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UX Audit

UX Audit Checklist: A Step-by-Step Pass

7 min readSmart Web Center

A UX audit checklist is a fast, repeatable pass you run top to bottom. Where a UX audit template is the document you fill in, this checklist is the route you walk. Use it to review a homepage or landing page in under an hour and leave with a prioritised list of fixes.

Before you start

Set the scope so you are not auditing in a vacuum.

  • Pick one page and one primary goal for it.
  • Note who the visitor is and where they came from.
  • Open the page on desktop and on a real phone.
  • Have a notes doc ready with two columns: issue and priority.

Homepage and landing page clarity

  • The headline names what it is and who it is for.
  • The subhead adds a concrete benefit, not a slogan.
  • The main action is visible without scrolling.
  • A five-second look answers: what, for whom, what next.
  • Nothing important is hidden below a heavy hero image.
  • Menu labels use plain words, not clever ones.
  • There are few enough items to scan instantly.
  • The current location is obvious.
  • Key pages are reachable in one or two clicks.
  • Search exists if the site is large.

Forms and CTAs

  • Buttons say what happens next (“Start free trial”, not “Submit”).
  • The primary CTA stands out from secondary actions.
  • Forms ask only for what is needed right now.
  • Labels are visible, not placeholder-only.
  • Errors are specific and explain how to fix the problem.

Mobile UX

  • Text is readable without zooming.
  • Tap targets are large enough and spaced apart.
  • Nothing overflows or requires horizontal scrolling.
  • The CTA is reachable with a thumb.
  • Menus and accordions work on touch.

Trust signals

  • It is clear who is behind the site.
  • Pricing or next steps are not hidden.
  • Proof (testimonials, logos, numbers) is specific, not vague.
  • Contact and support are easy to find.
  • Security and privacy are addressed where money or data is involved.

Speed and visual stability

  • Main content appears quickly.
  • The layout does not jump as images and fonts load.
  • Images are sized and compressed sensibly.
  • No single asset dominates the page weight.

Final priority scoring

Turn ticks into action. For every failed item, score it:

  • Impact on the page goal: high / medium / low.
  • Effort to fix: high / medium / low.

Do high-impact, low-effort items first. Group the rest into “next” and “later”. Write each one as an instruction, not a complaint.

FAQ

How is this different from a UX audit template?

The template is the document you fill in; the checklist is the order you check things. Many teams use the checklist to run the pass, then record results in the template.

Can I use this for a B2B SaaS site?

Yes. Keep the same structure, but weight trust signals, pricing clarity and form length more heavily, since SaaS decisions involve more scrutiny.

For the design fundamentals behind these checks, see our UI resources and the web design tools hub.

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