UX Research tools/applications

Tools we use, how to find existing research, tracking research findings, and more.

We use the following research tools.

Research Tools We Use and How to Get Access

  • RallyUXR- Main recruitment and panel management tool, which also offers external participant recruitment (via Respondent.io)
  • User Interviews - Alternative for moderated/unmoderated sessions when RallyUXR isn’t sufficient
  • Qualtrics - Complex surveys with advanced logic
  • Dovetail - Data analysis, insights collaboration, and research repository
  • Optimal Workshop - Card sorting and tree testing (pay on demand)
  • UserTesting.com - Unmoderated testing with audio/video capture
  • Figjam - Online brainstorming and synthesis

UX practitioners will have access to some of these tools as their role entitlement when they join the company. Anyone can also open an access request for any tool you currently do not have access to. Note, we purchase individual monthly passes for Optimal Workshop on demand, you need to open a procurement issue (example) /instead.

Tool Selection Guide

Note there are many ways to tackle a research problem. Below are some basic suggestions. When in doubt, check with a UX Researcher by posting your question in the #ux_research channel.

For participant recruitment and management

  • Use RallyUXR as your primary tool for recruitment, panel management, scheduling, and incentive processing across all user research.
    • RallyUXR is already connected to most of the tools and databases we use for research. If additional setup is needed for your study, the ReOps team will let you know.
    • Leverage their external panel option (powered by Respondent.io) when you can’t recruit enough participants through our existing user base in RallyUXR.
    • Use User Interviews only when looking for participants with diverse accessibility needs, when you need non-GitLab users or RallyUXR cannot fulfill your participant quota.

For scheduling and sessions.

  • RallyUXR is the tool for this too. Make sure your Google Calendar and Zoom are connected with your RallyUXR account.

For surveys

  • Use Qualtrics for complex surveys where skip logic and display logic is necessary. It offers a diverse array of question types, and is best for surveys that require dozens to hundreds of participants.
    • Example = USAT+, first click tests, screener surveys.
  • User Google Forms for more straightforward surveys, with no complex logic needs. It’s more mobile friendly too.
    • Example = internal research, team health, diary study entries.
  • Use UserTesting.com for small qualitative and unmoderated usability testing, between 5 to 8 users, when you need video responses to dive deep into the hows and whys.
    • Example = design direction exploration, prototype interaction

For usability testing

  • For moderated 1:1 or group sessions, use Zoom, and upload the recordings to Dovetail, for analysis and record keeping.
  • For unmoderated usability sessions, use UserTesting.com, but bear in mind that is still a tool for small scale projects, with 5 - 8 participants, and not suitable for extensive testing.

For In-Depth Interviews

  • Use Zoom, and upload the recordings to Dovetail for analysis and record keeping.

For card-sorting and tree-testing

For diary studies

  • The team is still looking into a definitive tool for diary studies. At the moment, we have a mix and match of methodologies.
  • Use Qualtrics, or Google Forms for text-based diary study
  • Google Forms is better for collecting simple daily feedback
  • For video diary entries, UserTesting.com is the best option.

For co-creation

  • Use Figjam for online brainstorming, synthesis, and collaboration.
    • Be sure to grant the participant access to the board before the session.
Last modified July 8, 2025: EUS - Access Requests Update (b88590d3)
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