2024 UX Tools Survey insights and trends

2024 UX Tools Survey insights and trends
Published December 2024, 

UX Tools Survey 2024 Results 

The UX Tools Survey 2024 by UXness marks the 4th annual exploration into the evolving landscape of UX tools and practices. This year, we’ve included a special category dedicated to AI and Generative AI (GenAI) tools, reflecting their growing significance in the UX domain. With a focus on uncovering trends that will shape UX tools in 2025, the survey gathered insights from over 150 UX enthusiasts spanning five continents.

Asia and North America emerged as the leading contributors, accounting for over 80% of respondents, with the USA and India being the top participating countries. The survey’s findings offer a comprehensive view of the tools and trends driving innovation and collaboration in UX design and research.

Disclaimer: The UX Tools Survey 2024 is an independent initiative conducted by UXness. Sponsors, partners, and affiliates have no involvement in the design, execution, or analysis of the survey.


TL;DR Highlights

  1. Future Trends in 2025 UX Design: AI & Machine Learning (71%), Accessibility & Inclusive Design (55%), Voice User Interfaces (46%), AR & VR (43%).

  2. Key Insights for Improving UX Tools: Balance AI integration, enhance collaboration and feedback mechanisms, focus on advanced prototyping and testing, and unify design systems.

  3. Generative AI Tools: ChatGPT leads the preferences and satisfaction scores with 76%, continuing its dominance for the second consecutive year.

  4. Top Tool Categories: Figma reigns as the leader across multiple categories, including Wireframing & Prototyping, UI Design, Design Handoff, and Digital Whiteboarding Tools (FigJam).

  5. User Research Tools: Google Forms and User Interviews retained their leading positions in 2024.

Download Free UX Tools Survey 2024 Results

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Sponsors & Partners


We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Tech Partner, Axure, and our Insights Partner, Interaction Design Foundation, for their invaluable support in making this survey a success. Their collaboration reinforces the shared goal of advancing the UX community and providing actionable insights to practitioners worldwide.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

DETAILED INSIGHTS

Participants Demographics

Participants
  • Roles: 35% UX Designers, 22% UX Researchers etc.
  • Experience Levels: 25% have over 10 years of experience, while 32% have 3 to 5 years of experience.
  • Company Sizes: 33% of participants work in companies with over 5000 employees.
  • Geographical Spread: Respondents from 5 continents, with 43% from Asia and 41% from North America.


2025 UX Tools trends 

Insights to Improve UX Tools 

  • Balance AI integration - Ensure that tools prioritize human interaction and thought process over AI integration.

  • Collaboration and feedback mechanisms - Integrate real-time feedback mechanisms to foster team productivity and alignment.

  • Advanced prototyping and testing - Equip tools with advanced prototyping capabilities and built-in user testing features.

  • Accessibility and inclusivity - Embed accessibility checkers and inclusive design libraries within tools.

  • Unified design systems - Maintain centralized design systems that evolve with the latest design patterns and components.

  • Version control and content management - Improve version control features and content management within UX tools.

  • Pricing and security - Consider reducing pricing plans for UX tools and ensure that UX/UI tools are cyber-proof and secure.


Future trends in UX Design 

Future trends in UX Design 2025

The UX Tools Survey 2024 by UXness reveals the top three trends shaping user experience design:
  • AI and Machine Learning (71%) - Transforming UX with personalized experiences, predictive insights, and automation.
  • Accessibility and Inclusive Design (55%) - Prioritizing equitable and human-centered solutions for all users.
  • Voice User Interfaces (46%) - Expanding adoption of voice-enabled devices and conversational interactions.

