11 best tree testing tools

Imagine walking into a department store where everything looks perfectly organized, but for some reason, you just can't find what you're looking for. Frustrating, right? The enthusiasm you had drains with every wrong turn and dead end.

That's what happens when your website or app has a confusing structure – even if the design itself is beautiful. 

Tree testing can help you solve this problem before your users even know it exists. It lets you see how real people navigate your site’s structure, giving you the feedback you need to build a structure that‌ works for your audience.  

It’s like testing the blueprint before you build the house.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the best tree testing tools available, comparing their features and prices, and helping you make the best choice for your business.

What is tree testing?

Tree testing is a UX research technique that helps you evaluate how easily users can navigate a website or app’s structure. 

Unlike usability testing that focuses on visual design and interactions, tree testing strips away the interface and presents users with a simple text-based hierarchy. Participants are given tasks – such as finding a specific product or piece of information – and their navigation paths are recorded.

By analyzing success rates, directness, and time taken, you can pinpoint where users get lost and how to optimize your site’s structure. This helps make sure your content is organized in a way that makes sense to your audience before you commit to a full design.

How tree testing tools benefit UX design

Tree testing tools provide clear, data-backed information about how users interact with your site’s structure. By identifying navigation pain points early, you can prevent usability disasters before they frustrate real users, just like you would with marketing testing to ensure your campaigns land with the right audience.

So, let's say you’re designing your Shopify site. You decide to place “Wireless Headphones” under “Accessories” instead of “Audio.” You might think it’s logical, but if your users head straight for “Audio” and get lost, tree testing will flag the issue – before your site goes live and potential sales are lost. 

Key benefits include:

• Improved findability: Helps refine categories and menu structures so users can locate information effortlessly.

• Data-driven decision-making: Replaces guesswork with actual user behavior, ensuring site structures align with expectations.

• Faster iteration: Uncovers structural flaws before design and development, saving time and resources.

• Better user satisfaction: A well-structured site reduces frustration, leading to a smoother, more intuitive user experience.

For UX researchers and designers, tree testing is a low-cost, high-impact way to prevent navigation nightmares before they reach your users.

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11 best tree testing tools at a glance

1. Lyssna

Lyssna is the top choice for teams looking to balance ease of use, rapid participant recruitment, and affordability. It stands out with its comprehensive research features and high-quality panel, making it ideal for UX researchers aiming to gather feedback quickly and efficiently. 

Key features 

• Intuitive setup: Easily create tree tests using Lyssna's user-friendly interface. Build your site's hierarchy from scratch or import existing structures via CSV for quick validation of your information architecture.

• Follow-up questions: After users complete a task, gather deeper thoughts by asking them follow-up questions. This helps you understand the reasoning behind their navigation choices, allowing you to address any usability hurdles effectively. ​

• On-demand participant recruitment: Access Lyssna's diverse panel of over 690,000 participants, filtered by attributes like age, gender, and income. Most orders placed with the panel are completed in under 30 minutes. You can also recruit participants from your own network at no extra cost.

Where Lyssna shines

• Simple UI: Designed with simplicity in mind, Lyssna’s user interface allows even first-time users to quickly set up tree tests (and other studies) with minimal training. You can also get started with a tree testing template or import your tree testing data as a CSV.

• Recordings: Record audio, screen, and video recordings on unmoderated tree tests, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of your users' experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

• Simple reporting: Lyssna automatically provides you with a summary of your tree testing results, including the overall success, time taken, and directness to assess findability.

• Participant recruitment panel: Lyssna’s standout feature is its research panel. With over 395 demographic and psychographic filters, you can quickly and affordably recruit participants who match your study’s exact specifications. Most orders placed with the panel are completed in under 30 minutes. You can also recruit participants from your own network at no extra cost.

• Affordable plans: Compared to many competitors, Lyssna offers exceptional value. Recruitment costs are only $1 per minute, which is significantly below industry averages, and all plans come with unlimited tree tests (in addition to surveys, card sorting, usability testing, and interviews).

