Head-to-head · Card Sorting Software
Decode vs Free Card Sort
Decode leads on 0 checks, Free Card Sort on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreDecode · 8.8/10
- Free planboth
Decode scores higher on our rubric for card sorting software: 8.8 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.
Decode is the better fit for teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research. Free Card Sort is the better fit for budget-conscious UX researchers needing full sort analysis.
- Decode fits best
Teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research
- Free Card Sort fits best
Budget-conscious UX researchers needing full sort analysis
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Side by side
| Feature | Decode 8.8/10 Visit ↗ | Free Card Sort 7.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| Ranking | #2 in Card Sorting Software | #3 in Card Sorting Software |
| Best for | Teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research | Budget-conscious UX researchers needing full sort analysis |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | — | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7 | Email · 24/7 |
| Compliance | SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA | GDPR |
| Integrations | 14 integrations | 3 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Decode 4/4 · Free Card Sort 4/4 | ||
| Open card sorts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Closed card sorts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hybrid card sorts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remote participant mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Participant limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Card limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Analysis features | Advanced | Advanced |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Decode by Entropik is a cloud-based human insights and user-research platform for research, product, UX and marketing teams. Its User Research module supports open, closed and hybrid card sorts, with participant-created or predefined… Read the review → |
Free Card Sort is ValidateThat’s web-based card-sorting product for UX researchers, designers, product managers, content strategists, and students. It supports open, closed, and hybrid studies that participants can complete from a shared… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Decode — where it wins
- Open, closed and hybrid studies with detailed agreement analysis
- Recruit participants through links and integrated audience panels
- Free tier plus broad research, meeting and workflow integrations
Where it doesn't
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
- Decode Live is not supported on mobile or tablet web
- Broader modules may exceed the needs of teams wanting only card sorting
Free Card Sort — where it wins
- Open, closed, and hybrid card sorts with shareable study links
- Free studies allow unlimited responses from your own link
- Similarity matrices, dendrograms, AI insights, and CSV exports
Where it doesn't
- Free analytics cover only the first 3 respondents
- Pro recruitment is limited to 10 recruited responses per month
- Support is provided through email, despite 24/7 availability
- Decode8.8/10 · Free plan · pricing on request
Advanced card sorting with recruitment, analysis and wider user-research tools.
Visit DecodeFull verdict → - Free Card Sort7.9/10 · Free plan
A focused card-sorting workspace with generous free response collection and deeper paid analysis.
Visit Free Card SortFull verdict →
More comparisons
- OptimalSort vs Decode
- OptimalSort vs Free Card Sort
- Decode vs Murat Yilmaz Card Sorting
- Decode vs SORTREE
- Decode vs ValidateThat
- Decode vs Proven by Users Card Sort
- Decode vs SortedResearch
- Free Card Sort vs Murat Yilmaz Card Sorting
All card sorting software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update