HotGloo vs. Optimal

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
HotGloo
Score 8.0 out of 10
Small Businesses (1-50 employees)
HotGloo is an online wireframing and prototyping tool. This solution has been designed for all those engaged in the concept, design and development of web or app projects: project managers, information architects, usability experts, freelancers, concept people, digital agencies, web companies, publishers, web designers, web developers and many more. The vendor’s value proposition is that this solution makes it easy to wireframe web and mobile sites and to collaborate with others due to the…
$13
up to 4 users, 2 active projects, unlimited reviewers
Optimal
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
Optimal Workshop, a company in New Zealand, offers their suite of user research tools on a subscription basis, including the Treejack information architecture tool, OptimalSort card sorting test, Chalkmark first-click testing, and other tools.
$2,388
per year
Pricing
HotGlooOptimal
Editions & Modules
Group
$13
up to 4 users, 2 active projects, unlimited reviewers
Team
$27
up to 10 users / 6 active projects / unlimited reviewers
Agency
$54
up to 20 users / 15 active projects / unlimited reviewers
Enterprise
150 +
More users and projects, priority support. Get in touch for an individual quote.
Starter
$2388
per year
Enterprise
Custom
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
HotGlooOptimal
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsThe billing period starts on the day you upgrade from the free trial to a paying plan. If you pay by credit card the service is billed in advance on a monthly basis and is non-refundable. There will be no refunds or credits for partial months of service, upgrade/downgrade refunds, or refunds for months unused with an open account. If you do choose to cancel your account in the future, you will never be charged again, but you are responsible for charges already incurred up until your cancellation. For monthly recurring payments we accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express through our online payment system. You can also prepay any account for 12 months with credit card. In certain cases we also take money transfers – please contact us beforehand if you want to use this option.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
HotGlooOptimal
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HotGlooOptimal
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Score 9.1 out of 10
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Score 8.2 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
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Score 9.1 out of 10
Optimizely Web Experimentation
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Score 8.7 out of 10
Enterprises
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Optimizely Web Experimentation
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Score 8.7 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
HotGlooOptimal
Likelihood to Recommend
7.8
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.9
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
HotGlooOptimal
Likelihood to Recommend
HotGloo is well suited to a dispersed team of users who are looking to collaboratively wireframe and prototype their latest web solutions. It's extremely intuitive and comes with a large widget library meaning the newest user can be up and running very quickly. In browser access means it's extremely accessible whether you're working in a room together or across the country at home.
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The tools are great for user researchers who have a solid foundation with IA research methods, or are willing to learn them while using the tools. However they don't magically create valid IA studies; someone with no IA research experience may struggle to use the tools and/or run studies resulting in poor quality data.
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Pros
  • Elements Library
  • Symbols Library
  • Interface supports workflow
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  • Optimal Workshop's UI and UX are impeccable. It's incredibly easy to use and set up tests even for novices.
  • Optimal Workshop's test type offerings are fantastic. They have almost anything you could need within the platform.
  • Optimal Workshop's payment options are incredibly reasonable and useful whether you're doing very few tests or a lot of tests.
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Cons
  • logical structure of interface objects
  • preview view does not scale frame on small screens
  • Tool ribbon
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  • The recruitment panelists are not professional, nor do they take the tasks seriously. You are going to get a lot of bad data.
  • They are HQ'd outside the US and must have a small team because the customer service is the absolute WORST I've experienced in their industry.
  • They pride themselves on documentation, but when they fail to document something they blame the customer for the mistake.
  • There are way too many limitations with the tool after you launch, limited integrations, and poor survey questionnaire options. The tool itself is far too basic for most sites, especially B2B.
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Usability
No answers on this topic
I would rate Optimal Workshop's overall usability 9 out of 10 due to several key factors. Firstly, the platform has a user-friendly interface makes navigation straightforward, even for first-time users. The tools and features are well-organized, ensuring users can quickly find what they need without unnecessary complexity. Secondly, the platform is highly intuitive, meaning users can easily understand how to perform tasks without extensive guidance. This is supported by clear and concise instructions throughout the application, reducing the learning curve significantly.
Additionally, the learnability of Optimal Workshop is exceptional. New users can become proficient in a short amount of time, thanks to its well-thought-out design and helpful onboarding materials. Even more advanced features are presented in a way that feels approachable and manageable. Finally, the platform supports a seamless workflow, allowing users to focus on their research or tasks rather than struggling with the software. These qualities collectively make Optimal Workshop a reliable and efficient tool for many projects, justifying its high usability rating.
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Support Rating
No answers on this topic
We’ve never had to use much of their support services since the platform is very easy to use, we have however needed to transfer ownership between team members due to people leaving or other circumstances. Under those situations, the support offered to us has been been very quick and efficient and we never had to nudge them much to get the job done.
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Alternatives Considered
HotGloo is tailored to this use case and therefore considers the right user needs. I think one strength is that it focuses on the main aspect. There are other tools, that have more extensive features. However, those are then more complex and not so well made for the specific work I use it for. Thus, I like HotGloo also because of the element and symbols library. Which has the right depth and detail - no more, no less then needed.
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Optimal Workshop was the best tool that provided just what we needed and not anything more. The price point was also perfect for us as it provided room to try it out and then jump into a bigger package
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Return on Investment
  • Build more wireframes quicker and deliver to client and provide options.
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  • Optimal Workshop has provided a very low-risk, quick testing ground for navigation menus. So while the full impact cannot be determined, we are happy we are using Optimal Workshop, and are gaining benefits from it.
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ScreenShots

HotGloo Screenshots

Screenshot of HotGloo 24/7 run & test anywhere.Screenshot of Responsive wireframing with different viewports.Screenshot of Create mobile app wireframesScreenshot of From desktop over tablet to mobile.