Best Customer Survey Tools Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 23 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Getting honest, useful feedback from customers isn’t easy. You need clear insights to improve experiences, but clunky surveys and low response rates make it frustrating. The right customer survey tool helps you collect, analyze, and act on feedback without wasting time.
I test and review software independently, with a deep understanding of customer experience tools. In this article, I’ll walk you through the best survey solutions available today, focusing on usability, features, and real-world value.
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
We’ve been testing and reviewing customer experience software since 2020. As customer experience managers ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software. We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions.
We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different customer experience use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & check out our software review methodology.
Best Customer Survey Tools Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top customer survey tools selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Best for real-time sentiment analysis | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
2 | Best for multi-channel feedback | Free plan available | From $49/month (billed annually) | Website | |
3 | Best for Salesforce integration | 14-day free trial | From $83/month (billed annually) | Website | |
4 | Best for large enterprises | 30-day free trial + free demo available | From $199/seat/month (billed annually) | Website | |
5 | Best for in-app user feedback | 14-day free trial | From $299/month | Website | |
6 | Best for compliance-focused surveys | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
7 | Best for AI-powered insights | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
8 | Best for academic research surveys | 30-day free trial + free plan available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
9 | Best for offline survey collection | Free demo available | From $23.99/device/month (billed annually) | Website | |
10 | Best for advanced data visualization | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
Best Customer Survey Tool Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best customer survey tools that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
InMoment is a platform that enables businesses to gather and analyze customer feedback to enhance their overall experience. It's designed for companies aiming to understand customer sentiment and satisfaction through various feedback channels.
Why I picked InMoment: It helps you grasp real-time customer emotions with tailored features. Instant analytics provide up-to-date insights into metrics like Net Promoter Score (NPS), Customer Satisfaction (CSAT), and Customer Effort Score (CES), ensuring you catch emerging trends. The platform aligns customer experience metrics with specific business drivers, helping your team pinpoint areas needing attention. Additionally, its closed-loop feedback management system directs customer feedback to the right teams, enabling timely responses and continuous improvement.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include the capability to create custom filters that align with your business model and goals, allowing you to see how metrics like NPS vary across different segments. The platform also offers tools to identify feedback themes through unlimited custom tags or machine learning, helping your team surface issues and prioritize product improvements. Additionally, InMoment provides multi-channel, multi-language surveys that can be customized and deployed across web, mobile, email, and SMS, ensuring you reach your customers wherever they are.
Integrations include Salesforce, Zendesk, Slack, Workday, Intercom, Adobe, Zapier, Quantum Metric, and Dynamics 365.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multi-channel feedback collection
- Real-time analytics
- Customizable surveys
Cons:
- Potential integration challenges
- Complex initial setup with steep learning curve
Zonka Feedback is a platform designed to help businesses collect and analyze customer feedback across various channels. It caters to teams aiming to enhance customer experience by gathering insights from multiple touchpoints. By utilizing Zonka Feedback, organizations can make data-driven decisions to improve their products and services.
Why I picked Zonka Feedback: It enables you to gather feedback from multiple channels seamlessly. Features like email, SMS, and in-app surveys help reach customers wherever they are. Offline survey capabilities allow feedback collection even without an internet connection. This ensures a comprehensive understanding of customer experiences through various interactions.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable customer satisfaction survey templates that let you tailor questions to your specific needs. The platform also offers real-time analytics, allowing you to monitor feedback as it comes in. Additionally, Zonka Feedback provides tools to measure Net Promoter Score (NPS), Customer Satisfaction (CSAT), and Customer Effort Score (CES), helping you track key performance metrics.
Integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Jira, Front, Freshdesk, Intercom, Help Scout, Slack, Mailchimp, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time feedback collection
- Comprehensive analytics dashboard
- Advanced targeting options
Cons:
- Customization may need technical knowledge
- Learning curve for complex functionalities
FormAssembly is a versatile online form builder designed to help organizations create customized forms for various data collection needs. It caters to businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions seeking efficient ways to gather and manage information. Key functionalities include form creation, data collection, and integration with other applications.
