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User testing tools: insights for website optimisation

The right mix of user testing tools turns guesswork into evidence. Here is how to combine moderated sessions, heatmaps, analytics, and prototypes to optimise your website.

UX researchBy UX RefineryPublished 18 June 2023Updated 20 January 20262 min read
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Key takeaways

  • Pair unmoderated tests (Useberry) with behaviour visualisation (Hotjar) and analytics (Google Analytics) for the full picture.
  • Remote moderated sessions via Google Meet or Teams add the 'why' behind the numbers.
  • Figma prototypes let you test ideas before a line of production code is written.

At UX Refinery we know user testing tools are central to website optimisation. Below we explore powerful options that reveal behaviour, surface pain points, and drive data-backed improvements. Used together, they give you a competitive edge and better retention.

Useberry: streamlined unmoderated testing

Useberry runs many test types with real users:

  • Unmoderated think-out-loud tests: users narrate decisions as they go.
  • Quantitative usability tests: task success, time on task, completion rate.
  • First-click tests: do users instinctively find the right element?
  • Card sorting & tree tests: validate information architecture and navigation.
  • 5-second tests: is your key message clear in the first moments?
  • Preference tests: which design option do users prefer, and why.

Hotjar: visualise behaviour and survey on-site

  • Heatmaps: see clicks, scrolls, and movement to spot engagement and dead zones.
  • Session recordings: watch real sessions to catch frustrations.
  • On-site surveys: collect qualitative and quantitative feedback in the moment.

Google Analytics: measure and optimise

  • Audience analysis: demographics and interests to tailor content.
  • Behaviour flow: the paths users take and where they drop off.
  • Goal conversions: track desired actions and find improvement areas.
  • Site speed: find slow pages that hurt experience and rankings.
  • Custom reports: focus on the metrics that match your objectives.

Google Meet or Microsoft Teams: remote moderated research

For live, qualitative insight, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams let you observe, question, and react in real time, usually with tools you already own. That firsthand feedback is where the 'why' behind the data lives.

Figma: prototypes worth testing

Figma makes interactive prototypes that closely mimic the final product. Share them in sessions, gather feedback, and iterate before build, so you validate concepts cheaply and early.

Need expert hands?

UX Refinery pairs these tools with trained researchers who turn raw data into actionable recommendations. See our UX research services or get in touch.

Conclusion

Optimisation is ongoing. Combine unmoderated tests, behaviour visualisation, analytics, moderated sessions, and prototypes, and partner with researchers who know what the data means. Elevate your website with UX Refinery.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best user testing tools for a website?

A strong starter stack is Useberry for unmoderated tests, Hotjar for heatmaps and session recordings, Google Analytics for behavioural metrics, and Figma for testable prototypes. Add Google Meet or Microsoft Teams for remote moderated sessions.

Do I need special software to run moderated usability tests?

Not necessarily. Video tools you likely already use, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams, work well for remote moderated research, letting you observe, ask, and react in real time.

How do user testing tools improve SEO indirectly?

By fixing the friction they reveal, you improve engagement signals (time on page, bounce rate, pages per session) that search engines use as quality indicators.

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