Top 11 Maze Alternatives for UX Testing and User Research

Are you looking for the best Maze alternatives to enhance your UX testing and user research? Whether you’re seeking more features, better pricing, or a tool that better suits your team’s specific needs, there are plenty of options available.

From usability testing platforms to tools for prototype testing, card sorting, and remote interviews, these alternatives offer unique strengths that can help you improve your product’s user experience and gather valuable insights.

In this blog, we’ll explore 11 top-rated Maze alternatives that can take your UX research to the next level.

Why You Need Maze Alternatives?

Maze has made quite a name in UX testing and research, but it’s essential to remember that it’s not the only game in town. Sometimes, stepping outside your usual tools can be a game changer. Here is why exploring Maze alternatives can be a smart move for your team:

Limitations of Maze

Even though Maze has its strengths, there are a few limitations that can make it less than ideal for every project:

• Narrow Focus: Maze is primarily built for prototype testing. If you’re looking for a broader range of usability studies, it might be lacking.
• Learning Curve: Some users struggle with navigating the platform, especially those who are new to UX research. This can slow down your progress as a team.
• User Interface: The interface can feel clunky or outdated, which might frustrate team members who want to get things done quickly.
• Pricing Concerns: Depending on your budget, the cost of using Maze might be a hurdle, especially for smaller teams or startups.
• Limited Real-Time Interaction: If you want to engage with users in real-time during tests, Maze doesn’t offer robust features for that, which can limit the quality of the feedback you receive.

Benefits of Exploring Other Options

Looking into alternatives can open up new avenues that may align better with your specific needs. Here’s why it’s worth considering:

• Specialization: Different tools cater to various methodologies, such as:
  • Moderated interviews
  • Qualitative analysis
  • Live feedback collection
• Budget-Friendly Options: Many alternatives are competitively priced and offer unique functionalities that can fit snugly within your budget.
• User-Friendly Interfaces: Some platforms are designed to be more intuitive, allowing your team to conduct effective testing without the headaches.
• Enhanced Customer Support: Many alternatives pride themselves on their customer service, providing timely assistance to help you navigate any challenges.

How Alternatives Can Enhance UX Testing and Research Efforts

Branching out and exploring different tools can significantly elevate your UX testing and research game. Here’s how:

• Diverse Methodologies: Alternative platforms may provide:
  • Advanced analytics tools
  • Streamlined participant recruitment processes
  • Features that dive deeper into understanding user behavior
• Real-Time Feedback: Some options allow for live feedback, enabling your team to make immediate adjustments based on user interactions. This means quicker iterations and improvements.
• Holistic Approach: Access to various tools helps your team adopt a more comprehensive research strategy, combining numbers with user stories for a richer understanding.

Top 11 Maze Alternatives to Look for in 2025

When looking for Maze alternatives, it’s important to consider different tools for user research and usability testing. Each alternative has its features designed for specific purposes, whether you need detailed usability studies, help recruiting participants, or quick feedback on designs.

The table below lists some of the best options to help you understand their main uses so you can choose the right one for your project.

Here’s a closer look at 11 great Maze alternatives to think about in 2025:

1. Trymata (formerly TryMyUI)

Trymata is a budget-friendly usability testing platform that can help teams understand how users interact with their websites or apps. It is one of the best Maze alternatives and provides essential tools for gathering user feedback and analyzing behavior. It is an ideal choice for small to mid-sized teams looking to improve product usability without investing in expensive, complex testing solutions.

Features:

• Moderated and unmoderated usability testing
• Prototype testing
• Web and mobile app testing
• First impression testing
• Screen recordings to capture user interactions
• Voice narration, where users explain their actions
• Surveys to collect qualitative and quantitative feedback
• Basic analytics for evaluating user behavior

How It’s Used: Trymata is best suited for teams that need affordable yet effective usability testing, particularly those seeking feedback on websites or apps. Its ease of use makes it accessible even for teams with minimal user research experience, delivering actionable insights into how users interact with digital products.

