User testing vs usability testing
With the top 25% of companies in design and user experience outperforming their peers by as much as two to one – according to McKinsey & Company’s “The Business Value Of Design” report – mastering the best UX research methods and tools is critical. User testing and usability testing are two of the most powerful methods to elevate your design strategy – but they’re often misunderstood. In this chapter, we’ll break each down in detail, clear up any confusion, and help you choose the best approach for your project’s needs.
Usability testing guide
What is user testing?
User testing is all about evaluating a product or concept by getting real users to interact with it. The goal is to understand whether the product meets users' needs, expectations, and behaviors.
This method helps you uncover insights about how people use your product in real-world scenarios – revealing any challenges, misunderstandings, or usability issues not immediately obvious during development.
User testing can take several forms, from A/B testing to prototype testing. In all cases, you’re looking to validate ideas, designs, or assumptions early in the development process, making sure your product is on the right track before committing significant resources to full-scale development.
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When is user testing needed?
User testing is essential when you want genuine feedback from real users to see if your product ideas hit the mark. It helps you pinpoint where users might be struggling and what can be improved to make their experience smoother and more engaging.
Here’s a closer look at five scenarios where user testing can make a big difference.
Scenario #1: Early concept validation
When you're starting with a fresh idea – perhaps for a new product or feature – it's essential to test your concept with your target users before investing heavily in development.
You can use simple sketches, mockups, or even interactive prototypes to help users visualize the concept more easily (and clearly).
By observing their reactions and asking targeted questions, you can assess whether the idea meets their needs or sparks interest. If users don’t immediately understand or find value in the concept, you can pivot or refine your approach, saving both time and resources.
Get a quick sense of whether your idea resonates with your users using our concept testing template.
Scenario #2: Prototype testing
Once you have a prototype – whether it’s a low-fidelity wireframe or a clickable high-fidelity version – user testing helps validate the design and functionality.
At this stage, you’re looking for specific feedback on the user journey, navigation, and usability. Do users understand how to complete a task, like adding items to a cart or finding a specific feature? Are there areas where they get stuck or confused?
By testing prototypes, you gain a deeper understanding of what works and what doesn’t, enabling you to iterate and improve before moving to full-scale development.
To help you get started with prototype testing, check out our templates:
Scenario #3: Feature prioritization
When developing a product, you might have many potential features in mind, but not all will be equally valuable to your users.
User testing helps you present different features – like a new search function, a redesigned dashboard, or customization options – to real users to see which they find most useful or engaging.
By understanding what users value most, you can focus your development efforts on features that provide the greatest benefit.
Our card sorting template can help you with this step – add in features from your product roadmap and ask your customers to categorize them into high, medium, or low priority.
Scenario #4: Competitive analysis
Testing your product against competitors’ offerings provides valuable insights into your market positioning. Recruit users who fit your target audience and have them interact with both your product and a competitor's.
By comparing experiences, you can identify where your product excels and where it falls short. Say users prefer your competitor’s onboarding process or find their navigation more intuitive. You can then use these insights to refine your own user journey.
Scenario #5: Post-launch optimization
User testing doesn't stop at launch – it's an ongoing process to keep improving the product.
After a product or feature is live, user feedback can reveal unforeseen issues or additional needs that weren’t clear during development. You may find that users aren’t engaging with a newly added feature as expected, or they’re struggling with changes in the interface.
By continuously optimizing, you build trust with a customer base that feels heard and valued.
What is usability testing?
Usability testing focuses on evaluating how easy and intuitive a product is to use.
It observes users as they complete specific tasks to identify any areas of confusion, frustration, or difficulty. Unlike user testing – which is broader and explores overall user needs and behaviors – usability testing zeroes in on the user experience and interaction with the product.
For instance, users might struggle with a particular form field. Or that navigation you were so confident in isn't as straightforward as intended. Addressing these issues leads to a more seamless and satisfying user experience.
Different types of usability testing include moderated and unmoderated usability testing, formative usability testing, and summative usability testing (all of which we’ll explain later in the article).
Usability testing is hugely effective. According to Jakob Nielsen’s mathematical model, 85% of UX issues can be detected with just five users, allowing you to run lots of small evaluations and keep iterating as you go.
When is usability testing needed?
Usability testing is essential for identifying how easily users can navigate and interact with your product. Here are some scenarios where usability testing makes the most impact.
Early-stage design validation
Conducting usability testing during the early design phase is crucial for validating the core user experience.
