Maze Card Sorting Alternative: Free Card Sort vs Maze
Maze is a comprehensive product research platform for prototype testing, surveys, usability testing, and more. Card sorting is available on Maze, but the platform is designed for teams running multiple types of research. Free Card Sort is a focused card sorting tool with a lower price. Here is how they compare for card sorting specifically.
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.
Short answer
Choose Maze if you already use it for prototype testing, surveys, or live website testing and want to keep all your research in one platform. Choose Free Card Sort if card sorting is your primary need and you want a simpler, lower-cost option with AI-powered insights at a lower price.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Free Card Sort | Maze |
|---|---|---|
| Open card sorting | Yes | Yes |
| Closed card sorting | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan card sorting | 3 studies | Not included (paid plans only) Card sorting is a paid feature; Maze's paid tier is Enterprise (custom pricing) (source, checked Oct 19, 2026) |
| Free plan studies | 3 studies | 1 study/month Free plan includes 1 study per month (source, checked Oct 19, 2026) |
| Full analysis (matrix, dendrogram) | $15 unlock or Starter | Included |
| AI-powered insights | Starter ($19/mo) | AI survey assistance (paid plans) |
| Prototype testing | No | Yes |
| Surveys | No | Yes |
| Tree testing | Separate tool (validatethat.io/tree-testing) | Enterprise plan only Tree testing available on Enterprise plan (source, checked Oct 19, 2026) |
| Starting price (paid) | $19/mo | Contact for pricing |
When to keep Maze
- You already test prototypes or run surveys in Maze and want all your research in one platform.
- You need live website testing, mobile app testing, or advanced usability testing features.
- You want to recruit from Maze's participant panel with advanced targeting.
- Your team needs SOC 2 compliance, SSO, and enterprise-grade security features.
Where Free Card Sort differs
Lower price for card sorting only
If card sorting is your main need, Free Card Sort is simpler and cheaper. Maze keeps card sorting on its paid Enterprise plan, which is custom-priced, so you have to contact sales for a number. Free Card Sort Starter is $19/mo, and the free plan includes 3 studies.
AI insights at a lower price
AI-powered insights for card sorting are available on Starter ($19/mo). Maze's AI features (AI survey assistance, AI summaries) are on its custom-priced Enterprise plan.
Focused on card sorting
Free Card Sort does one thing well: card sorting. Maze is a broad research platform. If you need card sorting and nothing else, Free Card Sort is simpler. If you need multiple study types, Maze is more integrated.
Running a card sort outside Maze
To run a card sort in Free Card Sort with cards from a Maze study, export or copy your card list from Maze, then paste the card names into the Free Card Sort builder. Choose open, closed, or hybrid to match your study type. You cannot import existing participant responses; this is for starting a new round of data collection with the same cards.
Tree testing: Maze vs validatethat.io
Maze includes tree testing in the same platform, which is convenient if you need both card sorting and tree testing. Free Card Sort focuses on card sorting; for tree testing, you would use validatethat.io/tree-testing, which is a separate tool. Both approaches work. The integrated suite is more convenient; the separate tools let you pick the best option for each method.
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Free Card Sort have prototype testing like Maze?
No. Free Card Sort focuses on card sorting. Maze is a full research platform with prototype testing, surveys, live website testing, and more. If you need multiple research methods in one platform, Maze is the integrated choice. If card sorting is your focus, Free Card Sort is simpler and cheaper.
Which has better card sorting analytics: Free Card Sort or Maze?
Both provide similarity matrices, dendrograms, and cluster analysis. Free Card Sort adds AI insights on the Starter plan to suggest navigation structures from your results. Maze gives you the core card sorting analytics without AI interpretation. For most card sorting projects, both are sufficient.
Can I use Maze's free plan for card sorting indefinitely?
No. Maze's free plan does not include card sorting, and it is limited to 1 study per month. Card sorting on Maze is a paid feature on the Enterprise plan (custom pricing). If you want to run a card sort for free, use Free Card Sort instead.
Which is better for a single card sorting project?
Free Card Sort. You get 3 free studies with full card sorting. Maze's free plan does not include card sorting and is limited to 1 study per month, so a single card sorting project on Maze means a paid Enterprise plan.
Related Resources
Free plan: 3 studies. Unlock the full analysis for a single study for $15, or choose Starter at $19/mo.
Used by 1,800+ users.