Getting started with card sorting
If you’re new to card sorting, this guide covers the basics:
Introduction to card sorting (Optimal Workshop)
There’s also a 16-minute YouTube video here:
Getting started with card sorting with Donna Spencer
Tools for card sorting
Optimal Workshop
We had a good experience using this tool. We don’t currently have access to it within the UX team.
Pro version is $199 per month, or $107 a month if you pay annually.
Optimal Workshop has discounts for some education users.
To qualify as an Education Partner:
- you must be a professor, educator, or course administrator at a university, college, or continuing education provider
- you can facilitate student access to Optimal Workshop
You do not qualify if:
- you’re a student
- your organization does not offer courses applicable to Optimal Workshop.
Optimal Education Partner Program
UX Metrics
UX consultant Paul Boag recommended this to us in a training session. It’s different from the other tools because it only does card sorting and tree testing.
- Free version limits you to 3 participants.
- Paid version is $49 per month.
UX Tweak
Haven’t used this one.
- Free plan limits you to 15 respondents per month.
- Basic plan is €125 per month, or €113 per month if you pay annually.
Lyssna
Haven’t used this one either.
- Free version gives you 15 self-recruited test and survey responses viewable
- Basic plan is $89 per month, or $75 per month if you pay annually.
Well Sorted
This is completely free.
Unfortunately it’s not designed for the type of card sorting you do when planning a website, and the interface is a bit clunky.
Maze
We’ve found Maze works well for remote usability testing, so it was interesting to see that it also supports card sorts.
You need an organisation plan (unknown cost) to access card sorts.
The Starter plan is $99 per month and doesn’t allow open card sorting.
More blog posts on card sorts
Great British Cake Sort (Content Design London)
Last updated
This page was last updated on 10 January 2025.
