Every business owner knows that the key to success is to never stop improving. The question is, how do you go about it? To find the answer, you need the best survey tools you can get your hands on.
Consider this simple example: Around 60% of survey respondents are willing to do more business with companies that offer them better service. So, if you want to attract repeat customers, you should be focusing more on this part of your operation.
In other words, surveys are powerful data collection techniques that can help you make better business decisions. The key is finding the right tools to get the job done.
A Quick Look at the Best Online Survey Tools
| Best Survey Platforms | Free Version | Best Feature |
| SurveyMonkey | Yes | Intuitive user interface |
| Google Forms | Yes | Integrate with Google Sheets Free data analysis tool |
| Picreel | Free trial for 30 days | Tons of special discounts and offers |
| QuestionPro | Yes | Uses branching logic |
| SurveySparrow | Yes | Effective at managing customer experience |
| Typeform | Yes | Outstanding customer support capabilities |
| Jotform | Yes | Vast selection of free templates (over 7,000) |
| ProProfs | Yes | Offers advanced features like real-time analytical capabilities |
| SurveyLegend | Yes | Loads quickly on mobile devices |
| HubSpot | Yes | Comes with free marketing tools |
| AskNicely | No | Collects live data using NPS |
| SoGoSurvey | Yes | Free plan is feature-packed |
| Survey Anyplace | Free trial for seven days | Offers many customization options |
Best Survey Tools Online
The best survey tools can help you gather valuable insights to guide you when making big business decisions. Some of them even come with useful metric analysis tools to help you make sense of the data collected.
That said, one of the biggest challenges for an organization is identifying which paid or free online survey software suits them. We’re here to make your life easier by taking a look at some of today’s leading online survey platforms.
1. SurveyMonkey
No discussion about the best survey tools online is complete without SurveyMonkey. With this software solution, you can create surveys and get actionable insights using its advanced data analysis tools.
What makes it so effective is that it has a very intuitive user interface. You can generate complex survey questions even if you do not have any coding skills. Even better, you can process user feedback and responses easily. From there, you’d be able to come up with the most appropriate action plan based on the results.
SurveyMonkey comes with a free version, and you can sign up for it and start creating survey questions within minutes. However, note that you need to get the paid version if you want to access the survey data in XLS or CSV format.
There are a number of pricing tiers for you to choose from. You should get higher subscription plans if you expect more than a thousand responses per month. The good news is that even the most basic plan offers multilingual surveys and free integration with popular collaboration apps. It also comes with analytical tools and tons of other advanced features.
2. Google Forms
More than four billion people use Google to look up all sorts of information online. That is more than half of the world’s entire population. However, despite cornering 84% of the global search engine market, it has so much more to offer. It is also known for its very useful and, more importantly, free business tools.
Google Forms is more of the same, and it lives up to the company’s towering reputation. What sets it apart from the best free survey tools is that it is packed full of cool features. If you didn’t know that it costs zero dollars, you’d think it is a premium survey software that comes with a prohibitive price tag.
To illustrate, after launching an online survey, you can have the responses sent to Google Sheets automatically. From there, you can filter it, sort it, and do all kinds of useful things.
Next, you can look over the collected data with its free analysis feature. It allows you to spot patterns that are impossible to detect on your own. In other words, it unlocks key information that could help you make informed decisions.
On top of all these, you can use your logo and other elements that will help you stay on brand. You can also add images or videos that might help your customers understand the questions better, making their survey responses more accurate. Remember to use the best photo editing software to make sure you get your message across.
3. Picreel
Picreel is a comprehensive tool that helps businesses generate more leads and optimize conversion. It also offers survey tools on top of its long list of sales growth services. One of its unique characteristics is that it has tons of special offers and invitations that will wow most visitors. Even so, customers do not find the high number of pop-ups annoying.
Another thing you need to know about Picreel is that it has on-site retargeting features. You can focus on specific respondents based on key demographics like search intent, referral source, and whether they are new or returning visitors.
Like some of the best online survey tools today, Picreel is easy to use. You can choose from a number of templates and add interactive elements like call buttons and timers. This way, people won’t find your surveys boring, and you will have a high response rate.
On top of this, you can also add pop-up overlays and track your ROI. You won’t lose any of these capabilities even if your respondent is using a mobile device like a smartphone. Note that Picreel is not a free survey software, although you can try it for free for 30 days.
