Struggling to find reliable beta testers for your app? As experienced UI/UX designers who have been through the beta-testing process dozens of times, we know how crucial it is to get quality feedback at early stages. So, we’ve completed this guide with insider tips to help you recruit testers safely and effectively.
What does the beta-testing process look like?
Beta test is actually part of an iterative product development process that requires an experienced designer with relevant experience to be successful. Why? Let’s get a quick but more detailed understanding of how beta-testing works on a real example from Eleken's experience working on Populate healthcare startup.
- Populate's founder had an idea: make a medical app that doesn't waste time with boring paperwork. He hired Eleken to help him bring this idea to life.
- Designer at Eleken whipped up some designs based on what Populate's founder wanted and how he thought doctors would use the app.
- Real doctors (read beta testers) took these designs for a test drive and shared what worked and what didn't in their busy clinics.
- Together we tweaked the design based on what the doctors said. Sometimes we had to choose between making it look pretty and making it work better – we picked what worked!
- We kept making changes, over and over, making the app better each time as more doctors tried it out.
- Finally, we let a bunch of doctors use the app for real to make sure it was fast, easy to use, and actually helped them do their jobs.
So, basically, beta testing meaning is a series of tweaks and iterations you make to your product based on what real users tell you. An experienced designer, like those at Eleken, is essential for guiding iterative cycles. They can translate user feedback into functional improvements without compromising the overall design vision.
But now it’s time for the main question: where do you find beta testers?
9 strategies on how to find beta testers
The value a beta tester brings to the development process is obvious, but finding the right ones can be tricky. The real challenge, especially for startups, is getting honest feedback from interested testers without breaking the bank. Let’s see what ways to find beta testers for an app are there.
Recruiting friends and family
Starting with people you trust can be a safe way to kick off your beta testing. Friends and family (or other personal connections) are easy to approach, and they’re more likely to give you quick, honest feedback. However, be cautious of their potential bias — they might be too polite to point out significant flaws.
Still, the thing you need to remember when choosing testers from your personal circle is to try to pick people who resemble your target users. This way, their feedback will be more relevant to your actual customer base. You can go further and ask your friends to help find more testers within their network. Prepare a short, customizable message about your product and your need for testers, and ask your connections to send it to people they know who might be interested.
Even with given limitations, friends’ early feedback can help you catch major usability issues, and since they’re low-stakes, it’s a good soft launch before inviting more critical users.
Using your existing customer base
Your current customers are a goldmine for beta testers because they already understand the value of your product. They’ve invested time and money into your offering, making them more likely to give detailed, thoughtful feedback.
Approach them with a sense of exclusivity — emphasize that they’re getting a chance to shape the future of the product they already use, which adds to their motivation. For more encouragement, you may offer some reward like a discount, access to some premium features, or the like.
From the experience of our designers, if you manage to get your real users as your testers, it’s best to conduct user interviews, especially for B2B SaaS products.
For instance, here’s a real story from Eleken experience working on HealthStream healthcare company. HealthStream thought users wanted super fancy, custom reports. When Eleken designers conducted user interviews during beta testing, it turned out, people just needed basic reports with minor customization. This discovery saved HealthStream a ton of time and headaches.
So, if you have such an opportunity, reach out to your existing customers to perform beta tests.
Leveraging your email list
Of course, this strategy works if you already have a list of emails from prospects. For example, if you've set up a landing page offering early access in exchange for an email, or provided free resources like an ebook or checklist as part of your marketing efforts, leveraging those emails can be highly effective for finding beta testers.
The people on it have already shown interest in your product. So, create a personalized email inviting them to join the beta, emphasizing benefits like early access, special offers, or a sense of contribution. Since they opted into your list, these users are generally more engaged, giving you more actionable feedback. You can also segment your list to target the most relevant users for your beta.
Sites with paid beta testers
Paid testers can, in some ways, be more objective since they aren’t emotionally tied to your product, but be prepared to sift through feedback to find insights that matter most to your use case. Additionally, platforms that offer this service often have experienced testers who can spot issues regular users might miss.
Let’s list a few platforms that provide access to a wide variety of testers, often with detailed demographic options to help you find the right fit:
- GetWorm – connects you with beta testers, matching based on interests and product type. The unique thing about it is that testers get rewarded with "worms" – special perks like free stuff or discounts – making everyone happy to join in and help out.
- UserTesting – this beta testing software allows you to see how real users interact with your app and spot usability issues in real-time.
- BetaList – lets you showcase your startup to a community of early adopters, helping you attract beta testers who are tech-savvy and interested in new products.
- Maze – this is recommendation from our designers who like using it for usability testing when there’s no access to real product users. Maze focuses on remote user testing and offers data-driven insights, allowing you to run usability tests and gather actionable feedback without the need for live interviews.
- Beta Family – specializes in finding beta tester for application (iOS and Android). It provides both free and paid options, with the latter including features like tester selection and customizable tests to optimize your app before release.
While platforms in this list come with a cost, they’re useful for generating structured feedback quickly.
Hiring testers through platforms like Upwork
While beta testing platforms offer a great way to get feedback from a diverse group of users, sometimes you might need more specialized or in-depth testing. That's where hiring individual professional testers comes in handy.
