Prototype testing is a critical step in the product development process as it allows product teams to validate design ideas before full development. Testing early-stage designs lets teams identify usability issues, gather real user feedback, and make informed decisions about the directions of their product.
Having the right set of tools for UX research and usability testing tools can help you streamline research. In this article, we walkthrough the key features of popular tools that are dedicated for prototype testing, review the pros and cons, and suggest guidance on selecting the right tool for your team.
Why Prototype Testing Tools Matter
Selecting the right prototype and usability testing tool isn’t just about convenience—It’s about maximizing your team’s potential to create the best product possible through iterative development. Different tools offer unique features and strengths. Choosing a usability testing tool that aligns with your team’s specific needs can make a significant difference in both the efficiency of your workflow and the quality of your outcomes.
- Optimizes research flow: Helps streamline your research by supporting various research methods. Depending on the feature of the tool, some tools offer features to recruit participants.
- Lean design iterations: Enables quick turnover for end-to-end research and fast design iterations
- Promotes collaborative effort: Allows collaboration and stakeholder alignment through collaborative effort
- Saves time and resources: Running prototype and usability testing can be perceived as a cumbersome extra-step when there are research planning, prototyping, recruiting participants, and analyzing data involved, but in the long-term, it helps you properly build a product that adds value to the users.
Test your prototypes early in the process with Hubble
Put your low or high fidelity prototypes to the test in front of real users
List of Prototype Testing Software
In this article, we curated a list of tools specifically useful for early stage prototype and concept testing. To learn more about general usability testing tools, we recommend our article on the best usability testing tools.
1. Hubble
Hubble is a powerful research tool that can streamline your research from study design, participant recruitment, and data analysis. The study builder lets you create and customize experiments, load prototypes from Figma.
It supports a wide range of research methods for various product development phases including early stage concept validation and design iterations. Hubble specializes in unmoderated usability testing, prototype tests, and in-product intercepts. It is also equipped with various testing features, such as A/B testing, card sorting, tree testing, and live site testing.
Key Features
- Direct Figma integration for easy prototype test
- High quality participant recruiting from UserInterviews and Respondent
- Various testing capabilities to support your testing media
- Heat maps and path analysis to boost your research insights along with session recordings and screen recording
- Prototype test specific templates to help you run early stage research
Cons
- Currently requires manual process to request moderated studies and interviews
Test your prototypes early in the process with Hubble
Put your low or high fidelity prototypes to the test in front of real users
2. UserTesting
UserTesting is one of widely known user research tool that supports both moderated and unmoderated usability tests. It provides its own pool of participants, and has a strong remote usability testing set of features.
While it provides diverse toolset for research overall, many of its features come at a steep price plan, which many customers have complained. As long as your team has sufficient budget, UserTesting could be a great option with its set of tools.
For a list of UserTesting alternative tools, we recommend our listicle on UserTesting alternatives.
For a side-by-side feature comparison of Hubble and UserTesting, learn more at Hubble vs UserTesting article.
Key Features
- Supports both moderated and unmoderated tests with variety of methods like diary studies, prototype test, usability testing, and rapid tests
- Great for quickly setting up and collecting testing data with usability tests
- Easy to review session recordings with sentiment analysis
Cons
- Lack of free plan
- Price and value for money can be of concern
- Varying degree of participant quality
3. Lyssna
Lysnna, previously UsabilityHub, offers a range of remote unmoderated test options, such as usability testing, card sorting, surveys, and first click tests. It’s best known for its range of first-click tests, design surveys, preference tests, and five-second tests.
Key Features
- Support for direct Figma integration to easily setup prototype testing
- Built-in participant recruitment
- Advanced analytics and visualization including path analysis
Cons
- Lack of session interaction details
4. Maze
Maze offers support for both moderated and unmoderated testing, allowing for mixed-method studies that deliver actionable insights. Equipped with essential analytics tools and access to its own users, Maze enables product teams to efficiently test design concepts and prototypes.
For a list of Maze alternative tools, we recommend this article.
For a side-by-side feature comparison of Hubble and Maze, learn more at Hubble vs Maze article.
Key Features
- Built-in participant recruitment
- Offers various testing methods, such as surveys, tree testing, card sorting, usability testing, and prototype testing
Cons
- Moderated testing lacks native support
- Limiting analytics feature
5. UXtweak
UXtweak offers a variety of usability testing tools suited for unmoderated usability testing, including web and mobile testing, along with a built-in recruitment panel. The platform is an affordable choice for conducting unmoderated usability tests, delivering quick results with flexible pricing options.
Key Features
- Support for both moderated and unmoderated testing
- Provides various testing options including usability tests, card sorting, tree testing, 5 second tests, and more
- Provides participant recruitment
Cons
- Inconsistent quality of participant recruitment
6. Lookback
Lookback offers a research tool primarily geared toward conducting qualitative, moderated studies. It enhances team collaboration by enabling product team members to join "virtual observation room" to stream the session in real-time. Unlike other tools, Lookback does not include a built-in recruitment panel.