4. QuestionPro
Many individuals and enterprises have QuestionPro at the top of their lists, and it is easy to see why. This online survey software is easy to use and comes with multiple survey templates. You can customize any of them within a few minutes, after which you can launch sophisticated surveys.
Aside from giving you important customer feedback data, this online survey tool could be a part of your marketing strategy. That’s because it allows you to send different rewards to customers who complete the survey. It is also a great way to attract new customers and gain valuable insights about your target audience.
Another thing that makes QuestionPro a crowd favorite is that it helps you ask the right questions to the right people. It uses branching logic, a feature that creates a unique path based on the answers of the respondents. As a result, not only is data collection easy but also on target.
You can gather thousands of responses quickly and draw the right information to help you make good decisions. The NPS+ and other tools are also very helpful in enhancing the customer journey of your respondents.
5. SurveySparrow
Turning boring or complex surveys into stimulating conversations with your customers is an art, one that SurveySparrow has mastered. There are many things to love about SurveySparrow if you are looking to set effective customer feedback surveys in motion.
This platform is a one-stop shop when it comes to managing customer experience in different channels. It also lets you launch employee engagement surveys, allowing you to enhance both customer and employee satisfaction.
It comes with a free version you can unlock simply by signing up. It has everything you need to achieve survey completion, including a custom reports filter, Google Analytics integration, and response notifications. You can also use it to run three active survey projects at 10 questions per survey.
Another cool feature you would like about this survey software solution is that you can add your own logos and use your own colors. You can also customize existing templates to suit your target audience. This feature is very important because response rates vary greatly from one type of survey to another.
Conducting market research and customer satisfaction surveys are difficult tasks since only 10% to 30% respond to them. However, if you create vibrant, stimulating surveys, you could increase your chances of piquing the interest of your target audience.
6. Typeform
Based on a recent Zendesk report, 81% of consumers are willing to make another purchase from a company that provides great customer service. It shows how much people value a positive relationship with a brand. If you are one of them, you would love Typeform.
Typeform is an online survey tool known for its outstanding customer support capabilities. It pays a lot of attention to user interactions and uses this approach to drive engagement.
Aside from its stellar customer support service, Typeform is known for its scalable pricing. It has the usual subscription plans, from the Free All the Way to the Business Tier. You can choose from any of these options, depending on your need.
However, if you do not like any of their pricing plans, you can contact their sales team and ask for a customized solution. It comes with custom response limits, VIP support, branding services, and single sign-on.
Typeform is a great option whether you are a survey veteran or a newbie. It has a seamless onboarding process where you even get to fill out the forms yourself. You can choose from a number of different templates and use them as a reference point. If you have more experience, you can create your surveys from scratch.
As for the user interface, everything is very intuitive. Because of this, you won’t have any problems creating a great experience for your survey respondents.
7. Jotform
Jotform is another wildly popular online survey platform, and for good reason. It is packed full of handy features to help you build and launch compelling surveys. This is true even for the free plan, which allows a maximum of five surveys. You can ask up to 100 questions for each survey and get a maximum of 100 responses a month.
What makes Jotform stand out even more is that all these features are just appetizers. Its real claim to fame is that it has a vast selection of free templates—over 7,000 to be precise. With this many options, you won’t have any problems finding one that suits your unique needs.
When it comes to integration with other apps, Typeform is no slouch either. You can automatically sync all the data collected from your forms with other tools you are already using. This way, you can manage the information better and come up with more appropriate action plans.
If you want to create sophisticated form fields, Jotform has got you covered. It lets you add over a hundred widgets to enable different functionalities, including e-signature, form calculations, checklists, and more.
On top of all these, Jotform supports over 40 payment gateways, allowing you to accept payments with ease. As you can see, even the free plan is far from basic. So, imagine what you can get if you use any of the higher subscription plans.
8. ProProfs
In a recent survey, around 56% of respondents cited faster and more efficient decision-making as one of the biggest benefits of data analysis. It is right at the top of the list, along with improved productivity, the creation of new products or services, and better customer acquisition.
What this statistic points to is obtaining the relevant information and processing it properly offers many advantages. This is where ProProfs comes in.
ProProfs is a survey tool that comes with tons of advanced, real-time analytical capabilities. That said, it is very easy to navigate and has a user-friendly interface. It is designed to satisfy both the survey makers and the respondents. Pair it with the best productivity tools, and you’ll be amazed at how fast your business grows.
