Usability Testing
ServicesThe Validation approach
Usability testing that shows why users struggle
Analytics show you where users drop off. Moderated usability testing with 20+ verified participants shows you why, and gives your team evidence-backed fixes to act on with confidence.
- Verified participants from your audience
- 20+
- Live sessions, observed in real time
- Moderated
- Online, at your offices or a venue
- Remote or on-site
- Payment upon delivery*
- No upfront fee
*In certain scenarios, depending on the country and scope of the project, a partial upfront fee may be requested, but we always aim to avoid this wherever possible.
What we uncover
The friction analytics can't show you
Every study is built around real user journeys and your actual product flows. We look past what participants did to understand exactly why they did it.
- Hidden drop-off points.
- The exact micro-interaction that breaks a conversion funnel.
- Misaligned mental models.
- Where your navigation logic confuses users' natural intuition.
- Feature misuse.
- High-value features that are ignored, misunderstood or used incorrectly.
- Intent and hesitation.
- The moments of confusion behind a drop-off, uncovered in real time.
Insight Synthesis
QuantitativeQualitativeHeuristic→ synthesising…
Formats
Remote or on-site, whatever your users need
Choose the format that fits your goals and your user base. Tetrabase can recruit verified participants who match your target audience, or you can bring your own customers to test with a specific segment.
Remote testing
Faster recruitment and access to a broader, global user base. Ideal for digital-first products where speed and geographic reach matter.
On-site testing
Deeper behavioural observation and contextual insight, at your offices or a specific venue. Perfect for physical interfaces, complex B2B software and high-stakes interactions. International on-site studies may incur additional charges.
How it works
Usability studies are often significantly faster than a full benchmark. The timeline depends on the scope, the participants and whether sessions run remotely or on-site.
- 01
Scope and recruit
We agree the journeys, tasks and participant profile with you, then recruit 20+ verified users who match it, or test with your own customers.
- 02
Moderated sessions
Participants work through real tasks on your product while we observe, remotely or on-site, uncovering intent and hesitation as they happen.
- 03
Analysis
We move beyond what participants did to why they did it, and rank every friction point by business impact and ease of fix.
- 04
Recommendations
You receive a prioritised roadmap and evidence-backed design changes, ready to act on.
What you receive
Prioritised roadmap
Friction points ranked by business impact and ease of fix.
Evidence-backed UX recommendations
Specific design changes, based on observed behaviour.
Session highlights
Video clips of real users struggling: the most powerful tool for internal alignment.
Usability reports are often more streamlined, for faster decision-making.
Latest Insights
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Usability Testing
Usability Testing That Goes Beyond Surface-Level Feedback
Other ways we can help
The Scale approach
Competitive UX Benchmarking
Benchmark the user and customer experience (UX and CX) of your website or app against 5-10 competitors with 1,000+ real participants. See what to fix first.
Learn moreThe Discovery approach
AI SEO Research
See how real people use AI assistants like ChatGPT to find brands like yours, and how AI positions you against competitors. Then close the gap.
Learn moreWant the full picture? See how the Tetrabase Framework brings them together.
Frequently asked questions
Is usability testing the same as user testing?
The terms are often used for the same thing. Strictly, user testing can be any test with real users, such as an early concept test, while usability testing checks whether people can complete real tasks easily. Our studies are moderated usability tests, also called UX testing: 20+ verified participants work through real tasks on your product while we observe.
How many participants do you test with?
Typically 20+ verified participants, carefully selected to match your target audience, so what we uncover reflects real user behaviour rather than edge cases.
Should we test remotely or on-site?
Remote testing gives faster recruitment and a broader, global user base. On-site testing gives deeper behavioural observation, which suits physical interfaces, complex B2B software and high-stakes interactions. The right one depends on your goals and your user base.
Can we test with our own customers?
Yes. Tetrabase can handle the entire recruitment process to find verified target users in your niche, or you can offer your own participants to test with a specific existing customer segment.
How is usability testing different from the Tetrabase Framework?
The Tetrabase Framework is a high-scale, quantitative benchmark against 5-10 competitors with 1,000+ participants, best for defining market position and long-term strategy. Usability testing is a qualitative, tactical deep-dive, typically with 20+ participants: more cost-effective, and focused on the "why" behind specific friction points.
How long does a usability study take?
It's often significantly faster than a full benchmarking study. The timeline depends on the scope, the participant requirements and whether sessions run remotely or on-site.
What languages can the research be conducted in?
Any language. We run each study in your participants' own language, and their answers are then translated into English for our analysis.
How is pricing structured?
Every study is scoped to your research objectives and participant requirements, so investment varies by project. We'll walk through a clear estimate during your discovery call. We don't charge an upfront deposit or retainer: payment is made once your results are delivered (in some countries or scopes, a partial upfront fee may be requested).