A free OptimalSort alternative, no sign-up to build
Build open, closed or hybrid card sorts, preview them and download the results without an account. Sign in only when you want to share a study with participants.
Build a card sortSide by side
Optimal Workshop details from optimalworkshop.com/pricing and /optimalsort, checked 19 October 2026. Plans change, so check their site. OptimalSort is a product of Optimal Workshop; we are not affiliated.
What you get here
Up to 60 cards
Paste a list in one go.
Random card order
A different sequence for each person.
CSV downloads
Responses and the similarity matrix.
Preview as participant
Try your study before you share it.
Common questions
Do I need an account to build a card sort?
No. You can build a sort, preview it as a participant and download your results without signing up. You only sign in (free, by email link) when you want to share the study with participants or save your work.
Which sort types can I run?
Open, closed and hybrid. In an open sort people make and name their own groups, in a closed sort they use your categories, and in a hybrid sort they can do both.
How many cards can a study have?
Up to 60. You can paste a list of cards in one go, and turn on random card order so everyone sees a different sequence.
What do I get from the results?
A dendrogram, a similarity matrix showing how often each pair of cards was grouped together, and the group names people chose in an open sort. You can download the responses and the matrix as CSV files.
Can I stop a study automatically?
Yes. Set a response limit, a close date, or both, and the study stops taking responses on its own. You can also close it by hand at any time.
Is this made by Optimal Workshop?
No. OptimalSort is an Optimal Workshop product. This is a separate tool built by UX Academy and we are not affiliated with them.