What is the difference between moderated and unmoderated usability testing?

Moderated usability testing: A facilitator is present (in-person or remote via video call) while the participant completes tasks. The facilitator can probe for reasoning, redirect if the participant is stuck, and clarify ambiguous tasks. Best for complex workflows, early-stage prototypes, and when rich qualitative insight is needed. Unmoderated usability testing: Participants complete tasks independently using a platform (e.g., UserTesting, Maze). No facilitator is present. Results are captured via screen recording, task completion rates, and post-task surveys. Best for validating specific interactions at scale, benchmarking, or when budget/time does not allow moderated sessions. In Salesforce UX work, moderated testing suits complex multi-step Flows or page layouts, while unmoderated suits quick validation of single-component changes like a new quick action or compact layout.