With the fast pace of online shopping, every second counts. If your site isn’t working smoothly, you risk losing sales, customer trust, and your competitive edge. But how do you guarantee your site is up to speed (literally and figuratively)?

Simple. You grab a coffee, settle in, and let this guide walk you through it.

We’ll show you what to test, how to test it, and the best tools to get it done – so every click brings your customers closer to checkout.

What is ecommerce website testing?

Ecommerce website testing is the process of checking your website’s performance, functionality, and user experience to make sure everything works as it should. Think of it as a "health check" for your online store.

You’ll test critical areas like page load times, navigation, checkout flow, and even how your site looks on different devices. The goal is to spot and fix issues before your customers do – because a smooth experience can mean the difference between a sale and an abandoned cart.

Regular testing allows you to stay ahead of potential problems, improve site performance, and keep your customers happy.

6 essential reasons to test your ecommerce website

Testing isn’t just about squashing bugs; it’s about creating an ecommerce user experience so seamless your customers barely notice the mechanics behind it. Here’s why it matters.

1. Boost customer trust and satisfaction

Trust isn’t built with grand gestures – it’s earned in the little moments. And they all add up. A product page that loads quickly. A checkout button that works first time out. A confirmation email that arrives instantly. When your website works flawlessly, customers trust your brand, making them far more likely to return and recommend you to others.

2. Reduce cart abandonment

Cart abandonment isn't always about price or second thoughts – sometimes, it's just a glitchy checkout form or an error message at the payment gateway. With the global shopping cart abandonment rate reaching 70% in 2024, testing helps you identify these roadblocks before your customers hit them. By optimizing the checkout experience using UX best practices for ecommerce, you're removing friction at the most critical point of the buying process and keeping customers on track to complete their purchase.

3. Optimize for mobile shoppers

72% of global ecommerce sales happen on mobile devices, and that number is expected to reach 88% by 2027. That’s not just a trend – it's the new normal.

But here’s the challenge: a website that feels slick on a desktop can fall apart on mobile. Buttons might be too small to tap accurately, navigation can become a maze, and pages might load at a snail’s pace.

That’s where user experience design becomes crucial. Testing your ecommerce website or app for mobile ensures every interaction feels effortless for your customers – whether on their $2000 iMac in the office or scrolling their phone while lounging on the couch.

4. Enhance performance and speed

Online shoppers can be an impatient bunch, with 57% of shoppers willing to abandon a site if they have to wait three seconds for a page to load. So, speed is non-negotiable. Every second your website takes to load increases the risk of a customer leaving. Testing helps you identify slow-loading pages, heavy assets, or scripts causing delays. A fast website doesn’t just improve user experience – it also boosts your search engine rankings and reduces bounce rates.

5. Confirm accessibility compliance

Your website should be usable by everyone – including customers with disabilities. Accessibility in UX design means checking your site works well with screen readers, has clear navigation paths, and meets WCAG standards. 

But it’s not just about ticking compliance boxes. Inclusive UX design is about creating experiences where every customer feels valued and considered, regardless of their abilities or how they interact with your site.

When accessibility is a priority, you’re not just meeting legal requirements – you’re building trust, loyalty, and a better experience for everyone.

6. Adapt to market changes

Online shopping trends change fast. What worked last year might feel outdated today. Regular testing helps you stay ahead of these shifts. Whether it’s a new payment method, updated browser requirements, or evolving customer behavior, testing ensures your website keeps up with expectations and remains competitive.

Testing isn’t just a technical task – it’s a commitment to your customers. It’s how you show them that you value their time, trust, and experience.

Key areas to test on your ecommerce website

When testing your ecommerce website, it’s essential to focus on the areas directly impacting the customer journey. Every click, scroll, and interaction should guide your customers closer to completing a purchase – without frustration or confusion. Here are the key areas you need to test and what to look for in each.

1. Home page

Your home page is often the first interaction customers have with your brand. It needs to impress – fast.

• Load speed: Does it load quickly, or are visitors bouncing before it’s fully visible?

• Navigation: Are menus and links clear, intuitive, and functional?

• Call-to-action (CTA) buttons: Are buttons like “Shop Now” or “View Products” visible and clickable?

Strong landing page optimization keeps customers engaged and encourages them to explore further.

2. Search and navigation

94% of online users say easy navigation is THE most important website feature. Here’s how to test yours:

• Search functionality: Are search results accurate and relevant?

• Filters and sorting: Can customers easily filter by price, category, or size? Is this seamless on mobile devices?

• Navigation menus: Do menus display properly across desktop, mobile, and tablet?

Smooth navigation ensures customers spend less time searching and more time buying.

3. Product catalogue

Your product pages are where browsing turns into buying. Every detail matters.

• Product listings: Are images, prices, and descriptions accurate and consistent?