• Support and resources: Lyssna boasts excellent customer support and educational resources, including webinars, guides, and detailed tutorials to make sure users can make the most of the platform.

Looking for tree testing resources? Check out our tree testing examples and how-to video.

Where Lyssna falls short

• Limitations on the free plan: While you can have unlimited tests, each test on the free plan currently has a two-minute limit. This is fine for short tree tests, but for longer tests you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Plans and pricing

What users say about Lyssna

G2 rating: 4.5/5 

“I've been doing CRO for over 15 years and have relied on Lyssna (formerly UsabilityHub) to back up my recommendations and get client buy-in on test ideas. I appreciate that the feedback is super quick and affordable. And I like the variery of tests/polls I can run.” - Theresa H., via G2

“I really wish it would allow us to create slightly longer tests with the free / guest plan, but I'm aware that it's asking for a lot.” - Chris C., via G2

Who is Lyssna best for?

Lyssna is best for teams and researchers who need to conduct tree testing quickly and affordably without sacrificing quality. It's ideal for UX professionals, information architects, and product teams who value both efficiency and reliable results, as it includes built-in participant recruitment to eliminate the hassle of finding participants.

2. Maze 

Maze is a solid option for design-driven teams that need seamless integration with platforms like Figma and Sketch. However, the recruitment costs make it more suitable for mid-sized to large teams with more flexible budgets, and tree testing is only available on the enterprise-level plan.

Key features​

• Terminology and grouping assessment: Evaluate labels and content groupings to enhance feature discoverability and reduce user frustration. ​

• Follow-up question integration: Provides the capability to gather deeper insights by asking users additional questions after tasks.

• Data-driven reporting: Generates instant, digestible reports from user responses.

Where Maze shines

• Easy test setup: Maze’s straightforward interface enables hassle-free tree tests, surveys, and usability tests.

• Versatile testing methods: In addition to tree testing, Maze offers card sorting, interviews, and usability testing. 

• Integrations: Its integration with design platforms like Figma and Sketch makes it easier for designers to quickly test ideas and prototypes without exporting files or data manually.

Where Maze falls short

• Tree testing is only available on the enterprise plan: Tree testing is only available on Maze’s Organization plan, making it out of reach for individuals and smaller teams.

• Limited report customization: Online reviewers have shared that they find it difficult to edit and combine reports, with current options being limiting.

• Participant recruitment costs: While Maze offers recruitment through integrated partners, the cost per participant can be 5x higher than Lyssna’s $1 per minute pricing, which may be a concern for teams working on a tight budget.

Plans and pricing

Maze offers three plans designed to suit different research needs:

What users say about Maze

G2 rating: 4.5/5

“Solid tool with great support, though mobile testing needs improvement” - Julia S., via G2

“Great when it works for lightweight tests and needs thats supported, but has many limitations and bugs” - via G2 user

Who is Maze best for?

Maze is best for design teams who need tree testing within a broader prototype testing workflow, particularly those with larger budgets who value integrations with tools like Figma and Sketch.

See our in depth comparison of Maze Vs UserTesting and our top 8 Maze alternatives.

3. Optimal Workshop

Originally developed as a card sorting tool, Optimal Workshop’s strengths lie in its information architecture research. But it can take time to master, which can discourage users who need results fast. The ‘per user’ pricing structure soon adds up with bigger teams, too.

Key features

• Benchmarking and performance measurement: Use data on task success rates, time taken, and navigation paths to assess your site's performance and track improvements over time.

• Rapid user feedback: Gather feedback from users within hours, helping you organize content based on actual user input rather than assumptions. ​

• Session replays for deeper understanding: Record participants' tree testing sessions to gain a deeper understanding of their thought processes and identify areas where they may have struggled with site structure.

Where Optimal Workshop shines

• Comprehensive toolset: Optimal Workshop provides a suite of research tools, including tree testing, card sorting, and first click testing. 

• Reframer: This tool consolidates note-taking, observations, and interview data into one interface, making it easier to spot patterns and uncover trends.

