SurveyMonkey Product Guide

TrustRadius Insights
July 2, 2024
Marketing, Product Guides

SurveyMonkey Product Guide

Thinking about purchasing SurveyMonkey? Our product guide was crafted from our vetted user reviews to give you insights into how the product performs for its current customers. Find out where SurveyMonkey excels and discover potential pitfalls before you buy.

Highlight the Right Reviews

Throughout the guide below, there are links directly to reviews. Select the reviewers most relevant to you, and those links will be highlighted in blue.






Survey Essentials

Survey Design and Creation

Reviewers consistently praise SurveyMonkey’s user-friendly survey design and creation features. Users find the platform’s templates and customization options to be advantageous, allowing for quick and efficient survey building. The intuitive interface and straightforward navigation make it easy for both novice and experienced users to create surveys tailored to their specific needs. Despite some minor suggestions for improvement, overall sentiment leans towards SurveyMonkey being a reliable and effective tool for designing and creating surveys. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“SurveyMonkey really excels in the survey design aspect of the surveying process. They have so many different question types that you can use to create your questions.”Consultant in Information Technology, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“The surveys can be completely anonymous, which means your results will not be hindered by a user who is afraid of retaliation. The design and logic features make it simple to create and adjust the survey.”Analyst in Human Resources, Paper & Forest Products, 1001-5000 employees

“If you want a software that is easy to jump in and get started with right away then SurveyMonkey is for you. I was able to jump right into making a survey and sending it within minutes of beginning a project.”Administrator in Human Resources, Veterinary, 11-50 employees

Forms and Questionnaires

Users generally appreciate SurveyMonkey’s diverse question types and customizable survey options. The platform offers a wide range of question formats, making it easy to create tailored surveys for various purposes. While some users find the survey design aspect lacking in customization options, the overall consensus is that SurveyMonkey’s forms and questionnaires functionality is robust and user-friendly. The ability to categorize responses, add tags to open-ended questions, and analyze survey results efficiently are highlighted as key strengths of the platform in this aspect. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“SurveyMonkey really excels in the survey design aspect of the surveying process. They have so many different question types that you can use to create your questions.”Consultant in Information Technology, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“I would like if it offered more options design wise. Can be difficult to navigate but easy to use for the most part.”Professional in Human Resources, Transportation/Trucking/Railroad, 501-1000 employees

“The surveys are both easy and fun to build on SurveyMonkey. With simple 1 to 10 scale question, multiple choice, short answers, and more the process of building a survey is very fluid.”Account Manager in Sales, Telecommunications, 51-200 employees

Question Types and Formats

Users generally appreciate the wide range of question types and formats offered by SurveyMonkey, allowing for customization and flexibility in survey design. While some users find the interface simple and easy to use, others mention limitations in terms of integrations and interactive features. Despite some mixed opinions, SurveyMonkey’s question types and formats capabilities seem to cater well to a variety of user needs and preferences. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“SurveyMonkey really excels in the survey design aspect of the surveying process. They have so many different question types that you can use to create your questions.”Consultant in Information Technology, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“It is quick and simple to build surveys with a wide range of available question formats. It is also easy to access by respondents and can be quickly and thoroughly filled in with little effort.”Employee in Other, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“PROS: A wide question bank that offers customization questions of different types such as market research, customer satisfaction, employee feedback, demographics etc.”Program Manager in Product Management, Telecommunications, 10,001+ employees

Feedback and Insights

Feedback Collection

Reviewers consistently praise SurveyMonkey for its efficient feedback collection capabilities. Users appreciate the ease of creating surveys and the ability to gather feedback from various stakeholders, including employees and clients. The platform’s user-friendly interface and diverse question options make it simple to collect and analyze responses. While some users have mentioned minor drawbacks such as additional login requirements, overall, SurveyMonkey is recognized for its effectiveness in streamlining the feedback collection process and providing valuable insights for decision-making. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“We use SurveyMonkey for both gathering feedback from our employees, as well as our clients. It is a great way for us to communicate with and get feedback from employees before making a business decision that may have an impact on them – or just to see how they feel about certain aspects or changes within the business.”Consultant in Information Technology, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“SurveyMonkey is an easy to use program when you are needing to collect and organize feedback or data points from individuals. My biggest con with SurveyMonkey is that it’s another login/password you have to remember.”Program Manager in Sales, Non-Profit Organization Management, 51-200 employees