Another thing you will love about ProProfs is that it lets you create stimulating surveys quickly and seamlessly. You can choose from over a hundred pre-made templates and give them your own personal touch. Just add your logo and colors or customize the theme to make the form your own. The drag-and-drop editor will make things easy for you from start to finish.
ProProfs comes with a free version you can access by signing up. You can also get the Essentials or Premium plan to unlock branding and other advanced features.
9. SurveyLegend
The estimated number of mobile internet users in 2021 was around 4.32 billion. That’s more than 90% of the world’s entire internet population. In addition, experts believe this figure will keep growing as technologies keep getting better and more accessible.
If you want to take advantage of this trend, you should seriously consider using SurveyLegend. It is a powerful online survey tool that is not only feature-rich but also easy to use. That said, what makes it truly stand out is that it performs just as well on mobile devices.
SurveyLegend loads quickly and lets you perform real-time analytics as the responses come in. You can filter, sort, or search through the data you collected and then generate charts and tables. If you want to dive deeper into the information you gathered, just access any of the reports available through the application.
Aside from these useful features, SurveyLegend lets you do surveys in any language. You can reach out to anyone anywhere in the world by sharing your surveys via email, social media, or SMS marketing.
With this tool, creating compelling surveys has never been easier, whether you are on your computer or your phone.
10. HubSpot
Around 58% of American consumers are inclined to switch brands if they experience disappointing customer service. Acquiring new customers is more expensive than retaining existing ones. So, if you want to maximize your profit margin, you must pay attention to this part of your operation.
You can do this by gathering all the information available about how to increase customer satisfaction. Fortunately, it is something that HubSpot can help you with.
HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM tool that lets you create surveys using your existing customer database. It also comes with free marketing tools and a highly intuitive form builder. With this feature, you won’t have any problems creating standalone or pop-up surveys. You can make embedded or other forms of surveys, too.
Whatever route you take, you can collect and store customer feedback and obtain contact details. In addition, HubSpot’s other CRM tools are at your disposal. It allows you to do prospect tracking or start live chats with customers. You can even access its meeting scheduler.
With this application, you do not just get to create survey forms. You can use other business operation tools to help enhance your customer service.
11. AskNicely
Net Promoter Score, or NPS, is a key metric that marketers use to gauge customer loyalty and satisfaction. Simply put, NPS estimates how likely it is that the customer will recommend your products or services to other people.
A score of 100 is considered perfect, but it is virtually impossible for any brand to achieve this. Anything north of 80 is world-class, while 50 or more is excellent. Above 20 is regarded as favorable and more than zero is good.
The reason we are talking about NPS is that it is the cornerstone of Asknicely’s unique selling point. It collects live data using NPS as a reference. As a result, you get a good sense of how strong your business relationship is with your customers.
On top of this, you can connect AskNicely with other customer workflow apps like HubSpot, Zapier, and Slack. Using suitable integrations, you can target specific customer groups and come up with more detailed information.
For instance, if you want to find out how they are reacting to a new product or service, just create the appropriate survey. Note that this app does not come with a free version. Also, you need to contact AskNicely to get a quote on its pricing plans.
12. SoGoSurvey
SoGoSurvey is the go-to survey tool for industry heavyweights like Apple, IBM, and Sony. However, it does not serve big-name brands only. It also comes with a free plan that offers an unlimited number of surveys and an unlimited number of questions per survey.
The maximum number of responses for this basic tier is 100 for every survey. On top of all these, it has a number of templates for you to choose from. You do not have to start from scratch every time you want to get customer feedback.
Plus, there are different question types available, including text boxes, radio buttons, dropdowns, ratings, and more. You can just take your pick based on your needs.
If you want your form to stand out, SoGoSurvey lets you add descriptive text or images. These capabilities can help you provide helpful context to participants, so you get more insightful responses. You can also publish to various social media platforms and generate a buzz around your survey.
As you can see, there is a lot you can do, even with just the free plan. You can unlock more functionalities by getting any of the paid versions.
13. Qualtrics
When the pandemic hit, Qualtrics responded by offering its basic survey engine for free. The company made this move in recognition of the growing need to listen to concerns and collect feedback.
A couple of years into the pandemic, people’s work situations continue to change. Around 59% of workers in the US still feel they can do most of their jobs from home. However, this number is lower compared to the 2020 figure, which was 71%.
While the desire to work from home is decreasing, one thing remains the same. The situation remains fluid, and organizations still need to listen to their employees and customers.