• Customization: The platform offers various customization options, allowing teams to tailor tasks and tests to their specific needs. Branding can also be applied to testing environments for a more professional presentation, from the Pro Plan upwards.

Where Optimal Workshop falls short

• Steep learning curve: While powerful, Optimal Workshop can be overwhelming for new users due to its more complex interface. Teams may need additional time to get familiar with the platform’s full potential.

• Cost: Pricing for Optimal Workshop’s team plan is based on custom pricing, making it less cost-effective than competitors like Lyssna or UXtweak. For small teams or startups, cost may be a barrier.

Plans and pricing

What users say about Optimal Workshop

G2 rating: 4.5/5

“Optimal Workshop is easy to use for tools like treejack tests and card sorting. The Figma prototype integration is a welcome addition but our requirements made it quite difficult to get it to work in practice.” - Richard S. via G2

“Not all participants who take part in the survey take the survey seriously. A lot of time goes to waste on filtering this out.” - Anand B., via G2

Who is Optimal Workshop best for?

Optimal Workshop is best for research teams who need comprehensive IA testing tools and qualitative analysis capabilities, despite the steeper learning curve and higher costs for larger teams.

4. UXtweak

UXtweak is best suited to small teams or those new to UX research, offering a range of testing methods with flexible pricing. However, its smaller participant panel and limited integrations may make it less suitable for larger (or more complex) projects.

Key features

• Flexible tree creation: You can build your tree structure directly within UXtweak's editor, import them via CSV files, or extract them from live websites using a URL and CSS selector. ​

• Comprehensive task setup: The platform allows you to create specific tasks for respondents, with the ability to assign correct answers within the tree structure. This enables targeted testing of the information architecture.

• Detailed results analysis: UXtweak provides in-depth analysis of tree testing results, offering information about task success rates, directness, and time taken.

Where UXtweak shines

• Easy tree testing setup: Import your tree from a CSV, use the UXtweak tree testing editor, or load your tree from a live website.

• Flexible pricing: UXtweak offers a flexible pricing model, including a free plan with basic features and monthly subscriptions.

• Streamlined recruitment: Recruit participants using UXtweak's built-in panel or by sharing your study link directly. Target specific demographics for more focused and relevant testing.

• User-friendly interface: The platform doesn’t overwhelm users with too many options, making it a solid choice for those who prefer simplicity.

Where UXtweak falls short

• Free plan limitations: The free plan is limited to one user and 30 responses per month.

Plans and pricing

What users say about UXtweak

G2 rating: 4.7/5

“We recruited a bunch of participants for unmoderated usability tests from the user panel and it was a great experience! The responses we’ve got were useful and the recruiting process was very quick. I don’t like that there’s no live interviews feature. We needed those as a part of our research and ended up conducting them via Zoom. Really wish they could be added” - Donah S., via G2

Who is UXtweak best for?

UXtweak is best for small teams and UX research beginners who need an affordable, user-friendly tree testing tool with built-in recruitment.

5. UserTesting

UserTesting’s large participant pool is a key strength, but the pricing and focus on usability testing over tree testing might make it a better fit for larger organizations with bigger budgets.

Key features

• Integration with card sorting: UserTesting supports combining tree testing with card sorting to gain a clearer understanding of how users categorize and navigate content.

• Pre-built tree testing templates: UserTesting offers ready-made templates for structuring studies, helping teams collect feedback on navigation and labeling efficiency without starting from scratch.

Where UserTesting shines

• Accessible interface: UserTesting offers a straightforward interface, designed to be easy to use, even for those new to UX research.

• Large participant pool: The platform provides access to a wide range of test participants, allowing for diverse user feedback.

• Real-time feedback: UserTesting allows for quick insights with real-time user feedback and video recordings, supporting faster analysis.

Where UserTesting falls short

• Premium pricing: While UserTesting offers robust features, it comes at a high cost,  which can be prohibitive for smaller teams or organizations with limited budgets. The lack of transparency on pricing is a drawback, too. 

• Panel quality concerns: Some reviewers have mentioned the presence of ‘professional testers’ trying to make money rather than provide genuine feedback. 

