Maze vs Optimal

Maze vs Optimal: Choose the right platform

Which platform is the best for user research? Compare features, pricing, and capabilities to find the right user research platform for your team.

Why Choose Optimal over Maze

Teams that switch from Maze to Optimal typically do so for these four reasons:

1. Connected research from discovery to delivery
Optimal is a unified user research platform that connects participant recruitment, prototype testing, live site testing, card sorting, tree testing, and surveys—all in one place.

Why it matters: Run consistent, high-quality studies throughout the product lifecycle without switching tools or sacrificing speed.
2. Powerful insight synthesis, ready to share
Optimal’s AI-powered reporting transforms raw data into actionable insights, with automated summaries, visualizations, and export-ready deliverables.

Why it matters: Stakeholders get what they need fast. Teams make more confident, insight-backed decisions with less friction.
3. Information architecture tools you can’t get anywhere else
Optimal is the industry leader in card sorting and tree testing, trusted by teams at Netflix, LEGO, and Apple to validate site structure and navigation before they build.

Why it matters: Better IA means better usability, lower friction, and more intuitive experiences.
4. Built to scale with your team
From startups to global enterprises, Optimal supports your research growth with enterprise-grade security, global recruitment, flexible roles, and dedicated support.

Why it matters: Product managers, UX researchers, designers, and operations teams can collaborate in one centralized research platform that is built for scale.

Maze vs Optimal: Key Differences

Maze vs Optimal: Feature Comparison

Capability
Optimal
Maze
Research Workflow
End-to-end platform from recruitment to insights
Focused on unmoderated usability testing
Test Flexibility
Fully customizable flows, logic branching, Figma integration
Fixed question blocks and predefined structures
Prototype Testing
Advanced prototype support and live site testing
Ideal for basic prototype validation
Insight Analysis
AI-powered synthesis, summaries, and stakeholder-ready reporting
Basic metrics and manual analysis
Enterprise Features
SOC 2 compliance, SSO, global scalability, multi-team support
Limited to custom enterprise plans
Participant Recruitment
100M+ global panel with precise targeting
Available on select tiers
Support Model
Dedicated success managers and proactive support
Scalable, reactive support model
Pricing Structure
Transparent, scalable pricing across all teams
Tiered pricing from individual to enterprise

Summary: Maze or Optimal?

Maze is a strong fit for early-stage usability testing and design sprints.

Optimal is ideal for teams looking to scale research, deepen insight, and influence decisions. With end-to-end functionality, AI-powered analysis, and enterprise-grade support, Optimal is the user insights platform that grows with your team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Optimal better suited for enterprise UX research?

Optimal is purpose-built for enterprise research programs, offering platform stability, advanced AI-powered analysis, flexible study design, and proactive customer support. While Maze is designed for speed, Optimal delivers the depth, reliability, and scalability required for complex research across large teams.

Can I import my Figma prototypes into Optimal?

Absolutely. Optimal integrates seamlessly with Figma and supports advanced prototype interactions, so you can test full user flows with complete control over the experience.

How does Optimal support larger teams?

Optimal includes enterprise-grade features like SSO, SOC 2 compliance, role-based access controls, and multi-user management. We also provide shared workspaces for cross-functional collaboration and a dedicated success team to support long-term research maturity.

Is Optimal only for researchers?

Not at all. Product managers, designers, marketers, and research teams all use Optimal to uncover insights and validate decisions. Whether you're running continuous discovery or testing usability, Optimal empowers every role to work with user feedback.

How does pricing compare to Maze?

Maze offers a wide pricing range based on team size and features. Optimal provides transparent, scalable pricing that reflects the value of a complete, end-to-end research platform. We’re happy to tailor a plan to match your needs and goals.

Can I recruit participants through Optimal?

Yes. Optimal gives you access to over 100 million verified participants in 150+ countries. You can recruit by role, location, demographics, or invite your own users (free), all through one integrated system.

Seeing is believing

Explore our tools and see how Optimal makes gathering insights simple, powerful, and impactful.