Why I picked FormAssembly: It offers seamless Salesforce integration to enhance your data workflows. Features like prefilled forms and dynamic picklists ensure data accuracy and reduce manual entry. The platform can create or update Salesforce records directly from form submissions, streamlining your processes. These capabilities make it a strong choice for organizations looking to optimize their Salesforce operations.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced data collection capabilities, allowing your team to build complex forms with conditional logic and branching. The platform also supports secure data collection with compliance measures like HIPAA and GDPR. Additionally, real-time analytics provide insights into form performance and user engagement.
Integrations include Salesforce, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.Net, Mailchimp, Dropbox, Box, and WordPress.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Flexible form customization options
- Real-time analytics and reporting
- Comprehensive compliance and security features
Cons:
- Mobile app functionality could be improved
- Occasional delays in customer support responses
Sprinklr is a comprehensive platform designed to help businesses manage customer interactions across various digital and social media. It caters primarily to large enterprises seeking to capture customer feedback and enhance their customer service strategies.
Why I picked Sprinklr: Sprinklr offers an online survey tool that enables you to track customer feedback across 30+ digital and social channels, including voice. Its AI-powered capabilities provide predictive insights into customer satisfaction (CSAT). The platform's Survey Builder interface makes effective survey creation with zero coding effort, customizable to align with your brand guidelines. Additionally, Sprinklr's omnichannel routing assigns interactions to the best-suited agents, ensuring quicker resolutions and improved customer satisfaction.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include the ability to create omnichannel surveys that adapt seamlessly across various platforms, ensuring consistent feedback collection. The platform also offers AI-powered sentiment analysis, providing real-time insights into customer emotions and potential issues. Additionally, Sprinklr's unified dashboard consolidates feedback from all channels, giving your team a comprehensive view of customer sentiments and trends.
Integrations include Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Zendesk, ServiceNow, Adobe Experience Manager, Marketo, HubSpot, Shopify, Slack, and Google Analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Scalable for large organizations
- Highly customizable survey designs
- Advanced AI-driven insights
Cons:
- Complexity may require dedicated support
- Occasional delays in feature updates
Userpilot is a product growth platform designed to help SaaS companies enhance user engagement, product adoption, and customer retention. It enables product teams to collect in-app user feedback, analyze user behavior, and create personalized user experiences without requiring coding skills.
Why I picked Userpilot: It enables you to gather user feedback directly within your application through in-app surveys. Customizable question types and conditional logic allow you to tailor surveys to your needs. Behavior-based survey triggers help prompt users for feedback based on their interactions within your app. Additionally, instant translation into over 100 languages ensures you can reach a global audience.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include survey templates for easy setup and behavior-based triggers to prompt surveys based on user actions. AI-powered translation supports over 100 languages, helping you reach a global audience. These tools make it simple to collect user feedback directly within your app.
Integrations include HubSpot, Salesforce, Slack, Intercom, Segment, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics, Zapier, and Jira.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive survey analytics
- No coding required for survey implementation
- Advanced behavior-based survey triggers
Cons:
- Not suitable for non-SaaS applications
- Limited to in-app surveys only
Alchemer is a survey software solution designed for organizations seeking to collect and analyze feedback while adhering to strict compliance standards. It caters to businesses that require advanced survey capabilities with a focus on data security and regulatory compliance.
Why I picked Alchemer: It offers a survey tool designed to prioritize compliance with tailored features. Advanced logic and branching options allow customization to meet specific compliance protocols. Flexible reporting capabilities enable the generation of reports that align with regulatory standards. Additionally, its strong commitment to data security ensures that survey data is handled with the highest level of protection.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include various question types, advanced logic, and branching options. These tools help create surveys that follow compliance requirements. Customizable reporting makes it easy to analyze data.
Integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Slack, Tableau, Mailchimp, Zendesk, Jira, Asana, and Domo.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Wide range of question types
- Flexible reporting features
- Robust data security measures
Cons:
- Occasional user interface inconsistencies
- Integration setup can be complex
Alida is a customer experience management platform that helps businesses gather and analyze customer feedback to enhance their products and services. It serves organizations aiming to understand their customers' needs and preferences through comprehensive data collection and analysis. By leveraging Alida, companies can make informed decisions to improve customer satisfaction and drive business growth.
Why I picked Alida: It helps you gain deep insights from customer feedback with powerful tools. AI-powered text analytics quickly uncover sentiment and meaning from open-ended responses. Advanced visualizations and reports make it easy to interpret data and share findings with your team. This transforms qualitative feedback into measurable data, allowing your team to identify patterns and make informed decisions.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include conversational surveys delivered via SMS, allowing you to engage different customer segments on their preferred channels. The platform also offers community composition analysis, helping you build and maintain a diverse customer community. Additionally, Alida provides tools for advanced survey scripting, enabling you to create tailored surveys that meet your specific research needs.
Integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Zendesk, Slack, Tableau, Power BI, Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, and AWS.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Conversational surveys via SMS
- Comprehensive community composition analysis
- Advanced survey scripting capabilities
Cons:
- Learning curve for complex functionalities
- Advanced features may require training
Qualtrics is a sophisticated online survey platform designed to help organizations create, distribute, and analyze surveys for various purposes, including academic research. It caters to researchers, educators, and institutions seeking to gather valuable insights through customizable surveys and advanced data analysis tools. By utilizing Qualtrics, users can streamline their research processes and make data-driven decisions.
Why I picked Qualtrics: It supports academic research with a range of powerful features. Customizable questionnaire templates allow you to tailor surveys to your specific research needs. Multiple distribution channels like email, web, and mobile help you reach your target audience effectively. Real-time data collection and automated reporting enable prompt analysis, providing timely insights for your research projects.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced survey logic, enabling you to design complex surveys with conditional branching and skip patterns. The platform also offers AI-powered analytics, helping you uncover patterns and trends in your data. Additionally, Qualtrics ensures robust security measures, safeguarding sensitive research data throughout the survey process.
Integrations include Salesforce, Marketo, Adobe Analytics, Tableau, Slack, SAP, Zendesk, Microsoft Dynamics, Google Analytics, and HubSpot.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Robust security measures for data protection
- AI-powered analytics for in-depth insights
- Advanced survey logic capabilities
Cons:
- Customization may require technical expertise
- Learning curve for advanced features
Surveyapp is a versatile survey platform designed for businesses seeking to gather feedback across various channels. It enables users to create and distribute surveys both online and offline, ensuring continuous data collection regardless of internet connectivity.
Why I picked Surveyapp: It offers offline survey capabilities, allowing your team to collect responses without an internet connection. This is particularly useful for on-site data collection in areas with limited connectivity. Additionally, the platform supports both iOS and Android devices, providing flexibility in device choice. With features like smiley face surveys and conversational interfaces, Surveyapp enhances respondent engagement, leading to higher response rates.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include the ability to create multi-language surveys, enabling you to reach a diverse audience. The platform also offers survey customization options, allowing your team to tailor the look and feel to align with your brand. Additionally, Surveyapp provides real-time feedback alerts, so you can promptly address any issues or insights gathered from respondents.
Integrations include ServiceNow, Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and HubSpot.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Provides real-time feedback alerts
- Customizable survey designs
- Supports multiple languages
Cons:
- Limited offline data storage capacity
- Potential integration challenges with certain platforms
Forsta is a survey software platform designed for businesses seeking to gather and analyze customer feedback. It serves professionals aiming to understand their audience's experiences and opinions, facilitating informed decision-making.
Why I picked Forsta: It offers a range of survey deployment options, including online, phone, web, digital intercept, and even paper surveys, ensuring flexibility in reaching your audience. Its device detection feature ensures surveys are optimized for any device, enhancing respondent experience. Additionally, Forsta's capability to collect video responses allows you to capture nuanced feedback that goes beyond traditional data.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include the ability to set up interviews via web, phone, or face-to-face, accommodating various research methods. The platform supports real-time response monitoring, allowing you to watch and adapt your surveys as responses come in. Forsta also offers an intuitive interface with templates suitable for both beginners and seasoned researchers.
