience.

If you're looking for a comprehensive user research platform that focuses on information architecture and diverse testing options, Optimal Workshop is a good choice. It's also generally considered a good beginner's tool for user research.

G2 user rating: 4.5/5

Overview of key features

• Card sorting (OptimalSort): Understand how users categorize and organize information to improve your site's structure.

• Tree testing (Treejack): Test the findability and organization of content within your website's information architecture.

• First-click testing (Chalkmark): Assess the effectiveness of design elements by collecting click-based heatmaps.

• Qualitative research (Reframer): Gather, organize, and analyze notes, observations, and interviews to gather feedback.

• Online surveys (Questions): Create and distribute surveys to collect user feedback and data.

Pros

• Offers a variety of research methods.

• You can collect both qualitative and quantitative data for a comprehensive understanding of user behavior and preferences.

• Access a pool of prescreened participants or recruit your own.

Cons

• Lacks integration with design tools, limiting prototype testing capabilities.

• Some users report inconsistencies in participant quality and screening.

• Occasional difficulties with the UI for study participants.

Pricing

• Free: Limited testing tasks/cards, three qualitative research sessions, unlimited surveys, first-click testing, up to 10 participant responses per test.

• Individual: $107/month (annual billing) for one user, two live studies, tree testing, and card sorting. Extra $700 for surveys, first click testing, and prototype testing.

• Team: Custom pricing up to three users, all Individual features, plus first click testing, prototype testing, surveys, and qualitative insights.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing, all Team features plus multiple team accounts, administrator controls, custom usage reporting, and legal assessment.

What users are saying about Optimal Workshop

“Optimal Workshop is a fantastic tool for organizing the information structure of your interface. It is extremely useful for the UX/UI pre-design research process.” - Validated user (via G2 reviews)

“Not all participants who take part in the survey take the survey seriously. A lot of time goes to waste on filtering this out” - Anand B. (via G2)

5. dscout 

Best for: User research focused on mobile experiences.

dscout is an ideal UserTesting alternative if you need a mobile-first qualitative research platform to gather rich, contextualized feedback about user behavior. Its unique features, like mobile ethnography and diary studies, enable you to understand how users interact with your products and services while on the go.  

G2 user rating: 4.5/5

Overview of key features

• Mobile ethnography: Assign missions or tasks to participants to complete using their smartphones, capturing photos, videos, and written responses.

• Diary studies: Track participants' experiences, behaviors, and thoughts through mobile journaling.

• Live video interviews: Conduct remote video interviews to observe facial expressions and gather in-depth qualitative data.

• Express missions: Get quick feedback within 24–48 hours through streamlined research projects.

• Integrations: Connect with tools like Slack and Miro for seamless collaboration and data sharing.

Pros

• The mobile-centric approach lets you capture real-time insights from participants in their natural settings.

• Get diverse research findings with mobile ethnography, diary studies, and live interviews.

• Streamline analysis with automated transcriptions and video editing tools.

• With Express missions, you get rapid feedback for quick decision-making.

Cons

• Higher cost compared to some alternatives, with limited public pricing information.

• Challenging to recruit participants outside the US and Canada, which may limit your research participants.

• Extensive features may take time for new users to master.

• Managing participant incentives may incur extra costs.

• Some users report issues with the video clipping tool and interface navigation.

Pricing

dscout’s pricing isn't publicly available.

What users say about dscout

“Dscout has created an ecosystem of tools - moderated and unmoderated - around its high-quality participant panel. While I still like its diary study tool most, I've had positive experiences with live sessions and its nascent unmoderated usability "express missions". I love the ability to screen with video responses, and hand-select respondents for studies.”- Brett L. (via G2)“

What puzzles me sometimes is the video quality dropping as we pass the 30min mark. It appears quite blurry. And in rare cases, the generation of video clips either takes too long or simply fails. I like when dScout chat support was quick and done by a real person, a feature that is no longer available.” - Bo W. (via G2)

6. Hotjar

Best for: Teams who want to delve into user behavior analytics.

Hotjar is worth investigating if your primary goal is to boost conversion rates for your digital product. Its user behavior analytics, particularly heatmaps and session recordings, provide valuable insights into how users interact with your product. These features let you and your team identify areas for improvement and optimize the user experience. 

G2 user rating: 4.3/5

Overview of key features

• Heatmaps: Visualize user interactions through click, move, and scroll heatmaps.

