Product discovery is all about building a product that meets your users' needs. Here, we'll discuss it in-depth and show you how to do it successfully.
Top 10 product discovery tools to use in 2024
Doing product discovery is the best way to create a product that will resonate with your users.
It will help you validate your idea and build a product that fits your market.
And that’s essential if you want it to be successful.
But, you need the right tools for the job if you want to make that happen.
Here, we’ll discuss the top 10 product discovery tools you should use in 2024.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What is product discovery?
Product discovery is the process of researching your market and validating your product idea before developing it.
And the point of product discovery is building a product that meets your users’ needs.
Doing product discovery will help you answer several important questions, like:
- Why is our product valuable to our users?
- Is our product going to get a product-market fit?
- What problem is our product solving?
- Who are we solving this problem for?
Answering these questions will help you validate your idea i.e. show you if your idea is viable or not.
![product discovery](https://decode.agency/wp-content/webp-express/webp-images/uploads/2023/03/product-discovery.jpg.webp)
Learn more about our discovery process →
App development starts with product discovery…
If you don’t validate your idea before committing to full development, you risk building a product that won’t resonate with your users.
And that can cost you a lot of money.
Also, product discovery will help you build a strong foundation for your product’s further development.
And that will speed up your development process and help you get your product to market faster.
Now, let’s discuss 10 top product discovery tools that will help you make that happen.
Top 10 product discovery tools
Contentsquare
Contentsquare is an all-in-one digital experience analysis platform you can use to understand your users’ behavior when they’re using your product.
And understanding your users’ behavior is key to improving your product’s user experience (UX).
source: Contentsquare
Contentsquare offers:
- Digital experience analytics
- Digital experience monitoring
- Product analytics
With Contentsquare, you can analyze your users’ behavior in detail, find out their pain points and identify ways to improve their experience.
Now, let’s take a look at some the important features that make that possible.
Important features
- Zone-based heatmaps
Contentsquare’s zone-based heatmaps show you how users interact with every element on your site or app. They show you which features they use the most and where user friction happens in your product.
- Customer journey analysis
Contentsquare offers visualizations of your users’ progress through your product from start to finish. This will help you pinpoint where and why they drop off and help you improve your product’s UX.
- Session replay
You can replay individual user sessions in your product from beginning to end, and capture everything your users did during the session. This way, you can uncover user pain points and frustrations and identify areas to improve their experience.
- Retention analysis
With Contentsquare, you can analyze all user journeys and identify key events at each step. This will help you understand which features drive user engagement and where you can improve their journey.
Contentsquare pros and cons
Pros
- Data availability
- Comprehensive reports
- Clear presentation
Cons
- Lacking real-time overview
- Complexity
Pricing
Contentsquare has a transparent pricing model based on the monthly number of pageviews on your website or sessions in your mobile app.
In other words, you pay based on the number of users using your product.
You can contact their sales department for more information and a custom quotation.
Figma
Figma is a popular collaborative design tool mainly used for user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design.
source: Think Company
It’s a good choice if you want to design:
- Wireframes
- Prototypes
- Mockups
- Logos
But, Figma’s stand-out feature is real-time collaboration – your entire discovery team can work together on your product’s design.
And that’s why Figma is a good choice.
Important features
- Real-time collaboration
In Figma, multiple users can work on the same file simultaneously – they can view, comment and edit in real-time.
- Version control
Figma automatically saves the version history, so you can track changes and revert to a previous version if you need to.
- Developer Handoff
This feature allows engineers to inspect designs, get CSS and other code snippets and download assets directly from Figma which speeds up the development process.
- Asset library
Teams using Figma can create a library of shared assets like:
- Colors
- Fonts
- Effects
This way, you’ll ensure consistency and speed up the design process.
Figma pros and cons
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Real-time collaboration
- Cross-platform compatibility
Cons
- Performance issues with large files
- Limited offline access
Pricing
Figma has a free Starter plan, limited to 3 Figma or Figjam files without advanced features available in the paid plans.
source: Figma
They also have 3 paid plans:
- Figma Professional – $12 per editor/month, includes unlimited Figma files and version history
- Figma Organization – $45 per editor/month, includes many advanced features that aren’t available in lower tiers
- Figma Enterprise – $75 per editor/month, includes access to all features as well as extra security
Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a suite of productivity and collaboration tools developed by Google and geared towards business users.
