Summary We assessed end‐user practice for numerous procedural steps of two types of RDTs: Core Malaria Pf™ (the cassette format) and OptiMAL IT™ (the dipstick format). Two types of errors occurred: generic errors common to both types of test and specific errors caused by the test design and manufacturer’s instructions. End‐user errors were more frequent with OptiMAL IT™ than Core Pf™ tests. To improve malaria diagnosis with rapid tests, users require training and better manufacturer’s instructions that take into account local conditions.