• Recordings: Watch session recordings to see how users navigate your product.

• Surveys and feedback polls: Collect targeted feedback from website visitors.

• AI surveys: Generate surveys quickly with AI assistance.

Pros

• Easy to install and start collecting data.

• In-depth data visualization helps you understand user behavior through visual representations and reports.

• Session recordings give you direct access to user interactions so you can identify pain points.

Cons

• Data reports lack segmentation by trends or period.

• Hotjar doesn't offer traditional user research methods like prototype testing or card sorting.

• Restricted features and data collection on the free plan.

• Some users report difficulties organizing and analyzing research data.

Pricing

• Basic: Free, up to 35 daily sessions.

• Plus: $39/month, up to 100 daily sessions.

• Business: $99/month, up to 500 daily sessions (scales with higher recording limits).

• Scale: $213/month for enterprise-level needs, with advanced features and priority support.

• You can also mix and match products and plans based on your desired features.

What users say about Hotjar

“The heatmaps are just fantastic! Imagine having the ability to see your website through your users' eyes, understanding their clicks, scrolls, and movements. This is what Hotjar's heatmaps offer. It's almost like being able to read minds.” - Nicole D. (via G2)“

The customer support is not that helpful, have contacted them several times for the same issue. Apart from that, the overall app is really good.” - Gunjan B (via G2)

7. Useberry

Best for: Teams looking for a user research tool with a focus on prototype testing.

Useberry simplifies the prototype testing process by providing a user-friendly platform and a vast participant pool. Create tests, share them with your target audience, and analyze the results through intuitive reports, including heatmaps, session recordings, and user flows.

G2 user rating: 4.4/5

Overview of key features

• Comprehensive testing methods: Conduct screen activity tracking, heatmaps, user journey mapping, unmoderated testing, and prototype testing to gain an understanding of user behavior.

• Information architecture tools: Organize and structure your website or app through card sorting and tree testing.

• Streamlined user panel: Access a large pool of test participants easily filterable by various attributes for efficient recruitment.

• Easy collaboration: Share test URLs effortlessly and collaborate with your team for seamless project management.

Pros

• Ease of use due to its user-friendly interface, which simplifies test creation and analysis.

• Seamless integrations. Useberry integrates with industry-leading prototyping tools like Figma, Adobe XD, ProtoPie, InVision, Marvel, and Sketch. 

• Allows for rapid prototype testing and analysis.

Cons

• Some users find the pricing to be on the higher side, especially for additional features and participants.

• Reported problems with integrations can be frustrating for users reliant on Figma.

• Response times for customer support can be slow, delaying issue resolution.

Pricing

• Free: Offers one project, ten responses per month, and unlimited collaborators.

• Growth: Provides unlimited projects, versions, and responses for $67 per month.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing. All Growth features plus unlimited seats, unlimited responses per month, and priority support.

What users say about Useberry

“I just love how accessible and easy use testing has become with Useberry. It's a very enlightening experience to watch how real users test our prototypes on their video recording. This has given us insights that we would not have otherwise had.”  - Ashutosh J. (via G2 reviews)

“For smaller teams or individual designers, the cost of Useberry can be relatively high compared to other UX testing tools, especially if advanced features are needed.” - Leny N. (via G2 reviews)

8. Lookback

Best for: Collaborative user interviews.

Lookback is a good UserTesting alternative for facilitating collaborative, qualitative user interviews. Its live features, searchable recordings, and mixed testing functionalities make it a valuable tool for teams seeking a deep understanding of user experiences. 

G2 user rating: 4.3/5

Overview of key features

• Live collaboration: Invite team members to observe interviews in real-time, fostering communication through chat and timestamped note-taking.

• Enhanced organization: Organize data efficiently by recording all sessions in a player with searchable timestamps and comments.

• Mixed testing methods: Conduct interviews and usability tests within the same project for a holistic user understanding.

Pros

• Lookback's pricing structure offers affordable options for smaller businesses compared to competitors.

• Supports both moderated and unmoderated testing within a single project.

• Provides various pricing plans to accommodate different team sizes and project needs.

Cons

• Limited feature set. Lookback lacks features like surveys, card sorting, and tree testing.

• No participant panel, but Lookback integrates with User Interviews for participant recruitment.

