What is Open User Lab?
Open User Lab is a self-hosted UX research tool for in-product research. It combines moderated interviews with a live cockpit and unmoderated observation via a single link — across web and native apps in the same study. It measures task success automatically from the event stream.
Is Open User Lab a Sprig or Screeb alternative?
Broadly, yes. Sprig and Screeb focus heavily on in-product surveys; Open User Lab adds moderated live interviews to unmoderated observation and evaluates web and app sessions together. Because it is self-hosted, your data stays with you.
What's the difference between an in-product survey and a moderated interview?
An in-product survey asks predefined questions; a moderated interview is a guided session where you watch live and can follow up. Open User Lab supports both: structured questions (pre-/post-task/post-session) and live-moderated sessions in the cockpit.
Can I test web and native apps in one study?
Yes. Per study you choose web, app, or both. With “both”, each task carries a separate web criterion (URL) and app criterion (screen); web and app sessions are evaluated together. React Native is supported today; native iOS/Android are in progress.
Moderated or unmoderated — when to use which?
Moderated (live cockpit) suits deep, exploratory sessions with follow-up questions. Unmoderated (anonymous link) scales for broad, continuous observation in the real product. Open User Lab can do both within a single study.
Is Open User Lab self-hosted and GDPR-compliant? Where does the data live?
Open User Lab is self-hosted: the relay and database run on your infrastructure, and the data never leaves your house. Inputs are masked by default, consent is collected upfront, and a withdrawal hard-deletes that session's data.
Do I need code changes to integrate it?
On the web, one snippet line before the closing body tag is enough. In native or React Native apps you add the SDK and report screens. Nothing more is required.
How does automatic success measurement work?
You define a success criterion per task — on the web a URL, an element click, or an event; in the app a screen name, a tapped view, or an event. Open User Lab detects from the event stream, order-independently, whether the criterion was met.
Does it work for mobile apps (iOS, Android, React Native)?
React Native is supported today via the @userlab/react-native SDK (screens, taps, scroll, events). Native iOS and Android SDKs are in progress. The evaluation model is platform-neutral, so app sessions are analyzed like web sessions.
Which languages are supported?
The interface is available in English and German; the participant language can be set per study. Question widgets, emails, and invoices are multilingual too.