Integrations include Adobe Analytics, Adobe Experience Cloud, Ascribe, and other platforms, enabling seamless data synchronization and enhanced analytical capabilities.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Intuitive interface with templates
- Video response collection
- Device-optimized surveys
Cons:
- Requires internet connection for most functionalities
- Learning curve for advanced features
Other Customer Survey Tools
Here are some additional customer survey tool options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Survicate
For website feedback collection
- SurveySparrow
For conversational surveys
- QuestionPro
For multilingual surveys
- Simplesat
For simple NPS surveys
- Surveypal
For call center feedback
- SurveyMonkey
For quick survey templates
- SatisMeter
For SaaS customer feedback
- Nicereply
For customer satisfaction tracking
- Responsly
For employee engagement surveys
- SurveyKing
For detailed survey analytics
- Google Forms
For free survey creation
- Typeform
For interactive surveys
- ClearlyRated
For staffing industry ratings
Customer Survey Tool Selection Criteria
When selecting the best customer survey tools to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like ease of use and data security. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Collect customer feedback
- Analyze survey data
- Create customizable surveys
- Distribute surveys across multiple channels
- Track response rates
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Multilingual survey support
- Integration with CRM systems
- Survey trigger automation
- AI-driven insights
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive interface design
- Easy navigation
- Minimal learning curve
- Clear instructions and tooltips
- Customization options
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to templates
- Live webinars for training
- Onboarding support chatbots
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Response time to inquiries
- Access to live chat support
- Availability of a help center
- Personalized support options
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Features included in base plans
- Pricing transparency
- Discounts for annual subscriptions
- Cost relative to features offered
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Feedback on ease of use
- Comments on customer support
- User experience with specific features
- Value for money feedback
How to Choose a Customer Survey Tool
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
Factor | What to Consider |
Scalability | Ensure the tool can grow with your business. Look for features that support increasing survey volume and user numbers without sacrificing performance. |
Integrations | Check if the tool integrates with your existing systems, like CRM, email marketing, and analytics platforms, to streamline data flow and enhance productivity. |
Customizability | Look for options to tailor surveys to your brand's needs. Customizable templates and branding options can help maintain consistency and engagement. |
Ease of Use | Choose a tool with an intuitive interface and clear navigation to minimize the learning curve for your team and ensure quick adoption. |
Budget | Align the tool's pricing with your budget. Consider the value offered by different plans and any additional costs for extra features or users. |
Security Safeguards | Verify the tool's compliance with data protection regulations and its ability to safeguard sensitive information through encryption and secure access. |
Trends in Customer Survey Tool
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different customer survey tool vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- AI-driven insights: AI is enhancing data analysis by providing predictive insights and sentiment analysis. This helps businesses understand customer emotions and anticipate needs. Some vendors use AI to offer recommendations for improving survey engagement.
- Voice of the customer (VoC) programs: VoC programs are gaining traction as they allow companies to capture customer feedback across various touchpoints. This holistic view helps in creating better customer experiences and improving satisfaction.
- Real-time feedback collection: Businesses want immediate insights into customer opinions. Tools offering real-time feedback are valuable for making quick adjustments and addressing issues before they escalate. This trend is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction.
- Personalized survey experiences: Personalization in surveys increases response rates. Vendors are offering features that tailor questions based on previous responses or customer data, making surveys more relevant and engaging.
- Data privacy enhancements: As data regulations tighten, tools are focusing on privacy features. Vendors are implementing stronger encryption and compliance measures to protect customer data, which is becoming a critical factor for businesses choosing survey tools.
What Are Customer Survey Tools?
