Top 10 Event Survey Tools To Collect Attendee Feedback

As an event manager, your job is to bring people together under a common cause, theme, or belief, but the truth is people in groups can be fickle. Not everyone likes the same speakers, the same foods, and the atmosphere, and you can’t know every event attendee’s thoughts and feelings about your event in real-time. However, you can always plan for the future with the help of a event survey tool.

You can best admit that you don’t know what your attendees want and ask them yourself. Event survey software is the perfect solution to this problem, but it can be hard to justify spending money on surveys if you are an event manager on a budget.

Top 10 Event Survey Tools

To cut costs and gather the needed information, here are 10 free event survey tools you should consider.

1. SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey is a popular and versatile survey tool that can be used for event feedback collection. It provides a user-friendly interface to create and distribute surveys, with various question types and customization options.

SurveyMonkey offers features like real-time reporting and data analysis, allowing organizers to gather insights quickly. The tool also provides integration options with other platforms, making it easy to collect feedback and analyze data in one place.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface and easy survey creation.
• Wide range of question types and customization options.
• Robust reporting and data analysis features.
• Integration with other platforms and tools.
• Extensive survey distribution options.

Cons:

• Free version has limitations on features and responses.
• Some advanced features may require a paid subscription.
• Limited branding and customization options in the free version.
• Reporting and data analysis capabilities may require additional training.
• Support resources may vary depending on the user’s location.

2. Google Forms

Google Forms is a free event survey tool that offers a simple and intuitive interface. It allows event organizers to create custom surveys, add different question types, and customize the design. Google Forms provides real-time responses, automatic data analysis, and the ability to export data to other Google tools.

With its seamless integration with Google Drive, Google Forms is a convenient choice for event planners already using Google Workspace.

Pros:

• Free and easily accessible tool.
• Seamless integration with other Google products and services.
• Simple and intuitive survey creation process.
• Collaboration features for team-based survey creation.
• Real-time response tracking and data analysis.

Cons:

• Limited customization options for survey design.
• Advanced features may be lacking compared to other tools.
• May require a Google account for access.
• Reporting and data analysis capabilities may be basic.
• Support resources may vary depending on the user’s location.

3. Typeform 

Typeform is a visually appealing survey tool that focuses on interactive and engaging surveys. It offers many question types, including multiple-choice, open-ended, and rating scales. Typeform provides advanced features like conditional logic, skip logic, and customized branding.

The platform also offers real-time analytics and reporting, enabling organizers to track and analyze feedback effectively.

Pros:

• Stylish and interactive survey design.
• User-friendly interface and intuitive survey creation process.
• Advanced customization options for survey branding.
• Conditional logic and branching for dynamic surveys.
• Real-time data visualization and reporting.

Cons:

• Free version has limitations on features and responses.
• Some advanced features may require a paid subscription.
• Limited question types compared to other tools.
• Integration options with other platforms may be limited.
• Support resources may vary depending on the user’s location.

4. Qualtrics 

Qualtrics is a comprehensive survey and feedback tool that caters to various research needs, including event feedback collection. It offers various question types, survey distribution options, and advanced survey logic.

Qualtrics provides robust analytics capabilities, including sentiment analysis and text analytics, allowing organizers to gain deep insights from the feedback collected. The tool also offers integration options with CRM systems, making it suitable for organizations looking for more comprehensive feedback management.

Pros:

• Powerful survey creation and customization capabilities.
• Advanced question types and survey logic features.
• Robust reporting and data analysis tools.
• Integration with other systems and tools.
• Extensive support resources and training materials.

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some other survey tools.
• Steeper learning curve for new users.
• Advanced features may require additional training.
• Limited branding options in the free version.
• Support response time may vary depending on the user’s location.

5. Alchemer Survey

Alchemer Survey is a powerful survey tool offering advanced event feedback collection features. It provides a user-friendly interface to create customized surveys, add logic and branding.

Alchemer Survey offers real-time reporting, data visualization, and text analysis, enabling organizers to extract meaningful insights from the feedback. The tool also provides integration options with popular CRM and marketing automation systems.

Pros:

• Flexible and customizable survey creation.
• Advanced survey logic and branching capabilities.
• Robust reporting and data analysis features.
• Integration with other systems and tools.
• Comprehensive survey distribution options.

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some other survey tools.
• Advanced features may require additional training.
• Limited customization options for survey branding.
• Support response time may vary depending on the user’s location.
• Free version has limitations on features and responses.

6. Zoho Survey 

Zoho Survey is a comprehensive survey tool offering event feedback collection features. It provides a range of question types, customizable templates, and survey distribution options.

Zoho Survey offers real-time reporting and analytics, allowing organizers to monitor feedback and generate actionable insights. The tool integrates with other Zoho applications, providing a seamless experience for event planners already using Zoho’s suite of products.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with other Zoho applications.
• User-friendly interface and easy survey creation process.
• Multiple question types and customization options.
• Real-time reporting and data analysis features.
• Cost-effective solution for survey creation and management.

