Why Built for Devs Is Better Than Developer User Testing

The critical difference that changes everything

The Problem with Traditional User Testing for Developers

When you hire developers through platforms like UserTesting or User Interviews, here's what actually happens:

The Broken Dynamic

• They know they're being watched → They perform instead of behave naturally
• They want to get hired again → They avoid being too critical or negative
• They're trying to be helpful → Critical feedback gets sugar-coated
• They're put on the spot in an artificial setting → They don't behave like they would when naturally evaluating products

Result: You get polite feedback that misses the brutal truths that actually matter.

What Built for Devs Does Differently

Unfiltered, Anonymous Candor

Our developers aren't talking to YOU. They're talking to US about YOUR product.

• No pressure to impress a potential client
• No fear of hurting feelings or losing future work
• No artificial politeness masking real frustrations
• Pure, honest reactions in real-time

Natural Developer Behavior

We don't give them tasks. We give them problems to solve.

Traditional User Testing Says: "Please navigate to the documentation and try to implement the chat feature."

Built for Devs Says: "You're a developer who needs to add real-time messaging to your app. Figure out if this tool can help you."

The Difference: Natural discovery, real decision-making, authentic frustration points.

Enterprise-Level Developer Network

Your typical user testing panel has developers making $30/hour who are motivated by gift cards.

Our network includes:

• Senior engineers at Fortune 500 companies
• CTOs and technical decision-makers
• Developers who've actually implemented products like yours at scale
• Developers who understand enterprise buying processes
• Developers across every segment, from early-stage startups to enterprise teams

Why This Matters: They evaluate products the same way your actual customers do because they could be your future customers.

The Results Speak for Themselves

What User Testing Gives You:

• "The documentation looks comprehensive"
• "The interface seems intuitive"
• "I would probably try this"
• Generic feedback that doesn't drive action

What Built for Devs Reveals:

• "Why do you need access to my entire Google account just to read spreadsheets?"
• "Your pricing page is confusing. I can't figure out what I'd actually pay"
• "I gave up after 10 minutes because your getting started guide assumes I know what [technical term] means"
• Specific, actionable insights that immediately improve conversion

The Hidden Cost of "Cheap" User Testing

$50/session User Testing Scenario:

• 10 sessions = $500
• Half the developers don't show up or need to be replaced
• The ones who do show aren't your target audience (wrong geography, experience level, or company type)
• Weeks of rescheduling and recruiting new participants

Hidden cost: Your team's time managing logistics instead of building product, plus wasting time getting feedback from developers who don't match your actual ideal customers.

Built for Devs Approach:

• Reveals specific friction points throughout your funnel
• Identifies exact moments prospects abandon your funnel
• Pinpoints messaging that doesn't resonate
• Shows you exactly what to fix first

ROI: One insight can save thousands in lost revenue

When Each Approach Makes Sense

Use Traditional User Testing When:

• You need to validate basic usability (buttons, navigation, etc.)
• You're testing consumer products with broad audiences
• You want general impressions and surface-level feedback
• Budget is extremely limited

Use Built for Devs When:

• You're building products for developers
• You need to understand why developers abandon your funnel
• Product-market fit is unclear
• You're losing prospects and don't know where
• Developer adoption is business-critical
• You want insights that directly impact revenue

The Bottom Line

User Testing asks: "What do you think of this?"

Built for Devs reveals: "What actually happens when developers encounter this in the wild?"

The first gives you opinions. The second gives you insights.

And insights drive better products that developers actually adopt.

Ready to See the Difference?

Stop getting polite feedback that doesn't move the needle. Get the brutal honesty that improves products.

"User testing gives you what developers think they should say. Built for Devs reveals what developers are actually thinking."

Tessa Kriesel, CEO & Founder