Online Survey Tools
Online Survey Tools
While the University does not endorse any one online survey vendor or product, we have worked with our researchers to identify features and functionality to consider when making a choice. Surveys are used in a wide range of applications, from empirical research to collecting user feedback. This page focuses on survey use in research studies.
Online survey products and plans vary and researchers should consider what product features are needed to support their particular study design. Researchers should examine the limits and functionality, as well as cost, of multiple products as they make a decision. We provide a comparison of few possible options below.
Key Features to Consider
As a start, we encourage researchers to select a product by considering the following features:
- Length of time you will need access to the tool,
- Number responses you anticipate,
- How you intend to distribute your survey,
- Survey design functionality (types of questions you will ask),
- Ability to access reports about your data collection in real-time,
- How the data can be exported,
- Data security during and after the data collection, and
- Educational discounts.
Important: Although a product may include a given feature, functionality varies across programs and plans. It is the researcher’s responsibility to determine which product best aligns with their online survey project.
Tool Comparison
Although the University does not endorse any particular product, and new online survey products enter the market regularly, we recently reviewed the following five online survey tools, which are regularly used by academic researchers. These tools offer discounts to educators, with some products providing free plans to students and/or faculty. Whether you decide on one of these options, or select one of the many other online survey tools on the market, considering product features and functionality will ensure your data collection is a success.
| SurveyMonkey | SurveyGizmo | Zoho Survey | SoGoSurvey | QuestionPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost - Education | $25/mo - standard |
no - annual fee 25% discount to Students |
Free Students - Standard | Free Students - Plus | Free Students - Professional |
| Educational Discount | View on provider's website | View on provider's website | View on provider's website | View on provider's website | View on provider's website |
| Limits #Responses | unlimited | unlimited | 2,500/mo | 5,000/mo | 1,000/mo |
| Limits #Questions | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited | unlimited |
| Audience Distribution Features | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple Question Types | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skip Logic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Realtime Reporting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export CSV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export SPSS | Yes - Advantage only | Yes - Market research only | No | Yes - Enterprise only | Yes - Corporate and Team only |
| Data Security Features | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | yes |
| Feature Comparison Info | View on provider's website | View on provider's website | View on provider's website | View on provider's website | View on provider's website |
More Information
Visit the UOPX Library page to access the Sage Research Methods Guide. On the right menu select Questionnaires to learn about questionnaire/survey design and Surveys to learn about survey research. The guides include full books, articles, videos, case studies, and more.
Have questions or need more support? Reach out to oss@phoenix.edu. *If you are a UOPX student, we direct you to first have a conversation with your professor or dissertation chair.