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Research · head to head

LabWare vs SurveyMonkey

LabWare logo

LabWare

Research

Enterprise laboratory information management system for regulated labs

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SurveyMonkey logo

SurveyMonkey

Research

Turn feedback into action

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SurveyMonkey has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: LabWare implementation and validation take a year or more, and the services cost frequently exceeds the licence; SurveyMonkey team plans require minimum 3 users as baseline
  • They diverge on capability: LabWare covers Sample management, SurveyMonkey covers Survey builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LabWare and SurveyMonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where LabWare and SurveyMonkey differ
AttributeLabWareSurveyMonkey
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Web, Cloud, On-premiseWeb
FoundedUnknown1999

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 LabWare

  • Sample management
  • Instrument integration
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Stability studies
  • ELN
  • Configuration framework

Only in SurveyMonkey

  • Survey builder
  • Question bank
  • Survey logic
  • Multi-language surveys
  • Mobile surveys
  • Real-time results
  • Data analysis tools
  • Custom branding

What people use each for

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

LabWare

  • Pharmaceutical quality control laboratories subject to regulatory inspectionnot SurveyMonkey
  • Multi-site laboratory networks needing one method and specification librarynot SurveyMonkey
  • Contract laboratories managing chain of custody across many clientsnot SurveyMonkey
  • Laboratories replacing a validated legacy LIMS they can no longer maintainnot SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey

  • Market research and customer surveysnot LabWare
  • Employee feedback and engagement trackingnot LabWare
  • Data collection and analysisnot LabWare
  • Customer satisfaction and NPS measurementsnot LabWare

Where each one falls short

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

LabWare

  • Implementation and validation take a year or more, and the services cost frequently exceeds the licence
  • Pricing is entirely quote-based with no public reference point, even by enterprise standards
  • Extensive configuration means the finished system depends heavily on implementation quality, and outcomes vary widely between customers
  • The interface is functional rather than modern, which is a common objection from scientists used to consumer software
  • Substantially over-specified for research laboratories without regulatory obligations

SurveyMonkey

  • Team plans require minimum 3 users as baseline
  • Annual response limits enforced: 50,000 responses/year on Team Advantage, 100,000 on Team Premier
  • Additional responses beyond annual limits charged at AED 0.50 per response
  • Enterprise plan requires custom pricing and minimum 5 users
  • Advanced features like multilingual surveys and phone support require Team Premier tier

Pricing, plan by plan

LabWare

On request
  • LabWare LIMS$undefined/year
    • Sample management
    • Instrument integration
    • Regulatory compliance

SurveyMonkey

Free
  • Team Advantage$99/month
    • 50,000 responses per year
    • Unlimited surveys and questions
    • 3 user minimum
  • Team Premier$240/month
    • 100,000 responses per year
    • All Team Advantage features
    • White label branding

Which should you pick?

Choose LabWare if

  • You need sample management.
  • You work on Windows, Web, Cloud, On-premise.
  • You also want instrument integration.
LabWare review

Choose SurveyMonkey if

  • You need survey builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want question bank.
SurveyMonkey review

Questions people ask

Is LabWare or SurveyMonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. LabWare starts at On request and SurveyMonkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LabWare or SurveyMonkey?
SurveyMonkey has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for LabWare and Free for SurveyMonkey.
Does LabWare or SurveyMonkey run on more platforms?
LabWare runs on Windows, Web, Cloud, On-premise. SurveyMonkey runs on Web.
Can I use SurveyMonkey for free?
Yes. SurveyMonkey has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LabWare starts at On request.
What is LabWare best used for?
LabWare is most often used for pharmaceutical quality control laboratories subject to regulatory inspection, multi-site laboratory networks needing one method and specification library, contract laboratories managing chain of custody across many clients, laboratories replacing a validated legacy lims they can no longer maintain. Of those, pharmaceutical quality control laboratories subject to regulatory inspection and multi-site laboratory networks needing one method and specification library are not what SurveyMonkey is typically brought in for.
What can LabWare do that SurveyMonkey cannot?
LabWare covers Sample management, Instrument integration, Regulatory compliance, Stability studies. SurveyMonkey covers Survey builder, Question bank, Survey logic, Multi-language surveys.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LabWare: Why is LabWare so dominant in pharma?

Validation experience. In a regulated laboratory the software forms part of what an inspector examines, and decades of accumulated validation practice is not something a newer vendor can substitute for.

SurveyMonkey: How much does SurveyMonkey cost?

SurveyMonkey offers team plans starting at AED 99 per user per month for Team Advantage and AED 240 per user per month for Team Premier. Both plans require a minimum of 3 users. Billing can be monthly or annual.

Source
LabWare: What does it cost?

Not published. Enterprise licensing plus implementation and validation services, and the services frequently exceed the licence.

SurveyMonkey: What are SurveyMonkey's overage fees?

SurveyMonkey charges AED 0.50 per additional response on paid plans beyond the annual limit included in each tier.

Source
LabWare: How long is implementation?

A year or more for a regulated laboratory, including validation. Anyone quoting substantially less is either scoping narrowly or omitting validation.

LabWare: Does it include an electronic laboratory notebook?

Yes, LabWare offers ELN alongside LIMS on the same platform, which avoids the integration problem of running two vendors.

LabWare: Is it suitable for a research lab?

Usually not. Research laboratories without regulatory obligations pay for compliance machinery they do not need, and Benchling or a lighter LIMS fits better.

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