“I use it to administer surveys to our internal staff as a way to gather questions about areas where staff need training and assistance. I typically make the surveys very short so people don’t just click through. Minimal text as well. SurveyMonkey is excellent for short surveys. Very easy to set up.”Professional in Corporate, Education Management, 501-1000 employees

Customer Insights

User sentiment regarding SurveyMonkey’s customer insights capabilities appears to be varied. While some reviewers appreciate the platform’s effectiveness in gathering customer feedback and insights, others express concerns about the level of customization and branding options available. The ability to collect data efficiently and analyze it for informed decision-making is acknowledged, but there are also mentions of limitations in design customization and pricing models. Despite these mixed opinions, SurveyMonkey remains a popular choice for businesses seeking to understand customer satisfaction and preferences through surveys and questionnaires. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“SurveyMonkey is an essential tool across our entire organization. It’s used for employee feedback after onboarding and training sessions, for assessment and measurement of employee satisfaction levels, for assessment and measurement of customer satisfaction, and to minimize customer attrition.”Consultant in Professional Services, Financial Services, 1-10 employees

“I feel that other products in the market do a better job for less. We are now turning to other products and companies that are worthy of our business. Personally, we do not tolerate fraud and misuse of consumer conditions.”Board Member in Corporate, Management Consulting, 1-10 employees

“SurveyMonkey provided a much needed end-user insight into software applications we developed; provided a passive, non-obtrusive entry into our audience and their feedback.”Director in Engineering, Telecommunications, 51-200 employees

Analytics and Insights

Reviewers consistently praise SurveyMonkey for its robust analytics and insights capabilities. Users appreciate the platform’s ability to generate valuable insights from survey responses, allowing them to make informed decisions based on data-driven analysis. While some users mention areas for improvement in terms of customization and user experience, the general consensus is that SurveyMonkey excels in providing clear and easily manipulable analytics that aid in understanding survey results effectively. The platform’s reporting tools and real-time insights are highlighted as particularly beneficial for tracking and monitoring survey progress. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“SurveyMonkey really excels in the survey design aspect of the surveying process. They have so many different question types that you can use to create your questions. The analytics and reporting are basic but ok for those wanting simple insights into their survey answers.”Consultant in Information Technology, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“SurveyMonkey is incredibly simple to use, each step is laid out clearly and precisely. They also provide templates that make the creation of surveys easier. They provide the analytics in a clear, easily manipulated way, along with several exporting options that make integrating the analytics into presentations simple.”Contributor in Human Resources, Information Technology & Services, 51-200 employees

“Very good for self-service. Very easy to learn and set up quick surveys. Free trial is helpful to get started. Its pretty easy to change colors and fonts so you can get the look you want. I would say its less appropriate for complex surveys the tools and analytics are less robust I would use qualtrics for a bigger N size.”Professional in Corporate, Education Management, 501-1000 employees

Engagement and Analysis

Employee Engagement

Users generally appreciate SurveyMonkey’s ability to enhance employee engagement and gather valuable feedback from staff members. The platform’s features enable organizations to easily conduct surveys that capture employee sentiments, leading to improved communication and understanding within the workplace. While some users have noted minor challenges in data analysis or customization, overall, SurveyMonkey is seen as a reliable tool for fostering employee engagement and satisfaction. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“We specifically use SurveyMonkey to get quick and easy feedback from employees. For example, discussions around future work from home opportunities throughout the pandemic, willingness to participate in different culture committee events, and general feedback on technology rollouts. We use it as needed as opposed to something on a regular basis.”Project Manager in Information Technology, Financial Services, 5001-10,000 employees

“SurveyMonkey is perfect when we want to ensure that employees can provide honest confidential feedback; when we’ve used other free providers in the past, they do not always feel confident that their identities are being withheld. SurveyMonkey is also perfect for when you want to be provided with graphics about the data you’ve received, this saves you time from having to do so manually. I cannot think of a time when it’s not appropriate to use SurveyMonkey.”Contributor in Human Resources, Information Technology & Services, 51-200 employees

