5 Free Tools Every eCommerce Store Needs for Quick UX Testing 

An excellent online store is not just made out of products and pricing strategies—it is very much the experience that matters. A user’s journey from the time they land on your homepage to the time they check out, each click, scroll, or interaction determines whether they will buy or leave. But how can you test that experience without spending a lot of money?

It doesn’t hurt to know that UX testing is an important thing for eCommerce owners to figure out in which you don’t have to spend money. There are, in fact, a handful of free tools that can get you the result of raising your engagement and conversion rate much quicker than you would expect.

Whether you operate a Shopify store, have a custom site built by a CMS development agency, or are utilizing advanced PWA services, these tools are capable of providing you with the necessary insights—free of charge and instantaneously.

Why UX Testing Matter Ecommerce Stores?

Have you ever thought of the reason why certain stores sell more even if they provide the same products? Most of the time, the solution lies in user experience (UX). A smooth UX makes people to trust your brand, find their way without any problem, and buying from you they make. The data have shown even a 1-second delay in page loading can result in the conversion rate falling by 7%. That is why UX testing is essential as it allows businesses to understand customers, handle the issues quickly and make user journeys smoother, that in turn will lead to more sales.

Let’s get through 5 powerful free UX testing tools that every eCommerce business should be aware of.

1. Hotjar – See What Users See

Have you ever thought about how to see exactly what visitors do on your website? Hotjar helps to achieve this through heat maps, session recordings, and feedback widgets.

With this, you can see how users move through your pages, which areas they select, and what they don’t touch. The visual data here assist you to locate the places of customer friction – for instance, not understanding the navigation or unresponsive buttons – so that you can remove these points swiftly.

Why it is great for eCommerce:

• • Identify reasons for checkout abandonment.

• • Determine which product pages most visitors and entice.

• • Enhance the presentation with the goal of better interaction.

Pro tip: Utilize Hotjar's findings to complement your eCommerce web design and development activities turning a layout into one that is user-friendly and effortless.

2. Google Optimize – Test. Learn. Win.

Google Optimize (currently a part of Google Marketing Platform) is an A/B testing tool that is free of charge and allows you to carry out experiments on your website’s design and content.

It is possible to compare two variants of a webpage, for instance, a blue “Add to Cart” button vs. a green one, and then find out from the data which one leads to more conversions.

Reasons to implement the tool:

• • Perform great A/B and multivariate tests.

• • Work together smoothly with Google Analytics.

• • Analyze the connection between changes in layout or content and user behavior.

In case you are collaborating with a CMS development agency, consider this tool as your partner when it comes to confirming design decisions before the final release.

3. User Testing Free Plan – Real People. Real Feedback.

Sometimes reliance on analytics may not be enough. What you really need is human feedback. UserTesting’s free trial provides you with a group of real users who not only record themselves using your site but also share their thoughts aloud.

What makes it powerful:

• • Get the real world views from your target market.

• • Spot the checkout process steps that confuse as well as the CTA that isn’t clear.

• • Discover the perception of first-time visitors about your website.

UserTesting provides time-stamped insights, allowing you to go directly to the moments of frustration or confusion. Apply these insights to adjust your eCommerce web design and development plan so as to offer an intuitive experience.

4. PageSpeed Insights – Fast Websites Win

Performance and UX are intimately related. Google PageSpeed Insights assists you in evaluating your site speed and gives you a list of doable actions to make it quicker. Users get annoyed with slow websites, and such sites get lower SEO rankings. The act of speed testing is not only about optimization; it is more about retention.

Main functions:

• • Receive performance scores both for mobile and desktop.

• • Discover ways to speed up loading.

• • Measure Core Web Vitals such as LCP, FID, and CLS.

For example, if you are a user of advanced PWA services then this tool will help you in making an efficient progressive web app that fosters almost instant interactions like those in the native apps.

5. Crazy Egg – Track Behavior Visually

Crazy Egg is also an eCommerce owner on a budget's must-have tool. It provides a host of features in its free trial including heatmaps, click reports, and scroll tracking.

Reasons to use it:

• • Find that point in visitors' journey where they abandon the conversion funnel.

• • Check differences in behavior on desktop and mobile.

• • Receive recommendations for UX getting better.

Crazy Egg is the visual component of your analytic data. It helps you see what the numbers alone can't explain, for instance, how users engage with your calls to action or product images.

Lastly, with expert support from our team, you can turn insights into impactful results. Partner with us to refine your eCommerce web design and development and deliver seamless shopping experiences that drive growth.

FAQs

1. What is UX testing in eCommerce?

UX testing is a process where the storefront is evaluated from the user's perspective to spot usability issues and to enhance navigational, layout, and design aspects that lead to better conversions.

2. How frequently should I be conducting UX tests?

Ideally, one should perform tests every quarter or when major design or feature changes are made.

3. Can I perform UX testing without having technical skills?

Yes! The majority of free tools such as Hotjar and Crazy Egg are designed for ease of use and do not necessitate any coding knowledge.

4. In what ways do PWA services enhance UX for eCommerce?

PWA services transform your website into a mobile app-like experience—resulting in faster load times, the ability to work offline, and smoother interactions which ultimately increase user engagement.

5. Is a CMS development agency necessary UX testing?

Not quite, however, a collaboration with a CMS development agency will facilitate the effective implementation of insights and help in maintaining uniformity across your digital ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ecosystem.

Interesting Reads:

How to Re-Engage Users Who Haven’t Opened Your App in Weeks

How to Decide Between Off-The-Shelf E-Commerce Platforms for Your Business?