New release: Test any website or web app. No code needed.
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No, user testers interacting with a live site test cannot make any changes to your website or its data.
Participants are simply visiting publicly available pages and completing realistic tasks. You don't need special approval or permissions to evaluate public competitors' experiences.
This depends on your setup. Many teams use test accounts, staging or sandbox environments, or instruct participants not to complete payment steps.
Live site testing reflects the most recent published version accessible through a URL. If a significant update is scheduled, it’s best to pause or restart the study so the experience can be consistent.
Yes, Optimal's live site testing tool works with any URL, including staging and test environments as well as sites behind a password or firewall.
You can share specific instructions with participants before they start. For example, if participants need to create an account and you don’t want that recorded, you can ask them to do this in advance via the welcome screen. That way, when the study begins, they’re already logged in.
Use neutral task wording, avoid giving hints, and let participants explore naturally. Watching where they struggle is often more valuable than task success alone.
Live site testing can help uncover accessibility-related usability issues, but it doesn’t replace a formal accessibility audit. It’s best used alongside accessibility testing tools and standards.
Most sessions run 15–20 minutes. Shorter sessions keep participants focused and reduce fatigue while still surfacing key issues.
You can share a direct link to your questionnaire results and video recordings. If you have access to Optimal Interviews, you also have the option to upload video recordings to the Interviews tool for automated insights, highlight reels, and AI Chat.