• Session-based pricing. It can be expensive for frequent or large-scale testing.

• Participants may face difficulties with the app or connectivity.

• Outdated reviews. You'll find limited recent user feedback available.

Pricing

• Freelance: Starts at $25/month for 10 sessions/year. Includes usability testing, interviews, and a virtual observation room.

• Team: Starts at $149/month for 100 sessions/year. Includes all Freelance features plus private projects, unlimited storage, in-session collaboration, and granular team access.

• Insights Hub: Starts at $344/month for 300 sessions/year. Includes the same features as the Team plan.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing for unlimited sessions. Includes all Insights Hub features plus customization, customer success manager, onboarding, and SAML-based SSO.

• All plans are billed annually and offer a 60-day free trial.

What user say about Lookback

“My favorite feature was that a participant during a user interview has no idea how many other observers are there. It's so valuable for team members (designers, engineers, product, etc.) to hear things directly from users during a testing session; however, in some tools, they can see every person on the call. When they see all of those names, they sometimes clam up and aren't as open with their feedback during a research session. I also loved the ability to communicate directly with observers in the tool.” - Taylor J. (via G2)

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How to pick the right alternative to UserTesting

Still not sure about the best UserTesting alternative for you or your team? Here are some tips to help you pick the most suitable option. 

1. Pick an alternative that aligns with your UX research needs 

When choosing the right tool for your team's user research needs, consider these two key factors.

Testing methodologies

Let’s say you’re looking for a versatile tool that combines qualitative and quantitative research. For this use case, consider Lyssna, Maze, or Optimal Workshop. They offer a mix of testing options, including usability tests, card sorting, and surveys, catering to diverse research purposes. 

If your focus is on mobile-first research and in-depth qualitative data, dscout, with its mobile ethnography and diary studies, might be a good fit. For quick feedback on design elements, Hotjar's heatmaps and session recordings offer valuable data.

Test set-up and templates 

Lyssna, Maze, and Optimal Workshop are excellent choices if you’re looking for a user-friendly tool with pre-built templates and efficient recruitment features. Their intuitive interfaces and streamlined test creation processes make them suitable for teams of all experience levels.

2. Consider scalability and cost-effectiveness 

Next, find out which tool offers the most value for your money. 

Unlimited testing or seats

If budget is a concern, consider Lyssna, Maze, or Useberry, which offer unlimited tests or seats per plan. Hotjar also provides a free plan with limited features and affordable paid plans suitable for smaller teams. For teams focused on prototyping, the free plan on Lyssna or Useberry is also a good starting point.

Transparent pricing

Lyssna, Maze, Optimal Workshop, and Hotjar are strong contenders for clear and upfront pricing. Their pricing structures are listed on their websites, so no need to contact sales or avoid unexpected costs. Meanwhile, Lookback's session-based pricing might be suitable for occasional testing.

3. Ensure seamless integration with your design workflow

If you need to test live websites and prototypes from Figma or other design tools, Maze, Lyssna, and Useberry provide seamless integrations, facilitating a smooth transition from design to testing. If mobile testing is a priority, dscout's mobile ethnography capabilities excel in capturing real-world user interactions.

4. Stay informed about product updates from other tools

Keep track of updates and new features from different UserTesting alternatives. Regularly check their websites or subscribe to their newsletters to stay informed about the latest developments.

 In addition, read reviews and testimonials from other users to understand their experiences and assess the strengths and weaknesses of each tool.

Lyssna is a standout UserTesting alternative

Lyssna distinguishes itself as a compelling UserTesting alternative with its comprehensive suite of user research tools, intuitive interface, budget-friendly pricing, transparent cost structure, and seamless Figma integration. It's an ideal choice for teams seeking an all-in-one, budget-friendly platform for effective user research.

Take it from Alan Dennis, Product Design Manager at YNAB (You Need a Budget):

"It wasn’t a big sell to move to Lyssna's paid account due to the speed at which you can put together a test, quickly get feedback, and recruit good participants. It just makes monetary sense. It's so cheap and the feedback is valuable.”

Get your free Lyssna plan and unlock unlimited user research and testing possibilities. 

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Kai has been creating content for healthcare, design, and SaaS brands for over a decade. She also manages content (like a digital librarian of sorts). Hiking in nature, lap swimming, books, tea, and cats are some of her favorite things. Check out her digital nook or connect with her on LinkedIn.