Compare Lyssna vs Maze features, research methods, and panel access. Find the best user research platform with inclusive features and flexible mid-tier pricing.

Here’s how customers review Lyssna and Maze on G2.com.
Rating | Lyssna | Maze |
Overall rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Meets requirements | 8.5/10 🏅 | 8.2/10 |
Ease of use | 9.2/10 🏅 | 9.0/10 |
Ease of setup | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 |
Ease of admin | 8.9/10 | 9.1/10 |
Quality of support | 9.2/10 🏅 | 8.7/10 |
Partner in doing business | 9.1/10 | 9.2/10 |
Product direction | 9.3/10 🏅 | 8.4/10 |
Teams evaluating user research platforms consistently cite three key factors that lead them to choose Lyssna over Maze:
Inclusive feature access. While most platforms gate their advanced research features behind higher-tier plans, Lyssna makes great research available without requiring enterprise budgets. Whether users need card sorting, tree testing, or prototype testing, it's all available from day one – even on the free plan. For teams needing diverse research methods without artificial constraints, Lyssna removes the barriers that typically limit research scope.
Better mid-tier value. Lyssna's Growth plan ($199/month) provides 3 studies per month with full feature access, while Maze jumps from 1 study per month on Starter directly to custom Enterprise pricing. For teams conducting regular research who need more than one study per month but aren't ready for enterprise commitments, Lyssna's Growth plan fills a crucial gap that Maze leaves unaddressed.
Integrated panel access and flexible pricing. Lyssna owns and operates a panel of 690,000+ participants across 124 countries with 395+ targeting options available on all paid plans. Lyssna charges $1 per credit (1 credit per minute of test length, per participant), while Maze partners with third-party providers and charges $5 per credit per participant response, with advanced targeting filters limited to Enterprise customers. For teams needing precise demographic targeting without enterprise pricing and running tests of varying lengths, Lyssna's owned panel and inclusive feature access provides greater flexibility and control.
What really sets Lyssna apart is the combination of methodological breadth, mid-tier flexibility, and cost-effective panel recruitment. While Maze excels at ease of setup and provides AI-powered capabilities, Lyssna provides a comprehensive research platform with diverse methods, superior panel quality at lower costs, and a growth-stage pricing option – making professional user research feasible for teams of all sizes and maturity levels.

Access to all research methods
Lyssna offers a wide range of research methodologies across all paid plans (plus core methodologies on the Free plan), whereas Maze reserves features like tree testing and card sorting for enterprise-level subscriptions. For teams needing methodological flexibility without enterprise budgets, Lyssna provides comprehensive research capabilities from the start.

Panel ownership and targeting
Lyssna owns and operates its research panel of 690,000+ individuals globally, with 395+ demographic targeting options available on all paid plans. Maze integrates with third-party panel providers with advanced targeting filters reserved for Enterprise customers only. Lyssna's pricing is time-based ($1 per credit, 1 credit per minute per participant), while Maze charges a flat rate per response ($5 per credit). For researchers requiring precise participant targeting accessible to all plan tiers, Lyssna provides greater control over recruitment criteria.

Research plan structure
Both platforms use monthly study limits, but with different allocations. Lyssna offers 1 study per month on Starter and 3 studies per month on Growth (with annual plans providing 12 and 36 studies upfront respectively). Maze limits users to 1 study per month on both their Free and Starter ($99/month) plans. For teams conducting regular research, Lyssna's Growth plan provides more studies per month, while both platforms offer Enterprise options for higher volumes.

Interview capabilities
Both platforms offer comprehensive interview features with calendar integrations (Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook), Zoom connectivity, AI-powered summaries, and transcription. Lyssna provides interview capabilities including screeners, participant management, automatic Zoom uploads, and co-hosts available across paid plans. Maze offers similar scheduling and integration features with AI-powered analysis positioned as part of their moderated interview studies, which require contacting sales for access. For teams needing full interview capabilities at accessible price points without sales conversations, Lyssna's interview feature is available on Starter and Growth plans with transparent pricing.
Feature | Lyssna | Maze |
|---|---|---|
Free plan features | ||
Seats included | ||
Pay-per-use panel credits | ||
Research | ||
Card sorting | (Enterprise only) | |
Conditional logic | ||
First click testing | ||
Five second testing | ||
Live website testing | ||
Prototype testing with Figma | ||
Surveys | ||
Tree testing | (Enterprise only) | |
User interviews | (Enterprise only) | |
Participant recruitment | ||
Research panel access | ||
Advanced panel targeting criteria | (Enterprise only) | |
Panel credits | Pay-per-use | Pay-per-use |
Panel credit cost | US$1 per credit | US$5 per credit |
Custom screening | ||
Self recruitment |
| |
AI-powered features | ||
AI generated summaries | ||
AI follow-up questions | ||
Analysis and reporting | ||
Heatmaps | ||
Video recordings | ||
CSV exports | ||
Interviews | ||
Microsoft integration | Includes integrated video conferencing | |
Google Calendar integration | ||
Zoom integration | ||
Video transcription | ||
Support | ||
Email support | ||
Live chat | ||
Help center | ||
Pricing flexibility | ||
Free plan | ||
Entry-level plan | ||
Mid-level plan | ||
Enterprise plan | ||
Security | ||
SOC 2 compliant | ||
GDPR compliant | ||
SSO |