Plans and pricing

Pricing is only available from the UserTesting sales team.

See our in depth comparisons of Userlytics vs UserTesting, UserTesting vs UserZoom, and our top 8 UserTesting alternatives.

6. Loop11

Loop11 is a usability testing platform that lets teams conduct both moderated and unmoderated tests across various devices, including mobile, desktop, and tablet.

Key features 

• Information architecture (IA) testing: Loop11 helps evaluate your website or app's hierarchical structure by allowing users to navigate through a textual outline. This process helps assess the findability and organization of information without the influence of visual design elements. 

• Comprehensive quantitative metrics: Loop11 provides sophisticated reporting on metrics such as time on task, clickstream analysis, heatmaps, System Usability Scale (SUS), and Net Promoter Score (NPS), offering deeper insights into user behavior.

Where Loop11 shines

• Device versatility: The platform supports usability testing across multiple devices, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of user experiences on mobile, desktop, and tablet interfaces. ​

• AI-powered project creation: The platform's AI project creator simplifies test setup by generating detailed tasks and activities within seconds, streamlining the research process.

Where Loop11 Falls Short

• Learning curve: Some users have reported that Loop11 requires time and practice to become proficient, which might be a consideration for teams seeking immediate usability. ​

• Limited accessibility testing: There is a noted lack of accessibility analysis and responsiveness testing for web applications, which could be a drawback for teams prioritizing inclusive design. ​

Plans and pricing

What users say about Loop11

G2 rating: 3.6/5

“It's so easy to use and get started with to get a website testing initiative of the ground. I love how there are both unmoderated and moderated options.” Verified user, via G2

“The accessibility analysis and responsiveness testing for web applications needs to benefit from some improvements. The pricing plans provided are not reasonable. It require some effort to get used to with time and practice the platform becomes more hectic.” - Judith E., via G2

Who is Loop11 best for?

Loop11 is best for mid-sized UX teams who need comprehensive quantitative metrics for tree testing across multiple devices, particularly those who value AI-assisted setup and don't mind investing time to overcome the initial learning curve.

7. UserZoom

Part of UserTesting, UserZoom is a comprehensive UX research platform that offers a wide array of tools to evaluate and enhance user experiences. It caters to both quantitative and qualitative research needs, making it suitable for in-depth analysis of user interactions.​

Key features

• Classic and compact tree types: The platform offers two tree structures – classic and compact. The classic type allows participants to navigate directly between first-level items, while the compact type restricts navigation to subcategories of a selected main item, with an option to return to the main categories.

• Success item definition: You can define specific success nodes within the tree, enabling you to measure task effectiveness and user navigation efficiency.

Where UserZoom shines

• Extensive testing methods: UserZoom supports a broad spectrum of research methodologies beyond tree testing, including usability testing, card sorting, and surveys, providing a versatile toolkit for UX professionals.

• Robust data tracking and reporting: The platform offers detailed data tracking and reporting capabilities, facilitating in-depth analysis of user behavior and test outcomes.

• Participant recruitment: UserZoom simplifies the process of recruiting participants for studies, streamlining the setup and execution of research projects.

Where UserZoom falls short

• Cost considerations: UserZoom's pricing structure may be prohibitive for smaller teams or startups, limiting accessibility for some users.

• Customer support: Some users have reported that customer support can be slow, affecting the resolution of issues.

Plans and pricing

UserZoom doesn’t provide pricing information.

What users say about UserZoom

UserZoom has no ratings on G2 but has 4.4/5 on Capterra.

“Really good for usertesting, recruiting participants and exporting the data into an easy to analyse format. We found it expensive vs other options in the market. Although it has survey capabilities, they charge extra for this. User interface fairly vanilla compared to others we tried (not an essential criteria!)” - Alex, via Capterra

Who is UserZoom best for?

UserZoom is best for enterprise-level UX teams seeking a comprehensive research platform that includes tree testing alongside other methodologies, with robust data reporting capabilities.

8. Helio

With an integrated panel of over one million participants, Helio facilitates rapid feedback collection to inform design decisions. 