And using them during product discovery can help you simplify and optimize your discovery process.
You can see the tools included in the suite in the picture below:
source: TechRepublic
For example, you can use Google Drive as an easily accessible and centralized repository for all of your discovery materials.
Also, your team can collaborate in real-time with tools like Google Docs, Google Slides, or Google Sheets.
Plus, you can use Google Forms to quickly create surveys to gather user feedback on your product.
And that’s why it can be very useful for your discovery efforts.
Important features
- Collaboration and file sharing
Google Workspace’s suite of tools make collaboration during product discovery easy. Your discovery team can collaborate in real time and easily share files and materials – all in one place and in the same format.
- Cloud storage
Google Workspace offers ample cloud storage space for all of the documentation and materials your team creates during discovery. And with the huge amount of storage you get on paid plans, you can easily store everything you need in an easily accessible place.
- Advanced security features
Workspace includes a number of security features like two-factor authentication, secure data storage, and data loss prevention. This will keep your discovery efforts secure and private.
Google Workspace pros and cons
Pros
- Convenience
- Real-time collaboration
- Wide range of tools
Cons
- Internet dependence
- Pricing for higher-tier plans
Pricing
While many of the tools in Google Workspace are available for free to individual users, they’re limited in functionality and aren’t suited for commercial use.
But, they also offer a range of paid plans geared towards different-sized businesses.
source: Google Workspace
Google Workspace has 4 paid plans:
- Business Starter – $6 per user/month, 30 GB of storage per user and a custom business email
- Business Standard – $12 per user/month, 2 TB of storage per user and security and management controls
- Business Plus – $18 per user/month, 5 TB of storage per user with enhanced security and management features
- Enterprise – custom pricing plan, over 5 TB of storage per user and advanced features not available in lower-tier plans
Hotjar
Hotjar is a popular digital analytics tool you can use to understand your users’ behavior when using your product.
source: Hotjar
While it’s most well-known feature are their heatmaps, Hotjar is a platform offering 3 distinct products:
- Observe – heatmaps and recordings
- Ask – feedback collection and surveys
- Engage – user interviews
So, you can use Hotjar not only to understand your users’ behavior but also to get direct feedback from them.
And that’s why it’s a good choice for product discovery.
Important features
- Heatmaps
Hotjar’s heatmaps show you where your users click, move, and scroll through your product. This will show you which features get their attention and where they experience frustration when using your product.
- Recordings
With Hotjar, you can record individual user sessions and watch their journey from start to finish. This will help you find ways to improve your product and identify and fix bugs.
- Funnels
With this feature, you can see where and why users drop off in your funnel. This data will help you optimize your product, fix any issues, and improve your conversion rates.
- Surveys
In Hotjar, you can create surveys to gather feedback from your users, which will help you quickly validate ideas and improve your product’s UX.
Hotjar pros and cons
Pros
- Easy to use
- Strong customer support
- Filtering capabilities
Cons
- Limited analytics depth
- Limited features in cheaper plans
Pricing
Hotjar offers a free Basic plan, with limited functionality, for each of their solutions.
The 3 products (Observe, Ask, Engage) each have their own pricing schemes – but, if you subscribe to Observe, you get access to free Ask and Engage plans.
source: Hotjar
But, all 3 have the same paid plans:
- Plus – starting at €39/month for Observe, €59/month for Ask, and €350/month for Engage
- Business – starting at €99/month for Observe, €79/month for Ask, and €550/ month for Engage
- Scale – starting at €213/month for Observe, €129/month for Ask, and custom pricing for Engage
You can also choose a custom package based on your specific needs.
Jira Product Discovery
Jira Product Discovery is a tool that’s, as the name suggests, designed specifically for teams doing product discovery.
With it, you can easily record ideas, prioritize features, and improve collaboration in your discovery team.
source: Atlassian Community
You can also create roadmaps to get everyone involved on the same page and minimize misunderstandings.
Jira Product Discovery also easily integrates with Jira Software, so you can have a seamless workflow from discovery to delivery.
And that will speed up your product’s development.
Important features
- Integration with other Atlassian tools
Jira Product Discovery easily integrates with other Atlassian tools like Jira Software and Confluence.
- Ideation
With Jira Product Discovery, you can collect ideas in one easily accessible place. You can also use templates to standardize the information captured for every idea.
