Usability means that potential users can use a product effectively and efficiently to achieve their intended goals, and they are satisfied with it. Accordingly, UX designer has to test the usability on the target audience.
A UX designer uses a variety of tools to test usability. They obtain valuable data that will later improve and guide the design, but they can’t do it without including the users in these studies.
Usability testing tools have different features depending on their functions, therefore UX designer may have trouble deciding which one to use. Many of them offer monthly subscriptions. However, paying too much can deter the new designers and freelancers, who commit themselves to what they do, without even starting their jobs.
Usability testing is an expensive and time-consuming step in the design process, especially if you are a beginner. It is generally quite difficult to find resources to run tests without spending hundreds of dollars.
We all know the importance of usability testing. It may not be the most fun part of the design process, but you must test and try your prototypes before sending them to the development team. Most of the paid tools allow you to try them for free after entering your credit card information, but these free trials generally give you a limited time and feature. You do need to try it before purchasing a tool but using a free trial can sometimes be a waste of time if you don’t intend to buy it later.
When the free trial expires, most of the time you cannot be able to transfer your data from the tool, and consequently, you will spend extra time learning how to use it before you can benefit from this information in the future.
Thankfully, there are also many free and great tools. Whether you are an experienced UX designer with a high budget or you are just getting started, take a look at the best free usability testing tools list I made for you:
Zoom
Nowadays it is not quite possible to come together because of the pandemic, but you can still run a usability test, thanks to popular tools like Zoom. You can even record the meeting on Zoom, and you see if the user liked it thanks to their facial expressions. Moreover, you can set the settings to ask for participants’ permission to record the meeting before joining, either via the e-mail link or through the app.
It’s my personal favorite because Zoom enables you to give remote control to your screen. That way, the users can try the prototype through your screen and you don’t have to upload it to a server. Although this feature is limited on the free version, but you can still record meetings for a maximum of half an hour per session.
Typeform
You can upload your visuals into a survey and test simple prototypes on the free version of Typeform. Participants can answer your questions easily without leaving the prototype screen, thanks to the static screen recordings.
Hotjar
Hotjar is one of the leading tools in the market. Even though it is a paid tool, the free version is still great for usability testing. You can upload your prototypes to the web and use screen recording and heatmap features to see the performance of your interface.
I have to say, I’ve used every heatmap tool there is, but none of them can compete with Hotjar. First of all, it’s free. Secondly, it provides an incredible in-depth heatmap by screen, including segmentation, touch and motion caption. Also Hotjar has an on-site user survey and session logs.
You can start your free trial for Hotjar by signing up through my referral link.
Google Docs Mobile App
When you need to decipher your test findings, I recommend using the Google Docs mobile app, instead of working on your audio recordings and wasting time. Voice dictation in Google Docs works perfectly.
Mupixa
Mupixa is one of the rare tools which provides heatmap and screen recording features with a free account that does not require credit card information. You can easily connect your mockup or wireframe images and create a prototype, then you can instantly test your design with your user groups.
UX Check
If you can’t test with users, one of the easiest ways to find common usability issues on your website is to use a “heuristic methods” rule list. UX Check is a free Chrome plugin that makes it easy to compare your website to Jakob Nielsen’s 10 heuristics. When you’re done, it collects the screenshots of your website along with the usability issues that you identified, so you can present these problems to others or come back and fix them.
CrazyEgg
Crazy Egg is not a completely free tool, but they offer a 30-day trial, which is quite a good amount of time for your usability tests. It allows you to do so many things, such as evaluating your website, A/B testing, seeing heatmaps and click-through rate analytics. You can also record user sessions like a usability testing tool. I once used Crazy Egg to test a prototype which I made on Justinmind.
CONCLUSION
There are many tools on the internet and people make new ones every year, but not all of them provide everything and certainly, none of them are free! If this list can help you find the design tool you need without spending too much time for researching, that will make me really happy.
Which tools have you used so far? Is there anything I missed? Please feel free to recommend your favorite free UX testing tools. As always, knowledge is valuable when you share it.
“Knowledge is an endless sea, and the one who seeks knowledge is a diver in that sea.” — Rumi
Thanks for reading!