“SurveyMonkey is an essential tool across our entire organization. It’s used for employee feedback after onboarding and training sessions, for assessment and measurement of employee satisfaction levels, for assessment and measurement of customer satisfaction, and to minimize customer attrition. Anytime we need to generally assess how are people, products, or technology solutions are being perceived, SurveyMonkey is an effective solution.”Consultant in Professional Services, Financial Services, 1-10 employees

Data Analysis and Reporting

User sentiment on SurveyMonkey’s data analysis and reporting capabilities varies widely across reviews. Some users appreciate the ease of use and the clear presentation of analytics, making it simple to derive insights from survey results. However, others express concerns about the limitations in customization and the need for more advanced analytics features to enhance data interpretation. Despite mixed opinions, SurveyMonkey’s data analysis and reporting tools seem to cater to a broad spectrum of users with varying needs and preferences. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“SurveyMonkey really excels in the survey design aspect of the surveying process. They have so many different question types that you can use to create your questions. The analytics and reporting are basic but ok for those wanting simple insights into their survey answers.”Consultant in Information Technology, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“The speed at which we can develop, program, execute and generate actual usable results provides significant value, particularly when we need fresh numbers to illustrate a point. The fact that we can execute a research project so quickly means that new research is always a primary option when we’re developing campaigns. That’s a huge value proposition.”Vice-President in Other, Public Relations and Communications, 51-200 employees

“Recognizing that there are more limitations when it comes to a mobile interface vs. a desktop interface, I would love to see more profound levels of programming functionality on the mobile side. It would be helpful to have better access to greater levels of third-party results analysis, particularly as it relates to open-ended questions and answers.”Vice-President in Other, Public Relations and Communications, 51-200 employees

Engagement and Participation

User feedback on SurveyMonkey’s engagement and participation features varies, with some users praising its ability to enhance employee engagement and facilitate easy feedback collection. Others, however, have noted challenges with social engagement and data analysis. Despite differing opinions, SurveyMonkey appears to be a versatile tool that can cater to a wide range of engagement and participation needs within organizations. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

“We specifically use SurveyMonkey to get quick and easy feedback from employees. For example, discussions around future work from home opportunities throughout the pandemic, willingness to participate in different culture committee events, and general feedback on technology rollouts.”Project Manager in Information Technology, Financial Services, 5001-10,000 employees

“SurveyMonkey is a great tool to collect data in a variety of scenarios. It can be used internally as a tool for employee engagement and feedback. It is also great for quality assurance with past and present clients.”Employee in Other, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“It was a bit of a challenge on the data analysis with customers.”Manager in Human Resources, Retail, 10,001+ employees

Platform Usability and Support

User Experience and Interface

Users consistently praise SurveyMonkey for its user-friendly interface and ease of use. The platform’s intuitive design and straightforward navigation make it a popular choice for creating surveys and gathering feedback. Reviewers appreciate the simplicity of the web interface, noting that it requires no training to use effectively. While some users mention minor drawbacks such as the need for more profound programming functionality on mobile devices, overall, SurveyMonkey’s user experience and interface receive positive feedback for their accessibility and efficiency. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“The service has a modern, clear interface, friendly to the most inexperienced user.”Director in Other, Retail, 1-10 employees

“The SurveyMonkey interface is simple and never required training, but the way that actions on each survey are divided into many different stages means that it takes a large number of clicks to accomplish basic tasks such as reading the text of your latest survey response.”C-Level Executive in Corporate, Education Management, 11-50 employees

“If you want a software that is easy to jump in and get started with right away then SurveyMonkey is for you. I was able to jump right into making a survey and sending it within minutes of beginning a project. The interface is super easy to navigate.”Administrator in Human Resources, Veterinary, 11-50 employees