Key Features
- Unique live stream feature to allow team members review and collaborate in real-time
- Has UserInterviews integration
Cons:
- Reviews of unstable connection problem for participants
- Lack of participant recruitment panel, but has User Interviews integrations
- Does not offer as many diverse options to test prototypes
7. Userlytics
Userlytics offers both unmoderated usability tests and moderated testing with a range of UX research methodologies from surveys to prototype and concept testing.
Key Features
- Offers built-in participant recruitment
- Various testing options along with integrations with prototyping tools like Figma, Adobe XD, InVision
- Unlimited team seatings could help with collaboration
Cons
- Reviews about outdated interface
- Quality of participants from its own recruitment panel could be inconsistent
- Lack of free plan
8. Optimal Workshop
Optimal Workshop is another popular tool in the UX research field, offering range of testing options including usability tests, card sorting, surveys, and prototype testing. While some of its prototype testing features are in beta version, Optimal Workshop offers a range of other test options.
Key Features
- Diverse user testing options for your prototype testing needs
- Robust tool for card sorting, tree testing, and usability testing
- Provides its own testers
Cons
- Some of its prototype testing features are in beta version
- Lack of direct integrations with design tools that can make prototype testing difficult
- Inconsistent participant quality
9. Hotjar
Hotjar is a popular tool for website testing and user behavioral analytics that visualizes user interactions through heat and click maps. Hotjar helps measure the usability of a website by recording real user behavior through clicks and mouse tracking—and is well known for its live heatmap recording functionality.
Key Features
- Advanced analytics including heatmaps to visualize user interactions along with video recordings
- Powerful web analytics and reporting
- Great tool for combining web analytics with user testing
Cons
- Popularly used as web analytics tools like funnel map
- Lack of participant recruitment feature
10. TryMata
TryMata, formerly TryMyUI, offers both moderated and unmoderated usability testing for device types including websites, mobile device, and prototypes. In addition to its user testing capabilities, it serves as research repositories and product analytics.
Key Features
- User research tool equipped with product analytics
- Supports device types from prototype to website and mobile apps
Cons
- Mainly used for general usability testing, market research, and research repository
- Lack of participant recruitment
11. Userbrain
Userbrain is a remote user research platform that provides remote usability testing for both web and mobile applications. It supports various prototype tools including Figma, Sketch, InVision, Adobe XD and more.
Key Features
- Emphasis and support for diverse prototype designing software and usability testing
- Direct integration with prototyping tool like Figma, Sketch, InVision, and Adobe XD
- Offers its own participant recruiting, and offers pay-as-you-go option
Cons
- Not as many various testing features, like first click tests, card sorting, and in-product intercepts
- Dedicated support limited to premium price plan, and no free plan
Key Features to Look for in Prototype Testing Tools
When evaluating prototype or usability testing tools, it’s important to find one that aligns with your project needs and team's workflow. Usability tools simplify the testing process, making it easier to plan, build, and execute studies to collect continuous user feedback for design iterations. Here are some of the key features to consider when evaluating different tools:
Testing Features and Recruiting Capabilities
Most usability testing tools will provide different test options that support your needs. So it is more important to understand what type of research you'll run and the type of data you need to collect.
The type of research you conduct will depend on your product’s stage and goals. For example, in the early stages of development process, you may focus on generative research to understand user needs and uncover user insights, while later stages may require evaluative research to test specific design elements or functionalities. Look for tools that support these varying types of research and testing methods—such as usability testing, A/B testing, or prototype testing.
Consider whether the tool supports the specific platform or device your product is designed for. For instance, if your product is a mobile app, the tool should have mobile testing capabilities; if it’s a website, check for robust web testing options. Ensure that the tool covers the devices or media types your users engage with.
Recruiting the right participants is often a time-consuming and resource-intensive task. Several research tools offer built-in participant panels or access to third-party recruitment pools, allowing you to easily find target audience and source participants directly from the tool.
Hubble provides high-quality B2B and B2C participants through integrations with Respondent and User Interviews, helping streamline the entire research process from participant recruitment to data analysis in a single platform. Consider tools with strong recruiting capabilities to save time and resources on finding your target audience.
Ease of Use and Setup
It’s often challenging to gauge a tool’s ease of use from demos alone, as sales teams tend to highlight ideal scenarios rather than actual day-to-day usage. Use free trials to get hands-on experience to understand how its prototype testing work, and how easily the tool integrates into your existing workflow. Pay attention to setup time, ease of navigation, and whether essential features are intuitive or require a steep learning curve.
Effective support can be crucial when you encounter issues or need guidance. Check whether the tool provides responsive customer support, access to learning resources (like tutorials or documentation), and community forums. The availability and quality of support can significantly impact the tool’s long-term usability and success, especially if it includes complex or advanced features.
Collaboration and Sharing Capabilities
Research is a team effort, and seamless collaboration is essential. Look for tools that support real-time collaboration, allowing team members to view, edit, or comment on data simultaneously. Some tools also allow for role-based access, making it easy to involve designers, product managers, and other stakeholders at various stages.
