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
"It’s important for us all to experiment with ways to harness the excitement for research as it grows beyond our own teams."
Jesse ZolnaInviting the Whole Org to Come See For Yourself
March 30, 2020
"We talked to fifty people and started to see how the world was shaping up in terms of what we needed to do."
Harry MaxPriority Zero: Some Things are More Equal than Others
June 9, 2016
"I’m actually using GPT-4, but not via the chat interface—I'm calling it from the Mac’s command line."
Jorge Arango[Demo] How to re-categorize content at scale using LLMs
June 5, 2024
"Speak plainly and simply. Say what you mean to say."
Tanya SnookDesigning the team experience: Building culture through onboarding
November 4, 2021
"Constant communication is necessary; agreement emails can’t be one-and-done."
Alicia MootyDesign Staffing Models
September 30, 2021
"If we think about accelerating learning velocity, it's about creating specific altitudes of research questions to answer for the organization."
Jen Cardello Dr. Shadi Janansefat Alex WrightCurating insight: Strategies for integrating knowledge across research functions
March 11, 2025
"Being intentional about how we spend our time is the purest manifestation of our values and our value."
Liam ThurstonWhy Your Design Team Is Quitting, And How To Fix It
June 10, 2022
"The climate crisis is a symptom of us being disconnected from so many things around us."
Aiyana Bodi James Christie Marc O'Brien Louis RosenfeldThree Key Climate Initiatives and How You Can Help
September 11, 2024
"The key is leading with simplicity and educating users over time to create lasting value."
Marissa Cui Rachel He Michael Leggett Manos SaratsisClimate Design Product Showcase
March 13, 2024
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
What mindset shifts are needed to work effectively with complexity instead of trying to simplify or control it?
What tools can non-leaders use to support an organizational shift toward outcome-driven performance?
What practical practices can make accessibility a sustainable part of daily design and development workflows?