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Updated on Feb 11, 2025

Hands-on Analysis of 7 Best Online Survey Tools in 2025

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Businesses rely on customer feedback to improve their products, services, and the level of customer satisfaction. Although online surveys are a popular way to collect customer feedback, survey tools are not one-size-fits-all solutions for every business’s specific needs.

Survey ToolsFocus
1.
User friendly interface
2.
3.
Third-party integration
4.
Survey customization
5.
AI usage
Show More (2)
6.
Onboarding process
7.
Integration with Zoho products
1.
Resonio by Clickworker logo
User friendly interface
3.
Pollfish logo
Third-party integration
4.
QuestionPro logo
Survey customization
5.
SurveyMonkey logo
AI usage
6.
SurveySparrow logo
Onboarding process
7.
Zoho Survey logo
Integration with Zoho products

Explore our evaluation of the best online survey tools in the market as well as a hands-on experience comparison of 3 most common tools:

Comparison of the 7 leading online survey tools

Last Updated at 09-24-2024
VendorsReviews*Employee sizeFree
trial
Pricing

5.0 out of 2 reviews

1,186

✖️

N/A

SurveyMonkey

3.5 out of 32,844 reviews

1,409

✅ (30-day)

Starts from
30€ per month per user for 3 users & ~4K responses per month

SurveySparrow

4.5 out of 2,093 reviews

402

✅ (14-day)

Starts from 19€ per month per user for ~200 responses per month

Zoho Survey

4.6 out of 1,300 reviews

23,532

✅ (7-day)

Starts from 7€ for ~4K responses per month per customer

QuestionPro

4.7 out of 1,346 reviews

453

✅ (10-day)

Starts from 83$ per user per month for 5+ users & 100K responses per month

Pollfish

4.5 out of 227 reviews

62

✖️

N/A

Delighted by Qualtrics

4.8 out of 98 reviews

26

✅ (30-day)

Starts from 17$ per month for 1 user & 50 responses per month

* Based on the total number of reviews and average ratings on software review platforms.

Disclaimer: N/A indicates that the information has not been publicly disclosed.

Last Updated at 09-24-2024
VendorsLanguagesMedia file
addition
Survey
respondent size
Data quality controlPredictive
analytics
Customer support

45

6M+

AI-powered bot & fraud detection

24/7 phone support

SurveyMonkey

15+

Photo
Video

175M+

AI-powered bot & fraud detection

24/7 phone support

SurveySparrow

70+

Photo
Video

Not provided

with add-ons

24/7 phone support**

Zoho Survey

30+

Not provided

with add-ons

Email support

QuestionPro

100+

22M

Automated response filtering

24/7 live support

Pollfish

50+

250M+

AI-powered bot & fraud detection

24/7 live support

Delighted by Qualtrics

50+

Not provided

Automated response filtering

Email support

For a more detailed comparison, check out our vendor’s deep dive on the top survey tools such as Qualtrics, Pollfish, SurveyMonkey, or Zoho Survey.

For those interested, here is our data-driven list of survey tools.

Also, check out our benchmark on the top market research software.

Vendor selection criteria

We centered our attention on vendors with:

  • At least 3.5/5 average ratings on software review platforms
  • more than 25 employees, as stated on LinkedIn

Detailed evaluation of each vendor

Resonio by Clickworker

Resonio, brand by Clickworker, is a sophisticated survey software that taps into a global network of over 6 million individuals with 15 years of experience in micro-tasking. As an ISO-certified and GDPR-compliant tool, it extends Clickworker’s range of services with a focus on efficient and effective survey capabilities.

Pros

Users appreciate the software for delivering excellent results, noting it enhances efficiency, accuracy, and time management, with its capability to automate tasks with a crowd-based workforce.

Figure 1. A user review on Resonio

Survey respondents: Users state that the crowd in the platform are reliable and fast in delivering results.1 It provides access to a diverse pool of research study participants across six continents, ranging in age from 18 to 80.

Figure 2. Survey participant selection based on participants’ country with Resonio

Survey participant selection dashboard of Resonio, one of the survey tools

Efficiency: The platform is praised for its efficiency in organizing and cleaning up large quantities of images, including sorting through nested folders and removing irrelevant content, with minimal input required from the user.