Download Free UX Tools Survey 2024 Results

GenAI tools

GenAI tools tools

The UX Tools Survey 2024 also captured preferences for generative AI platforms:
  • ChatGPT (77%): The most widely used platform for AI-driven text generation.
  • Adobe Firefly (27%): Popular for creative content generation.
  • Google Bard (23%): Gaining traction for its conversational AI capabilities.
  • MidJourney (17%): Favored for generating visual assets.
  • Framer AI (13%): Used for design automation and prototyping.
Satisfaction Levels:
  • Average satisfaction score: 3.6 (on a 5-point scale).
  • Standard deviation: 0.98.
  • 45% of respondents rated their satisfaction as 4 or 5, indicating general contentment with these tools.

Wireframing & Prototyping

Wireframing & Prototyping tools

The 2024 survey shows the following preferences for wireframing and prototyping tools:
  • Figma (72%): The dominant choice for the fourth consecutive year.
  • Adobe XD (32%): Another top pick, maintaining its strong position.
  • Sketch (16%): Continues to attract a niche but loyal user base.
  • Axure RP (15%): Favored for advanced prototyping capabilities.
  • Balsamiq (12%): Valued for simplicity and quick mockups.

UI Design

UI Design tools

The 2024 survey reveals the following preferences for UI design tools:
  • Figma (64%): Continues to dominate as the top choice for the fourth consecutive year.
  • Adobe Photoshop (31%): A strong contender, especially for detailed visual design.
  • Adobe Illustrator (27%): Popular for vector-based design work.
  • Adobe XD (25%): Maintains a significant user base for UI/UX design.
  • Framer (16%): Gaining traction for interactive design and prototyping.


Digital Whiteboarding

Digital Whiteboarding tools

The 2024 survey highlights the following preferences for digital whiteboarding tools:
  • FigJam (54%): The top choice, leading in collaborative brainstorming and ideation.
  • Miro (45%): A close contender, valued for its versatility and integrations.
  • LucidChart (21%): Favored for diagramming and structured workflows.
  • Mural (20%): Popular for team collaboration in remote settings.
  • Jamboard (11%): A niche choice for lightweight whiteboarding needs.

Design Handoff

Design Handoff tools

The 2024 survey reveals the following preferences for design handoff tools:
  • Figma (61%): The most preferred tool for design-to-development collaboration.
  • Jira (24%): Widely used for integrating design workflows with agile project management.
  • Zeplin (17%): Favored for detailed design specifications.
  • Invision Inspect (12%): A niche choice for design inspection.
  • Marvel and Sketch Measure (9.5%): Used by a smaller segment for handoff processes.

User Research

User Research tools

The 2024 survey reveals the following preferences for user research tools:
  • Google Forms (58%): The most popular choice for collecting user feedback.
  • User Interviews (46%): A top method for conducting qualitative research.
  • UserTesting (32%): Popular for usability testing and video-based feedback.
  • Survey Monkey (25%): Favored for structured survey creation.
  • Typeform (21%): Valued for its user-friendly and interactive survey design.


Behavior Analytics

Behavior Analytics tools

The 2024 survey reveals the following preferences for behavior analytics tools:
  • Google Analytics (50%): The leading choice for tracking and analyzing user behavior.
  • Hotjar (20%): Popular for heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback.
  • Visual Website Optimizer (14%): Favored for A/B testing and conversion optimization.
  • FullStory (13%): Used for session replay and detailed behavioral insights.
  • MixPanel (9%): Valued for event tracking and funnel analysis.

Virtual Collaboration

Virtual Collaboration tools

The 2024 survey reveals the following preferences for virtual collaboration tools:
  • Zoom (60%): The most widely used platform for online meetings and collaboration.
  • Google Meet (56%): A close contender, valued for its seamless integration with Google Workspace.
  • Microsoft Teams (53%): Popular for team communication and integration with Microsoft Office tools.
  • Slack (39%): Favored for its flexibility in team messaging and integrations.
  • Skype (27%): A niche choice for video conferencing and calls.

Top Choice UX TOOLS 2024 Toolkit

UX Tools Toolkit 2024


Conclusion

As we look ahead to 2025, the UX landscape promises to be shaped by transformative trends such as AI, inclusivity, and immersive experiences. These findings pave the way for new opportunities to innovate and refine the tools we use daily. Stay tuned for the 5th UX Tools Market Insights 2025 by UXness, where we continue to track the pulse of the UX industry and provide deeper insights into its ever-evolving ecosystem.

