Head-to-head · Card Sorting Software
Decode vs Proven by Users Card Sort
Decode leads on 0 checks, Proven by Users 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 7.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.
Decode is the better fit for teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research. Proven by Users Card Sort is the better fit for researchers needing nested categories and detailed views.
- Decode fits best
Teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research
- Proven by Users Card Sort fits best
Researchers needing nested categories and detailed views
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Side by side
| Feature | Decode 8.8/10 Visit ↗ | Proven by Users Card Sort 7.5/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.8 | 7.5 |
| Ranking | #2 in Card Sorting Software | #7 in Card Sorting Software |
| Best for | Teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research | Researchers needing nested categories and detailed views |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | — | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7 | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Decode 4/4 · Proven by Users 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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| Cons |
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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 → |
Proven by Users Card Sort is a browser-based tool for remote, unmoderated card-sorting research. It suits solo, small-team, and mid-market researchers who need to study information architecture with open, closed, or hybrid methods.… 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
Proven by Users Card Sort — where it wins
- Supports open, closed, and hybrid card-sorting studies
- Nested categories, subgroups, images, and card duplication
- Similarity, dendrogram, agreement views, and CSV export
Where it doesn't
- Free projects allow 10 responses per project
- Runs through the web rather than native desktop or mobile apps
- Support is limited to email and documentation
- Decode8.8/10 · Free plan · pricing on request
Advanced card sorting with recruitment, analysis and wider user-research tools.
Visit DecodeFull verdict → - Proven by Users Card Sort7.5/10 · Free plan
A flexible card-sorting workspace with strong analysis and a response cap on free projects.
Visit siteFull verdict →
More comparisons
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- Decode vs SORTREE
- Decode vs ValidateThat
- Decode vs SortedResearch
- Free Card Sort vs Proven by Users Card Sort
All card sorting software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update