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Research · head to head

DNAnexus vs SurveySparrow

DNAnexus logo

DNAnexus

Research

Regulated cloud platform for genomic and multiomic data, with GxP and FedRAMP coverage

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SurveySparrow logo

SurveySparrow

Research

Survey and feedback platform for employee engagement

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SurveySparrow has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DNAnexus no pricing is published, so an organisation cannot compare the total cost against running the same pipelines on its own cloud account until it is deep in a sales process.; SurveySparrow the free plan allows 75 responses per quarter, 3 active surveys and 10 questions per survey
  • They diverge on capability: DNAnexus covers Governed data storage, SurveySparrow covers Survey creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DNAnexus and SurveySparrow actually diverge.

Attributes where DNAnexus and SurveySparrow differ
AttributeDNAnexusSurveySparrow
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, LinuxWeb
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Research).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DNAnexus

  • Governed data storage
  • Workflow execution
  • App building
  • Controlled collaboration
  • Compliance posture
  • Cohort browsing

Only in SurveySparrow

  • Survey creation
  • Engagement surveys
  • Pulse surveys
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Mobile app
  • Custom templates
  • Action planning
  • Reporting

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DNAnexus

  • A clinical diagnostics laboratory that needs a CLIA and CAP aligned environment for production sequencing pipelines without building the compliance evidence itselfnot SurveySparrow
  • A pharma sponsor analysing genomic endpoints in a registrational programme where 21 CFR Part 11 records are requirednot SurveySparrow
  • A biobank or consortium giving hundreds of external researchers governed access to a dataset too large to distributenot SurveySparrow
  • A diagnostics vendor packaging its pipeline as a versioned app so partner laboratories can run it without receiving the source codenot SurveySparrow

SurveySparrow

  • Running conversational surveys and NPS programmesnot DNAnexus
  • Collecting employee and customer feedback on a schedulenot DNAnexus
  • Embedding surveys in websites, email and chat channelsnot DNAnexus

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DNAnexus

  • No pricing is published, so an organisation cannot compare the total cost against running the same pipelines on its own cloud account until it is deep in a sales process.
  • Compute and storage are billed through the platform rather than at underlying cloud list price, so the compliance envelope carries a persistent margin on every terabyte and core hour, which grows with the science rather than staying fixed.
  • Data egress at genomic scale is slow and chargeable, so leaving the platform later is a real project rather than a contract decision, and that gravity weakens negotiating position at renewal.
  • The regulated and validated configurations sit in a higher commercial tier than the research configuration, so an organisation that starts in research mode and later needs GxP faces a repricing rather than a setting change.
  • Bioinformaticians used to running Nextflow on their own infrastructure find the platform abstractions constraining, and porting an existing pipeline into the app model is engineering work that does not carry over to any other platform.

SurveySparrow

  • The free plan allows 75 responses per quarter, 3 active surveys and 10 questions per survey
  • The Basic and Starter plans include a single user; extra users cost $49 per user per month
  • Responses are metered per month and additional responses or API calls require a custom quote from sales
  • Custom branding requires the Business plan
  • CSS customisation, auto translation, Key Driver Analysis and HIPAA compliance are Enterprise only
  • The advertised savings of up to 40 percent require annual billing rather than quarterly

Pricing, plan by plan

DNAnexus

On request
  • DNAnexus Platform$undefined/year
    • Quoted per organisation through a sales process
    • Storage and compute billed through the platform rather than at cloud list price
    • Regulated and validated configurations are a separate commercial tier

SurveySparrow

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic surveys
    • Limited questions
    • Standard reports
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • Advanced surveys
    • Unlimited questions
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose DNAnexus if

  • You need governed data storage.
  • You work on Web, Linux.
  • You also want workflow execution.
DNAnexus review

Choose SurveySparrow if

  • You need survey creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want engagement surveys.
SurveySparrow review

Questions people ask

Is DNAnexus or SurveySparrow better?
Neither clearly leads. DNAnexus starts at On request and SurveySparrow at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DNAnexus or SurveySparrow?
SurveySparrow has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for DNAnexus and Free for SurveySparrow.
Does DNAnexus or SurveySparrow run on more platforms?
DNAnexus runs on Web, Linux. SurveySparrow runs on Web.
Can I use SurveySparrow for free?
Yes. SurveySparrow has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DNAnexus starts at On request.
What is DNAnexus best used for?
DNAnexus is most often used for a clinical diagnostics laboratory that needs a clia and cap aligned environment for production sequencing pipelines without building the compliance evidence itself, a pharma sponsor analysing genomic endpoints in a registrational programme where 21 cfr part 11 records are required, a biobank or consortium giving hundreds of external researchers governed access to a dataset too large to distribute, a diagnostics vendor packaging its pipeline as a versioned app so partner laboratories can run it without receiving the source code. Of those, a clinical diagnostics laboratory that needs a clia and cap aligned environment for production sequencing pipelines without building the compliance evidence itself and a pharma sponsor analysing genomic endpoints in a registrational programme where 21 cfr part 11 records are required are not what SurveySparrow is typically brought in for.
What can DNAnexus do that SurveySparrow cannot?
DNAnexus covers Governed data storage, Workflow execution, App building, Controlled collaboration. SurveySparrow covers Survey creation, Engagement surveys, Pulse surveys, Analytics dashboard.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DNAnexus: Why pay for DNAnexus instead of raw AWS?

For the compliance evidence. GxP, FedRAMP, CLIA, CAP and Part 11 coverage removes a validation programme most organisations would otherwise have to build and maintain themselves.

SurveySparrow: Does SurveySparrow offer a free plan?

Yes, SurveySparrow offers a forever free plan with 3 active surveys, 10 questions per survey, and 75 responses per quarter. No credit card is required to sign up.

Source
DNAnexus: Is validated use included?

No. Regulated and validated configurations sit in a separate commercial tier from ordinary research use.

SurveySparrow: How much do SurveySparrow's paid plans cost?

SurveySparrow does not publish specific pricing amounts on its website. Basic, Starter, and Business plans are available with varying response limits and user counts. Enterprise requires contacting the company for a custom quote.

Source
DNAnexus: Can I get my data out?

Yes, but egress at genomic scale is chargeable and slow, so plan exit costs at the point of signing.

SurveySparrow: Can I add more users to my SurveySparrow plan?

Yes, additional users can be added at $49 per month per user beyond what is included in each plan tier.

Source
DNAnexus: Does it host UK Biobank?

Yes, DNAnexus hosts the UK Biobank research analysis platform, which has its own access approval and cost terms.

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