In the digital age, protecting user data and privacy has become paramount. This is especially true for user testing tools, which often handle sensitive user data. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy, sets the standard for data protection, and compliance with this regulation is crucial. Using non-GDPR compliant user testing tools can expose businesses to potential legal and financial risks, not to mention damage to their reputation. All the GDPR-compliant user testing tools discussed here are based in Europe (EU & UK), where GDPR is enforced when dealing with EU and UK citizens’ data.
Overview of GDPR compliance in user testing
The GDPR is a comprehensive data protection law that came into effect in 2018. It’s designed to give EU citizens more control over their personal data and simplify the regulatory environment for international businesses. For user testing tools, GDPR compliance means adhering to principles such as lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity and confidentiality, and accountability. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines and penalties.
Top 6 GDPR Compliant User Testing Tools
1. Userbrain (HQ: Graz, Austria)
Userbrain, headquartered in Graz, Austria, is a GDPR compliant user testing tool that offers businesses the ability to set up recurring weekly tests and gain insights from real users.
Key Features
Userbrain provides videos of real people from your target market talking about your website, mobile app, or prototype.
Userbrain’s key features include:
- Easy setup in minutes.
- Access to a pool of over 100k quality-assured testers.
- The ability to invite your own testers.
- AI test analysis tools.
- Presentation-ready reports.
- Team collaboration features.
- The ability to schedule regular testing.
Pricing
Userbrain’s pricing is very flexible, with a variety of subscription and Pay As You Go options available for every budget.
Available pricing plans include:
- Starter: $99 per month; includes 3 Userbrain testers, plus 10 sessions with your own testers per month.
- Pro: $299 per month; includes 10 Usebrain testers, plus 30 sessions with your own testers per month.
- Agency: $799 per month; includes 30 Userbrain testers, plus 90 sessions with your own testers per month.
- Pay As You Go: $39 per tester.
GDPR Compliance
Userbrain is committed to GDPR compliance and has implemented several measures to ensure data protection. They have a dedicated Data Protection Officer and have implemented technical and organizational measures to ensure the security of data. They also provide clear information about data processing activities to their users.
2. Rapidusertests (HQ: Berlin, Germany)
Rapidusertests, based in Berlin, Germany, offers usability testing with real users using their own devices.
Key Features
Rapidusertests provides features like tester recruitment, survey design, and results analysis.
Pricing
The pricing information is not directly available on their website and may require contacting the company for a quote.
GDPR Compliance
Rapidusertests is also committed to GDPR compliance. They ensure that the data they collect is processed in a lawful, fair, and transparent manner, and is collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes. They also take measures to ensure that the data is accurate, kept up to date, and stored only for as long as necessary.
3. UX Tweak (HQ: Bratislava, Slovakia)
UX Tweak, based in Bratislava, Slovakia, is a comprehensive user experience research and usability testing platform that provides a wide range of tools to help businesses understand their users better and improve their digital products.
Key Features
UX Tweak is a powerful UX research and usability testing platform. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for:
- Organizing Content: Card Sorting, Tree Testing
- Empathizing with Users: Preference Test, Five Second Test, Survey, Session Recording
- Testing Usability: Mobile Testing, First Click Test, Prototype Testing, Website Testing
- Recruiting Participants: User Panel, Onsite Recruiting, Own Database
Pricing
UX Tweak offers three pricing plans:
- Starter: Free, includes all research tools with limitations, one active study at a time, and one month access to results.
- Business: $144 per month (billed annually), includes full versions of research tools, unlimited number of studies and tasks, 1000 own-sourced responses per month, expert technical support, PDF reports and CSV exports, and custom consent and legal forms.
- Enterprise: Custom-priced, includes all features in the Business plan plus unlimited number of user licenses, unlimited responses, custom data retention, UX expert support, dedicated onboarding, assessments (legal, security), hands-on training, and SSO (Single sign-on).
GDPR Compliance
UX Tweak takes privacy protection very seriously and operates on a “privacy by design” principle. It primarily collects anonymous data, representing users and respondents by a unique identifier to track the same user across multiple studies without the need for personal information. UX Tweak provides several content suppression features to ensure that sensitive information never leaves the visitor’s or respondent’s web browser. It also offers an opt-out option for end-users who wish not to have their data collected at all. UX Tweak stores all of its data in the EU and is fully committed to compliance with international laws and regulations.
4. Testbirds (HQ: Munich, Germany)
Testbirds, located in Munich, Germany, provides crowdtesting for QA and UX, offering a range of testing options to ensure the functionality and usability of your digital products.
Key Features
Testbirds offers features like functional testing, usability testing, and localization testing. Testbirds’ platform has a professional crowd of 90,000 testers and robust automation tools.
Pricing
The pricing information is not directly available on their website and may require contacting the Testbird sales team for a quote.
GDPR Compliance
Testbirds has a comprehensive approach to GDPR compliance. They have implemented technical and organizational measures to ensure data security, including encryption, access controls, and secure transfer methods. They also provide clear and comprehensive information about their data processing activities and respect the rights of data subjects.
5. Global App Testing (HQ: London, UK)
Global App Testing, based in London, UK, provides crowd testing QA for web and mobile applications.
Key Features
Global App Testing offers features like test management, bug report/analysis, and API access.
Pricing
They have three pricing plans: Base, Localized, and Enterprise. However, the specific pricing details are not provided on their website and may require contacting the company for a quote.
GDPR Compliance
Global App Testing is committed to protecting user information and ensuring appropriate control over it. They restrict access to information within their organization and comply with GDPR, The Data Protection Act 2018 (UK), or other common law regulations.
Comparison of GDPR compliance features
In this section, we compare the GDPR compliance features of each tool, including data storage practices, data deletion capabilities, and privacy measures. We highlight any unique or additional measures taken by each tool to ensure the highest standards of privacy and data protection.
Conclusion – GDPR compliant UX testing tools
In conclusion, GDPR compliance is a critical factor to consider when choosing a user testing or UX testing tool. All the user testing tools discussed in this blog post are committed to protecting user data and privacy, with Userbrain standing out for its straightforward pricing, continuous testing model, and strong commitment to GDPR compliance.
The Userbrain team encourages businesses to prioritize GDPR compliance when choosing a user testing tool to protect their users’ data and privacy, as well as their personal and internal company data.