Quota management: Set distribution quotas to maintain balanced participant representation.

Figure 3. Quota management for survey participants in Resonio

Quota management for survey participants in Resonio, one of the survey tools

For enhanced visibility, Resonio offers paid options to promote surveys via email or increase payouts for recruiting participants.

Data analysis and visualization: The tool also offers advanced analysis and visualizations, contributing to its value in the market research sector.

Figure 4. Virtualization of survey results by Resonio

Virtualization of survey results by Resonio, one of the survey tools

Cons

Pricing: The platform pricing can be high, especially for small businesses. The pricing of the Resonio survey service is based on the number and types of questions included in the survey, as well as the number of participants recruited.

Figure 5. Pricing of Resonio

Pricing of Resonio, one of the survey tools

Delighted by Qualtrics

Delighted by Qualtrics is a survey tool that facilitates the creation and management of customizable surveys. It enables real-time feedback collection from customers via email, web, or SMS. The tool allows users to start surveys from scratch, gather customer insights, and generate reports, all within a single platform.

Pros

User interface: Users appreciate the platform’s user interface for its ease of use and simplicity, enabling them to efficiently gather and report essential information to their company, teams, and executives.

Survey delivery: Users have indicated satisfaction with the platform’s performance, particularly for monthly Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys sent to clients, noting its speed in delivering results and the appealing presentation of feedback.2

Cons

Third-party integrations: Users have pointed out that integrations could be improved.

Reporting: It is noted that the lack of comprehensive reports and in-depth insights necessitates additional manual work to extract the required data.

Downtime: Users have reported intermittent downtime, which poses challenges, particularly when respondents attempt to access surveys during these periods. Although the issues are typically resolved swiftly, the downtime is still a significant concern.

Customer support: Users have expressed that the support services are not fully satisfactory, often requiring multiple inquiries to receive assistance.

Pollfish

Pollfish is a survey tool designed for market research, emphasizing a mobile-first approach. It grants access to a global pool of over 250 million respondents, facilitating real-time feedback collection and actionable customer insights for businesses.

Pros

Survey implementation and templates: The ease of implementation and the availability of predefined templates make it a user-friendly option for conducting surveys and collecting necessary data.

Third-party integration: Users note that integrating Pollfish into various applications is straightforward, with the platform being easy to implement and use across different devices, including mobile and desktops.3

Cons

Bot accounts: It is noted that after completing survey campaigns on Pollfish, the results sometimes include spam data, such as repetitive or bot-generated answers, which is a concern despite the platform’s otherwise satisfactory performance.

Data visualization: Users mention that enhancements could be made in data visualization for a more accessible interpretation of survey results.4

Lack of desktop focus: Users have expressed concern about Pollfish in distributing surveys exclusively on mobile devices, which might lead to respondents quickly speeding through the questions without due consideration.

QuestionPro

QuestionPro, operational since 2002 and based in Austin, Texas, specializes in providing online survey tools. The company is dedicated to offering solutions for survey creation, distribution, and analysis, targeting areas like customer and employee satisfaction.

Pros

User-friendly design: Users value the platform’s user-friendly design, which allows even those without technical expertise to easily create customized surveys and application forms for data collection, noting its intuitiveness for survey creators.

Customer support: Users have reported a positive experience with the platform’s customer support, finding it to be helpful and effective.

Survey customization: Users appreciate the ability to customize the survey as they desire.

Cons

Filtering responses: Users have noted limitations in the platform’s filtering options and the inability to edit or delete individual responses as areas needing improvement.5

Data visualization: Users observe that QuestionPro’s data visualization capabilities are limited and requires additional applications to visualize the data collected.

Learning curve: It is mentioned that learning to use the product requires some time, especially when operating under tight deadlines.

SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey is a platform that provides functionalities for creating, distributing, and analyzing surveys. It features 250+ survey templates and a wide ranges of customization options to accommodate diverse business requirements. The platform offers AI-powered features to facilitate market research at every stage of online surveys, from creation to survey distribution. The platform’s detailed survey participant criteria make it easy to reach the target audience for conducting market research.

Pros

AI usage: This feature sets SurveyMonkey apart from other survey tools. AI tools for the creation of online surveys can be used for generating questions based on research project prompts, suggesting answers for participants to choose from, predicting appropriate question types, estimating completion rates, and more.

