| Learn about the key differences between UserTesting Classic and the New experience, including test types, task options, recruitment, and results. |
On this page:
Watch our quick video, or read about the differences below:
Test types
The Classic experience centers on one primary format: the unmoderated think-aloud test, where participants navigate to a URL, complete tasks, and narrate their thoughts on video. The New experience keeps that foundation and significantly expands on it with three distinct test types:
- Think-out-loud test — The evolved version of classic, now with branching logic, new task types (NPS, matrix, and ranking questions), and compatibility with Figma prototypes and QX score.
- Interaction test — A quantitative-first format with no video recording. Participants complete navigation or Figma tasks and answer structured questions. Supports QX score for tracking changes in digital experience quality over time.
- Survey — Text-only, high-volume feedback with rating scales, NPS, and matrix questions, plus AI-powered thematic analysis.
Coming soon: Live Conversation (moderated interviews) will be available in the New experience interface.
The test builder has been unified across all three new test types with the same creation flow and interface. The classic builder works differently and lives in a separate workflow.
Tip: Already created a Classic test? You can duplicate it and convert it directly into the updated think-out-loud format from the three-dot menu.
Task types
This is where the two experiences differ the most. Classic and the New experience share several task types, but the new experience adds meaningful new capabilities.
| Task / feature | Classic |
New experience |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal response | Yes |
Yes |
| Multiple choice | Yes |
Yes |
| Rating scale | Yes |
Yes |
| Written response | Yes |
Yes |
| URL, image, video & audio assets | Yes |
Image only |
| Camera task (mobile) | Yes |
Classic only |
| Balanced comparison | Yes |
Yes |
| Five second test | Yes |
Classic only |
| Card sort | Yes |
Classic only |
| Tree test | Yes |
Classic only |
| Navigation task | No |
Yes |
| Figma task | No |
Yes |
| QXscore | No |
Yes |
| NPS question | No |
Yes |
| Matrix question | No |
Yes |
| Ranking question | No |
Yes |
| Branching logic | No |
Yes |
Recruitment
The core recruitment options work the same way in both experiences. In either platform, you can:
- Pull participants from the UserTesting network
- Invite participants via a shareable invite network link
- Specify contributors by username
The new experience adds two enhancements to the recruitment flow:
- Screener branching logic — Participants only see questions relevant to them, improving targeting and data quality.
- Reusable audiences — Save and reuse the same demographic criteria across multiple tests.
A few things are not yet available in the new experience:
- Favorite contributors
- Custom network
Results and analytics
Both experiences provide core analytics: Rating scale results, multiple choice results, and time-on-task data. The new experience goes further in several areas:
| Feature | Classic (Metrics tab) |
New experience (Results tab) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating scale results | Yes |
Yes |
| Multiple choice results | Yes |
Yes |
| Matrix question results | No |
Yes |
| NPS results | No |
Yes |
| Written responses | Yes |
Yes |
| Time on task | Yes |
Yes |
| Success rate | No |
Yes (Navigation task) |
| Figma paths | No |
Yes (Figma task) |
| QXscore | No |
Yes (QXscore task) |
| AI-generated themes | No |
Yes (Surveys) |
| Sessions page | Yes |
Yes |
| Highlight reels | Yes (including instant highlight reels) |
Yes |
| Path visualizations | Yes |
Not yet available |
Not sure which experience to use? Take the survey in our course or review the decision tree diagram to help determine which experience best fits your testing needs: New or Classic Think-Out-Loud course module.
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