Best Card Sorting Software in 2025: Complete Comparison

Choosing the right card sorting tool can make or break your UX research project. Here's our comprehensive comparison of the top 7 tools in 2025.

Quick Comparison Table

Detailed Reviews

1. Card Sort - Best Free Option

Pricing: Free (Pro $19/mo)

Best for: Freelancers, startups, small research projects

✅ Pros:

• Truly free forever plan (not a trial)
• 5-minute setup time
• Beautiful participant interface
• Real-time results
• AI-powered insights (Pro)
• No credit card required

❌ Cons:

• Free plan limited to 3 active studies
• 50 responses per study on free tier
• Advanced analytics require Pro

Perfect if: You need professional card sorting without the enterprise price tag.

Try Card Sort free →

2. Optimal Workshop - Best for Enterprise

Pricing: $149/mo per user (Team plan)

Best for: Large organizations, research agencies

✅ Pros:

• Industry standard tool
• Unlimited studies and responses
• Advanced statistical analysis
• Tree testing included
• Excellent support

❌ Cons:

• Expensive for small teams
• Steeper learning curve
• Overkill for simple projects
• No free plan

Perfect if: You're running large-scale research and budget isn't a constraint.

3. UserZoom - Best All-in-One Platform

Pricing: $200/mo (starts at)

Best for: Teams needing multiple research methods

✅ Pros:

• Card sorting + 10 other methods
• Participant recruitment included
• Enterprise-grade security
• White label options

❌ Cons:

• Most expensive option
• Complex setup
• Requires training
• Annual contract required

Perfect if: You need card sorting as part of a complete research suite.

4. Maze - Best for Product Teams

Pricing: $99/mo (Starter)

Best for: Product teams doing continuous research

✅ Pros:

• Modern, clean interface
• Integrates with Figma
• Quick results
• Good for rapid testing

❌ Cons:

• Limited to 100 responses/month on Starter
• Card sorting feels like an add-on
• Less analysis depth than specialized tools

Perfect if: You're already using Maze for prototype testing.

5. UsabilityHub - Best for Quick Tests

Pricing: $89/mo (Basic)

Best for: Quick validation studies

✅ Pros:

• Fast participant recruitment
• Multiple test types
• Simple interface
• Quick turnaround

❌ Cons:

• Less robust card sorting features
• Analysis tools are basic
• Expensive for card sorting alone

Perfect if: You need fast results from recruited participants.

6. Miro - Best for Collaborative Work

Pricing: $8/mo per user

Best for: In-person or synchronous remote sessions

✅ Pros:

• Great for facilitated sessions
• Unlimited boards (paid plans)
• Collaborative features
• Flexible and visual

❌ Cons:

• Manual analysis required
• No automated insights
• Not built for asynchronous studies
• Setup time intensive

Perfect if: You're running moderated card sorting sessions.

7. Google Forms + Sheets - DIY Option

Pricing: Free

Best for: Extremely tight budgets

✅ Pros:

• Completely free
• You own all data
• Highly customizable
• Everyone knows how to use it

❌ Cons:

• Manual everything
• Poor participant experience
• Time-consuming analysis
• No similarity matrix
• Professional appearance lacking

Perfect if: You have more time than money.

How to Choose

Choose Card Sort if:

• ✅ You want a free, professional tool
• ✅ You're a freelancer or small team
• ✅ You need 3 or fewer active studies
• ✅ 50 responses per study is enough
• ✅ You want fast setup

Choose Optimal Workshop if:

• ✅ You're an enterprise or agency
• ✅ Budget isn't a primary concern
• ✅ You need unlimited everything
• ✅ You run many studies simultaneously
• ✅ You need advanced statistics

Choose UserZoom if:

• ✅ You need more than just card sorting
• ✅ You want recruited participants
• ✅ You need enterprise features
• ✅ You can commit to annual contracts

Choose Maze if:

• ✅ You're already using Maze
• ✅ You test prototypes regularly
• ✅ You need quick feedback loops
• ✅ Your team uses Figma

Feature Comparison

Study Setup Speed

1. Card Sort: 5 minutes
2. Maze: 10 minutes
3. UsabilityHub: 15 minutes
4. Optimal Workshop: 30 minutes
5. UserZoom: 45 minutes
6. Miro: 60 minutes
7. Google Forms: 2 hours

Participant Experience

1. Card Sort: Modern, mobile-friendly, no account needed
2. Maze: Clean interface, requires account
3. Optimal Workshop: Functional but dated
4. UsabilityHub: Good but requires account
5. UserZoom: Complex, institutional feel
6. Miro: Confusing for participants
7. Google Forms: Poor UX, very manual

Analysis Quality

1. Optimal Workshop: Most comprehensive
2. UserZoom: Enterprise-grade
3. Card Sort: Professional (Pro has AI insights)
4. Maze: Good basics
5. UsabilityHub: Basic but functional
6. Miro: Manual analysis required
7. Google Forms: Completely manual

Pricing Breakdown

Free Options:

• Card Sort: 3 studies, 50 responses each
• Maze: Very limited free tier
• Miro: 3 boards
• Google: Unlimited but manual

Budget (under $50/mo):

• Card Sort Pro: $19/mo
• Miro: $8/mo per user

Mid-Range ($50-150/mo):

• UsabilityHub: $89/mo
• Maze: $99/mo
• Optimal Workshop: $149/mo

Enterprise (>$150/mo):

• UserZoom: $200/mo+
• Optimal Workshop Team: $299/mo+

Our Recommendation

For most teams: Start with Card Sort's free plan. It gives you professional results without spending a dollar.

When to upgrade:

• You need more than 3 active studies
• You need more than 50 responses per study
• You want AI-powered insights
• You need team collaboration features

When to go enterprise: Only when you're running 10+ studies per month and need advanced features like participant recruitment or white labeling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which tool is actually free? A: Card Sort and Google Forms are truly free. Maze and UsabilityHub have very limited free tiers that aren't practical for real projects.

Q: What's the best tool for beginners? A: Card Sort. You can create your first study in 5 minutes with no training required.

Q: Which has the best analysis? A: Optimal Workshop for depth, Card Sort Pro for actionable insights with AI.

Q: Can I try before buying? A: Card Sort is free to start. Optimal Workshop and UserZoom offer trials. Maze has a limited free plan.

Q: Which tool do professionals use? A: Optimal Workshop is the industry standard, but many professionals are switching to Card Sort for better value.

Getting Started

Ready to run your first card sort?

1. Try Card Sort free - No credit card required
2. Set up in 5 minutes - Create your first study
3. Share the link - Get participant responses
4. See results - Real-time analysis

Start your free card sort study →

Related Resources

• Free Card Sorting Tool Guide
• Optimal Workshop vs Card Sort
• How to Choose Card Sorting Sample Size
• Card Sorting for Beginners