Use this guide to compare different ways of conducting UX audits. We're highlighting the pros, cons and price of each one to help you to make the right choice for your team before you invest. We'll cover using in-house designers, freelancers, big agency services, doing it yourself, "free" audits, consultants, and the Product Growth Blueprint.

Which option is right for you?

Take our interactive quiz to figure out the best way forward for your team.

In-House Designers

For those teams with UX designers, taking on an audit in-house could be the right choice for you. They'll need to carefully plan and execute their audit based on at least one framework. This method relies on the knowledge and experience of your design team to execute effectively. Estimated Cost: £1,000 - £2,000 (based on salaried team costs)

Pros

• Internal Knowledge: Your team understands the product and user base deeply, leading to tailored and relevant insights. This intimate knowledge ensures the audit is closely aligned with your product’s specific context and user behaviours.
• Direct Control: Having complete control over the audit process ensures that all actions align with company goals. Decisions can be made quickly and adjustments implemented without the need for any external communication.
• Cost-Effective: If you have skilled team members, an in-house audit can save on external costs, making it an economically attractive option.

Cons

• Potential Bias: Being too close to the product can lead to issues getting overlooked "but it's always been that way" and less objective analysis. Bias can creep in, causing teams to miss critical UX problems that fresh eyes might catch.
• Limited Expertise: Your team may lack the specialised knowledge and tools available to professional services, resulting in an audit that barely scratches the surface. This can prevent the identification of more nuanced or complex UX issues.
• Time-Consuming: Diverting internal resources away from product development or growth to conduct the audit can slow down overall productivity. It might need significant time investment, taking focus away from other critical tasks.

Freelancers

Freelancers on gig websites like Fiverr and UpWork can perform UX audits at varying price points, often much lower than other options. Freelancers create gigs that are tailored to specific audiences and specify what the deliverables and turnaround times are. Estimated Cost: £100 - £1,000

Pros

• Cost-Effective: Generally cheaper than other professional services, making it accessible for smaller budgets. This affordability allows you to dip your toe in the water with UX improvements without a large financial commitment.
• Flexibility: With a wide range of freelancers offering various expertise and price points, you can find a solution tailored to your specific needs and budget.
• Quick Engagement: Easy to find and hire freelancers quickly, speeding up the start of the project. This rapid initiation can be beneficial if you need immediate insights.

Cons

• Varied Quality: The significant variance in the quality of work and reliability can lead to inconsistent results. You may need to sift through several freelancers to find one who meets your standards, but then, how do you know what the standard is?
• Limited Scope: Often less comprehensive than services provided by agencies or specialised providers, potentially leaving gaps in the audit.
• No Long-Term Support: Typically, there is no ongoing relationship or support after the audit, which can hinder long-term improvements and follow-up actions.

Big Agency

Big agencies offer comprehensive UX audit services, often involving large teams of experts and extensive resources. You'll often get perspectives from more than one subject matter expert and the audits themselves will often include a massive amount of detailed research. Estimated Cost: £10,000 - £50,000

Pros

• Expertise and Resources: Access to a wide range of experts and advanced tools ensures thorough and high-quality audits. Agencies bring a wealth of experience and cutting-edge methodologies to the table.
• Thorough Audits: Comprehensive and in-depth analysis with detailed reports that cover all aspects of UX. This depth ensures no stone is left unturned.
• Reputation: Established agencies with proven track records provide reliability and trustworthiness, offering peace of mind regarding the quality of work.

Cons

• High Cost: Significantly more expensive than other options, which can be prohibitive for smaller businesses. The cost might not be justifiable unless the expected benefits are substantial.
• Longer Timelines: Larger projects may take longer to complete due to the extensive scope and thoroughness. This extended timeline can delay the implementation of improvements.
• Less Personalisation: Can feel less personalised due to the size and scope of the agency, which might result in solutions that are not perfectly tailored to your unique needs.