- Prioritization
One of Jira Product Discovery’s main strengths are its prioritization tools. With it, you can easily coordinate feature prioritization, and it supports a variety of prioritization methods.
- Stakeholder engagement
You can create individualized roadmaps for your stakeholders and they can give feedback by leaving comments, votes, or reactions.
Jira Product Discovery pros and cons
Pros
- Integration with other tools
- Customization
- Improved collaboration
Cons
- Tricky UI
- Complexity
Pricing
Jira Product Discovery has 2 available plans – Free and Standard.
source: Atlassian
With the Free plan, you get access to almost every feature in the Standard plan, but you get only 2 GB of storage and you’re limited to 3 creators.
In the Standard plan, you get 250 GB of storage, an unlimited number of creators, and access to Atlassian’s customer support services.
Maze
Maze is a continuous product discovery platform that connects you with real users who will test your product.
source: Software Advice
With Maze, you can do user testing at scale and get feedback you can iterate on to improve your product and its UX.
They use a variety of user research methods and offer intuitive analytics so you can quickly act on the feedback you receive.
And that’s what product discovery is all about.
Important features
- Tree testing
Here users evaluate if your product is easily navigable and if its features are easy to find using a deconstructed outline. With this method, you can find and fix issues in your user flow.
- A/B testing
With Maze, you can do A/B testing and quickly validate which feature or design you should go with based on user feedback.
- Template library
They have a wide selection of templates you can copy and customize to suit your needs and quickly start collecting feedback.
- AI-powered analysis
Maze uses advanced AI models and algorithms that will help you analyze user feedback and get valuable insights in minutes.
Maze pros and cons
Pros
- Intuitive analytics
- Customizable templates
- Remote testing capabilities
Cons
- Complex reporting
- Limited free features
Pricing
Maze offers a free plan for individuals just getting started with user research.
source: Maze
But, for discovery teams doing more serious research, they offer 3 paid plans:
- Starter – $99/month, with 1 study per month and limited research methods
- Team – $1250/month, with 20 studies per year and access to more research methods and AI-powered analysis
- Organization – custom pricing, for organizations doing user research at scale and with full customer support and security
Miro
Miro is a visual collaboration platform which you can use to hold meetings, run workshops, and brainstorm ideas during product discovery.
source: Miro
Miro starts as a blank canvas, and you can add and connect items and create dependencies between them.
It’s especially useful for creative processes like mind mapping and ideation.
In short, you can use Miro as a tool to organize all of your discovery efforts in one place.
And that’s what makes it so valuable.
Important features
- Infinite canvas
Miro is an infinite canvas, which means you can add as many items as you need in a single, uninterrupted space
- Embedded communication tools
Miro integrates video, chat, and commenting so your team can communicate inside the app without having to rely on other tools.
- Pre-made templates and widgets
They have templates and widgets you can add to better visualize your work inside the app which you can customize to suit your needs.
- Screen sharing and presentations
In Miro, your team members can share their screens and presentations, which will help improve communication and collaboration.
Miro pros and cons
Pros
- Flexibility
- Ease of use
- Collaboration tools
Cons
- Performance issues with large boards
- Limited offline use
Pricing
Miro has a free plan with limited functionality, if you’re just starting out.
source: Miro
They also offer 3 paid plans:
- Starter – $8/month, with unlimited and private boards and all of Miro’s essential features.
- Business – $16/month, with unlimited boards for teams and clients, unlimited guest users and other more advanced features.
- Enterprise – custom pricing plan for larger businesses, with enhanced security features and the most advanced features.
Productboard
Productboard is a product management tool that helps you create and effectively manage product discovery roadmaps.
source: Productboard
Its main strength is that it allows you to create clear roadmaps, which will help you align your team with your discovery goals.
You can also use it to gather user feedback in one place and to help you decide which features you should prioritize.
And that’s what makes it useful for product discovery.
Important features
- Roadmaps
With Productboard, you can create customizable roadmaps you can integrate with other tools like Jira for a fully integrated workflow.
- Feature prioritization
In Productboard, you have a dedicated space for organizing and prioritizing feature ideas, which will help you build features your customers want.
- Product portal
Productboard allows you to create a public-facing product portal, where your users can share feedback and request features.
- Centralized feedback and insights
You can gather all the feedback you receive from various channels in one place and stay on top of your users’ evolving needs.