Customer Service and Support

Users’ experiences with SurveyMonkey’s customer service and support seem to be quite diverse. While some users find the platform intuitive and easy to navigate without requiring support, others have encountered challenges with the level of assistance provided. There are mixed reviews regarding the responsiveness and effectiveness of SurveyMonkey’s customer service team, with some users expressing dissatisfaction with the support received, particularly in cases of billing issues and product returns. It appears that the quality of customer service and support from SurveyMonkey may vary depending on the specific needs and circumstances of the user. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

“CONS: Not enough on the design-customization side to fully brand surveys in the way you’d always want to; Pricing models are not always well-fitted to business needs or company size; Customer service can be subpar. Often customer service will just point to existing resources than deal with your specific question at hand.”Strategist in Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, 11-50 employees

“CONS: Pricing policies are unreasonable and unaffordable; as the CEO, I want to allow my assistant to use my account to send surveys, but this is prohibited and prevented technically; Customer service was unhelpful in addressing my issues. SurveyMonkey would be great for a large company that sends a huge volume of surveys on a fully automated basis. For us, as a small business, SurveyMonkey was a bad solution.”C-Level Executive in Corporate, Education Management, 11-50 employees

Free and Paid Plans

User sentiment regarding SurveyMonkey’s free and paid plans is varied. While some users appreciate the functionality offered in the free plan, others express frustration over limitations and hidden costs associated with it. On the other hand, paid plans are seen as beneficial for those requiring more advanced features and capabilities. The lack of transparency and perceived high costs associated with certain paid features have led to mixed reviews among users. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“Their free plan should suffice for any business that needs the fundamentals of surveying – i.e. survey builder, sharing, and viewing answers.”Consultant in Information Technology, Health, Wellness and Fitness, 11-50 employees

“Easy to use but when trying to use the free version you will quickly learn how limited its offerings.”Director in Other, Non-profit Organization Management, 1-10 employees

“The price point is great too, there is a lot of options in the free version and for a small fee small businesses have the same capabilities as larger organizations.”Administrator in Human Resources, Veterinary, 11-50 employees

Market and Audience Research

Market Research

User consensus seems to be that SurveyMonkey’s market research capabilities are highly valued and widely utilized across various industries and organizations. Reviewers appreciate the ease with which market research studies can be conducted using SurveyMonkey, highlighting its effectiveness in gathering valuable insights from target audiences. While some users have expressed concerns about certain limitations, the overall sentiment leans towards acknowledging SurveyMonkey as a reliable tool for conducting market research efficiently and effectively. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“SurveyMonkey is a high-value, cost-effective solution when you need to generate more basic levels of research that can be used for a wide variety of applications across the organization. If I can avoid the cost, aggravation and time it takes to engage a third-party research firm and use a tool like SurveyMonkey to generate what I need, I will do so.”Vice-President in Other, Public Relations and Communications, 51-200 employees

“SurveyMonkey is great for market research, customer satisfaction surveys, or collecting assessment data. This software could be used in so many areas where data collection is needed.”Administrative Assistant in Other, Higher Education, 51-200 employees

“SurveyMonkey is too basic to actually permit any use. The functionalities that are interesting are very costly and with the technology evolution of the past 2 years, we consider SurveyMonkey a market lagger.”Board Member in Corporate, Management Consulting, 1-10 employees

Audience and Consumer Assessment

User sentiment regarding SurveyMonkey’s audience and consumer assessment capabilities appears to be diverse. While some users appreciate the platform’s ease of use in reaching out to respondents and gathering feedback, others express dissatisfaction with limitations in the free version, such as restricted result access. The platform’s ability to cater to a wide range of users, from novice survey creators to experienced researchers, is acknowledged positively. However, concerns about pricing models and certain restrictions on device logins have been raised by some users, impacting their overall experience with SurveyMonkey’s audience and consumer assessment features. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“We were going to use SurveyMonkey to survey our members. As we’re volunteer-run, we use free services. SurveyMonkey is bottom-feeding money-grabbing wasters. Their free product only allows 10 results – this was not made clear (and was certainly not the previous situation) when signing up.”Director in Other, Sports, 51-200 employees

“SurveyMonkey is a tool that offers any novice almost 200 survey templates. The user is able to view each one and see which one is most appropriate for their intended use. Their surveys are presented very well and are very well thought out, which maximizes the audience response quantity and quality.”Team Lead in Other, Political Organization, 201-500 employees

