Lyssna vs Optimal Workshop

From $89 per month (indicative, Basic)

From $199 per month (indicative, per user)

Panel responses are purchased separately per participant, typically a low single-digit dollar amount for general audiences.

Annual plans reduce the effective monthly rate substantially; recruitment is separate.

Free plan with limited monthly responses.

Free plan with limited participants per study.

Established

Lyssna · since 2011

Established

Optimal Workshop · since 2008

• Extremely fast — a first-click test can be designed, run and answered inside an hour.
• Cheap enough to use for routine design decisions rather than special projects.
• Simple test types that non-researchers can run correctly.

• The reference tool for card sorting and tree testing; the analysis visualisations are excellent.
• Tree testing validates navigation before any build effort is spent.
• Well-established methodology support and training material.

• Narrow: it answers specific comparative questions, not exploratory ones.
• No moderated sessions.
• Panel is general-population; niche B2B audiences are hard to reach.

• Narrow scope — it does not do usability testing of interfaces.
• Expensive per seat for occasional use.
• Interface is dated in places.

Design teams that want quick evidence for everyday interface decisions.

Teams restructuring navigation, taxonomy or content on a large site.