Summary
Research has to come together somewhere, happen somewhere, live somewhere, and—in order for it to have an impact on product—it has to be effectively shared somewhere. There are more user research tools than ever, and choosing among them can be overwhelming. That’s why the team at User Interviews created the UXR Tools Map, along with a searchable database of over 200 user research tools. We’ll talk about the process behind creating the map, plus share insights and examples of how to create the best stack for your team, regardless of budget.
Key Insights
-
•
The UX Research Tools Map categorizes over 100 curated tools into five main research functions: research ops, passive insights, active research, insight management, and design tools.
-
•
A significant portion of UX researchers (44%) are uncertain about their research budgets, and only 8% report stakeholders frequently access research results.
-
•
Many UX research tools have expanded their scope, becoming multifunctional, complicating how they fit into research workflows.
-
•
The visual subway map metaphor helps users understand tools as single-function 'stations' or multifunctional 'interchanges' connecting multiple research tasks.
-
•
The tools map intentionally balances well-known products, enterprise-grade options, and innovative or lesser-known tools to avoid overwhelming users.
-
•
Design and curation are critical as new tools appear or existing ones evolve, requiring continuous updates and balancing complexity with usability.
-
•
There’s value in assembling tool stacks tailored to needs ranging from fully free DIY solutions to large enterprise setups integrating multiple platforms.
-
•
Qualitative data management remains a persistent challenge in UX research, requiring effective insight storage, organization, and analysis tools.
-
•
Some tools offer recruiting, scheduling, and incentives only through proprietary panels, leading to potential limitations in participant diversity and flexibility.
-
•
Collaborative tools like Figma, Miro, and Whimsical play key roles in prototyping and brainstorming during UX research to generate early feedback efficiently.
Notable Quotes
"User research is interdisciplinary; only two thirds of people who do research describe their job as primarily research."
"Only 8% of people we talk to said their stakeholders know how to access results and do so often."
"Choosing among all these research tools can be really overwhelming and intimidating."
"We took a little bit more of an editorial approach and kind of trimmed down the tools to keep it legible and usable."
"Our subway lines are tool functions, and stations are where single-function tools live."
"Multifunctional tools are interchange stations connecting several research activities."
"Sometimes we had to add bus lines simply because some tools couldn’t fit into the existing grid."
"Tools are getting much more complex and have more crossover, which made redesigning the map a challenge."
"Simple, low-fi prototyping tools can get you tons of feedback without much upfront design work."
"We’re always taking suggestions for new apps to add to the tools map for later iterations."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Launching something small at MasterCard is inherently huge because of our global scale and complex partnerships."
Todd Healy Jess GrecoDriving Change with CX Metrics
June 7, 2023
"The experience comes together when all systems and departments are synchronized in one place."
Satyam KantamneniDo You Have an Experience Vision?
March 23, 2023
"A strong partnership between design ops and design leadership frees leaders to build relationships and focus on strategic work."
Jose Coronado Julie Gitlin Lawrence LipkinPeople First - Design at JP Morgan
June 10, 2021
"If you could pre-book your carry on baggage into the overhead locker, wouldn’t that be great?"
Stephen PollardClosing Keynote: Getting giants to dance - what can we learn from designing large and complex public infrastructure?
November 7, 2017
"If you don’t understand business, you don’t deserve a seat at the C-suite table."
Cennydd Bowles Dan Rosenberg Lisa WelchmanDay 1 Panel
June 4, 2024
"We had a great depth of customer understanding, but our view of partners was two-dimensional; we didn't know their needs or goals well."
Mac SmithMeasuring Up: Using Product Research for Organizational Impact
March 12, 2021
"When you tell the truth, especially hard truths, how you say it matters as much as the truth itself."
Melissa Eggleston Maya Israni Florence Kasule Owen Seely Andrea SchneiderPractical People Skills for Building Trust on Teams and with Partners
December 9, 2021
"The team doesn’t understand who’s responsible for what or the difference between a design manager and a design lead."
Dianne QueReal Talk: Proving Value through a Scrappy Playbook
October 23, 2019
"Accessibility is not only important to preserve rights but leads directly to innovation."
Sam ProulxTo Boldly Go: The New Frontiers of Accessibility
June 10, 2022
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
When should specialized researchers be involved in a research study based on problem clarity and risk?
How does shifting organizational language from AI as a tool to AI as a way of working reflect cultural maturity?
What are effective performance measurement strategies for small organizations with limited resources?