• Mobile responsiveness: Do catalogue pages adapt properly to smaller screens?

• Pagination and infinite scroll: Do products load smoothly as users scroll or click through pages?

Well-tested product pages reduce confusion and increase confidence in buying decisions.

4. Checkout process

The checkout process is where many sales fall apart. Every step must be friction-free.

• Add-to-cart functionality: Do products get added without glitches?

• Checkout flow: Is the process smooth, with clear instructions and no unnecessary steps?

• Order confirmation: Do customers receive instant, clear confirmation emails after purchase?

Streamlining the checkout experience reduces cart abandonment and increases conversions.

5. Payment and data security

Trust is non-negotiable when money is involved.

• Payment gateways: Are all payment methods working properly (e.g. credit cards, PayPal, etc)?

• Data security: Is customer information encrypted and protected during transactions?

• Error handling: Are clear error messages displayed if payment details are incorrect?

Secure, reliable payment systems reassure customers and reduce abandoned transactions.

6. Page load speed and performance

Speed isn’t just about convenience – it’s about sales.

• Load times: Do key pages load quickly on desktop and mobile?

• Performance under load: Can your site handle increased traffic during peak shopping times?

• Heavy assets: Are large images or videos slowing down page performance?

Faster pages mean happier customers and better search engine rankings.

7. Cross-device compatibility

A well-optimized site delivers a consistent experience, no matter how your customers shop.

• Responsive design: Does your site adapt to mobile, tablet, and desktop screens?

• Functionality: Are buttons, forms, and menus easy to use across devices?

8. Content accuracy and clarity

Errors in content undermine trust.

• Product information: Are descriptions, prices, and stock statuses accurate?

• Visual assets: Do images load properly and match product descriptions?

• Links and CTAs: Are all links working, and are CTAs clear and compelling?

Clear, accurate content builds confidence and reduces purchase hesitation.

By focusing on these key areas, you’ll build trust, improve performance, and make sure every customer interaction feels intentional.

Tips & best practices for ecommerce website testing

Testing your ecommerce website isn’t a “one-and-done” job – it’s an ongoing process that ensures your site stays fast, secure, and user-friendly. Here are some of the best practices to follow:

• Test frequently: Every update, product launch, or feature change can introduce issues. Regular testing helps you catch and fix problems before they impact customers.

• Prioritize critical areas: Focus your efforts on high-impact pages like the home page, product listings, and checkout. These pages are the most critical to the customer journey.

• Simulate real user behavior: Test your site the way a customer would – browsing on mobile, using filters, and adding items to the cart. This approach helps you spot usability issues that scripted tests might miss.

• Combine manual and automated testing: Use automation for repetitive tasks like load testing, but conduct manual tests to catch subtler issues like visual glitches or confusing layouts.

• Leverage user feedback: Your customers are your best source of feedback. Pay attention to complaints or questions they raise and use this information to improve your testing strategy.

By following these best practices, you’ll stay one step ahead of potential issues, ensuring your site remains fast, functional, and frustration-free for your customers.

Ecommerce website testing tools

The right tools can make testing your ecommerce website faster and more efficient. From tracking performance to gathering real customer feedback, these tools cover all the essential bases:

• Lyssna: Get fast, actionable user feedback with Lyssna. Conduct usability testing and other types of website testing to identify friction points in navigation, checkout flows, and user experience. Desirability testing reveals how your design and branding connect with real users. With access to 690,000 participants and rapid turnaround times, Lyssna helps you make confident, data-driven decisions for an intuitive and reliable ecommerce experience.

• Google PageSpeed Insights: Measure your website’s loading speed and performance. This tool provides clear suggestions to improve page speed, which is crucial for reducing bounce rates.

• BrowserStack: Test how your site performs on different browsers and devices. This ensures your site works perfectly on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

• Hotjar: Track user behavior through heatmaps, session recordings, and surveys. See where users click, scroll, and drop off, so you can improve navigation and page layout.

• Optimizely: Run A/B tests to compare different versions of your pages and see which one drives more conversions. Great for testing changes to CTAs, page layouts, and product displays.

• Pingdom: Test your site’s uptime, speed, and overall performance. It notifies you of slow pages or downtime so you can resolve issues quickly.

Using a mix of these tools gives you a complete view of your ecommerce website’s performance. You’ll catch issues early, improve page speed, and create a seamless customer experience.

Bringing it all together: Smarter ecommerce testing

Home page speed, mobile responsiveness, checkout flow, and data security – these are the pillars of a seamless ecommerce experience. With the right tools, habits, and mindset, testing becomes less of a task and more of a habit. And one that drives meaningful growth.

In the end, testing isn’t just about fixing problems – it’s about building trust, one smooth click at a time.

FAQs

What are the most common bugs found during ecommerce website testing?

How often should you test your ecommerce website?