UserTesting vs Lookback: Complete Comparison

Quick Summary

Winner: UserTesting for most users because of its comprehensive research capabilities, larger participant panel, and more robust analytics features.

However, if you need a more affordable solution for observational studies with your own participants, Lookback might be better suited to your needs.

Both tools are powerful platforms for remote user research, but they serve slightly different needs in the UX research ecosystem. Free Card Sort offers a compelling alternative for specific card sorting studies at no cost.

Pricing Comparison

Note: UserTesting pricing is enterprise-focused and may vary. Check their website for current pricing.

Features Comparison

Research Capabilities

Technical Details

Pros & Cons

UserTesting

Pros: ✅ Comprehensive research platform with multiple study types ✅ Large built-in participant panel for quick recruitment ✅ Advanced analytics and reporting capabilities ✅ Enterprise-grade security and compliance features ✅ Extensive integrations with other tools ✅ High-quality video and audio recordings

Cons: ❌ Expensive, typically beyond reach for small companies ❌ Complex interface can have a steep learning curve ❌ Annual contracts required for most plans ❌ Can be overpowered for simple research needs ❌ Limited flexibility in panel recruitment (compared to bringing your own)

Lookback

Pros: ✅ More affordable entry point for small teams ✅ Simple, intuitive interface ✅ Excellent for moderated sessions ✅ No long-term contracts required for Team plan ✅ Good mobile testing capabilities ✅ Easy collaboration features for observers

Cons: ❌ No built-in participant recruitment ❌ More limited unmoderated research capabilities ❌ Fewer analytics and reporting features ❌ Limited integrations compared to UserTesting ❌ Not as comprehensive for enterprise needs

Best For (Use Cases)

UserTesting is best for:

• Enterprise organizations needing comprehensive research capabilities
• Teams requiring access to a diverse participant pool without handling recruitment
• Research that requires specific demographic targeting
• Organizations conducting multiple research methodologies who want a single platform
• Companies needing robust analytics and reporting features
• Teams requiring SOC 2 compliance and enterprise-grade security

Lookback is best for:

• Smaller teams or startups on limited budgets
• Researchers who already have participant pools or can recruit their own
• Teams focused primarily on observational studies and interviews
• Projects requiring quick setup without complex configurations
• Companies wanting flexible pricing without long-term commitments
• UX researchers needing a simple, focused tool rather than a comprehensive platform

Detailed Comparison

Ease of Use

UserTesting offers a comprehensive platform with many features, which can make it more complex to navigate initially. The learning curve can be steeper, but the platform provides extensive documentation and support to help users get started.

Lookback provides a more streamlined experience with a focus on simplicity. Its interface is intuitive, making it easier for new users to get started quickly without extensive training.

Participant Recruitment

UserTesting excels with its built-in participant panel, allowing researchers to quickly find and screen participants based on detailed demographic criteria. This saves significant time in the recruitment process, though it comes at a cost.

Lookback requires you to bring your own participants, which means additional work handling recruitment but offers more flexibility in working with specific user groups or existing customers.

Study Types

UserTesting supports a wide range of study types including unmoderated tests, moderated interviews, card sorts, tree tests, and more. This versatility makes it a comprehensive solution for diverse research needs.

Lookback focuses primarily on observational research through moderated and unmoderated sessions. While excellent for interviews and usability testing, it doesn't offer the same breadth of methodologies.

Analytics and Reporting

UserTesting provides robust analytics features including automatic transcription, sentiment analysis, and comprehensive reporting tools. The platform makes it easier to analyze large volumes of research data.

Lookback offers more basic analysis tools. Researchers can add notes and markers during sessions, but the platform lacks the advanced analytics capabilities found in UserTesting.

Collaboration

UserTesting enables team collaboration with features for sharing insights, commenting on specific moments in recordings, and creating highlight reels of key findings.

Lookback also supports collaboration with features for inviting observers to live sessions and sharing recordings with team members, though its collaboration tools are somewhat less extensive.

The Verdict

UserTesting is the more comprehensive solution, offering a wider range of research methodologies, a built-in participant panel, and advanced analytics features. It's the better choice for larger organizations with diverse research needs and the budget to support a premium solution.

Lookback provides excellent value for teams primarily focused on observational research who can handle their own recruitment. Its more affordable pricing and simpler interface make it accessible to smaller teams and organizations with more focused research needs.

When to choose UserTesting: If you need comprehensive research capabilities, don't want to handle recruitment, and require advanced analytics and reporting features.

When to choose Lookback: If you're on a tighter budget, primarily conduct interviews and observational studies, and can manage your own participant recruitment.

Alternative to Consider: If you specifically need to conduct card sorting exercises, Free Card Sort offers a no-cost alternative with unlimited cards and participants. It's focused solely on card sorting but does that single task exceptionally well without any financial commitment.

Try Free Card Sort for Your Card Sorting Needs

While both UserTesting and Lookback offer valuable remote research capabilities, neither specializes specifically in card sorting studies. If you need to conduct card sorting exercises to improve your information architecture, try Free Card Sort.

Free Card Sort offers:

• Completely free card sorting tool with no limitations
• Unlimited cards and participants
• Easy setup and intuitive interface
• Comprehensive results analysis
• No credit card or commitment required

Get started with Free Card Sort today →