Key features 

• Tree testing and card sorting: Helio offers both tree testing and card sorting capabilities, allowing teams to understand how users categorize information. 

• Realtime reporting and advanced filtering: Take the information you’ve received from testing and categorize it based on different features.

Where Helio shines

• Intuitive interface: Users have praised Helio's user-friendly design, making it accessible for teams without extensive technical expertise. ​

• Rapid feedback: Helio’s large participant pool enables teams to gather user feedback quickly, helping them refine navigation and iterate on designs without slowing down development.

• Comprehensive reporting: The platform provides robust reporting tools, allowing you to filter and analyze participant responses effectively.

Where Helio falls short

• Limited customization: Some users have noted challenges in tailoring certain features to specific brand requirements. ​

• Feature limitations: Reviews mention missing item types, such as rank order, which could restrict certain research methodologies. ​

• Participant quality: Concerns have been raised regarding the quality of responses from the participant panel, suggesting a need for more stringent vetting processes.

Plans and pricing

What users say about Helio

G2 rating: 4.1

“It is a great tool that is really missing some item types. Specifically rank order is missing. The other piece is that it is hard to customize to your own brand.” - Daniel E., via G2

Who is Helio best for?

Helio is best for design teams who need rapid user feedback with minimal setup time, particularly agencies and businesses requiring quick tree testing insights from a large participant pool.

9. Useberry

With a focus on prototype testing and rapid feedback, Useberry helps teams refine navigation, content structures, and user flows before committing to development.

Key features 

• Tree testing: Useberry's tree testing tool helps teams evaluate how easily users can find information in a website or app’s structure. By stripping away the UI, it highlights navigation pain points and areas for improvement.

• Remote usability testing tools: Run five second tests, first click tests, and single task tests, and access analytics to understand how users navigate through a prototype.

Where Useberry shines

• Simple, intuitive interface: Setting up tests and analyzing results is easy, making Useberry accessible for teams without UX research experience.

• Budget-friendly option: Useberry offers cost-effective pricing, making it a good fit for small to mid-sized teams looking for UX research tools without a big investment.

• Strong prototype testing focus: Designed with early-stage validation in mind, Useberry is great for testing interactive prototypes before committing to design and development.

Where Useberry falls short

• Limited free plan: The free plan caps responses and projects, making it difficult to run large-scale tests without upgrading.

• Fewer integrations: Compared to some competitors, Useberry has limited third-party integrations, which may be a drawback for teams using a diverse toolset.

• Scalability concerns: While great for small teams, larger research initiatives may require a more robust tool with broader capabilities.

Plans and pricing

What users say about Useberry

G2 rating: 4.3/5

“I really like the template library, whether it’s testing basic navigation flows or specific user tasks, the library provides a solid starting point, allowing anyone to modify and customize templates as needed.” Verified user, via G2

“The cheapest option is a bit expensive if you are a small business and it also has a medium learning curve.” - Diego B., via G2

Who is Useberry best for?

Useberry is best for small to mid-sized design teams who need affordable tree testing as part of prototype validation, particularly those who value simplicity and intuitive interfaces over extensive integrations or enterprise-scale research capabilities.

10. Lookback

Lookback is a user research platform designed for teams that want to conduct live interviews, usability tests, and collaborative research all in one place. It’s built for both moderated and unmoderated sessions, making it a flexible option for gathering deep insights into user behavior.

Key features 

• Integration with external tools: To conduct tree testing, you can integrate Lookback with applications that support deep-nesting for building text-based content hierarchies, such as Dropbox Paper, Notion, Google Suite, Keynote, Figma, or Miro. This setup allows you to present participants with a simplified version of your site's structure.

• Live and unmoderated research: Conduct real-time moderated interviews or set up unmoderated tests where participants complete tasks at their own pace.

Where Lookback shines

• Comprehensive session recordings: Lookback captures screen, audio, and video, giving teams a complete picture of how users interact with a product.

• Great for team collaboration: Timestamped notes, highlight reels, and live observation features make it easy for teams to work together on research findings.

