Qualtrics vs SurveyMonkey: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Qualtrics and SurveyMonkey side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, SurveyMonkey leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Qualtrics
The leading Experience Management (XM) software, amplified with trusted AI to drive business growth.
Best for you if:
- • You want enterprise survey platform
SurveyMonkey
Gather feedback faster with pre-built templates and powerful analysis
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | SurveyMonkey | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $420/mo, billed monthly Research Core plan | Free plan, paid from $35/mo, billed monthly Individual plan |
Category | Survey Tools Analytics | Survey Tools Customer Feedback |
Rating | 4.4/5 PeerSpot 4.4 16 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.6 34,413 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Overage fees for responses beyond tier limits | n/a |
Choose Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey?
Choose Qualtrics if
- You want enterprise survey platform
- You want experience management
Choose SurveyMonkey if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want industry standard
- You want analytics
- Budget matters ($35/mo, billed monthly vs $420/mo, billed monthly)
In-Depth Analysis
Qualtrics
The leading Experience Management (XM) software, amplified with trusted AI to drive business growth.
Qualtrics' pricing is expensive for what you get, especially the Research Core tier at $420/month for only 1,000 responses, which is steep compared to survey-focused alternatives.
Watch out
Overage fees for responses beyond tier limits
Strengths
- Pro: Enterprise survey platform
- Pro: Experience management
- Pro: Good analytics
- Pro: Research tools
- Pro: Compliance
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Complex platform
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Enterprise sales
- Con: Overkill for simple surveys
Key features
SurveyMonkey
Gather feedback faster with pre-built templates and powerful analysis
SurveyMonkey's pricing is fair for individual users, with a generous free tier for basic needs.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard
- Pro: Analytics
- Pro: Integrations
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited free tier
- Con: Can get expensive
Key features
Plans and prices: Qualtrics vs SurveyMonkey
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Qualtrics |
| qualtrics.com/pricing read Oct 5, 2026 |
| SurveyMonkey |
| surveymonkey.com/pricing read Oct 4, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Qualtrics pricing and SurveyMonkey pricing.
Key Takeaways
Qualtrics
- Choose if you want the leading Experience Management (XM) software, amplified with trusted AI to drive business growth
SurveyMonkey
- Lower entry price: $35/mo, billed monthly vs $420/mo, billed monthly
What the data shows
On the data below, SurveyMonkey leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.4/5 from 16 reviews for Qualtrics, 4.5/5 from 34,413 reviews for SurveyMonkey; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- SurveyMonkey has the lower entry price: $35/mo, billed monthly (Individual) against $420/mo, billed monthly (Research Core) for Qualtrics.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Qualtrics and SurveyMonkey compare in 2026?
On the data below, SurveyMonkey leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.4/5 from 16 reviews for Qualtrics, 4.5/5 from 34,413 reviews for SurveyMonkey; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). SurveyMonkey has the lower entry price: $35/mo, billed monthly (Individual) against $420/mo, billed monthly (Research Core) for Qualtrics. Both have a free plan.
What are Qualtrics and SurveyMonkey used for?
Qualtrics: The leading Experience Management (XM) software, amplified with trusted AI to drive business growth. SurveyMonkey: Gather feedback faster with pre-built templates and powerful analysis.
What does Qualtrics cost vs SurveyMonkey?
Qualtrics's cheapest paid plan is Research Core at $420/mo, billed monthly. SurveyMonkey's cheapest paid plan is Individual at $35/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 5, 2026.
What's the main difference between Qualtrics and SurveyMonkey?
Qualtrics's main strength: enterprise survey platform. SurveyMonkey's main strength: industry standard.