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Eleftheria Batsou
Eleftheria Batsou

Posted on • Originally published at blog.eleftheriabatsou.com

Prototyping, Remote Testing, Research Notetaking, Repositories, Screen Recording, Surveys & Usability tools | UX

More than 66 free or paid tools to leverage in your next.

This is the last article of this series.

In this UX series, I write about trusty UX tools I have used, or I’ve heard good things about or you folks have suggested.

In my previous articles, I focused on the categories: automated UX analysis, analytics, accessibility, diagramming, card sorting, data visualization, evaluating design, interaction and Interface design, intercept surveys, live chat with users, mobile testing, mockups, mouse/eye tracking, online whiteboards, participant recruiting, scheduling and screening, presentation, process aids, project management, recruiting users, remote research, session replay, sitemap builder, user flows, user feedback, wireframing, etc.

In this article, I will focus on: Prototyping, Remote testing, Research notetaking, Research repositories, Screen recording, Survey, and Usability tools.

This time as you'll see we have more categories and fewer tools. If you are reading this series, a lot of the tools should be familiar to you, but of course, we have some new and free ones too!

Let's start 😎.

Prototyping

We have discussed many tools in the past that can be used for prototyping, and as I don't want to repeat myself, I'm just going to mention them very briefly.

1. figma

2. Framer

3. HotGloo

4. inVision

5. Koncept

6. Lucidchart

7. Mockplus

8. sketch

9. UXPin

Remote testing tool

10. MUIQ

I only found one tool in this category, but it's a good one😊

MUIQ_logo.png

It can also be used for: Remote Testing

Cost: No info

What does it do best: An advanced remote testing platform for measuring the user experience on desktop and mobile devices.

MeasuringU Intelligent Questioning Platform (MUIQ) is an advanced remote testing platform for measuring the user experience on desktop and mobile devices. As a thought-leader in the field of UX Research, MeasuringU is known for its mixed-methods research and ability to deliver high-quality qualitative and quantitative research for customer and user research. We developed MUIQ as a one-stop, secure tool for researchers to collect and analyze user data based on the best practices honed over years of conducting user research. - By measuringu.com

Research Notetaking

We have 3 new tools and a few known ones 😊

11. BugHerd

bugherd.png

It can also be used for: Research Notetaking

Cost: $29+

What does it do best: A javascript app that sits on top of your website and lets you click on the page to log a comment or bug. Feedback will be pinned like a sticky-note, and can be collated and managed on the admin side.

The best bug tracking tool & visual feedback software. BugHerd is the best tool to collect, organise and act on website feedback. It's bug tracking software that's like sticky-notes on a webpage. - By bugherd.com

12. Pear Note

pear-note-logo.png

It can also be used for: Research Notetaking

Cost: $5+

What does it do best: Note-taking and recording that integrates traditional text notes with audio, video, and slides, Jump to the point in the recording where you typed that note, so you can listen to what was going on at the time.

Record everything. By integrating traditional text notes with audio, video, and slides, Pear Note ensures that you never miss a thing. - By usefulfruit.com

Note: It's only for Mac.

13. Livescribe

Livescribe_logo_prussian_200x.png

It can also be used for: Sketching & Visual Thinking, Research Notetaking

Cost: $99.95+

What does it do best: Make notes that sync with audio recordings. Smart pens and digitised handwriting.

We found that in this ever changing technological landscape, constantly switching between written and typed notes can be frustrating. We created a pen that brings these two worlds together. - By us.livescribe.com

And here are the tools we've seen in previous articles but can also be used in Research notetaking:

14. Aurelius

15. capian

16. Dovetail

17. mural

18. Reframer

Research repositories

You can probably find more tools for this category but I'm just going to write about the most common one! Yes, we are talking about Notion. If you haven't used it yet, give it a shot. It's easy to use it either alone or in a team.

19. Notion

notion-labs-inc-logo-vector.png

It can also be used for: Research, Research repositories

Cost: Free+

What does it do best: All-in-one workspace for your notes, tasks, wikis, and databases.

Screen Recording

20. Camtasia

camtasia.jpg

It can also be used for: Screen Recording

Cost: Free+

What does it do best: Record and create professional-looking videos on Windows and Mac.

The Best All-In-One Screen Recorder and Video Editor. Camtasia makes it simple to record and create professional-looking videos on Windows and Mac.- By techsmith.com

21. Lookback

lookback.png

It can also be used for: Usability Testing, Surveying Users, Screen Recording

Cost: $99+, but there is a free trial.

What does it do best: Send a test link to participants. It records the screen and the participants facial expressions. Videos are uploaded to cloud and you get a notification in your inbox. Can also be set to record from any connected phone or tablet, which makes it handy for setting up your own guerrila usability lab.