“SurveyMonkey is appropriate for creating online surveys from scratch and even while on the go that are used to access a huge number of respondents who provide answers that are needed to make critical decisions. There is an option of using a URL that can be linked to the company website, Facebook account, emails and more.”Program Manager in Product Management, Telecommunications, 10,001+ employees

Distribution and Customization

Survey Distribution and Collection

SurveyMonkey users consistently highlight the platform’s ease of use and efficiency in creating and distributing surveys. The ability to quickly share surveys via links and email is a standout feature, making it convenient for users to reach a wide audience. While some users mention minor drawbacks like long survey links or limitations in sorting recipients, overall, SurveyMonkey’s survey distribution and collection functionalities are well-received for their user-friendly approach and quick data collection processes. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“SurveyMonkey makes it easy to share a survey with others inside or outside of your organization, via link. Convenient way to send surveys; Quick design process; Good reporting features.”Employee in Information Technology, Education Management, 1001-5000 employees

“In some cases, the link to the survey form is very long.”Director in Other, Retail, 1-10 employees

“We use SurveyMonkey when we have an event/topic that we need feedback on. We send the survey to the whole office in an extremely quick, simple, and efficient matter. We use it to receive feedback from our whole company and it collects data immediately and reports back to the creator of the survey.”Employee in Human Resources, Staffing and Recruiting, 11-50 employees

Customization and Branding

User sentiment about SurveyMonkey’s customization and branding capabilities varies across reviews. Some users appreciate the ability to customize surveys to match their brand by adding logos, company names, and images. They find the platform user-friendly and efficient for creating surveys with multiple question types and sharing options. However, there are also suggestions for improvements, such as offering more options for full custom branding and live support within the site for faster communication with users. Despite mixed opinions, SurveyMonkey’s customization features seem to cater to a range of user preferences and needs. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

“More options to customize the look of the surveys for a full custom branding; They should be able to offer live support within their site for faster communication with users.”Program Manager in Product Management, Telecommunications, 10,001+ employees

“I would like to have more customizable options for branding it to our hospital colors. Some survey options allow you to enter html color codes. SurveyMonkey allows you to change colors and you have to pick from selected options.”Administrator in Human Resources, Veterinary, 11-50 employees

“Design themes are user friendly; Logo customization is a plus; Ability to create a custom template is advantageous among 11 different offices; Provides more dynamic collaboration.”Team Lead in Other, Political Organization, 201-500 employees

Templates and Pre-designed Formats

Users across various reviews consistently highlight SurveyMonkey’s templates and pre-designed formats as a standout feature, emphasizing their user-friendliness and efficiency in survey creation. The availability of a wide range of templates and the ease of customization are frequently commended, making it convenient for users to tailor surveys to their specific needs. Additionally, the intuitive nature of the templates simplifies the survey design process, enabling users to quickly gather valuable feedback and insights. (Source Reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

“SurveyMonkey templates have made it very user-friendly. It is very efficient to create a survey. I love that they have multiple ways to answer questions. For example, short answer, paragraph, and radio buttons to name a few.”Administrator in Human Resources, Veterinary, 11-50 employees

“SurveyMonkey is incredibly simple to use, each step is laid out clearly and precisely. They also provide templates that make the creation of surveys easier. They provide the analytics in a clear, easily manipulated way, along with several exporting options that make integrating the analytics into presentations simple.”Contributor in Human Resources, Information Technology & Services, 51-200 employees

“SurveyMonkey is very intuitive and easy to use when you need a quick survey and a convenient way to send it to others. There are a number of templates available, and the option to design your own survey from scratch.”Employee in Information Technology, Education Management, 1001-5000 employees

About the Author

TrustRadius Insights
TrustRadius Product Guides are created by synthesizing user reviews to identify commonly discussed topics. These guides highlight common use cases, frequently used features, and more. While this is a beta feature, it is our mission is to provide you with the best information possible to make confident and trusted technology decisions. If you feel something is missing or incorrect, please let us know.

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