Pros:

• Large tester pool: Gain feedback from a diverse group of users, offering a broad perspective on usability.
• Easy setup: The user-friendly platform allows teams to create and run tests quickly, regardless of team size or experience level.
• Detailed feedback: With screen recordings and voice narration, teams can understand not only what users are doing but also why, providing deeper insights into user behavior.

Cons:

• The platform’s analytics tools are basic and may not offer in-depth data.

Trymata offers usability testing and user experience research starting at $399 per month.

2. Lyssna

Lyssna is a user research tool designed to help teams gain deep insights into user experiences, behaviors, and preferences. It employs a variety of research methodologies to capture customer experience feedback. It is also another good choice for those who are looking for a Maze alternative.

Features:

• Video interviews
• Surveys
• Voice recordings
• First Click Test
• Five Second Test
• Preference Test
• Prototype testing
• Panel for recruiting participants.

Usage: Lyssna is best suited for teams that prioritize qualitative research, specifically those focusing on in-depth interviews and direct feedback. It’s a great option for teams looking to explore user preferences and behaviors, making it especially useful for understanding how users perceive design changes or interact with prototypes.

Pros:

• Capture authentic user reactions during live interviews for deeper insights.
• An easy-to-use platform for both researchers and participants, simplifying data collection.
• Effective surveys like the Five Second Test and Preference Test help evaluate designs and gather user input.

Cons:

• Lyssna focuses on interview-based feedback and lacks tools for large-scale testing.
• Some users find it hard to get testers from non-English-speaking countries.
• Users may need to re-enter data during setup, causing inefficiencies.
• The platform doesn’t offer video feedback for unmoderated tests.

Lyssna provides user research and rapid design feedback collection starting at $75 per month.

3. User Interviews

User Interviews is a platform that helps make the user interview process faster and easier. It connects you with a large panel of professionals and consumers from different fields, simplifying the steps of finding, screening, scheduling, and rewarding participants for your research.

Features:

• Recruitment platform for user interviews and usability tests.
• Efficient tools for finding, scheduling, and managing participants.
• Access to over 4 million qualified panelists for targeted research.
• Streamlined scheduling and participant management.
• Supports moderated usability tests with real-time observation.
• Integrates with popular tools like Zoom, Google Calendar, Outlook, Lookback, and more.
• Targeting features for accessibility testing.

Usage: The User Interviews platform is ideally suited for teams looking to recruit participants for user research, interviews, and market research. The platform simplifies the process of identifying and scheduling qualified individuals, ensuring that teams can effectively address their specific research needs.

Pros:

• Access diverse demographics for better research quality.
• Target the right participants with specific criteria.
• Automated scheduling simplifies the process for teams.
• Known for its robust interview-based research tools.

Cons:

• The platform is mainly for sourcing and scheduling participants, lacking tools for usability testing.
• No unmoderated testing.
• The separation of recruitment and management can make costs unclear.
• There is no free plan.

User Interviews facilitates participant recruitment and moderated studies, with pricing starting at $75 per session.

4. Userlytics

Userlytics is a powerful tool for conducting remote usability tests. It is well-regarded for its advanced features and competitive pricing, making it a solid Maze alternative. While its user interface may feel outdated, the platform offers a robust set of capabilities that deliver valuable insights into user behavior across various devices.

Features:

• Moderated and unmoderated usability testing
• Screen and voice recordings
• Card sorting and tree testing
• Support for multiple platforms
• Website usability testing
• User testing for mobile apps
• Sentiment analysis
• VR testing

Usage: Userlytics is designed for teams looking to conduct remote usability tests with real users. It provides both qualitative and quantitative insights into product usability. Its multiple testing methods enable a comprehensive user experience evaluation across various user research platforms.

Pros:

• Connect with users worldwide to get different viewpoints.
• Automatically transcribe assessments, making it simpler to review the results.
• Gather important performance data, such as time spent on tasks, the System Usability Scale (SUS), Net Promoter Score (NPS), and the Single Usability Metric (SUPR).
• Gather user feedback through screen recordings and voice comments.
• Use a variety of testing approaches, including card sorting and tree.