Thank you for exploring the UX Tools Survey report (2024). Please share your feedback, comments, suggestions, questions with us at team@uxness.in


Download Free UX Tools Survey 2024 Results


Thank you for exploring the UX Tools Survey report (2024). If you find value in the Annual UX Tools Insights 2024-25, support UXness on Buy Me a Coffee to help us continue bringing impactful UX research and insights! 

Buy Me A Coffee logo



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Best UX tools for UX Researchers

UX research best tools

Updated on 5 Feb 2025  

Life of a UX researcher can be very challenging as UX research is a team sport. As a UX researcher, you need to have a great level of communication, engagement, multi tasking and work management skills. A typical day of a UX researcher can be very uncertain and have lots more surprises such as changes in the priority, pivoting the plans, cross functional team stakeholders engagements, planning the studies, running, analysis, reporting, readout, retrospection and sometimes helping the fellow research folks, a lot in a single day. Thanks to some amazing and helpful tools which can help make your life easier and systematic. 


UX Tools Market Insights by UXness - User research 

Top UX Research Tools as per 2024 report

The 2024 survey reveals the following preferences for user research tools:

  • Google Forms (58%): The most popular choice for collecting user feedback.
  • User Interviews (46%): A top method for conducting qualitative research.
  • UserTesting (32%): Popular for usability testing and video-based feedback.
  • Survey Monkey (25%): Favored for structured survey creation.
  • Typeform (21%): Valued for its user-friendly and interactive survey design.




User Research tools

UserZoom (now UserTesting)

UserZoom


Check UserZoom> 



MeasuringU MUIQ 

MUIQ

Check MUIQ> 




Maze 

Maze Usability Testing Tool


Check Maze > 



UXArmy

UXArmy UX Tool


UXArmy is the go-to platform for teams to validate product ideas, innovate faster, and align with customer needs. With expert-level testing tools across websites, mobile apps, and prototypes, it enables you to gather quality insights seamlessly. Whether through unmoderated usability tests, user interviews, focus groups, surveys, card sorting or tree testing Tailored for product, marketing, and research teams, UXArmy gives your team the ability to test, analyze, and make collaborative, evidence-driven decisions—without the complex setup.

Check UXArmy >



Other tools: UXTesting, Zoom, SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Dscout, OptimalWorkshop  



Session schedule management

Managing the participants schedules & sessions can be a challenging task when you are involved in multiple studies or targeting multiple personas. Below tools can be helpful to make these tasks easier:


Calendly

Calendly UX Research tool

Check Calendly> 


More: Airtable 

3 Months free Interaction Design Foundation



Recruitment management 

UserInterviews 

UserInterviews

Check UserInterviews>


More: Respondent.io



DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Top UX Courses at Udemy


Data analysis 

Miro

Miro app

Check Miro>




Dovetail 

Dovetail


More:, Reframer, Reduct.video


Top UX Bootcamps by Interaction Design Foundation - $200 OFF


Agile & development sync

Jira

Jira app

Check Jira>

10 Heuristic Principles – Jakob Nielsen’s (Usability Heuristics)

Heuristic principles

Updated: 10 Jan 2025

What are Nielsen's heuristic principles?

Heuristic Evaluation is a usability inspection method for computer software that helps to identify usability problems in the user interface (UI) design. It specifically involves evaluators examining the interface and judging its compliance with recognized usability principles (the "heuristics").

Jakob Nielsen's heuristics are probably the most-used usability heuristics for user interface design. Nielsen developed the heuristics based on work together with Rolf Molich in 1990. The final set of heuristics that are still used today were released by Nielsen in 1994. Also known as Usability Heuristics, Nielsen heuristics. 


Why are Heuristic Principles Important?