Cons:

• Advanced features may be limited compared to other tools.
• Customization options for survey design may be limited.
• Support response time may vary depending on the user’s location.
• Limited integration options with external platforms.
• System requirements and software compatibility need to be considered.

7. Poll Everywhere 

Poll Everywhere is a real-time audience engagement tool that allows organizers to gather feedback and opinions during live events. It offers features like live polling, word clouds, and Q&A sessions.

Poll Everywhere provides interactive and engaging experiences for attendees, allowing them to participate and provide feedback in real-time. The tool also offers reporting and analytics capabilities, enabling organizers to analyze audience responses and make data-driven decisions.

Pros:

• Interactive and real-time survey and feedback gathering.
• Various question types including live polling and open-ended responses.
• Seamless integration with presentation tools.
• Audience engagement and participation features.
• Simple and intuitive user interface.

Cons:

• Advanced features may require a paid subscription.
• Limited customization options for survey design.
• Reporting and data analysis capabilities may be basic.
• Support resources may vary depending on the user’s location.
• May require an internet connection for real-time polling.

8. GetFeedback 

GetFeedback is a customer experience survey tool that can be adapted for event feedback collection. It offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop survey builder, customizable templates, and branding options.

GetFeedback provides real-time feedback collection and analytics, allowing organizers to track feedback trends and measure satisfaction levels. The tool integrates with popular CRM systems, enabling event planners to connect feedback data with customer profiles.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface and intuitive survey creation.
• Customizable survey templates and question types.
• Real-time feedback monitoring and analytics.
• Integration with other customer experience tools.
• Mobile-friendly surveys for better accessibility.

Cons:

• Pricing may be higher compared to some other tools.
• Advanced features may require a higher-tier subscription.
• Limited customization options for survey design.
• Support resources may vary depending on the user’s location.
• System requirements and software compatibility need to be considered.

9. Sogolytics

Sogolytics is a comprehensive survey tool that offers features for event feedback collection. It provides a wide range of question types, survey templates, and customization options. Sogolytics offers real-time reporting, data analysis, and sentiment analysis, allowing organizers to gain valuable insights from the feedback collected.

The tool also provides integration options with other platforms, making it suitable for organizations looking for a holistic feedback management solution.

Pros:

• Powerful survey creation and customization capabilities.
• Advanced question types and survey logic features.
• Robust reporting and data analysis tools.
• Integration with other systems and tools.
• Extensive support resources and training materials.

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some other survey tools.
• Steeper learning curve for new users.
• Advanced features may require additional training.
• Limited branding options in the free version.
• Support response time may vary depending on the user’s location.

10. Formstack 

Formstack is a versatile form and survey tool that can be used for event feedback collection. It offers features like customizable forms, survey logic, and branding options.

Formstack provides real-time data collection, analytics, and reporting, enabling organizers to gather insights quickly. The tool integrates with various platforms, making it convenient for event planners to collect feedback and analyze data in their preferred systems.

Pros:

• Versatile and customizable survey creation.
• Advanced form logic and conditional branching features.
• Seamless integration with other platforms and tools.
• Real-time reporting and data analysis.
• Extensive form and survey templates library.

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some other survey tools.
• Limited branding options in the free version.
• Advanced features may require a higher-tier subscription.
• Support resources may vary depending on the user’s location.
• System requirements and software compatibility need to be considered.

How to put together an event survey?

All the survey tools will have free templates you can use to get started. That’s very helpful because you’ll already have some good questions to get you started.

But don’t rely exclusively on these pre-written questions. They are necessarily generic, so you should tweak them to make them unique to your event.

Multiple-choice questions

The most common way to conduct a survey is to ask multiple-choice questions. These make it easier to quantify the feedback you’ll get. The main drawback of multiple-choice questions is that they limit the kind of answers respondents can give.

Here are the different kinds of multiple-choice questions you can ask your event attendees:

1. Single answer: Respondents can only choose one answer.
2. Multiple answers: Respondents can choose more than one answer.
3. Rating scales: Respondents can e.g. rate a question from 0–10.
4. Likert scales: Respondents can choose “Strongly Agree” or “Somewhat Agree.”
5. Matrix questions: Respondents will see a series of “Rating” or “Likert scale” questions.
6. Dropdown questions: Respondents can scroll through a list of possible answers.

Open-ended questions

You also have the option to ask your event attendees open-ended questions. It will give you a more nuanced picture of how they perceived the event.

However, the disadvantage of these questions is that they are hard to quantify. Therefore, it’s wise to have a mix of both multiple-choice and open-ended questions.

Demographic questions

Finally, you also have the option to ask your event attendees demographic questions. These can include details about their professional background and level of income.

It can be useful for concentrating your promotional efforts on reaching the right audience. Also, demographic data is very useful for fine-tuning your marketing strategy.

Conclusion

Remember that your event attendees are not the only people you should poll. It can also be helpful to send surveys to any staff, volunteers, sponsors, and speakers. You can also incentivize people to respond by offering them a discount on their next event ticket.

It’s also a good idea to keep the surveys anonymous. That way, you’re more likely to get an honest answer. Good luck with your event survey. Let us know how you did in the comments below!