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UX audit: what it is, how it's done and when you need one

Users abandon their cart, don't finish signing up, leave negative reviews or simply don't come back. The causes are often invisible to those who work on the product every day. That's exactly what a UX audit is for: looking at a website, app or software product with expert eyes and structured methods to find the user experience issues holding back business results.

What is a UX audit?

A UX audit is a systematic analysis of a digital product that assesses usability, accessibility, interface consistency and how well its flows lead users to their goals. The outcome isn't a list of opinions but a report with documented issues, severity levels and recommendations ranked by impact and effort.

Example UX review of a web interface

When do you need a UX audit?

How a UX audit is done: the phases

1. Goals and context

It starts with business goals and target users. An effective audit doesn't weigh everything equally: it focuses on the flows that matter most, such as onboarding, search, checkout or contact requests.

2. Heuristic evaluation

UX experts assess the interface against established principles such as Nielsen's 10 heuristics: visibility of system status, consistency, error prevention, recognition rather than recall and so on. Each issue is documented with screenshots and rated by severity.

3. Data analysis

Analytics, conversion funnels, heatmaps and session recordings show where users really get stuck. Combining quantitative data with expert review separates real problems from theoretical ones.

Analysing the UX flows of a web app

4. Accessibility and benchmarking

Contrast, text size, keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility are checked against the WCAG guidelines. A competitor benchmark shows which patterns users already expect.

5. Report and roadmap

The final deliverable is a document with issues, evidence and recommendations, organised in an impact/effort matrix. The team immediately knows which quick wins to tackle and what to plan for the medium term.

Web app interface redesigned after a UX audit

UX audit vs usability testing: what's the difference?

An audit relies on expert analysis and existing data and is quick and cost-effective; usability testing observes real users using the product and reveals issues no expert could predict. The two methods complement each other: the audit often identifies critical areas and testing explores them in depth.

Read also: expert review vs usability testing

UX audit: frequently asked questions

How long does a UX audit take?

From 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the size of the product, the number of flows analysed and whether benchmarks and user tests are included.

What do you need to get started?

Access to the product and analytics tools, plus an initial session with the team to share goals, metrics and known issues.

How often should it be repeated?

For products that evolve continuously, once a year or before any major change is a good rule of thumb.

Conclusion

A UX audit turns vague feelings ("the app isn't working as it should") into concrete issues and clear priorities. It's often the investment with the fastest return for a digital product that's already on the market. GlueGlue's UX team carries out audits and benchmarks for apps, platforms and digital services for companies of every size.

Let's talk about your project: get in touch with the GlueGlue team

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to your questions

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Why choose glueglue?

We are a digital product agency with over 10 years of experience and advanced expertise in design and development. We have refined an agile and effective method, suitable for both startups and large enterprises, ensuring execution speed and consistent quality. We position ourselves in the upper‑mid range of the market, offering excellent value for money. Every project is overseen directly by the founding partners to ensure outstanding results. We are among the top User Experience and digital product agencies on Clutch, the leading global database for digital consulting.

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How does glueglue work and what are your areas of expertise?

We start with an in‑depth needs analysis, considering product and business objectives in the medium to long term. We often begin with visual identity: we assess positioning, analyze competitors, and identify opportunities to improve brand and image. We then move to UX/UI: we conduct a professional UX Review to identify areas for intervention and improve the usability of the site or app. We design the User Journey Map, mapping all touchpoints to understand real use cases and where to create tangible value. We create wireframes and share an interactive prototype that defines the functionality, structure, and interactions of each page. Once the wireframes are consolidated, we refine the interface design in detail to ensure a pleasant and consistent experience. Finally, our developers implement the product with modern technologies such as React, Flutter, Symfony, Svelte, Node.js, and more, ensuring quality, stability, and pixel‑perfect results.

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Do you use artificial intelligence?

Yes, on two fronts. Inside our own method, where it helps designers explore and compare several directions in hours instead of days, and helps engineers accelerate repetitive phases and raise quality with broader review and testing.
And inside the products we build for our clients: document and file analysis, predictive models, understanding of unstructured text, semantic search, assistants and automations.
For us it is a multiplier, not a shortcut: people stay in the loop and every AI feature has a success metric defined before it is written. Read how we use AI.

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What sets glueglue apart from other top design or product agencies?

We work on a limited number of projects to maintain constant focus and achieve excellent results. We manage each project with clear deadlines and regular meetings, building tailor‑made, truly customized solutions. With over 10 years of experience in digital, we apply a proven method that maximizes results in strategy, design, and development.

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Can you handle web design?

Yes. We work on iOS/Android apps, web apps, and complex platforms. A dedicated team also creates marketing websites, sites designed to effectively promote products or services.

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Do you also do branding or should I look for another agency?

We are a full‑service agency and offer branding services such as naming and logo design. We produce complete brand guidelines and work both on existing guidelines and in collaboration with other branding agencies.

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How much does it cost to entrust you with a digital project?

We believe in transparency: talking openly about budget helps create value for both sides. Every client has different needs, which is why we don’t use a fixed price list. Instead, we take the time to understand the context and propose a tailored approach with a fair, appropriate investment. Our UX/UI design projects start at €15,000, while branding engagements begin at €8,000. Mobile app development typically requires an investment starting from €40,000, web apps from €30,000, and websites from €15,000. Our average hourly rate for consulting is €70/hour.

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Do you also work with early‑stage startups, therefore with limited resources?

Absolutely yes: we love startups and often collaborate with talented entrepreneurs. We have invested in multiple ventures, favoring work for equity, contributing to funding rounds totaling over €30 million.

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