Figure 6. AI usage in survey creation with SurveyMonkey

AI usage in survey creation with SurveyMonkey, one of the survey tools

Survey customization: Users highlight SurveyMonkey’s advanced features like logic, branching, and piping, which enhance survey customization, making them more relevant and engaging for respondents.6

Survey participants options: The platform provides lots of options for survey participant criteria, including employment, financial choices, and lifestyle preferences.

Figure 7. Survey participants criteria for SurveyMonkey platform

Survey participants criteria of SurveyMonkey platform, one of the survey tools

Reporting and analytics: We are impressed by SurveyMonkey’s outstanding analytic capabilities. The platform’s data and chart generation greatly facilitate customized reporting of results in real-time web reports for deeper insights.

Figure 8. Filters that can be applied in result reporting in SurveyMonkey

Filters that can be applied in result reporting in SurveyMonkey, one of the survey tools

Cons

URL sharing: The platform offers an option to distribute surveys by URL sharing freely. The platform can be used as a free online survey tool. However, SurveyMonkey’s focus on online operation results in limited options in the free version for conducting surveys offline.

Figure 9. Options to distribute surveys in SurveyMonkey survey platform

Options to distribute surveys in SurveyMonkey survey platform, one of the survey tools

Pricing: Users express a desire for SurveyMonkey to offer more flexible pricing packages that cater to both small and larger businesses. Pricing of the survey response collection is affected substantially by the respondent filters.

Figure 10. Pricing options of SurveyMonkey

Pricing options of SurveyMonkey, one of the survey tools

Login devices: There is a limitation in the number of devices that can be logged in at the same time, restricted to two concurrent logins.7

SurveySparrow

SurveySparrow offers features such as audience management, analytics, customization options, and multi-channel dissemination, including offline capabilities. It features 900+ survey templates. The platform is designed for simplicity and user-friendliness, enabling businesses to engage their audience effectively and gather meaningful responses. It has pricing options for individuals and teams.

Figure 11. Pricing options of SurveySparrow

Pricing options of SurveySparrow, one of the survey tools

Pros

Onboarding process: Users find the onboarding process for SurveySparrow to be highly efficient, requiring minimal time and effort to create accounts, contributing to client retention.

Figure 12. A user review on SurveySparrow

This image shows a user review of SurveySparrow, one of the survey tools

Third-party integration: Users appreciate the versatility of the tool in terms of integration with various other tools, streamlining their workflow and enhancing compatibility with their preferred software.

URL sharing: In the 14-day trial period, the platform enables users to share survey URLs without any fee.

Cons

Reporting features: Users highlight a need for improvement in the reporting and analysis of survey data. They point out that exported reports lack the display of answers to custom text responses and are only accessible online.8

Technical expertise: It is noted that certain options may require a higher level of technical expertise to effectively utilize the survey tool.

Survey customization: Some advanced customization options could be enhanced by allowing customers to incorporate their branding, including the uploading of images and videos, to create a more personalized survey experience.

Zoho Survey

Zoho Survey, initially launched in 2013 as a basic survey creation tool, has significantly evolved into a robust feedback management platform. By November 2023, it has expanded its reach to over 25,000 users in more than 50 countries, with a substantial user base of over 4,000 enterprise clients.

Pros

Survey customization: The capability of creating custom surveys or feedback forms with various response types, including radio buttons, multiple options, and text fields, is appreciated as they allow for a deeper understanding of questions and responses.

Integration with Zoho products: Users find that Zoho Survey functions effectively within the Zoho environment, smoothly connecting and transferring data to other Zoho products.

Cons

Integration capabilities: Users suggest that direct integration with various CRM and Email Marketing tools, without the need for third-party tools, would be a valuable enhancement for the application.

Pricing plans: Users believe that providing more flexible pricing plans or additional options tailored to users with specific needs could enhance accessibility and cater to a broader range of users.

Survey modification: Users highlight a limitation in Zoho Survey where it is unable to modify pre-created surveys, making it restrictive when trying to adapt or upgrade surveys to meet new requirements.

