Best Free Card Sorting Tools in 2025

Looking for a free card sorting tool? We've tested them all. Here's what's actually free versus "free trial."

1. Free Card Sort - Best Overall Free Tool

What's Truly Free:

• ✅ Unlimited studies
• ✅ Unlimited participants
• ✅ All features (open, closed, hybrid)
• ✅ Full analytics & exports

Limitations: None on free plan

Best For: Anyone who wants card sorting without limits

2. Optimal Workshop - Limited Free Trial

What's Free:

• 14-day trial
• All features during trial

After Trial: $149+/month required

Best For: Testing before committing to paid

3. Maze - Very Limited Free

What's Free:

• 1 active test
• 10 responses maximum

Limitations: Severely limited

Best For: One-time tiny studies

4. UsabilityHub/Lyssna - Limited Free

What's Free:

• 3 tests total
• Limited responses per test

Best For: Very occasional use

5. Google Forms/Sheets - DIY Approach

What's Free:

• Everything (it's Google)

Limitations:

• Manual setup required
• No analytics built-in
• Not optimized for card sorting
• Time-consuming

Best For: Extremely small budgets with time to spare

Feature Comparison Matrix

The Honest Truth About "Free" Tools

Most tools market themselves as "free" but actually mean:

• Free trial (7-30 days)
• Freemium with severe limits (1-3 studies, 5-10 participants)
• Free for students/academics only

Only Free Card Sort and DIY Google solutions are truly free without major limitations.

Our Recommendation

For 99% of users: Start with Free Card Sort

• No credit card required
• No study limits
• No participant limits
• Full analytics

For enterprises with budget: Optimal Workshop

• Most advanced analytics
• Multiple research methods
• Dedicated support

For DIY enthusiasts: Google Forms

• If you have time to build custom tools
• And don't mind manual analysis

Try Free Card Sort Now

Start your first card sort in 5 minutes: freecardsort.com

No credit card. No limits. Actually free.