Is there another option for User Testing besides Usertesting.com

[RoxBrock]

I loved the presentation Phil Sharp did about A/B testing using User Testing. I would love to use his company UserTesting.com, but their minimum package is for $7500! I'm a small business and certainly cannot afford that. Is there another option for the small business owner?

[RoxBrock]

Wow! Thanks for the info! I have just been doing the Usertesting myself at varying locations until I find a good replacement or supplement.

[timesharecmo]

I used to be a big proponent of usertesting.com but have lately become rapidly disillusioned with them. This gives me no satisfaction, as for years I would have said they were one of my favorite SaaS companies, with excellent customer service.

Allow me to explain.

• There is no middle ground between a very limited, nearly useless $99 test, and a pro plan that appears to only start at about $20,000.
• If you are an agency, plans START at 20,000 and while tests are unlimited, you are REQUIRED to reveal your clients' names. Ostensibly this is so they won't "bother" your clients, but who are we kidding? You know exactly what they plan to do.  Undercut you.
• True story: When client themselves wants to set up account: big brand name. We warned them about the pro pricing and hardline sales tactics, and sure enough, when the trial period was up, usertesting.com blocked access to tests already paid for (anything over 25) including download access and the ability to make highlight reels.  This is a company who is willing to spend the money for the tests at $99/per and probably would spend $5-10k a year with them, minimum, and maybe more as they gain traction inside their organization.  But since they don't want to commit in advance to $20k, usertesting refuses to play ball.
• In short, I will never use or recommend them again, and I'm eagerly researching competitors. if you know of or are one and are interested with working on a global brand who will be willing to endorse you publicly, let me know.

[Dr-Pete]

Ah, got it - the "A/B testing" in your questions threw me off. I was wondering if you were looking for a different type of service than they used to sell.

If you're looking for structured interviews, it definitely can get a lot more expensive very quickly. It used to be that this stuff ran $10K+, before companies like UserTesting.com came along a couple of years back.

I've occasionally heard good things about UserBrain (https://userbrain.net/), but I haven't used their service personally. UserLytics (http://www.userlytics.com/sitepublic/) also used to be a lower-priced alternative, but again, it's been a while since I've dug into their service offerings and prices.

If it's something you plan to do a fair amount of, it may be worth training someone in-house and getting a basic set up. Steve Krug's more recent book (http://www.amazon.com/Rocket-Surgery-Made-Easy-Do-It-Yourself/dp/0321657292) is a great starting point. Some time and equipment investment up front may be enough to get you a lot of insights. The nice thing about in-person testing is that it's really exploratory - you don't have to be an expert to get at least some results.

[RoxBrock]

Thanks, I have done some thorough investigation into UserTesting.com. You can also get a free test once/month (through peek.com). The difference between the $49/$99 option and pro price is the length of the video, the ability to specify the audience, the ability to tell the user what they are trying to do, even have the tester first look you up on Google and see who they are drawn to, and several other options. So yes, I can do the less expensive option, but I'm not really getting any more than going to a coffee shop and having people do the testing (which I can do for way cheap).

[RoxBrock]

Phil Sharp of Usertesting.com did a Moz Webinar about using User Testing to improve you website through A/B testing. The difference between the $49/$99 option and pro price is the time of the video, the ability to specify the audience, the ability to tell the user what they are trying to do, even have the tester first look you up on Google and see who they are drawn to, and several other options. So yes, I can do the less expensive option, but I'm not really getting any more than going to a coffee shop and having people do the testing (which I can do for way cheap).

[Dr-Pete]

I'm still showing a basic pricing package of $49/video on UserTesting.com:

https://www.usertesting.com/plans

You mentioned A/B testing, though. Are they doing custom test set up now? I've only ever used them for qualititative testing (user videos, basically). Conversion consulting does tend to get more expensive fast. If you can give me a sense of the type/scope of your project, I can check out some of the companies I used to use and see if they're relevant.

[blendimc]

Not sure what features you're looking for, but they do have a pay as you go option starting at $49/participant for the first 10, and then $99 after that.

[Rachel_J]

Hi There!

I've used other options out there like mechanical turk (https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome) which can be very successful IF you ask the right questions and give sufficient directions.

Good luck!