UX Testing
Remote usability testing tools split into two categories: moderated research platforms (Lookback, UserTesting) that support live facilitated sessions, and behavioral analytics tools (Hotjar, FullStory) that passively observe real user behavior at scale. Maze sits in between — unmoderated task-based testing with your own participants. The right tool depends on whether
QA
User research and QA are both about making products better, but they investigate completely different failure modes. QA asks whether the software does what the spec says — automated and manual tests verify functions, flows, and integrations. User research asks whether real users can accomplish real goals — interviews, usability tests, and
UX Testing
The think-aloud protocol asks usability test participants to verbalize their thoughts, expectations, and confusion as they work through tasks. It was developed by cognitive scientists and adapted by UX research to make the invisible visible — turning silent frustration into spoken evidence. When facilitated correctly, think-aloud sessions reveal not
UX Testing
Guerrilla usability testing is informal, rapid feedback collection from whoever is available — strangers in a coffee shop, colleagues in the hallway, people at a meetup. It trades rigor for speed and cost, making it ideal for early-stage products or quick validation before investing in more structured research. Done right,
UX Testing
Usability testing is the practice of watching real users attempt to complete tasks with your product, then using what you observe to fix what doesn't work. It's distinct from functional QA — it measures whether users can accomplish their goals, not whether the software does what the