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Head-to-head · Card Sorting Software

Decode vs ValidateThat

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Decode #2 in Card Sorting Software 8.8/10 Free plan · pricing on request Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Decode
ValidateThat #6 in Card Sorting Software 7.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit ValidateThat

Decode leads on 0 checks, ValidateThat 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 7.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

Decode is the better fit for teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research. ValidateThat is the better fit for affordable teams wanting AI-assisted card-sort studies.

  • Decode fits best

    Teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research

  • ValidateThat fits best

    Affordable teams wanting AI-assisted card-sort studies

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Decode 8.8/10 Visit ↗ ValidateThat 7.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 7.6
Ranking #2 in Card Sorting Software #6 in Card Sorting Software
Best for Teams needing advanced card sorts plus broader research Affordable teams wanting AI-assisted card-sort studies
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — $160/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
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 4 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Decode 4/4 · ValidateThat 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
Pros
  • 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
  • Supports open, closed, and hybrid card sorts plus tree tests
  • AI insights, clustering, dendrograms, and similarity matrices
  • Free plan and Prolific recruitment support flexible participant sourcing
Cons
  • 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 analytics cover only the first 3 respondents
  • Recruitment allowances are limited on paid plans
  • Advanced collaboration and branding require Team plans
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 →

ValidateThat is a web-based UX research platform for UX researchers, product teams, agencies, and educators. It supports open, closed, and hybrid card sorts alongside tree tests, first-click or prototype tests, surveys, participant…

Read the review →
  1. DecodeCard Sorting Software 8.8Free plan · pricing on request
  2. ValidateThatCard Sorting Software 7.6Free plan

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

  • ValidateThat — where it wins

    • Supports open, closed, and hybrid card sorts plus tree tests
    • AI insights, clustering, dendrograms, and similarity matrices
    • Free plan and Prolific recruitment support flexible participant sourcing

    Where it doesn't

    • Free analytics cover only the first 3 respondents
    • Recruitment allowances are limited on paid plans
    • Advanced collaboration and branding require Team plans
  • Decode8.8/10 · Free plan · pricing on request

    Advanced card sorting with recruitment, analysis and wider user-research tools.

    Visit DecodeFull verdict →
  • ValidateThat7.6/10 · Free plan

    Affordable card-sort research with AI analysis, broad study types, and a useful free plan.

    Visit ValidateThatFull verdict →

More comparisons

All card sorting software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update