Customer survey tools are software solutions designed to collect, analyze, and interpret customer feedback. They are typically used by marketing professionals, customer service teams, and business analysts to gain customer insights. Features like real-time feedback collection, AI-driven insights, and personalized survey experiences help with understanding customer needs, improving engagement, and ensuring data privacy. Overall, these tools provide businesses with the information needed to enhance customer experiences and make informed decisions.
Features of Customer Survey Tools
When selecting customer survey tools, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Real-time feedback collection: Allows businesses to gather immediate actionable insights from customers, helping to address issues promptly and improve satisfaction.
- AI-driven insights: Uses artificial intelligence to analyze data and provide predictive insights, enhancing understanding of customer sentiments and behaviors.
- Customizable surveys: Enables users to tailor surveys to match their brand and specific needs, increasing engagement and response rates.
- Multilingual support: Offers surveys in multiple languages, making it easier to reach a global audience and gather diverse feedback.
- Data privacy enhancements: Ensures compliance with data protection regulations and protects customer information through encryption and secure access.
- Integration capabilities: Connects with other systems like CRM and analytics platforms to streamline data flow and enhance productivity.
- Voice of the customer programs: Collects feedback from various touchpoints, providing a holistic view of customer experiences and helping to improve satisfaction.
- Personalized survey experiences: Tailors survey questions based on previous responses or customer data, making surveys more relevant and engaging.
Benefits of Customer Survey Tools
Implementing customer survey tools provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Enhanced decision-making: Real-time feedback and AI-driven insights provide the data needed to make informed business decisions quickly.
- Improved customer satisfaction: Personalized surveys and voice of the customer programs help tailor interactions, addressing customer needs effectively.
- Increased engagement: Customizable and multilingual survey options make it easier to engage a diverse audience, boosting response rates.
- Efficient data management: Integration capabilities allow for seamless data flow across systems, saving time and reducing manual data entry.
- Compliance and security: Data privacy enhancements ensure that customer information is protected, building trust with your audience.
- Global reach: Multilingual support lets you gather feedback from customers worldwide, broadening your market research and insights.
Costs and Pricing of Customer Survey Tools
Selecting customer survey tools requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in customer survey tools solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Customer Survey Tools
Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
Free Plan | $0 | Basic survey templates, limited responses, and simple analytics. |
Personal Plan | $5-$30/ user/month | Customizable surveys, basic reporting, email support, and limited integrations. |
Business Plan | $30-$75/ user/month | Advanced analytics, multilingual support, CRM integration, and priority customer support. |
Enterprise Plan | $75-$100+/user/month | Comprehensive data security, API access, personalized onboarding, and dedicated account management. |
Customer Survey Tools FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about customer survey tools:
How do I choose the right survey tool for my business?
When choosing a survey tool, consider your team’s specific needs. Look at factors like scalability, integrations with existing software, and ease of use. Evaluate the pricing structure and ensure it fits within your budget. Also, check if the tool offers the necessary features like multilingual support or real-time feedback collection.
What are the key features to look for in survey tools?
Key features to consider include customizable survey templates, real-time analytics, and integration capabilities with other platforms. Look for tools that offer data privacy safeguards and support for multiple languages. These features ensure you can gather and analyze feedback effectively while maintaining compliance.
How can I ensure data security with survey tools?
To ensure data security, choose tools that offer strong encryption and comply with relevant data protection regulations like GDPR. Check if the tool provides secure data storage and access controls. It’s also important to review the vendor’s privacy policy and security certifications.
How do survey tools integrate with other systems?
Survey tools typically integrate with CRM, email marketing, and analytics platforms. These integrations help streamline data flow and improve productivity. Look for tools with APIs or pre-built connectors to ensure easy integration with your existing systems.
Can survey tools help with customer retention?
Yes, survey tools can help with customer retention by providing insights into customer satisfaction and preferences. By analyzing feedback, you can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions to enhance the customer experience. This proactive approach can lead to increased loyalty and retention.
What support options are available for survey tools?
Support options vary by vendor but commonly include email and live chat support, online help centers, and community forums. Some vendors offer dedicated account managers or premium support packages. It’s important to choose a tool with support options that align with your team’s needs.
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