Cons:

• Users are unhappy with the sound quality during tests.
• Testing feels slow to many users.
• Reports can’t be saved as PDFs, complicating sharing.
• There’s not enough demographic info for detailed analysis.
• The interface needs a modern update for better usability.
• Costs may be too high for small teams and tight budgets.

Userlytics offers usability testing and user feedback starting at $99 per session.

5. UserTesting

UserTesting is one of the pioneering Maze alternatives for unmoderated usability testing. This platform offers product teams a wide array of options for conducting and analyzing user testing. It enables them to gather valuable insights as users interact with their websites, apps, or products.

Features:

• Video recordings
• Panel-based feedback
• Website testing
• Mobile application testing
• Prototype testing
• Card sorting and tree testing
• Preference tests
• Five-second tests

Usage: UserTesting is ideal for teams seeking in-depth qualitative insights as real users navigate their products. Its real-time interaction capabilities allow teams to observe user behavior and receive immediate feedback. With advanced targeting options, teams can effectively recruit a substantial sample of participants for their experiments, ensuring targeted research and instant insights.

Pros:

• Engage directly with testers during sessions, facilitating immediate feedback.
• Access a wide array of potential testers, enhancing research quality.
• Precisely identify target demographics for research, thanks to the extensive panel.
• Quickly gather comprehensive data due to the high volume of survey responses.
• Ensure reliable feedback from diverse testers.
• Obtain actionable insights through recorded sessions.
• Allows for follow-up questions during live tests.

Cons:

• The platform is often too expensive for smaller teams compared to other options.
• Users find the automatic reports hard to understand.
• Many users struggle to find testers who speak languages other than English.
• Recruiting personal testers incurs additional costs.
• Interpreting findings from UserTesting can be difficult and time-consuming.

UserTesting provides video-based usability testing, with pricing available upon request.

6. UXtweak

UXtweak, another one of the powerful Maze alternatives, offers a comprehensive suite of usability testing tools, user behavior analytics, and information architecture research tailored for websites and web applications at any development stage.

Features:

• Moderated testing
• Tree testing
• Open, closed, and hybrid card sorting.
• Integration tools
• Website and Mobile usability testing
• Preference tests
• Five Second Test
• Recording tool
• First click test

Usage: UXtweak is ideal for analyzing user flows and optimizing website structures through comprehensive usability testing and behavior analysis. It’s particularly valuable for teams focused on information architecture and enhancing the user journey.

Pros:

• Offers various tools for testing digital assets, exceeding Maze’s capabilities.
• Quick and effective support.
• Similar to Maze, you can manage your testers and recruit real users easily.
• User-Friendly Interface: Simple design for easy testing activities.

Cons:

• New users may find the interface difficult to navigate, requiring extra learning time.
• The frequent addition of advanced features might confuse users and complicate navigation.

UXtweak offers onsite respondent recruitment and behavior analytics, starting at 49€ per month.

7. Hotjar

Hotjar helps visualize user behavior on websites, offering a suite of usability testing features and feedback mechanisms. It is Ideal for identifying and addressing problem areas in the user experience. While it serves as one of the Maze alternatives, it’s important to note that Hotjar focuses more on visual insights rather than traditional usability testing.

Features:

• Heatmaps
• Session Recordings
• Conversion Funnels
• On-Site Feedback Polls
• Surveys

Usage: Hotjar is best utilized for uncovering areas on a website where users face challenges, enabling teams to enhance usability and boost conversion rates. It is especially beneficial for marketers, product managers, and UX teams seeking visual insights into user behavior.

Pros:

• Quick setup and easy navigation for all skill levels.
• Competitive pricing for small businesses and startups.
• Simple visual data for understanding user interactions.
• There are no limits on storing surveys and results.
• Responsive customer service.
• Effective heatmaps and session recordings for analyzing customer journeys.