Interview users from anywhere in the world. Your team can watch and take timestamped notes to help surface valuable insights. Or, ask users to complete tasks on their own time. Send a test link to users and get a variety of recordings in your inbox. - By lookback.io

22. Loom

loom.png

It can also be used for: Screen Recording

Cost: Free+

What does it do best: A single app to capture your screen, record your front-facing camera, and narrate it all at once, then share with a link. No manual uploads needed.

Show it, say it, send it. Record quick videos of your screen and cam. An essential tool for hybrid workplaces. - By loom.com

23. Morae

techsmith-morae-logo.jpg

It can also be used for: Usability Testing, Screen Recording

Cost: $25+

What does it do best: Enterprise grade software for capturing, sharing and recording audio, on-screen activity, keyboard and mouse inputs during usability studies, focus groups, field research, and product testing.

Watch the study or interaction remotely, take notes, and analyze results to instantly share your insights with others. - By techsmith.com

24. Snagit

snagit.jpg

It can also be used for: Screen Recording, Annotation

Cost: €48.90, but there is money guarantee

What does it do best: Create custom screenshots and recordings. Capture your screen, edit images, and share.

Simple and Powerful. Screen Capture and Recording Software. Snagit lets you quickly capture your screen, add additional context, and easily share with coworkers. - By techsmith.com/screen-capture.html

Note: Personally, I didn't find this tool very useful but I know many people are using it.

25. Telestream

Logo-Telestream.png

It can also be used for: Screen Recording

Cost: $10+

What does it do best: Create, ingest, transcode, caption, inspect, deliver, play & stream any type of video.

Surveys

26. Clicktools

Clicktools - Logo.png

It can also be used for: Surveying Users

Cost: No Info

What does it do best: Allow customers to choose how they want to provide feedback via mobile, web, email, SMS, IVR, social, and even offline. Make it easy and interesting for customers to share their input by leveraging super flexible question types and page formatting.

From CallidusCloud Clicktools to SAP SuccessFactors. CallidusCloud Clicktools, an enterprise survey software for businesses, is now part of the SAP SuccessFactors portfolio. The acquisition of CallidusCloud Clicktools is helping SAP transform the customer experience and provide customer insights that can improve the buying journey. CallidusCloud Clicktools is part of the SAP SuccessFactors portfolio. - By
sap.com

27. Leadquizzes

LQ-Logo-correct.png

It can also be used for: Survey Tool

Cost: $37/month+

What does it do best: A survey and quiz making tool that can be used for a variety of research methods.

Online Quiz Maker Built for Marketers. The best way to increase your leads and learn about your audience. - By leadquizzes.com

28. Qualaroo.com

qualaroo.png

It can also be used for: Surveying Users

Cost: $199+

What does it do best: Target mobile users to collect relevant feedback and improve your users’ cross-channel experience. Collect insights from your users in a seamless way thanks to our native in-product nudge.

Customer & User Feedback Software. Survey visitors on your website or app with Qualaroo Nudges™. 10x more valuable than email surveys. Ask the right question at the right time. Ask delightfully & politely. AI-powered analytics & reports. Install once, never slows your page - By qualaroo.com

29. alchemer

alchemer_logotype_gold_formerly_big.jpg

It can also be used for: Surveying Users, Automation

Cost: Free+

What does it do best: Online survey platform targetting startups and enterprise. Question types that suit market research (conjoint/max dif /Likert/NPS, etc). Data visualisations. Automations, integrations and scripting tools.

The root and backbone of any survey software is allowing you to collect customer data (survey). Nobody has the expertise within this foundational function like we do at Alchemer. But only Alchemer allows you to do it your way. Within the systems you already use. From the simple to the ambitious. With flexibility and security. - By alchemer.com

30. Surveymonkey

surveyMonkey.png

It can also be used for: Surveying Users

Cost: Free+

What does it do best: For online surveys or capturing feedback after usability sessions. Lots of templates and questions approved by survey scientists. Built-in ability to send via email, mobile, chat, web, social etc. Free version allows up to 10 questions and 100 responses.

Go beyond collecting feedback. Explore other SurveyMonkey products that can help drive change in your organization. Conduct market research quickly. Expand your market research capabilities to keep track of your brand, test your ideas, or get a gut check with your target audience. Deliver a seamless customer experience. Connect with customers where they are, discover insights, and share learnings across your organization to drive meaningful, swift actions.- By surveymonkey.com

31. Survicate

survicate.png

It can also be used for: Surveying Users

Cost: Free+

What does it do best: Survey and feedback software focussed on customer feedback. For marketing, conversion, product and support teeams.

