A UX audit is an expert analysis of a website, store or application that shows where users hit problems and what to fix first. The deliverable is a prioritised fix list with reasoning – not a generic report.
The audit combines three sources of knowledge: data (analytics, session recordings, heatmaps), an expert walkthrough of the key paths, and recognised usability heuristics. Every conclusion is backed by data or a specific principle, which is why an audit ends the internal arguments about whether "that button is really a problem".
The report has three layers: a summary for decision-makers, a problem list with weights (critical, significant, cosmetic) and recommendations, and quick wins – fixes with a big effect and a small implementation cost. You can implement the list with the audit's author or with your own team.
An audit pays off when the product has traffic but the results disappoint, and before a rebuild: it often turns out that a dozen specific fixes beat a new site. An expert audit typically costs €2,000–6,000; the version with user research €5,000–12,000.
Audit or user testing? The audit is faster and cheaper; research shows what no expert can predict – the customers' language and their real motivations. The practical order: audit first, research where the decision is expensive. We describe the process, prices and example findings in our UX audit article.