Sawtooth Software review
A specialized choice-research platform with flexible surveys, MaxDiff, and conjoint analysis.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Sawtooth Software combines survey creation, data collection, conjoint analysis, MaxDiff, and market research analytics. It is designed for market research firms, businesses, universities, government agencies, and health economics consultants conducting product, pricing, customer satisfaction, segmentation, opinion polling, and related studies. The product spans a browser-based Discover platform and Lighthouse Studio, a Windows application with web data collection capabilities.
The plan structure makes the product accessible for smaller studies while preserving a clear path to larger projects. The Free plan supports up to 50 respondents per survey, unlimited surveys, unlimited general survey questions, and choice-based conjoint and MaxDiff. Professional adds unlimited respondents, surveys, and survey questions while retaining choice-based conjoint and MaxDiff. Premier adds advanced choice-based conjoint and MaxDiff, plus Windows authoring and web data collection. Paid plans are annual subscriptions. The standout depth is its choice-research toolkit: adaptive conjoint, choice-based conjoint, MaxDiff best-worst scaling, quotas, respondent segmentation, crosstabs, and external-data imports support studies that go beyond basic questionnaires.
For broader survey workflows, Sawtooth Software includes multiple-choice, grid, open-ended, numeric, ranking, and constant-sum questions, along with skip logic, conditional display logic, custom CSS and JavaScript styling, data downloads, and real-time reports. Its panel-sourcing connections extend across more than 60 countries, adding reach for research that needs respondents beyond an existing audience. The main trade-off is focus: teams seeking conjoint, MaxDiff, or segmentation research have a strong fit, while teams needing only straightforward form creation may find the specialized analysis scope unnecessary. Buyers should also choose the platform that matches their workflow, since authoring options span web and Windows.
Questions about Sawtooth Software
Does Sawtooth Software have a free plan? Yes, there is a free plan.
What does Sawtooth Software run on? Web, Windows and Android. It runs in the cloud, as a desktop app and as a mobile app.
What does Sawtooth Software integrate with? 10 integrations, including AskNicely, Bilendi, Cint, Dynata and Google Forms.
Who is Sawtooth Software built for? Small businesses, mid-market companies and enterprises (our editorial estimate).
Sawtooth Software pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Choice-based, adaptive, and advanced conjoint analysis
- MaxDiff, quotas, segmentation, and real-time reporting
- Panel sourcing through connections in more than 60 countries
- Where it doesn't
- Paid plans are sold as annual subscriptions
- Premier authoring includes a Windows application
- Its strongest capabilities center on specialized research methods
Sawtooth Software fact sheet, pricing and score →
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