Heuristic principles are important because they provide a quick and effective way to identify and fix usability issues early in the design process, saving time and resources. They ensure consistency, reducing cognitive load and helping users navigate systems more efficiently. Additionally, they focus on user needs, enhancing satisfaction and engagement, which are critical for the success of any product.

In summary, heuristic principles are foundational tools that enhance usability, consistency, and user satisfaction, making them indispensable in the field of user experience design.

What are the 10 usability heuristics for user interface design?

  1. Visibility of System Status: Keep users informed about system status with timely feedback.
  2. Match Between System and the Real World: Use familiar language and concepts for users.
  3. User Control and Freedom: Provide options to undo actions and exit states easily.
  4. Consistency and Standards: Maintain uniformity and follow platform conventions.
  5. Error Prevention: Design to prevent errors before they occur.
  6. Recognition Rather Than Recall: Make information and actions visible to minimize memory load.
  7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use: Cater to both novice and expert users with adaptable interfaces.
  8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design: Avoid irrelevant information to keep the interface clean.
  9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors: Offer clear error messages and solutions.
  10. Help and Documentation: Provide easy-to-find, task-focused help and documentation.  

Let's deep dive and learn the Heuristics Principles in detail.

Interaction Design Foundation 25% OFF


1. Visibility of system status

The system should always keep users informed about current state and actions through appropriate visual cues and feedback within reasonable time. 

Visibility of system status heuristic principle


Gmail loading a user’s mailbox. Tells the user to wait & Indicates the status of what’s going on.


Visibility of system status heuristic principle


Proper presentation of available seats and booked seats with price and other details.
   

3 Months free Interaction Design Foundation



2. Match between system and the real world

The system should speak the users' language, with words, phrases and concepts familiar to the user, rather than system-oriented terms. Follow real-world conventions, making information appear in a natural and logical order.

Match between system and the real world

iBooks iPad application using the metaphor of wooden book shelf.


Match between system and the real world
Using real life metaphor in computer application.



Top UX Courses at Udemy



3. User control and freedom

Users often choose system functions by mistake and will need a clearly marked "emergency exit" to leave the unwanted state without having to go through an extended dialogue. Support undo and redo.

User control and freedom, heuristics principles

Mozilla suggesting some security tips and handling exception.

User control and freedom, heuristics principles

History in Photoshop helps user in recovering previous steps.




4. Error prevention

Even better than good error messages is a careful design which prevents a problem from occurring in the first place. Either eliminate error-prone conditions or check for them and present users with a confirmation option before they commit to the action.

Error prevention, heuristic principles

 

5. Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors

Error messages should be expressed in plain language (no codes), precisely indicate the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.

Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors

 

3 Months free Interaction Design Foundation



6. Consistency and standards

Users should not have to wonder whether different words, situations, or actions mean the same thing. Follow platform conventions.

Consistency and standards, heuristics principles


Consistency and standards, heuristics principles



 

7. Recognition rather than recall

Minimize the user's memory load by making objects, actions, and options visible. The user should not have to remember information from one part of the dialogue to another. Instructions for use of the system should be visible or easily retrievable whenever appropriate.

Recognition rather than recall




8. Flexibility and efficiency of use

Accelerators --unseen by the novice user --may often speed up the interaction for the expert user such that the system can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users. Allow users to tailor frequent actions.

Flexibility and efficiency of use



Auto-fills

Flexibility and efficiency of use

 

9. Aesthetic and minimalist design

Dialogues should not contain information which is irrelevant or rarely needed. Every extra unit of information in a dialogue competes with the relevant units of information and diminishes their relative visibility.

Aesthetic and minimalist design



10. Help and Documentation

Even though it is better if the system can be used without documentation, it may be necessary to provide help and documentation. Any such information should be easy to search, focused on the user's task, list concrete steps to be carried out, and not be too large.


Help and Documentation


Contextual help is the best way to help !
Also, telling users about the consequences of their actions is also very helpful.




Popular Posts