Essential features for online survey tools

Multilingual surveys

In the context of the international market, the inclusion of multilingual capabilities within a survey tool holds significant value. It allows for the deployment of surveys in the preferred languages of diverse market segments, facilitating the collection of valuable insights from customers who may not be proficient in English.

Media file addition (i.e., audio, image, video)

Incorporating images, videos, and other media into surveys is crucial for enhancing engagement and offering a richer context for questions. This approach leads to improved-quality responses, as it makes the survey experience more engaging and informative for participants, ultimately resulting in more valuable insights.

Survey respondents

The availability of tools that provide crowdsourced survey respondents is crucial for businesses, particularly those with limited customer bases or those aiming to capture diverse perspectives. These tools enable access to a broader and more diverse population, facilitating engagement with potential customers and various demographic groups that might not be directly accessible. This approach effectively gauges the sentiments and preferences of a wider audience, enhancing the ability to reach and understand the target market.

Check out our comprehensive guide on survey participant recruitment tools for more details.

Data quality control

Effective data quality control within online survey tools is fundamental to maintain the integrity and credibility of your data. These quality control mechanisms, including AI-driven bots, serve a vital purpose in identifying and preventing the submission of fraudulent or fake responses. By ensuring that your analysis is rooted in authentic customer feedback, this approach becomes indispensable for making trustworthy business decisions and deriving actionable insights.

For more on fake review detection, check out our article.

Predictive analytics

Basic analysis may not suffice in survey research, and the adoption of AI-powered predictive analytics, as seen in advanced survey platforms, proves superior. It allows for anticipating customer needs and making informed decisions about the business’s future by predicting trends and behaviors based on survey responses, offering a more comprehensive and forward-thinking approach than traditional analysis.

Customer support

Access to prompt customer support is crucial when selecting a survey tool as it ensures continuous assistance in formulating, deploying, and interpreting survey data. This support minimizes potential delays and provides essential technical help to address challenges, ensuring a smooth surveying experience.

FAQ

Why invest in an online survey tool?

Investing in an online survey tool provides a multitude of benefits for businesses, allowing them to effectively gather, analyze, and utilize customer feedback to drive informed decision-making and enhance overall business performance. These insights might be beneficial for marketing teams as a way of market research.

What are the capabilities of free online survey tools?

Most free survey tools come with a range of capabilities such as basic survey creation, different question types, basic templates, basic reporting features, or the possibility of distributing the survey to a diverse audience via a link.

When free survey tools are not enough?

While free online survey tools can serve as a suitable starting point for businesses, they often come with limitations that make them less ideal for long-term use and especially for those aiming to create unlimited surveys. These limitations include:
restricted features
limited customization options
poor data analysis capabilities
less reliability
limited customer support.

How to choose the right survey questions?

When selecting survey questions, begin by defining your survey’s objectives. Ensure clarity, impartiality, and singular focus in your questions. Don’t hesitate to mix question types, prioritize crucial ones, and pilot tests for clarity. Maintain survey brevity and gather input from peers in your field for effectiveness.

How to make sure that surveys are answered by the right target?

To ensure that your surveys are answered by the right people with specific expertise, you can leverage survey tools that provide access to survey participants from their existing user base, often referred to as “crowdsourcing” or “panel providers.”. This user base consists of pre-screened respondents with diverse expertise. Survey participant recruitment tools can help businesses reach the right audience for specific survey needs.

If interested, here is our data-driven list of survey participant recruitment services.

For those interested, here is also our data driven list of market research tools.

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Cem has been the principal analyst at AIMultiple since 2017. AIMultiple informs hundreds of thousands of businesses (as per similarWeb) including 55% of Fortune 500 every month.

Cem's work has been cited by leading global publications including Business Insider, Forbes, Washington Post, global firms like Deloitte, HPE and NGOs like World Economic Forum and supranational organizations like European Commission. You can see more reputable companies and resources that referenced AIMultiple.

Throughout his career, Cem served as a tech consultant, tech buyer and tech entrepreneur. He advised enterprises on their technology decisions at McKinsey & Company and Altman Solon for more than a decade. He also published a McKinsey report on digitalization.

He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.

Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Ezgi is an Industry Analyst at AIMultiple, specializing in sustainability, survey and sentiment analysis for user insights, as well as firewall management and procurement technologies.

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