The Free UX-Audit

Duration of UX Audit: approx. 20 minutes

Let’s take a look together at the maturity level of your UX and UI. We’ll give you an initial indication of whether something should be changed.

Why a UX audit is crucial

A UX audit (User Experience Audit) is a systematic analysis of the usability and user experience of a digital application, website, or software. Its goal is to identify usability issues that frustrate users and negatively impact conversion rates. Companies benefit from a UX audit because it provides well-founded optimization recommendations to increase user satisfaction and improve the efficiency of the application.

When is a UX audit useful?

A UX audit is particularly valuable when:

• Users show high bounce rates or conversions are stagnating.
• Customer feedback points to recurring issues.
• A digital application is due for an update or redesign.
• The company needs a data-driven basis for UX improvements.
• Competitors are ahead in terms of usability and customer satisfaction.

The key components

A UX audit consists of a detailed analysis of several essential aspects of a digital application or website to identify weaknesses in user guidance and usability. This analysis is carried out using various methods, including qualitative expert evaluations and quantitative data analysis. The key components of a UX audit include:

• Heuristic Evaluation: Experts review the application based on established UX principles to identify potential usability issues. Established heuristics, such as those by Jakob Nielsen, are commonly used.
• User Behavior and Data Analysis: Using web analytics tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar, user flows, bounce rates, and interaction patterns are evaluated. This provides a data-driven understanding of where users encounter difficulties.
• Usability Testing: Real users are placed in test scenarios to observe how they interact with the application. Methods such as A/B testing or moderated usability tests provide valuable insights for optimization.
• Accessibility and Responsive Design: The audit checks whether the application is accessible to different user groups, including people with disabilities, and ensures that design and functionality are consistent across devices (smartphones, tablets, desktops).
• Conversion Optimization: Analyses identify factors that prevent users from completing desired actions, such as complicated navigation, unclear calls-to-action, or long load times. Optimizing these elements can significantly improve conversion rates.

By combining these methods, a UX audit provides a solid foundation for strategic design and development decisions, improving both user satisfaction and business outcomes.

A UX audit examines various aspects of an application or website, including:

1. Heuristic Evaluation

Heuristic evaluation is a method where UX experts assess a digital application based on established usability principles. General design guidelines and specific heuristics, such as Jakob Nielsen’s ten usability heuristics, are applied.

During this process, experts systematically examine various aspects of usability, including:

• Consistency and Standards: Is the navigation uniform and intuitive?
• Error Management: Are errors clearly communicated, and are there preventive mechanisms?
• Visibility of System Status: Are users sufficiently informed about the current status and progress?
• Flexibility and Efficiency of Use: Can returning users interact more quickly?

Heuristic evaluation allows potential usability problems to be identified early, before users encounter them. This saves time and resources in later development stages and ensures an optimized user experience. Based on recognized UX principles (e.g., Nielsen’s heuristics), usability is assessed, and experts analyze whether the design and interactions follow best practices.

2. User Behavior and Data Analysis

User behavior provides valuable insights into how users interact with a digital application, which paths they take, and where they may encounter difficulties. Using modern analytics tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or Matomo, key metrics can be collected and evaluated. These include:

• User Flows: Show which paths users take within an application and where they drop off or continue.
• Bounce Rates: Indicate whether users leave a page or application immediately without further interaction.
• Session Recordings and Heatmaps: Tools like Hotjar allow session recording and visualization of click and scroll behavior to identify unused or problematic areas.
• Interaction Rates with UI Elements: Shows which buttons, links, or forms are frequently used and which are overlooked.
• Loading Times and Technical Performance: Technical delays can cause users to leave an application early. Performance data is therefore an essential part of the analysis.

Targeted analysis of this data helps identify patterns that indicate potential UX problems. Insights gained provide a foundation for concrete optimization measures to improve usability and efficiency. Analytics tools are used to examine user flows, bounce rates, and interaction patterns to identify problematic points in the user journey.

3. Usability Testing

Usability testing is a central method for directly assessing the user-friendliness of a digital application. Real users are placed in various test scenarios to analyze how they interact with the product and where difficulties occur.

Typical usability testing methods include:

• Moderated Tests: A UX expert guides a user through specific tasks and observes behavior in real-time.
• Unmoderated Tests: Users complete tasks independently while the system records their interactions.
• Remote Tests: Users test the application from their own location, often via specialized testing platforms.
• A/B Testing: Different versions of a page or feature are tested to determine which performs better.
• Eye-Tracking: Analyzes users’ gaze to understand which areas receive the most attention.

Additionally, session recordings and heatmaps help understand user behavior, showing where users click, scroll, or leave the system. Thorough analysis of these tests allows targeted optimization measures to significantly improve usability.

4. Accessibility and Responsive Design

A UX audit checks whether an application is accessible to all user groups, including people with disabilities. Aspects such as color contrast, text size, alternative text for images, and keyboard navigation are examined to ensure the application can be used by everyone.

Compatibility with different devices and screen sizes is also reviewed. Responsive design ensures the user interface automatically adapts to smartphones, tablets, and desktops without compromising functionality or readability. Technical tests analyze load times, touch interactions, and scalability according to best practices. A well-optimized, accessible, and responsive application not only improves usability but also contributes to search engine optimization (SEO).

5. Conversion Optimization

Conversion optimization is a core part of a UX audit and aims to improve the user experience so that more visitors complete desired actions, such as a purchase, registration, or form submission. Various factors that affect the success of a digital application are examined:

• Analysis of User Behavior: Heatmaps, click-tracking, and session recordings identify where users drop off and which elements may be confusing.
• Optimization of Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Placement, design, and wording of CTAs are reviewed to ensure they are clear and compelling.
• Form Usability: Complex or overly long forms can discourage users. A UX audit helps optimize forms for easier completion.
• Loading Speed and Technical Performance: Slow load times can significantly reduce conversion rates. Audits identify bottlenecks and suggest improvements.
• Mobile Optimization: As more users access websites via mobile devices, all conversion-relevant elements must function properly on smartphones and tablets.
• Trust-Building Measures: Elements like customer reviews, security certificates, and clear return policies can increase user trust and the likelihood of conversion.

Targeted optimization of these factors can reduce drop-off rates and sustainably increase conversion rates.

Free UX Audit from 8reasons Digital

At 8reasons Digital, we offer a free online UX audit that provides an initial indication of potential usability issues. This audit gives a quick assessment of where there is potential for optimization and which areas of an application should be revised.

For in-depth analyses and customized solutions, we offer advanced UX audits as paid projects. We focus specifically on internal applications and complex digital products—with direct access to the system and detailed analyses.