Cons:

• Lacks the advanced features found in more sophisticated tools.
• Less effective for in-depth user journey analysis.
• The free version has limited functionality compared to paid plans.
• Users report difficulties in organizing and analyzing data with the analytics tools.
• Unlike Maze, Hotjar doesn’t offer tools for testing prototypes.

Hotjar provides website-specific analysis and feedback collection, starting at $32 per month.

8. dscout

dscout emerges as one of the strong Maze alternatives. It specializes primarily in moderated testing while also offering some unmoderated capabilities. The platform categorizes its testing methods into three distinct paths: “Express,” “Live,” and “Diary,” each tailored to different research needs.

Features:

• Mobile Ethnography
• Diary Studies
• Rich Qualitative Data
• Global Participant Pool

Usage: dscout is best suited for projects that require in-depth user insights over an extended period, mainly through diary studies or mobile ethnography. It excels in providing real-time, contextual insights, making it an ideal choice for teams focused on understanding user experiences in mobile contexts.

Pros:

• Offers immediate, mobile-centric insights from users.
• Captures authentic user experiences, enhancing understanding of user behaviors.
• Integrates seamlessly with tools like Slack and Miro for enhanced team collaboration.
• Provides automatic transcriptions and video playlist editing for easier analysis.

Cons:

• Not ideal for desktop testing.
• Limited broader usability testing.
• Additional fees for participant incentives can raise project expenses.
• Difficulty in finding participants outside the US and Canada may limit global studies.
• New users may find the many features complex.

dscout focuses on remote user research, with pricing available upon request.

9. Useberry

Useberry is a versatile UX research platform designed to facilitate a range of research methods, including prototype testing and live website evaluations. It enables teams to gather insightful feedback on their designs and live products.

Features:

• Prototype Testing
• Live Website Testing
• First Impression Testing
• 5-Second Test
• User Flows
• Click tracking

Usage: Useberry is particularly effective for testing design prototypes early in the development cycle. It enables teams to quickly gather feedback from real users and iterate on their designs. It is ideal for product teams and designers seeking fast, visual feedback on wireframes and prototypes.

Pros:

• Seamlessly integrates with popular design tools, streamlining the testing process.
• Fast testing cycles enable rapid feedback collection.

Cons:

• Does not provide integration for in-product surveying or extensive user research features.
• The interface may not be as intuitive, leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.
• Customer support is not as robust for US-based users.
• Smaller participant pool.

Useberry offers prototype testing and user behavior analysis, starting at $67 per month.

10. Lookback

Lookback is a powerful platform for conducting real-time user research. It offers both moderated and unmoderated usability testing options. Lookback is particularly suited for teams that require in-depth, real-time interaction with users to gain insights into user behavior and feedback.

Features:

• Moderated & Unmoderated Usability Testing
• 1:1 Interviews & Session Replays
• Screen Sharing
• Remote Ethnography
• Remote Card Sorting & Tree Testing
• Diary Studies

Usage: Lookback is best used for real-time, remote user testing and interviews, making it an excellent tool for UX researchers who need to ask follow-up questions and observe user behavior during live sessions. It’s ideal for qualitative research where interaction with participants is key.

Pros:

• Researchers can engage with users directly during sessions, enabling immediate feedback and follow-up questions.
• Easily review and analyze user behavior by replaying recorded sessions.
• Excellent tools for chat, broadcast, and video editing enhance the research process.
• There is no limit to the number of study participants you can involve.
• Share live sessions with team members in real-time, fostering collaboration during research.

Cons:

• Complex live setup
• Limited quantitative research
• No built-in tester pool
• Customer support issues
• Testing is restricted to Google Chrome.

Lookback provides live and remote user research tools, starting at $25 per month.

11. Optimal Workshop

Optimal Workshop is a specialized platform for user research, focusing primarily on information architecture (IA) testing. It offers a range of tools that help UX and content teams improve the structure and navigation of websites and apps. The platform is ideal for teams needing detailed insights into how users interact with content, making it a go-to tool for optimizing user flows.

