Lyssna

Lyssna is a remote research platform for teams that need to gather feedback across interviews, usability studies, and surveys. It best suits marketers, designers, researchers, and product leaders who want several study methods and participant recruitment in one service. Its breadth is compelling, but the free plan’s 15-response cap makes it a starting point rather than a sustained research setup.

Overview

Lyssna supports moderated and unmoderated research, with options for teams to recruit their own participants or draw on an on-demand panel of more than 690,000 people. More than 395 demographic filters help target panelists, which is useful when a study needs a particular audience rather than whoever is readily available.

The platform’s roots go back to fivesecondtest.com, created by Mateja in 2008. UsabilityHub later adopted the Lyssna name in 2023. The company says its purpose is to put people at the center of solutions and improve experiences.

Key features

Study methods

Teams can run card sorting, tree testing, first-click and five-second tests, preference and prototype tests, live website studies, surveys, and user interviews. That variety supports both focused usability checks and broader conversations, rather than steering every research question toward a single format. Mobile testing is in beta, so it should not be treated as a settled capability for teams that depend on mobile studies.

Analysis and collaboration

Lyssna offers AI-generated and manual summaries, filters for demographics and responses, comments, CSV exports, and share links. This combination supports quick synthesis inside the platform as well as exporting data for further work. Integrations include Figma, Google Calendar, Google Meet, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.

Trust and support

Lyssna’s Trust Center lists SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance. Free includes live chat support; Enterprise adds priority support and security audit assistance. The panel and targeting options are a practical strength for teams that need recruited participants, while self-recruitment remains available for studies using an existing audience.

Pricing

Lyssna uses a freemium model. The Free plan costs nothing, requires no credit card, and includes unlimited quick studies, 3 seats, and access to view up to 15 self-recruited test and survey responses. Live chat is included. It suits evaluation and occasional small studies, but the response ceiling is restrictive for recurring work.

Growth costs $166 a month, billed annually. It includes unlimited quick studies, 5 in-depth studies per month, 5 seats, and unlimited self-recruited test and survey responses. This is the more practical tier for a small team conducting regular research; the annual billing term and monthly quota for in-depth studies are important constraints.

Enterprise has custom pricing and includes unlimited quick studies, custom in-depth studies, unlimited seats, priority support, SSO, and a SOC2 report. It is the fit for organizations needing broader access and enterprise support, though the fixed monthly cost cannot be compared without a quote.

Platforms

Lyssna is available on Android, iOS, and the web. It supports mobile app research, though its mobile testing feature is identified as beta.

Who it's for

Lyssna is a strong option for product and design teams, marketers, and researchers who need a mix of testing methods, participant recruitment, and tools to summarize and share findings. Free works for a small trial or occasional checks. Teams running research routinely are better served by Growth, provided five in-depth studies per month and five seats are sufficient. Organizations that need unlimited seats or enterprise support should consider Enterprise.

Pros and cons

• Broad method coverage: card sorting, interviews, surveys, and several usability tests can support different research questions in one platform.
• Recruitment flexibility: a panel of more than 690,000 people with more than 395 demographic filters complements self-recruited studies.
• Useful analysis options: AI and manual summaries, response filters, comments, CSV exports, and share links accommodate both in-platform review and export.
• Free is sharply capped: three seats are useful for a small group, but viewing only 15 self-recruited responses limits continued use.
• Growth has defined capacity: five seats and five in-depth studies per month may constrain larger or more research-intensive teams, despite unlimited self-recruited responses.
• Mobile testing remains beta: teams relying on mobile testing should account for its beta status.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse UX Research Software or Usability Testing Software.

Maze is another freemium option with a free trial and Android, iOS, web, and API platforms; consider it if you want to compare its trial-based offering, though its free tier has limited features after the trial.

UXArmy may suit a solo researcher seeking a lower-cost paid entry: its Starter plan is $29 a month, while its free plan has one full seat, 15 monthly credits, no recordings, and no participant panel.

Trymata offers a PayGO plan with no subscription requirement, any number of studies, purchased test credits as needed, and results stored for up to six months; it is worth considering when that pay-as-needed model fits better.

Dscout is a paid alternative with customized subscriptions, flexible seats, unlimited concurrent studies, and Slack, Miro, and Figma integrations.

UXtweak has a free plan with all research tools subject to limitations, one active study at a time, 15 responses per month, and 14 days of results access; choose it when those limits meet your needs.

QuestionPunk offers a free Basic plan with 20 responses per month, AI interviews and follow-ups, templates, report export, and community support.

Userfeel offers a free plan with three monthly credits, one admin, bring-your-own-tester support, demographic filters, and screener questions.

HeyMarvin is another freemium option.

Verdict

Choose Lyssna if your team wants varied remote study formats, access to a sizable participant panel, and practical tools for turning responses into shareable findings. Its free tier is a low-friction way to begin, but the 15-response limit makes Growth the sensible choice for regular self-recruited research. Look elsewhere if your team needs more than five in-depth studies monthly, more than five seats at a predictable price, or dependable mobile testing today.