Platforms like Upwork can be a great option. You can set clear expectations and pay testers for detailed reports, ensuring you get comprehensive feedback. This approach is particularly useful if you’re looking for testers with specific expertise (e.g., testing UX for financial software). You can define specific tasks for testers to complete, which helps you gather insights in a more organized way than you might get from random volunteers. These professional testers will treat it as a job, so you’re more likely to get thorough and reliable feedback.
Posting in Relevant Online Communities Like Reddit
Reddit is full of passionate niche communities, making it a perfect place to find engaged beta testers. Look for subreddits related to your product/industry and post an honest, straightforward request for testers, offering them a free trial. Be transparent about what you’re offering and what you expect from them in return. In these communities, authenticity is key, and the right post can generate excitement and attract highly motivated testers.
You may also try out subreddits created specifically to find beta testers.
Though I mentioned posting on Reddit only, look for other platforms as well. For example, I know for sure that there are great communities in Slack or private groups on Discord with people interested in your app.
Building in Public by Posting in Communities Like Reddit or IndieHackers
Building in public means sharing your product development journey openly, which creates a community around your product. Platforms like IndieHackers, X or Reddit (again) are great for this because users there love helping startups succeed. By sharing updates on features, challenges, and goals, you can attract people who feel personally invested in your success. The bonus is that they’re more likely to give in-depth, thoughtful feedback because they’ve been following your journey closely and want to see it succeed.
The downside of this strategy is that you’ll need to invest time in posting before being able to recruit the first beta user.
Launching targeted ads
Running targeted ads allows you to directly reach specific groups of users who fit your ideal beta tester profile. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn offer highly detailed audience targeting, so you can filter by interests, behaviors, or demographics.
This approach is great for finding users who may not have known about your product but are still within your target market. The key is crafting a clear, compelling ad that explains the benefits of joining your beta program while setting realistic expectations—nobody wants to be tricked into using a buggy product without knowing what they're signing up for.
Step into the real world
Sometimes, your best beta testers aren't online – they're right in your neighborhood! Once you've nailed down your target audience, go where they hang out. Industry conferences, local meetups, coffee shops – use everything that seem relevant for your case. Here are some ideas:
- For university professors: Post flyers on campus bulletin boards.
- Targeting doctors? Visit local hospitals or medical conferences.
- Building an app for fitness enthusiasts? Head to gyms or sports events.
Don't be shy – show off your product in person and offer early access. You might sfind many useful connections!
Pro tip: If you're offering a reward for feedback, be super clear about what you need testers to do. Some folks might hold back honest opinions if they think it'll cost them the reward.
These strategies are just the tip of the iceberg. For even more ideas, check out our article on How to Find Customers to Talk To. While it has slightly different focus, many of the tactics work great for finding beta testers too. After all, both are about connecting with people who'll use your product!
How to avoid security risks while beta-testing?
Ok. Let’s suppose you’ve decided on how to beta test and where to get people for this purpose, the next trouble you may face is can you trust those people test your app?
Decompilation concerns
Decompilation is always a risk, but unless you’ve built a groundbreaking algorithm that will change the world, it’s unlikely anyone cares enough to reverse-engineer your app. Most apps aren’t that unique in terms of code, so the risk is minimal. If you do have something revolutionary, just patent it for peace of mind.
Security measures
Anyways, as we stated there’s a risk of decompilation, the key is to build your app assuming someone might peek inside, focusing on hiding the stuff that really matters.
That said, it's smart to take some basic precautions to make decompilation harder.
- Use tools like R8 and ProGuard to obfuscate your code
- Don't leave any important access keys in your code.
- Make sure your paywalls are tough to bypass.
- Always protect your users' data – you don't want it falling into the wrong hands.
Your idea doesn’t matter (that much)
Harsh reality is that the idea itself isn't usually your most valuable asset — it's the execution that matters. Many founders worry about idea theft during beta testing, but here's the truth: most ideas aren't as unique as we think. The same as with code, unless you've got something world-changing, the risk of someone copying your app is pretty low.
Look at companies like Lemlist and Calendly. They didn't invent email or calendars, but they nailed the execution. So, it’s wiser to pour your energy into making your idea come to life amazingly well.
Want more proof? Check out our YouTube video on why your startup idea is not the most important thing for your success.
Treat beta like production
Some suggest that it’s essential to treat beta versions with the same security considerations as production versions.
- Use strong encryption for user data
- Set up secure login systems
- Regularly update and patch your beta version
You might also consider using Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with your beta testers. While NDAs aren't perfect – especially against big companies with lawyers – they can help protect your ideas and show testers you're serious about security.
Wrapping it up: beta testing success
Finding the right beta testers is like assembling a dream team for your app. Whether you're tapping into your friends and family, your loyal customers, or hiring pros through platforms like Upwork, each method has its perks. The key is to mix and match these strategies to get a diverse group of testers who'll give you honest, helpful feedback.
Remember, beta testing isn't just about finding bugs – it's about making your app the best it can be. It's a chance to see how real people use your creation and what they think about it. This feedback is gold, helping you polish your app until it shines.
But here's the secret sauce: having a great designer by your side throughout this process is crucial. Designers are the wizards who can take all that feedback and turn it into magic. They're not just there to make things look pretty (though that's important too!). But to translate user feedback into smart, functional improvements that keep your app evolving.
So, as you dive into beta testing, remember it's a team effort. Your beta testers are your scouts, reporting back from the field. And if you need a reliable designer partner, reach out to Eleken for more information.
Happy testing!
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