Features:

• Card Sorting
• Tree Testing
• First Click Testing
• Surveys
• Qualitative Insights

Usage: Optimal Workshop is best used to improve website or app navigation by testing how intuitive the structure is for users. UX/UI designers and content strategists can leverage its tools to refine information architecture based on real user behavior.

Pros:

• Provides focused tools for testing and improving website navigation and content structure.
• Easy setup process for surveys and tests, praised for its intuitive design.
• Access to a panel of over 50 million users for quick and easy recruiting.
• Allows teams to gather insights quickly, enabling faster iteration of design decisions.

Cons:

• Lacking comprehensiveness for broader usability research like user journey analysis.
• Some users experience issues with response quality.
• Limited multilingual testing options.
• Users report slowdowns with large participant groups.
• Lacks the ability to categorize test participants into specific groups.

Optimal Workshop specializes in information architecture and usability testing, starting at $107 per month.

Why Trymata is the Best Maze Alternative?

When it comes to UX testing and user research, choosing the right tool is crucial for gathering insights that can genuinely enhance user experiences. If you’re considering an alternative to Maze, Trymata is an excellent choice for teams looking to simplify their usability testing process. Here’s why Trymata might be just what you need:

All-in-One Usability Testing Features

Trymata offers a robust set of tools for both moderated and unmoderated usability testing. This flexibility allows you to select the method that fits your research goals perfectly. Whether you’re interested in conducting in-depth interviews or want quick feedback from users without direct interaction, Trymata has your back.

• Moderated Testing: You can engage directly with users while they test your product, which gives you the chance to get immediate feedback and ask follow-up questions. This interactive approach helps you dig deeper into what users think and feel.
• Unmoderated Testing: Quickly gather data as users navigate through prototypes or live products on their own. This method speeds up your research timeline and allows you to collect insights efficiently.

Easy-to-Use Interface

One of Trymata’s standout features is its user-friendly interface. The platform is designed to be intuitive, so you won’t waste time figuring out how to use it. You can launch tests quickly, allowing your team to focus on what really matters—getting valuable insights without dealing with complicated software.

Valuable Insights from Your Data

Trymata goes beyond just collecting feedback; it transforms raw data into actionable insights. Here are some key features that make this possible:

• Screen Recordings: Capture real-time user interactions, which lets you analyze their behavior and identify any pain points.
• Heatmaps: Visualize where users click, scroll, and engage with your designs, helping you see what works and what doesn’t.
• Mixed Metrics: Access both quantitative and qualitative data, giving you a well-rounded view of the user experience. This combination helps you understand not just what users did but also why they made those choices.

Budget-Friendly Option

Trymata offers a cost-effective solution for teams of all sizes. With flexible pricing plans, even smaller organizations can access powerful usability testing tools without breaking the bank. This affordability, combined with the platform’s extensive features, makes Trymata an appealing choice for anyone looking to get the most out of their research efforts.

Support and Resources When You Need Them

Trymata takes pride in providing excellent customer support and helpful resources. Whether you need technical help or tips on best practices for usability testing, the Trymata team is always there for you. Their commitment to your success ensures a positive experience so you can maximize everything the platform offers.

Conclusion

Choosing the right tools is essential for getting valuable feedback and improving user experiences. While Maze has been a popular tool, it’s essential to understand its limitations and consider other choices.

The alternatives we discussed offer unique features that can help you with usability testing and research. By looking into these options, you can gather the right data to support your design decisions.

The best tool for you will depend on your specific goals, budget, and team. By assessing these alternatives, you can improve your research efforts, simplify your processes, and create products that better connect with users. Exploring different Maze alternatives will help you elevate your UX testing, resulting in more intuitive and user-friendly designs.

Trymata is a great option for teams looking for an affordable usability testing platform with many features. It has an easy-to-use interface, a large pool of testers, and different testing methods to help you understand user behavior without spending too much.

Whether a small startup or an expanding company, Trymata allows you to conduct effective user research and improve your product’s usability.