Looking to user test your prototype?
Have you created a prototype and are looking to test it with user from your target audience? Then you have come to the right place! With our tool you can test your prototype across Europe.
Did you create a prototype with Figma, Sketch, InDesign, Invision, Proto.io or Adobe XD? Then you can share the link of your prototype on the platform and share it with the test users.
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Over 10 000 European testers
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Identify obstacles users encounter and improve your prototype
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Optimize the User Experience and improve online results
Advantages of a better user experience
Optimize your website or app based on the usability results.
Request a free testIncrease in sales and new customers
A better customer experience can increase sales by up to 225%. *
Higher productivity
Testing at an early stage results in lower development costs.
Save on customer support
A good customer experience means less work for customer service.
Even more satisfied customers
A better customer experience ensures more satisfied customers.
Get started in 3 steps
Talk to your target audience and improve the user experience.
1 - Decide who you want to test with
Use our tester database or invite your own testers.
2 - Conduct live sessions
Talk to your target audience and invite others to attend the sessions.
3 - Analyse the recordings
Analyse the findings by adding Research Annotations and Session Highlights.
No testing, no insights
The general rule is that you are always better of conducting even a few usability tests than no tests at all. Read more usability testing in the article on usability testing.
Below we discuss the role of usability testing in the following scenarios:
- You have a website or app that is already live, but you're curious how you can improve the UX
- You are developing a website or app and want to test a prototype
- Testing usability for mock-ups and non-interactive prototypes
- Testing prototypes with interactive elements
- Testing the usability in the phase prior to launch
See what a prototype user tests looks like
In Dutch only (for now).
Phase 1: Usability testing with sketches and non-interactive prototypes
This type of test is also called an exploratory user test. Sketches and non-interactive prototypes are tested with real users. Since users are unable to interact with these early designs, it is recommended to have a moderator guiding the session.
These types of usability tests are usually conducted in a usability lab, but there are tools (e.g. Invision & Adobe XD) out there to help you do this faster and quicker online.
In this early phase of the development process, design teams are usually interested to find out to what extent the design:
- Helps the user the achieve fulfill its needs;
- Clarifies which steps the user must complete;
- Makes navigating to different pages easy and intuitive.
Since fundamental design decisions often take place early in the design process, the value of conducting usability tests early cannot be understated. If radical adjustments in the design have to be made, it is better to do this early in the design process - as doing this in a later stage will require a lot of time and effort.
Phase 2: Usability testing with interactive prototypes
This type of test is also called the assessment test. In this phase you test a product that has already built-in some functionalities and in which the tester can move through the website or app. Depending on the complexity of the design and the process, this can be done with or without a moderator.
This type of test can take place in a usability lab or via a usability testing platform like User Sense.
Key characteristics of assessment tests are:
- Instead of just verbal feedback, you actually see how users interact with the design
- Communication with a moderator is restricted or absent
- Quantitative metrics such as the error rate and the task completion time are collected
Phase 3: User testing before launch
This type of test is also called the validation or verification test and takes place at the end of the development cycle. This type of usability test can take place online and in a usability lab, with or without a moderator.
Key characteristics of the validation test are:
- Usability criteria that have been setup prior to the test and will be measured during the usability tests
- The tester has very limited or no contact at all with the moderator
- Collecting quantitative data has a bigger focus compared to other tests
Once the above data points have been collected, they are then compared to a project, company, or industry benchmark to gain insight into how the product is performing.
Usability metrics are discussed in the chapter on ‘Analysing Usability Test Results’.
Phase 1: Usability testing with sketches and non-interactive prototypes
This type of test is also called an exploratory user test. Sketches and non-interactive prototypes are tested with real users. Since users are unable to interact with these early designs, it is recommended to have a moderator guiding the session.
These types of usability tests are usually conducted in a usability lab, but there are tools (e.g. Invision & Adobe XD) out there to help you do this faster and quicker online.
In this early phase of the development process, design teams are usually interested to find out to what extent the design:
- Helps the user the achieve fulfill its needs;
- Clarifies which steps the user must complete;
- Makes navigating to different pages easy and intuitive.
Since fundamental design decisions often take place early in the design process, the value of conducting usability tests early cannot be understated. If radical adjustments in the design have to be made, it is better to do this early in the design process - as doing this in a later stage will require a lot of time and effort.
Phase X: A / B usability testing
This type of test is also called the comparative user test and can be used during every phase of the design cycle. In a comparative test, multiple designs are tested. Companies can do this by creating multiple designs themselves, but also by comparing their own designs with that of the competition.
By having multiple variants tested, you gain insight into what works and what doesn't. The goal of this type of usability testing is not to see which design is better, but to pick and choose elements of all designs that worked well - and then combine these into a new design.
Frequently asked questions
The most frequently asked questions and answers.
How many active testers do you have?
User Sense currently has over 10 000 active testers.
Our testers are mainly living in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. Because the pool of User Sense is quite young, we are often able to recruit for complex respondent profiles as well.
How do you ensure the quality of testers?
We make sure that respondents do not test too often. We keep track of how many times a tester has participated in surveys in the past few months and make sure they participate in no more than two tests per month.
What if testers don't show up?
Yes, it is possible to have colleagues or clients attend the session as observers. They can help add survey notes and participate in the chat. To ensure that the tester does not feel too watched, observers do not participate in the conversation. In practice, this means that the webcam and microphone of the observer are always off.
How long will the recordings remain available?
Currently, sessions remain available on the User Sense platform for six months. During this period you can view, analyze and share the sessions with colleagues. You can also download the sessions, so that they can be referred to internally.
How do you ensure the quality of testers?
All testers go through a sign-up process that explains what is expected of them during user studies. Things like having to think out loud and give as much feedback as possible is therefore something they are familiar with.
In most cases we only conduct test sessions with testers who have successfully passed the qualification test. This way you know for sure that you are recruiting testers who can articulate themselves and like to give feedback.
How quickly can testers be recruited?
In many cases testers can be recruited within 72 hours, although it is recommended that you take longer. In general, the earlier the recruitment is done, the more applications will come in.
Can I invite my own testers?
Yes, it is possible to invite your own testers. Of course we do not charge recruitment costs. You pay for the use of the platform. More information about the rates can be found on this page.
Can stakeholders attend the live session?
Yes, it is possible to have colleagues or clients attend the session as observers. They can help add survey notes and participate in the chat. To ensure that the tester does not feel too watched, observers do not participate in the conversation. In practice, this means the observer's webcam and microphone are always off.
Want to find out what users think?
Book a demo with us so that you can see the power of usability testing for yourself!