Lyssna vs UserTesting
Which platform is the best for user research? Compare features, pricing, and capabilities to find the right user research platform for your team.
How users rate Lyssna vs UserTesting
Here’s how customers review Lyssna and UserTesting on G2.com (March 2025).
Rating | Lyssna | UserTesting |
Overall rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Ease of use | 9.2/10 🏅 | 8.5/10 |
Product direction | 9.4/10 🏅 | 8.1/10 |
Quality of support | 9.4/10 🏅 | 9/10 |
Ease of admin | 9/10 🏅 | 8.7/10 |
Partner in doing business | 9.2/10 🏅 | 8.8/10 |
Why companies choose Lyssna over UserTestingÂ
Organizations switching from UserTesting to Lyssna frequently point to several key factors driving their decision.
Frustration with hidden costs. Many former UserTesting customers express disappointment with the platform’s shift to a hidden pricing model. As one G2 reviewer noted, “The pricing went from 'buy credits' to needing to pay for way more than we needed. So it was too expensive to keep
Research democratization barriers. Teams consistently cite the inability to distribute research capabilities across their organization as a key reason for switching. With UserTesting's tiered feature approach, many companies found themselves in situations where only certain teams could access specific research methods.
Difficulty scaling with growth. Growing organizations frequently mention hitting a “research ceiling” with UserTesting. Nancy B., a G2 reviewer, explained: “The pricing doesn’t work for a pre-seed startup...we switched to another service which had the above and the ability to use our own testers at a price we could afford.
Participant quality concerns are also significant. While UserTesting offers a large panel, several reviewers expressed concerns about participant quality and targeting limitations.
These user experiences are reflected in G2 comparison ratings, where Lyssna outperforms UserTesting across key metrics:
Ease of use: 9.2/10 vs 8.5/10
Product direction: 9.3/10 vs 8.1/10
Quality of support: 9.4/10 vs 9.0/10
Business partnership: 9.2/10 vs 8.8/10
Lyssna vs UserTesting: Key differences
Research method availability
UserTesting restricts essential UX research methods like card sorting and tree testing to their highest-tier Ultimate plan. Lyssna takes a different approach, providing nearly all research methodologies on every plan – even the free plan. This means teams can conduct comprehensive research with card sorting, tree testing, first click testing, preference testing, five second testing, prototype testing, and surveys regardless of their budget or plan level.
Superior participant panel
Quality research depends on quality participants. Lyssna’s panel includes 690,000+ participants across 124 countries with detailed targeting across 395+ demographic attributes. UserTesting’s panel covers only 30+ countries and offers limited targeting options on basic plans. Additionally, Lyssna provides automatic replacement for unsatisfactory responses, ensuring research quality without additional costs or delays.
Transparent pricing structure
Unlike UserTesting, which requires contacting sales for pricing information and has no free option, Lyssna publishes clear pricing on their website (Basic: $75/month, Pro: $175/month). Lyssna offers a comprehensive free plan and a strategic mid-tier Pro plan to help teams scale gradually, along with consistent $1/credit panel recruitment pricing across all plans, regardless
Flexible workflows and integrations
Both platforms integrate with essential tools like Figma, Zoom, and calendars, but Lyssna offers greater flexibility in test creation and editing. While UserTesting provides native video conferencing, Lyssna's approach to test design allows teams to adapt their research more dynamically as needs evolve, creating a more responsive research process that adjusts to real-world testing scenarios.
Lyssna vs UserTesting: Feature comparison
Feature | Lyssna | UserTesting |
|---|---|---|
Free plan features | ||
Unlimited tests |  |  |
Seats included | | |
Pay-per-use panel credits | | |
Research | ||
Card sorting | | Ultimate plan only |
Conditional logic | | |
First click testing | | |
Five second testing | | |
Live website testing | | |
Prototype testing with Figma | | |
Surveys | | |
Tree testing | | Ultimate plan only |
User interviews | | |
Participant recruitment | ||
Research panel access | | |
Advanced panel targeting criteria | | Limited on basic plans |
Panel credits | Pay-per-use | Subscription-based |
Custom screener | | Limited on basic plans |
Self recruitment | |
|
Analysis and reporting | ||
Heatmaps | | |
Video recordings | | |
CSV exports | | |
Moderated interviews | ||
Microsoft integration | | |
Google calendar integration | | |
Zoom integration | | |
Video transcript | | |
Support | ||
Email support | | |
Live chat | | |
Help center | | |
Pricing flexibility | ||
Free plan | | |
Basic plan | | |
Pro plan | | |
Enterprise plan | | |
Security | ||
SOC 2 compliant | | |
GDPR compliant | | |
SSO | | |
Summary: Making the right choice
When it comes down to it, choosing between Lyssna and UserTesting is more than feature checklists – it's about how those features support research goals.
Lyssna makes sense if users:
Want a variety of research methods available without requiring an enterprise plan.
Need flexibility in research volume without monthly study limits.
Value detailed participant targeting across 395+ demographics and psychographics.
Want a middle-tier pricing option between Basic and Enterprise.
Prioritize higher-rated customer support (9.4/10 vs 9.0/10).
Need a transparent pricing model.
Are looking for more cost-effective panel recruitment ($1/credit).
UserTesting might be a better fit if users:
Are already integrated into their workflow.
Value their native video conferencing capabilities.
Need their specific AI-powered analysis tools.
Have the budget for enterprise-level pricing.
Both platforms offer robust usability testing features and support continuous research – the main differences lie in pricing structure, feature accessibility across plans, and the depth of participant targeting options.
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