If you are looking for a survey tool to help you get a sense of your customers’ sentiments, try Qualtrics. It offers advanced features like voice response analytics, real-time reports, logic branching, and more.
You can take your pick from over 30 graph types and export the results in CSV or SPSS. There are also pre-built templates you can modify to fit your needs. With all these features, it is hard to imagine you can get Qualtrics at no cost to you.
14. Survey Anyplace (Now Called Pointer Pro)
Survey Anyplace is another online tool that is very effective in building stimulating questionnaires. Like most of today’s top survey tools, it has an arsenal of pre-designed templates for you to choose from.
What sets it apart is that it lets you customize these existing outlines using elements like images, videos, and even animations. In addition, you can stay on brand by incorporating your own logo, color, or background.
Aside from this, Survey Anyplace offers scratch-offs and discount coupons to make your surveys more engaging. Once you have built your survey, you can get it out to the world through your social media platforms. You can also embed it in your web app if you have one or use an email campaign.
From there, collecting data is a breeze. Once you have the information you need, you can analyze it by generating charts, graphics, or texts. Doing this will help you come up with new and better ways of interacting with your customers or communicating with them. If you made a survey you like in particular, you could save it for future use.
The Right Tools for the Job
In the current business landscape, information is power. It helps you make the right decisions at the right time. There are many ways to collect the data you need, but few tools can match the effectiveness of surveys.
If you execute them properly, surveys can help close the gap between you and your target audience, allowing you to build better business relationships.
Survey Tools FAQs
1. What are the benefits of using online survey tools?
There are many reasons why you should invest in the best online survey software for your business. Here are a few more benefits that come with gathering customer feedback and doing data analysis.
Meaningful Improvements to Your Product or Service
If you create surveys that ask the right questions, you will be able to expose different areas of improvement for your business. It can show you how your target audience perceives your products or services. You can then use this information to find existing and potential issues you should work on.
Once you make the necessary adjustments, you will increase customer satisfaction, draw more customers, and increase your sales.
Understand Your Target Audience Better
As a business owner, your goal is to enhance customer satisfaction. It is the only way you can hit your sales target consistently and grow your brand. However, it is very difficult to have some measure of customer loyalty if you do not know their pain points.
What do they want? How can your products or services meet their needs? If you do not know the answers to these types of questions, it would be very hard to make significant gains. What’s more, even if you do manage to make progress, sustaining it is very hard. Without a clear idea of the reason behind your success, how can you duplicate it?
On the flip side, if you’re consistent in taking the pulse of your target audience, it shows how much you care. This will work to your advantage because 77% of consumers today prefer brands that ask for customer feedback.
Keep Up With Trends as They Emerge
Another reason why gathering data is important is that it can give you valuable insight into upcoming trends. Customers know what they want, but there isn’t always a venue where they can communicate it properly
If you ask for their feedback and listen to them on a regular basis, they will have a direct line to you. This way, you get an unobstructed view of their behavior as consumers. So, when it starts to evolve, you will be first in line to see it. Note you have to analyze all collected data so you can anticipate potential changes in their preferences and choices.
Reduced Customer Attrition
Customer attrition is an important business metric that tells you how many of your customers you lost. You can measure it by dividing the number of people who stopped using your products within a period by the number of your customers at the start of said period.
While the ideal scenario is for all your customers to stick with you, this is not possible. That said, you must do everything you can to minimize it.
Experts believe that an increase of 5% in customer retention can boost your profit by at least 25%. It is important to discuss this piece of information because creating surveys and gathering product feedback can reduce customer churn.
2. How do I choose a survey tool?
There are many things you need to consider before you can decide which survey tool is best for you. Will you integrate it with other apps or software? How do you want to analyze the data you collect from it?
Your choice will depend on your answers to these and other important questions. You could also look at the app’s ease of use, pricing plans, and other features.
3. Which software is best for creating and deploying surveys?
You can choose any survey tool in this list and not regret it. They are all quite easy to use and can help you collect customer feedback quickly and seamlessly. That said, a lot of people like SurveyMonkey.
4. What site is best for research?
Again, any of these tools will do a good job for you. However, a lot of people like Jotform, Typeform, and Google Forms.
5. Is SurveyMonkey free?
SurveyMonkey operates on a business model known in the industry as “freemium.” It offers a basic plan that people can unlock simply by signing up. While it can help you launch surveys, the more advanced features are reserved for the paid plans.
6. Does Google have a survey tool?
Yes. In fact, Google Forms is among the best free survey tools you’ll find today.