Do It Yourself

A DIY UX audit is for those who are time rich, and money poor. Get hold of some guides and resources, do a bit of YouTube learning and soon you'll be able to conduct an audit without hiring external help. Estimated Cost: FREE (excluding time and resources)

Pros

• Cost-Effective: Minimal financial investment, mainly involving the time and effort of internal staff. This approach can be very budget-friendly.
• Immediate Action: You can start immediately without waiting for external scheduling. This immediacy allows for quick preliminary insights and changes.
• Complete Control: Full control over the audit process and outcomes, ensuring that the audit aligns perfectly with your objectives and schedules.

Cons

• Limited Expertise: Lacks the specialised knowledge and experience of professional auditors, leading to potential gaps in findings. This limitation can result in a less effective audit.
• Time-Intensive: Requires significant time investment from you, which can detract from other priorities. The time required to educate yourself on best practices is substantial. And the information quality available online varies wildly.
• Risk of Oversight: Potential for missing critical issues due to lack of professional insight and experience. DIY audits can result in a superficial understanding of deeper problems.

Free UX Audits

Some agencies offer free UX audits as an initial offering to build trust in an effort to win your business for more services. My agency has done this in the past. Estimated Cost: Free

Pros

• No Initial Cost: Attractive for those with limited budgets.
• Basic Insights: Can provide some initial insights and areas for improvement, but the content of anything that's free is always going to be lacking significant detail.

Cons

• Subjective: Recommendations are often based on the agency’s perspective, which can be biased.
• Limited Depth: 95% of these audits are incredibly narrow in scope, otherwise it wouldn't be free, and they're presented nicely to lure into thinking it's full of valuable insight. But the content of anything free is always going to be lacking significant detail.‍
• Hidden Agenda: This is often a sales tactic to get you to commit to expensive follow-up services. Be prepared for an influx of 'I'm just following up' emails and calls for the next few months.

Consultants

Consultants provide expert advice on UX issues, often focusing on specific areas like user flows and growth opportunities. Estimated Cost: £2,000 - £10,000

Pros

• Expert Guidance: Access to experienced professionals with specialised knowledge.
• Focused Recommendations: Tailored advice on specific user flows and growth opportunities.
• Flexibility: Can hire for short-term or specific projects.

Cons

• Limited Scope: May not provide as exhaustive an audit as larger agencies or specialised services.
• Cost Variability: Quality and cost can vary widely based on the consultant’s expertise and reputation.
• No Long-Term Support: Usually, no ongoing support after the initial consultation.

Product Growth Blueprint

The Product Growth Blueprint is a UX audit on designed to identify UX and UI issues, uncover growth opportunities, help you organise your product roadmap and provide real-world examples for inspiration. A methodical data-driven approach, ensuring that all recommendations are based on rigorous analysis rather than just intuition. Estimated Cost: £4,000 - £6,000 +VAT

Pros

• Scientific Methodology: Every recommendation is backed by data ensuring reliable and effective solutions. This minimises guesswork and maximises impact.
• Database of Recommendations: You get access to a personalised notion library of recommendations tailored to your product. With real life examples and links to further reading. These recommendations are tried and tested, reducing risk.
• Impact-Effort Prioritisation: Recommendations are ranked based on potential impact and required effort, helping you focus on the most beneficial changes first.
• Quick Turnaround: Completed in 14 to 20 days, allowing for rapid implementation of improvements. This speed ensures you can act on insights quickly.
• Comprehensive Reports: Detailed and actionable guidance tailored to your specific needs ensures all recommendations are practical and impactful. Our reports are easy to understand and implement.

Cons

• Initial Cost: Higher upfront cost compared to some alternatives, which may be a barrier for smaller businesses.
• External Dependence: Reliance on an external provider for insights and recommendations. This dependence can be a disadvantage if you prefer full internal control.

Comparison Table

Cost-Saving Tips

1. Get more than one Free Audit: Would it be unethical to use different agencies free audits to give you multiple insights? You could cover more ground for less money. Just be prepared for the harassment afterwards.
2. Ask for help: Find people providing UX audit services on LinkedIn and just ask for their opinion on your product. Most people are generally helpful and happy to be asked for their opinion from time to time.‍
3. Sell your Product: Forget this, sell your product to the highest bidder and retire on the beach somewhere.‍
4. Pay Cheap, Pay Twice: You already know this, but it's far more likely you end up investing poorly in the long-run if you opt for services that aren't completed by experts first time round.