UserTesting Review, Pricing & Features

UserTesting is a video-based UX research platform. Learn about its features, custom pricing, IPO and merger history, and how it compares to alternatives.

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Surveys
Pricing
custom
Verified
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Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2007
Headquarters
Bellevue, Washington, United States
Web AppFree TrialAI

What Is UserTesting

UserTesting is a human-insight and UX research platform founded in 2007 that pays a network of real people to complete tasks on websites, apps, and prototypes while recording their screen, voice, and reactions on video. Product, design, and marketing teams use these recordings to understand where users struggle before or after a launch.

The company has had an eventful corporate history: it went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, was taken private again in 2022 in a 1.3 billion dollar acquisition by Thoma Bravo and Sunstone Partners, and merged with fellow Thoma Bravo portfolio company UserZoom in 2023 to form a combined UX and human-insight research powerhouse operating under the UserTesting name.

Key Features

The platform supports both unmoderated studies, where contributors complete tasks independently and asynchronously, and moderated live interviews for deeper qualitative research. Teams can test websites, mobile apps, and prototypes, and run card sorting or tree testing exercises to validate navigation and information architecture.

Since the UserZoom merger, UserTesting also includes QXscore benchmarking to track experience quality over time, along with AI-assisted transcription and highlight generation that helps teams synthesize insights from large volumes of video quickly.

Pricing

UserTesting does not publish fixed pricing. Plans are named Advanced, Ultimate, and Ultimate+, and customers choose between test-based consumption, where they pay based on usage, or team-based unlimited access with a defined scope.

Exact cost depends on team size, contributor volume, and feature requirements, and prospective customers must contact sales for a quote.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Large, vetted global contributor panel with fast turnaround on studies
  • Combines both moderated and unmoderated research in one platform
  • AI-assisted analysis helps synthesize findings from large volumes of video
  • Enterprise-grade security, compliance, and scalability
  • Strong brand recognition and adoption among Fortune 100 companies

Cons

  • Pricing is opaque and generally out of reach for small teams and solo researchers
  • Enterprise focus means a steeper learning curve and onboarding process
  • Contributor-based studies can be pricier than lightweight tools like Maze or Lookback
  • Some legacy UserZoom features are still being integrated post-merger

Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

When was UserTesting founded?

UserTesting was founded in 2007.

Is UserTesting publicly traded?

It went public on the NYSE in 2021 but was taken private in 2022 after being acquired by Thoma Bravo and Sunstone Partners for 1.3 billion dollars.

What happened to UserZoom?

UserZoom merged with UserTesting in April 2023 and now operates as the UserZoom platform within UserTesting.

How much does UserTesting cost?

Pricing is custom and quote-based; there is no published starting price.

Can I run unmoderated tests with UserTesting?

Yes, this is one of its core capabilities alongside moderated interviews.

Does UserTesting provide its own participants?

Yes, via a global contributor network, though you can also bring your own participants.

What is QXscore?

A benchmarking methodology inherited from UserZoom used to score experience quality against industry norms.

Who are UserTesting's main competitors?

Maze, Lookback, UXtweak, and Optimal Workshop.

Comparisons

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