Imagine building a product with all the effort you could put into only to figure out post-launch that users are fumbling, confused or worse, abandoning it. This is precisely what user testing and usability ensure.
However, in the confused world of product development, terms like usability testing and user testing are used interchangeably, which shouldn’t be the case. The former checks if your product works, and the latter checks if your product works for users.
Doesn’t sound like a big difference? Well, there is a big difference. Read on to this blog to understand where we highlight the significant differences between the two so you can grasp them better. If you’re a designer, developer, or product manager, this will help you understand which one to use when.
We at Yellow Slice have been following a four-stage process for nearly two decades, which we call STEP (Soak, Think, Execute, and Proof). The four stages are further divided into a seven-step process that we swear by, as it has delivered fantastic results in the past with brands that can vouch for us.
Yagvik Sharma, a UX designer at Yellow Slice, has an impactful opinion about user and usability testing. Let’s hear it.
“I believe processes such as user testing and usability testing don’t just test products; they test assumptions, emotions, and experiences. A good design isn’t about making a perfect user flow or carving an aesthetically pleasing homepage, but it’s about understanding what users want and require. User testing and usability testing enlighten us about just that”
Understanding the Basics
Before understanding the differences, let’s first understand how user and usability testing works separately.
What is User Testing?
As the name suggests, user testing is a process where a product is tested with real-world users so that they can be observed and their behaviour can be analysed. This is done to gather feedback, which is later used to create user-centred designs.
This process validates specific design decisions and functionalities to measure how well your product serves users’ needs and solves their problems. This type of testing is holistic, focusing on broader questions about user experience.
This type of testing is holistic, focusing on broader questions about user experience and satisfaction. The main goals are identifying user needs, evaluating user satisfaction, uncovering pain points, and gathering user feedback.
Common methods of user testing include
You can use many methods to conduct user testing and gather insights. There are several types of user testing methods, but here are the most common and effective ones,
1. A/B testing
When you have different versions of a design element and are confused about which one to opt for in the final design, the most commonly used test in this scenario is the A/B test. Also known as a multivariate test, these can be conducted online or in person.
2. Focus Group
Focus groups are a group of people who are tasked with discussing their thoughts on a product or service before it’s launched.
3. Surveys and feedback
Surveys and feedback can be great for asking specific questions about the product or service. As per the project requirements, they can include open-ended and closed-ended questions.
Why do you need user testing?
User testing helps design teams in many ways. Here are some of them,
- Validating assumptions: Designers make many design decisions based on assumptions, but user testing creates a clear path for them to follow, and they don’t have to beat around the bush.
The data they gather through these tests explains user expectations and how well the design serves the users’ needs and wants.
- Get to know the target audience: User testing reveals users’ hidden behavioural cues, which they may be unaware of. These behavioural patterns, needs, expectations, and pain points surface when users are left to engage with the product in a real-world situation.
- Identify issues beyond the surface: During user testing, hidden issues emerge, such as confusing and keeping users stuck.
- Generating new ideas: New ideas can come to light when observing users in the user testing process.
What is Usability Testing?
Usability testing evaluates whether a product provides the functionality and intuitiveness required by users. Users are given specific tasks based on real-life scenarios they will face, and the designers/researchers notice them completing those actions; the process ends with analysing those actions.
This process evaluates how easy it is for users to use the product. The aim is to find usability issues and any other roadblocks that users may find. Then, these are analysed and eliminated to perfect the UX.
Common methods of usability testing include
1. Lab usability testing
In such a testing method, participants are asked to complete a task on a digital device as a supervisor or a trained moderator overlooks them. The moderator observes their interactions, answers queries, asks questions, and provides real-time feedback.
2. Contextual inquiry method
As the name suggests, in this method, users are observed in their natural contexts, like the office or home, as they interact with the product. This method allows observers to notice people in their natural environment acting in ways they would actually act.
As the researcher watches users perform tasks, he asks questions to understand the reasons behind their actions. These insights are valuable when evaluating requirements, personas, features, and site architecture.