The Customer Experience platform without 'enterprise-y' hassles. Customer experience tools are either basic survey tools or complex enterprise platforms. Survicate combines the best of both worlds: ease of use with powerful functionality. - By survicate.com

32. wufoo

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It can also be used for: Surveying Users

Cost: Free+

What does it do best: Online form design tool. Useful for contact forms, online surveys and invitations for collecting data, registrations and payments. customisable, templates and reporting.

Easy-to-Use Online Form Builder For Every Organization. Cloud-based form builder that makes it easy to create registration forms, application forms, surveys, contact forms, payment forms and more. - By wufoo.com

33. YesInsights

yesinsights.png

It can also be used for: Surveying Users

Cost: $20+

What does it do best: Send customers or subscribers a one-click survey they can answer directly from their inbox. Survey visitors and users while they're actively using your website.

Simple one question and NPS surveys to improve your business. Discover what matters most to your customers, clients and prospects. One-click install. No coding needed. - By yesinsights.com

34. Typeform

typeform-logo-dark-lg.png

It can also be used for: Surveying Users

Cost: Free+

What does it do best: No more boring surveys. A smooth interface that keeps people engaged. Include images, GIFS, and video

There’s a better way to ask. Create frictionless forms and surveys that people want to answer. Get more responses, clearer insights—and smiles, too. - By typeform.com

35. User Voice

uservoice.png

It can also be used for: Surveying Users

Cost: No Info

What does it do best: User feedback software for listening to customers and focussing product development efforts. Avoids the need for surveys, email logs or combing through message boards. Includes segmenting, insight visualisations, roadmapping, and integrations with key product tools.

Product feedback management software for growing SaaS companies. A single, centralized product feedback solution that gives you everything you need to gather, aggregate, analyze, and follow through on feedback from customers and internal teams. - By uservoice.com

And a few tools you already must know:

** 36.4Q Astute**

37. Chalkmark

38. lookback

39. Optimal Sort

40. PickFu

41. Matomo

42. Refiner

43. Usability Hub

44. User Zoom

45. xSort

Usability

This is the last category and probably one of the most useful ones for UX researchers. Take advantage of these tools!

46. Optimize, WebTrends

webtrends-vector-logo.png

It can also be used for: Usability Testing, Conversion

Cost: No Info

What does it do best: Testing and personalisation platform using Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) tools. Useful for complex optimisation projects.

Meaningful, Customizable, Digital Analytics. Webtrends provides the data you need to measure adoption, user engagement, and usage of Microsoft 365 and custom apps.- By webtrends.com

47. Ovo Logger

ovo.jpg

It can also be used for: Usability Testing

Cost: No Info

What does it do best: Hardware and software provider and consultancy for setting up audio-visual equipment and labs on your premises for mobile testing, software testing, medical testing, play testing and portable labs.

Ovo develops and implements UXLab solutions for UX/Usability researchers. Ovo's UXLabs and UXSoftware can make UX research easier and result in faster delivery of information to stakeholders. - By ovostudios.com

48. Userbrain

Logotip-Userbrain.png

It can also be used for: Evaluating Design, Usability Testing

Cost: $14+, but there is a free trial.

What does it do best: Watch videos of real people interacting with your website. Hear what users think, see what they do.

Your go-to user testing tool. Set up in minutes. Get first results in hours. Set up tasks, test anything with a link, make use of templates, and get set up in minutes.
Select testers, tap into a pool of quality assured testers — target their demographics and devices. Watch video and get videos of real people interacting with your product in just a few hours.- By userbrain.com

49. userfeel

userfeel.png

It can also be used for: Evaluating Design, Usability Testing

Cost: $59, but there is a free trial.

What does it do best: Userfeel is a usability testing tool that gives you videos of real users speaking their thoughts as they use your website or app.

Quick and Easy User Testing. Userfeel is the user testing tool that gives you videos of real users speaking their thoughts as they use your website or app. - By userfeel.com

And a few tools you already must know:

50. ForeSee

51. Helio

52. Koncept

53. lookback

54. Loop11

55. Morae

56. Mr. Tappy

57. Naview

58. TryMyUI

59. UsabilityHub

60. UserBob

61. UserInsights

62. Userlytics

63. UserTesting

64. UserZoom

65. UXCloud

66. UXTesting

Conclusion - 7 Categories - 66 Tools

In this article, we checked different tools you can use for: Prototyping, Remote testing, Research notetaking, Research repositories, Screen recording, Survey, and Usability. Usually, the tools can be used for more than 1 thing (for example convention, heat maps, user testing, etc.). Some tools are free and others are paid. The paid tools, most often, will provide a free trial or a demo!

That was the *last * article of this UX tool series 🤩! Make sure to sign in to my newsletter so you won't miss any updates on this or upcoming articles.

I’d love to hear from you. Which one are you most looking forward to using?


👋Hello, I'm Eleftheria, Community Manager at Hashnode, developer, public speaker, and chocolate lover.

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