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
"We are all more service design facilitators, bringing the right people together to create the right outcomes."
Shreya Dhawan Victor Udoewa Xènia Viladas Florian VollmerMaking service tangible: the fastest path to higher performance
November 19, 2025
"The government is massive, so depending on the agency or program the context shifts dramatically."
Louis Rosenfeld Lashanda Hodge Senongo Akpem Chris HodowanecBecoming a Civic Designer: Making the Move from Private to Public Sector
November 17, 2022
"Enterprise work is never done — you ship something, then come back to fix and improve it."
Melinda BelcherInsider preview of Enterprise Experience 2020
May 28, 2020
"There’s still folks who are entering saying I’m a team of one, no one knows what I do."
Bud Caddell Kristin Skinner Alana WashingtonDesignOps Community Sensing Session
May 13, 2021
"Using AI to tighten the gap between design and engineering is essential to know how to use in our work right now."
Ryan Matthew Alex KurchevBridging Design and Code: AI-Powered Design System Integration
September 11, 2025
"People plus practices plus places equals artifacts."
Phil GilbertA Consistent Culture of Design
May 14, 2015
"Understanding the lifecycle of AI code is essential because AI is essentially code running in constant evolution."
Aras BilgenWho does the math: A designer’s journey in building an AI-based tutoring app
June 10, 2025
"Sometimes you need to view your career like an investor, where you invest your time for the kind of impact you want."
Max Gadney Andrea Petrucci Joshua Stehr Hannah WickesAssessing UX jobs for impact in climate
August 14, 2024
"We all walked away better for it."
Randolph Duke IIWar Stories LIVE! Randy Duke II
March 30, 2020
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
What are effective ways to build shared purpose and language for a UX service team?
How can public sector funders shift their innovation investments to align better with strategic priorities?
How does the second edition of the service design book address the relationship between service design and digital products?