3. Guerrilla usability testing
In Guerrilla testing, testers are approached in public areas and asked to perform a quick usability test. This is a quick 10-15-minute and low-cost way of testing a product with real users, usually in exchange for a small gift such as a cup of tea.
This method works best at the early stage of the UX design process when you need to validate your assumptions.
Why do you need usability testing?
Usability tests help you achieve,
- Identify usability issues: Without usability testing, it can be challenging to identify usability issues that may not look obvious. Identifying is the first step, followed by eliminating them for a smooth, intuitive user experience.
- Reduce developmental costs: Conducting usability tests throughout the process goes a long way. Finding usability issues before you launch the product and fixing them saves the designers the cost they will incur later.
- Improve user experience: Finding and removing usability issues directly affects the user experience with the product.
- Brings in business: When users are satisfied with the product and return to use it, the conversion funnel flow becomes smooth, ensuring that customers find it easy to make the purchase.
Key Differences Between User Testing and Usability Testing
Objective
The User Testing process validates the product’s concept and checks whether it fits the market. It also looks for possible bugs in the product’s functionality.
Conversely, Usability testing evaluates how easy it is for the user to experience the product and complete the tasks within the platform.
Timing
User testing is usually conducted in the early stages of ideation and prototyping.
Usability testing is conducted mid- to late stages when functional prototypes or the final product are ready.
Focus
User Testing aims to determine user needs, preferences, and expectations. It also checks whether the code is written correctly and performs well. This process tests the entire product and also examines particular feature ideas such as logos, branding, advertisements, and more.
Usability testing evaluates task efficiency and error identification. It also identifies user behaviour and interaction patterns to perfect the user experience. Usability testing focuses on a single product or service rather than the entire product.
Participants
QA engineers, developers, the target audience and market representatives participate in user testing.
Participants in the usability testing process usually are end-users, UX researchers, and internal testers.
Key Metrics
User testing highlights error rates, test cases passed, qualitative insights, pain points, and feature prioritisation.
Usability testing highlights quantitative metrics like task completion rate, user satisfaction, task success rates and error counts.
Testing Methods
Methods used in user testing are surveys, interviews, A/B testing, etc.
Task-based scenarios, eye tracking, and heatmaps are used in usability testing.
Outcome
User testing redefines the product strategy and project concept. At the end of usability testing, the user interface and workflows are optimised.
Target Audience
User testing involves performing it on a wide range of people to find your target audience. On the other hand, when conducting usability testing, the testers already have a target audience in mind.
Here is a table that sums up the key differences between user testing and usability testing:
| Aspect | User Testing | Usability Testing |
| Objective | Validate product concept, market fit, and check for functionality and bugs | Evaluate ease of use and user experience |
| Timing | Early stages: ideation and prototyping | Mid-to-late stages: functional prototypes or final product |
| Focus | User needs, expectations, code correctness, performance and preferences | Task performance, error identification, User behaviour, and interaction patterns |
| Participants | QA engineers, developers, potential users and market representatives | End-users, UX researchers and internal testers |
| Key Metrics | Error rates, test cases passed, qualitative insights, pain points, and feature priorities | Quantitative metrics like Task completion rate, user satisfaction, task success rates and error counts |
| Testing Methods | Surveys, interviews, and A/B testing | Guerilla Testing, Contextual Inquiry Method, and |
| Outcome | Refines product strategy and concept | Optimises user interface (UI) and workflows |
Top User Testing and Usability Testing Tools
Below, we have mentioned tools for both usability and user testing. We have also included their details, such as pricing plans and what they do best, making it easy for you to decide which one to use.
Optimal Workshop
Optimal Workshop is a user research platform that can be used remotely by UX designers and information architects. It allows users to analyse user behaviour while empathising with them and test different aspects of their website, such as Information architecture and user experience.
