User Experience (UX) research is an essential part of designing user-friendly digital products. It involves gathering insights about users, testing usability, and analyzing behavior to improve product design. While there are plenty of premium UX research tools available, many free tools offer robust features that can help researchers and designers conduct effective UX studies without breaking the bank.
In this article, we’ll explore the best free UX research tools in 2025 that can help you collect, analyze, and optimize user experiences.
Why Free UX Research Tools Matter
UX research is crucial, but budgets are often limited, especially for startups, freelancers, and small teams. Free tools offer accessibility to high-quality research methodologies without compromising data accuracy. Here are some key advantages of using free UX research tools:
- Cost-effective – No financial investment required.
- Beginner-friendly – Many free tools have simple interfaces.
- Collaboration features – Ideal for remote teams.
- Quick insights – Get fast results for design validation.
Now, let’s dive into the top free UX research tools in 2025 for usability testing, user behavior analysis, surveys, and prototyping.
Maze – Best for Remote Usability Testing
Overview: Maze is a free usability testing tool that allows UX researchers to conduct remote tests, collect feedback, and analyze user interactions. It integrates seamlessly with Figma, Adobe XD (Phase-out stage – still few people are using it), and Sketch.
Key Features:
- Remote unmoderated usability testing
- Heatmaps & click tracking
- A/B testing functionality
- User flow analytics
- Integrations with prototyping tools
Hotjar – Best for User Behavior Analytics
Overview: Hotjar is an excellent tool for heatmaps, session recordings, and feedback collection, making it one of the best free UX research tools available.
Key Features:
- Heatmaps (click, scroll, and movement tracking)
- Session recordings
- On-site surveys & feedback widgets
- User journey analysis
Best For: Website UX researchers who want to see how users navigate their sites.
Limitations: Free plan limits the number of session recordings per day.
Google Forms – Best for User Surveys
Overview: Google Forms is a simple yet powerful tool for conducting user surveys and collecting qualitative data.
Key Features:
- Customizable survey templates
- Multiple question types (MCQs, short answers, Likert scales)
- Auto-generated reports & charts
- Integration with Google Sheets for data analysis
Best For: UX researchers gathering user feedback and preferences.
Limitations: No advanced survey analytics or AI-based insights.
Lookback – Best for Remote User Interviews
Overview: Lookback is a fantastic tool for conducting live user interviews and usability tests remotely.
Key Features:
- Live moderated testing
- Session recording & timestamped notes
- No need for users to install software
- Collaboration features for team research
Best For: UX researchers conducting live interviews with real users.
Limitations: Free version offers limited recording hours.
Useberry – Best for Prototype Testing
Overview: Useberry allows UX teams to run clickable prototype tests and gather user insights quickly.
Key Features:
- Click tracking & heatmaps
- First-click testing
- Path analysis
- Questionnaires for user feedback
Best For: Product teams testing Figma, Adobe XD, and Sketch prototypes.
Limitations: Free plan offers only a small number of responses per test.
Crazy Egg – Best for Visual Analytics
Overview: Crazy Egg helps UX designers analyze user interactions with visual reports such as heatmaps, scroll maps, and confetti maps.
Key Features:
- A/B testing tools
- Heatmaps & session recordings
- Scroll depth analysis
- Website behavior tracking
Best For: UX teams optimizing website usability and conversion rates.
Limitations: Free version has a limited number of heatmaps and recordings.
Optimal Workshop – Best for Information Architecture Testing
Overview: Optimal Workshop offers free tools for card sorting and tree testing, helping researchers improve site navigation and structure.
Key Features:
- Open & closed card sorting
- Tree testing for navigation structures
- Data visualization & analysis
- User-friendly reporting
Best For: UX designers improving website or app information architecture.
Limitations: Free plan has limited responses and test participants.
Typeform – Best for Interactive Surveys
Overview: Typeform is a user-friendly survey tool with engaging forms that enhance response rates.
Key Features:
- Conversational-style survey questions
- Conditional logic for better data collection
- Integrations with Slack, Zapier, and Google Sheets
Best For: Researchers who want engaging and interactive surveys.
Limitations: Free plan has limited responses per month.
Finding the right free UX research tool depends on your specific needs. Here’s a quick summary:
Final Recommendations:
- If you need usability testing, go with Maze or Lookback.
- For behavior analytics, choose Hotjar or Crazy Egg.
- If you need survey tools, opt for Google Forms or Typeform.
- For navigation testing, Optimal Workshop is ideal.
With these tools, you can conduct effective UX research without spending a dime! 🚀
Are you using any of these free UX research tools? Let us know your experience in the comments!
