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Research · head to head

LabWare vs SurveySparrow

LabWare logo

LabWare

Research

Enterprise laboratory information management system for regulated labs

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: LabWare implementation and validation take a year or more, and the services cost frequently exceeds the licence; SurveySparrow the free plan allows 75 responses per quarter, 3 active surveys and 10 questions per survey
  • They diverge on capability: LabWare covers Sample management, SurveySparrow covers Survey creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LabWare and SurveySparrow actually diverge.

Attributes where LabWare and SurveySparrow differ
AttributeLabWareSurveySparrow
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Web, Cloud, On-premiseWeb
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 LabWare

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

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.

LabWare

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

SurveySparrow

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

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

LabWare

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

SurveySparrow

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

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 SurveySparrow if

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

Questions people ask

Is LabWare or SurveySparrow better?
Neither clearly leads. LabWare 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, LabWare or SurveySparrow?
SurveySparrow has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for LabWare and Free for SurveySparrow.
Does LabWare or SurveySparrow run on more platforms?
LabWare runs on Windows, Web, Cloud, On-premise. SurveySparrow runs on Web.
Can I use SurveySparrow for free?
Yes. SurveySparrow 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 SurveySparrow is typically brought in for.
What can LabWare do that SurveySparrow cannot?
LabWare covers Sample management, Instrument integration, Regulatory compliance, Stability studies. SurveySparrow covers Survey creation, Engagement surveys, Pulse surveys, Analytics dashboard.

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.

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
LabWare: What does it cost?

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

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
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.

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
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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