At this stage, you’re working with wireframes or low-fidelity prototypes. Testing these initial designs helps you make sure that users understand the navigation structure and can complete key tasks. Early feedback allows you to make foundational changes before investing heavily in development.
Pre-launch refinement
Before launching a new product or feature, usability testing is critical to ensure a smooth user experience. This involves testing high-fidelity prototypes or beta versions to catch any lingering issues – like confusing checkout processes or difficult navigation paths.
By identifying these problems pre-launch, you can refine the design and functionality, reducing the likelihood of post-launch fixes and negative user feedback.
Redesign and optimization
Usability testing is a great way to compare old and new versions of your product during a redesign. This might mean doing A/B tests where users try out both designs to see which one feels better to them.
The aim is to make sure your redesign improves usability without creating new frustrations for users.
Regulatory compliance and accessibility checks
Usability testing with users who have different abilities, like those using screen readers or relying on keyboard navigation, is also important. It helps you find issues such as missing alt text, unclear labels, or inaccessible forms.
By testing with a diverse range of users, you’re ensuring compliance and building an inclusive and user-friendly product – expanding your audience and boosting trust.
Continuous improvement and feature updates
Usability testing is an ongoing process that keeps your product in tune with user needs. Whenever you introduce a new feature or update – like a revamped navigation bar or an advanced filtering option – usability testing helps you see if it’s adding value or causing confusion.
Regular testing creates a continuous feedback loop, allowing you to tweak and refine your product based on real-world use, and making sure it evolves seamlessly and remains engaging over time.
User testing vs usability testing: Key differences
User testing and usability testing are often confused but serve distinct purposes in UX research.
User testing focuses on validating whether there’s a demand for a product or service. It helps you understand if users want the product and what specific needs or frustrations it addresses. This type of testing generally comes early in the product development process, shaping what to build.
On the other hand, usability testing is more about the product itself – testing how users interact with the design and identifying any usability issues. This can occur at various stages of development, from early prototypes to post-launch updates.
While both methods aim to create a user-centered product, user testing is user-focused (validating needs), whereas usability testing is product-focused (testing ease of use).
User testing or usability testing: Which one is better for you?
Choosing between user testing and usability testing depends on your specific goals and where you are in the development process.
If you’re just starting out and need to validate ideas, user testing helps you understand user needs and whether there's demand for your product. It answers the key questions “Do users want this?” and “What problems should we solve?”
If your product is in development or it's live and you want to refine the experience, usability testing is more relevant. It focuses on how users interact with your product – how easily they can navigate, complete tasks, and understand the interface. Usability testing helps you pinpoint friction points and make sure your product is both useful and user-friendly.
The choice isn’t about which method is better – it’s about using the right tool at the right time. By aligning your approach with your goals, research questions, and where you are in the product lifecycle, you’ll gain the information you need to move forward confidently.
Types of user tests
User testing comes in various forms to suit different stages of product development:
A/B testing: Test two product versions to see which performs better for specific goals, like increasing conversions or improving user engagement.
Beta testing: Share a near-final product with users to uncover usability issues, bugs, or areas you need to refine before the official launch.
Concept testing: Present new ideas or features to users early on through sketches or mockups, gauging interest and ensuring alignment with user needs.
Tree testing: Evaluate your product’s structure and navigation by seeing how easily users can find information or complete tasks.
First click testing: Understand user behavior by observing where they click first on a page, helping to make sure your layout and calls to action are intuitive.
Each test type provides different feedback depending on your development stage and what you need to learn.
Types of usability tests
As we explore in the usability testing methods chapter, usability testing comes in several forms to uncover specific data about user interactions:
Moderated usability testing: You guide users through tasks live, asking follow-up questions to explore their thoughts.
Unmoderated usability testing: Users complete tasks on their own, making it faster and more scalable.
Remote usability testing: Conducted online, either moderated or unmoderated, to reach diverse audiences and gather feedback from different regions.
Formative usability testing: Done early in the design process to identify issues and refine the product before development.
Summative usability testing: Conducted later to evaluate overall usability, so you can make sure the product meets standards and benchmarks.
Choosing the right method depends on your goals and where you are in your product's life cycle.
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Driving product success with user and usability testing
User testing and usability testing are both important for creating products that connect with your audience. Each method provides unique insights that, when leveraged effectively, can elevate the user experience.
From concept validation to design refinement, choosing the right approach can save time, cut costs, and boost your product's success.