• Flexible research options: Supports both moderated and unmoderated testing, allowing you to choose the method that best suits your project.

Where Lookback falls short

• No native tree testing tool: Lacks a built-in tree testing feature, requiring integration with external applications to conduct such tests.

• Potential technical issues: Some users have reported occasional connectivity problems, which can disrupt live sessions.

Plans and pricing

What users say about Lookback

G2 rating: 4.3

“Great for observation by multiple team members” - Taylor J., via G2

“Technical issues arise. Also there is no good categorization for highlighting.” - Antonis R. via G2

Who is Lookback best for?

Lookback is best for research teams who prioritize comprehensive user observation and team collaboration when conducting tree testing, particularly those already using tools like Figma or Notion – though teams needing a dedicated tree testing solution may find the lack of native functionality limiting.

11. Userlytics

Userlytics is a comprehensive UX research platform offering a suite of tools designed to enhance the usability of your digital products.

Key features 

• Detailed metrics and reporting: The platform offers comprehensive analytics, including success rates, first click data, and time taken to complete tasks, helping you identify areas for improvement. ​

• Global appeal: With support for multilingual studies, transcriptions, and reports, Userlytics is a good option for multinational corporations.

Where Userlytics shines

• Integrated participant panel: Access to a global pool of over 2 million testers allows for diverse and targeted user feedback.

• User-friendly interface: The platform's intuitive design simplifies the setup and management of tree testing studies. ​

• Comprehensive support resources: Userlytics provides webinars and templates to guide users in effectively conducting tree testing and other UX research methods.

Where Userlytics falls short

• Complex credit system: Some users have reported that the platform's credit system can be complicated and challenging to navigate.

• Limited advanced features: For organizations seeking more sophisticated functionalities, Userlytics may lack certain advanced features available in other platforms.

Plans and pricing

What users say about Userlytics

G2 rating: 4.4/5

“It's very easy to use and has all of the functionality we need from unmoderated testing to card sorts.” - Vertified User, via G2

“The quality of testers isn't always great, they don't always seem to have passed the requirements or qualifying questions at the beginning of the test” - Catherine Stockdale G., via G2

Who is Userlytics best for?

Userlytics is best for multinational companies conducting tree testing across different markets and languages, particularly those who value an integrated participant panel and user-friendly interface.

How to choose the best tree testing tool for your needs

Choosing the right tree testing tool can feel like a challenge, but it all comes down to understanding what you need. 

• Are you looking for something that’s quick to set up and simple to use? 

• How important is being able to screen participants and recruit from a research panel? 

• Do you need advanced reporting tools? 

• And the price. Of course, the price … What can you get for your budget?

The right tool should fit seamlessly into your process, align with your team’s workflow, and provide the feedback you need to improve your user experience.

Key criteria to look at when choosing a tree testing tool

There are several important criteria to consider when selecting a tree testing tool. Understanding these can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your team’s needs and objectives.

1. Usability and user experience

You want a tool that’s not only easy for you to navigate but is also easy for your participants to use. A clean, intuitive interface makes a huge difference in minimizing frustration and the time spent getting up to speed. Look for tools that offer straightforward setups and templates that guide you through the test creation process. 

2. Task creation and flexibility

A good tree testing tool should allow you to create and customize tasks easily. The flexibility to test various scenarios, tweak task wording, and adjust based on participant feedback ensures that your test aligns with your specific research objectives.

3. Data analysis and reporting

Effective UX research hinges on gathering actionable data. Look for tools that provide usability metrics like success rates, task completion time, and navigation paths to see how easily users find the information they’re looking for. You’ll also want a tool with clear visual reports highlighting where users struggle or take detours. Exporting data into formats like CSV or PDF can help you share these insights with your team and stakeholders.

4. Participant recruitment and panel quality

The success of your tree testing depends heavily on who’s taking the test. Some tools, like Lyssna, offer access to high-quality research panels, allowing you to target specific demographics or psychographics. Making sure you’re recruiting the right participants is crucial, as their ability to navigate your structure mirrors how real users will experience your website. Tools with advanced screening options or fast recruitment times are a definite plus.