Involving stakeholders in the research process ensures they have visibility into findings and can contribute to informed decision-making. Consider whether the tool allows easy sharing of findings through links, embedded reports, or dashboards that stakeholders can access anytime. This capability enables everyone involved to stay aligned with user needs and insights.
Advanced Analytics and Reporting Features
Effective data visualization can make analyzing research results less time-consuming and more actionable. Look for tools that help you easily digest screen recording to extract rich video insights, display data through charts, graphs, or other visuals to deliver actionable insights. This is particularly valuable when working with large data sets or complex user interactions.
Some tools offer advanced features like automated reporting, heatmaps, path analysis, or funnel tracking. Depending on the type of data you need, these capabilities can provide deeper user insights into user behavior and help you identify specific areas for improvement.
A tool with robust analytics can reduce the time spent manually processing quantitative data and make it easier to draw actionable conclusions.
Advanced AI Features
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated into user research tools, offering features that enhance automation and streamline workflows. For example, AI-driven summaries can help distill large amounts of feedback, while AI-powered templates or study builders can assist in setting up studies tailored to your goals.
As demand for efficient processes grows, these AI features can save valuable time, allowing researchers to focus on high-impact tasks rather than administrative ones.
Choosing the Right Prototype Testing Tool
With so many research tools available, choosing the right one can seem overwhelming. However, selecting the best tool for your project depends on a few key factors, including the product development stage, team size, budget, and specific testing goals.
Find a tool that supports your design phase
The tool should offer features that match your specific research needs as different tools often specialize in different stages of the product development. For example, first identify whether you would want qualitative or quantitative data to guide your product. It will better inform you on which methods to employ for your research.
If you’re in the early stages and working with low-fidelity prototypes, you may not need a tool with extensive interactive capabilities. In this phase, simplicity and speed may be more valuable.
On the other hand, if you’re working on high-fidelity, interactive prototypes, you’ll need a tool that supports complex interactions that support integrations with design tools and user flows.
Define your testing goals
Similar to the previous point, different tools serve different purposes. One might excel at user testing and help you better conduct moderated usability tests, while other tools may focus on surveys to gather overall feedback or web analytics for competitive benchmarking and tracking how users interact.
Define your primary testing objectives—whether it’s validating a design concept or checking your IA structure. You may be in early stage of development that requires multiple rounds of idea validation and concept testing. Choose a tool that supports the needs.
Consider how the tool fits into your team's workflow
In addition to the various test features available in the tool, consider how the actual end users of the tool—product designers, researchers, and product team members—will use the product.
Think about how your team operates and how the tool fits into the workflow. If your team is remote or distributed, a tool with real-time collaboration feature could be more valuable than to teams that work in-person.
Make sure the usability testing tool allows multiple stakeholders to review, comment, and collaborate easily. Additionally, check if it integrates smoothly with your existing design tools to avoid workflow disruptions. Native integrations allow you to easily build unmoderated tests and easily create tasks.
Evaluate budget and scalability
Budget is often a deciding factor, so it’s essential to consider the tool’s pricing model. Some tools offer flexible pricing based on the number of users or projects, while others have fixed monthly fees.
Moreover, depending on the type of usability testing tools, they may target more enterprise-level customers. Tools like UserTesting or Optimal Workshop have powerful capabilities and diverse research tool kits, but the various features come at a price.
Also, think about scalability—how many teams in your organization would be using it, or will the tool grow with your team and project? If you're starting small but plan to expand, make sure the tool can handle more projects and how securely they manage large user data.
Experiment with different tools
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with usability testing tools. Many platforms offer free version, so you can test them with your team and gather valuable feedback. The best way to find out if a tool fits your project is by using it in real-world scenarios and seeing how well it integrates with your workflow.
Enhance Your Design Workflow with Prototype Testing
Selecting the right usability testing tool can significantly impact your UX research process and the overall quality of the design iterations. With so many tools available, finding one that matches your specific project needs and team workflow can take time.
Experimenting with different tools is the best way to discover what works for you. Whether you need a tool with advanced test features or one that is affordable for a smaller team, testing various options will help you grasp on idea of which tool would work best for you. Take advantage of free trials to see how well each tool fits into your existing workflow.
By testing different tools and considering factors like team size, budget, and workflow, you’ll be better equipped to find the tool that fits your project perfectly. Having a reliable usability testing tool in place allows your team to iterate rapidly, reduce development risks, and deliver products that resonate with users.
Test your prototypes early in the process with Hubble
Put your low or high fidelity prototypes to the test in front of real users
Additional resources
If you are interested in exploring other UX research tools, we recommend some of the articles below:
- To explore more on AI-powered research tools, see our top 11 AI-powered research tools.
- To learn more about otherUserTesting alternatives, check out 13 best UserTesting alternatives.
- To see our curated list of survey tools, see the best survey tools for research in 2024.
- To learn more about top UX research tools, please see the best user research tools in 2024.
- To see our curated list of UX testing tools, see the best usability testing tools in 2024.