This platform offers five different tools, such as,
- Card sorting
- Tree testing
- First click testing
- Online surveys
- A tool for qualitative research
Optimal Workshop allows testers to bring unlimited users at no additional cost or to recruit from their 50 M+ user panel.
On Capterra, it has a 4.4 out of 5 rating, and on G2, it has a 4.5 out of 5 rating. Their website has guides and FAQs and offers support via email and chat. There’s a free plan available, and the pricing of the initial plans starts at $208/month, billed annually.
UserZoom
UserZoom provides solutions for UX research for larger enterprises. UX research can help you analyse and improve the UX of a website that users will find easy to interact with. The tools allow you to recruit users at no additional cost or order test participants from their 120 M+ user panel that supports 20 languages.
The user review on Capterra is 4.4 out of 5; on G2, it is 4.2 out of 5. Customer support is available via email and chat.
The tool is usually used by big brands, which is why their plans are pricey. There’s also no free version available. However, they offer a free trial upon request, and you can get a customised pricing quote starting at $70,000/year.
Lookback
A remote usability testing tool lets you pick your testing audience. It allows you to observe users’ interactions with your website and make an analysis based on that. The app allows you to talk directly to the participants, and the insights you draw can be written down directly.
There’s one downside: They don’t have their user panel. There’s a solution for this: You can always bring your testers at no additional cost and recruit through third-party solutions such as user interviews.
On Capteraa, the user review for Lookback is 3.4 out of 5, and on G2, it is 4.3 out of 5. There’s a detailed collection of support documentation and articles for solving customer queries. However, customers usually criticise the helpdesk and customer helplines for not being too attentive.
There’s no free plan available, but they do have a free trial of different plans. The plans are usually billed annually and range from $25 to $344/month.
How Yellow Slice Helped Probus Insurance Ace Their UX Design
Probus is a distinguished insurance-selling organisation operating primarily in the business-to-business sector. It facilitates partnerships with the point-of-sale personnel (POSP).
The company wanted to upgrade its platform to elevate the overall user experience by consolidating all documentation, examination processes, and mandatory training modules into a user-friendly platform. This project is made to establish a unified platform that seamlessly guides the POSPs.
The Problem: Probus wanted us to redesign their existing website to improve the overall user experience, increase the number of people signing up to be POSp and simplify the entire journey for POSps.
They were facing lower conversion rates because users could not trust the brand, mainly due to the absence of a review section. The business had limited online visibility, with only 30% of POSPs discovering the brand online.
The Solution: Through compelling content on the homepage, we highlighted benefits such as an improved commission structure, superior product offerings, comprehensive support and training, and technological advancements.
We incorporated an impactful testimonial section featuring video testimonials and regular updates to enhance the trust and credibility factor. We also introduced SEO-friendly sections like the blog to enhance the website’s discoverability.
We showcased existing partnerships with relevant materials and policy details, made the KYC process easy and intuitive, and solved technical issues with a fully responsive website.
Experience Slice of Designing at Yellow Slice?
Having worked with big names like Make My Trip, NPCI, Axis Bank, and Croma (and the list is long), we have learned the best UX design practices. We take pride in advancing the human experience and deriving business results with intuition and facts.
Ready to get a slice of digital experience? Visit our service page, and let’s start designing your success today.
FAQs
1. Is user testing the same as user research?
Many people can confuse user testing and user research, as both processes fall under UX and sometimes overlap. However, user research is a broader term and is often the stepping stone of any design process. The process involves understanding user behaviours, needs, motivations, and challenges through different methods. This is conducted even before a product exists.
On the other hand, user testing occurs when the product or prototype is ready to be tested by the target audience. In this process, users can use the product and share their feedback so that the developers and designers can find gaps and improve the product.
2. Can usability testing replace user testing in a design project?
No, usability testing cannot replace user testing because both processes serve different objectives at different stages. Usability testing aims to understand how easy and efficient it is for users to complete an action within the digital product.
User testing, however, serves a different purpose. It validates concepts like product ideas, value propositions, and feature priorities.