5. Cost-effectiveness

Some tools have subscription models, while others charge per participant or per test. Make sure you’re clear on what’s included in the plan, whether it’s the number of tests, user seats, or extra features. Tools like Lyssna offer transparent and affordable pricing, which can be a big advantage for small teams or startups.

6. Support and resources

Even the best tools come with a learning curve. This is where customer support and educational resources are key. Look for tools that offer multiple channels of support, like live chat, email, or even phone support. A rich library of tutorials, templates, webinars, and documentation can also help you get the most out of your tool and troubleshoot any issues.

How to create a tree test in Lyssna: A step-by-step guide

With Lyssna’s user-friendly platform, setting up a tree test is straightforward. Here’s how to create one.

1. Create a new test

• Log in to your Lyssna account (or sign up free), click “Create study,” and select “Test or survey.”

• Name your test to reflect its purpose.

2. Add a tree test section

• Select “Tree test” from the list of test types to add this section to your test.

3. Build your tree structure

• Manually add nodes:

  • Click “Add node” to create the main categories of your site’s navigation.

  • Press Enter to add sibling nodes or tab to create subcategories, mirroring your site’s hierarchy.

• Import from a CSV file:

  • Prepare your site’s structure in a CSV file.

  • Click “Import tree” and upload your CSV to populate the tree automatically.

4. Define tasks for participants

• In the “Task instructions” field, write clear tasks that reflect common user goals, such as “Find information on adopting a pet.”

• Specify the correct node where this information resides to track success rates.

5. Add follow-up questions

• Include questions to gather additional insights, like rating the ease of finding information on a scale from 1 to 5.

6. Preview your test

• Use the “Save and preview” feature to experience the test as your participants will, ensuring clarity and functionality.

7. Recruit your participants

• Choose to recruit participants from Lyssna’s panel or generate a shareable link to distribute the test to your own audience.

8. Analyze the results

• After collecting responses, review metrics such as success rates and common navigation paths to identify areas for improvement.

How to combine tree testing with other usability methods

Tree testing is a powerful way to evaluate your site’s navigation, but it’s even more effective when combined with other usability research methods. Pairing it with card sorting, first click testing, and prototype testing helps you validate designs, refine content structures, and improve findability before launch.

1. Use card sorting to build a logical structure

Before running a tree test, conduct a card sorting study to understand how users naturally group and categorize information. This ensures your navigation aligns with user expectations before testing how well they can navigate it.

Lyssna top tip: If your card sorting results show major inconsistencies, test multiple tree structures to compare performance before finalizing your design.

2. Validate labels with first click testing

Once your tree test identifies where users struggle, use first click testing to see if labels and menu placements make sense. This method helps you confirm whether users instinctively click where you expect them to when starting a task.

Lyssna top tip: Users clicking the wrong labels in first click tests? Reword and retest before making structural changes – sometimes, small tweaks can improve clarity.

3. Test navigation flow with prototype testing

After optimizing your structure with tree testing, prototype testing lets you see how users interact with your actual interface. This helps confirm whether the tested navigation translates well into a functional design.

Lyssna top tip: Use heatmaps and click tracking in prototype tests to compare where users expect to find information versus where they actually go.

4. Iterate based on combined insights

By combining tree testing with these methods, you create a feedback loop that refines your site’s navigation at every stage. Use insights from multiple tests to tweak categories, adjust labels, and improve the overall UX before launch. A more intuitive experience for users awaits!

Which tree testing tool is right for you?

Testing the information architecture of your site can help you improve your website’s navigation and make sure it’s easy for users to find what they’re looking for. With so many tree testing tools on the market, it's important to find one that aligns with your team's needs, budget, and research goals. 

We’ve covered some of the top tree testing tools available, highlighting their strengths and potential limitations to help you make an informed decision.

Lyssna stands out as the best overall choice due to its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, high-quality participant panel, affordability, and excellent support. It’s a tool that not only meets the immediate needs of researchers but also grows with your team, providing value at every step of your journey.

Start building intuitive navigation

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