Productboard pros and cons
Pros
- Versatility
- Interactive roadmaps
- Strategic prioritization
Cons
- Complex interface
- Steep learning curve
Pricing
Unlike most of the other tools we’ve discussed, Productboard doesn’t have a free plan. But, they offer a 15-day free trial so you can see if it’s the right fit.
source: Productboard
Productboard offers 3 paid plans:
- Essentials – $20 per maker/month, with only the essential features
- Pro – $80 per maker/month, with advanced features like the product portal, a user feedback repository, and integration with public APIs
- Enterprise – custom pricing, includes the advanced features in the Pro plan as well as a wide range of enterprise-ready features
Slack
Slack needs no introduction.
As one of the most popular business communication tools, you likely already use it daily.
source: Kipwise
But, Slack can also be a very useful tool to use during product discovery.
And not just because it makes communication between your discovery team easier.
You can use it as a cost-effective hub for your discovery efforts.
In Slack, you can:
- Share relevant files, materials, and resources with your entire team
- Hold brainstorming and ideation sessions
- Get real-time feedback from stakeholders
- Integrate with other tools for a unified discovery workflow
And that’s why it’s a good choice.
Important features
- Canvas
Slack’s Canvas feature allows you to add files, images, videos, and other formats in a single view, so your entire discovery team can have easy access to the resources they need.
- File sharing
Slack makes it easy to share files in a wide variety of formats, which is what makes it so useful for your discovery efforts.
- Slack Connect
You can give access to specific channels to people outside of your company, which is especially useful if you’re working with freelancers or an agency during discovery.
- Huddles
Huddles allow your team to quickly connect with each other over an audio or video call, which is useful if they need to clear up any misunderstandings.
Slack pros and cons
Pros
- Versatility
- Real-time collaboration
- Easy communication
Cons
- Limited text formatting
- Expensive for large teams/organizations
Pricing
Slack offers a free plan, so you can try it out before
source: Slack
They also have 3 paid plans:
- Pro – $7.25 per active user/month, with unlimited integrations and secure collaboration with other organizations and guests.
- Business+ – $12.50 per active user/month, with more advanced security features and 24/7 customer support.
- Enterprise Grid – custom pricing, with enterprise-grade security and compliance standards and support for up to 500,000 users.
UserTesting
UserTesting is, like the name suggests, a platform that helps you with your user testing efforts.
source: UserTesting
UserTesting helps you connect with real people who will test your product and give you valuable feedback.
You can choose from a range of user testing methods, including:
- User interviews
- Usability testing
- Card sorting
- Tree testing
Also, you can add screener questions to get the right audience to test your product.
And that will help you get the best results.
Important features
- Diverse tester pool
UserTesting has a diverse pool of testers from over 30 countries, enabling you to get truly valuable feedback and pick the right users to test your product.
- AI-powered analysis
UserTesting uses AI models that can summarize key insights from your tests and detect areas where users experience friction in just a click of a button.
- Custom user networks
You can set up custom user networks with your stakeholders, employees, and social media followers – UserTesting handles the scheduling and payments.
UserTesting pros and cons
Pros
- Fast responses
- Easy setup
- Variety of test types
Cons
- Limited analysis in the basic plan
- User screening concerns
Pricing
UserTesting doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all pricing scheme for their plans and they offer fully customizable plans to suit your specific needs.
source: UserTesting
The 3 paid plans are:
- Essentials – access to the basic user testing methods they offer so you can start gathering user feedback.
- Advanced – with this plan, you get advanced features and live conversations with the users testing your product.
- Ultimate – geared towards big organizations, this plan offers in-depth testing and AI-powered analysis.
Product discovery tools: FAQs
What is product discovery?
Product discovery is the process of researching your market and validating your product idea before developing your product.
Why is product discovery important?
Product discovery is important because it validates your product idea before you start full development. This minimizes the risk of building a product that won’t fit your market and can save you a lot of money in the long run.
What types of tools should I use for product discovery?
For successful product discovery, you should use a combination of collaboration, productivity, project management, and communication tools like:
- Contentsquare
- Figma
- Google Workspace
- Hotjar
- Jira Product Discovery
- Maze
- Miro
- Productboard
- Slack
- UserTesting
Need discovery for your product?
Do you have a great idea for a product but don’t know how to turn it into reality?
That’s where we come in.
We’ll make sure your idea is thoroughly researched and tested so it fits your market and meets your users’ needs.
If you want to learn more, check out our process and feel free to get in touch with us.