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Research · head to head

NVivo vs SurveyMonkey

NVivo logo

NVivo

Research

Easy-to-use, collaborative qualitative analysis software

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: NVivo base plan pricing not displayed on shop page; requires adding to cart or contacting sales; SurveyMonkey team plans require minimum 3 users as baseline
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NVivo and SurveyMonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where NVivo and SurveyMonkey differ
AttributeNVivoSurveyMonkey
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown1999

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 NVivo

Nothing recorded that SurveyMonkey does not also cover.

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.

NVivo

  • Qualitative data analysis for researchnot SurveyMonkey
  • Document and interview coding and analysisnot SurveyMonkey
  • Transcription and collaborative research projectsnot SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey

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

Where each one falls short

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

NVivo

  • Base plan pricing not displayed on shop page; requires adding to cart or contacting sales
  • Volume licensing (10+ seats) requires sales contact only
  • No free version available, only trials without specified duration

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

NVivo

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the NVivo review.

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 NVivo if

Nothing in the data separates NVivo from SurveyMonkey on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

NVivo 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 NVivo or SurveyMonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. NVivo 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, NVivo or SurveyMonkey?
SurveyMonkey has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for NVivo and Free for SurveyMonkey.
Does NVivo or SurveyMonkey run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use SurveyMonkey for free?
Yes. SurveyMonkey has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. NVivo starts at On request.
What is NVivo best used for?
NVivo is most often used for qualitative data analysis for research, document and interview coding and analysis, transcription and collaborative research projects. Of those, qualitative data analysis for research and document and interview coding and analysis are not what SurveyMonkey is typically brought in for.
What can NVivo do that SurveyMonkey cannot?
SurveyMonkey covers Survey builder, Question bank, Survey logic, Multi-language surveys.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

NVivo: How much does NVivo cost?

NVivo pricing is not displayed on the public website. Base plan pricing varies by subscription type and region. Individual/small teams can purchase directly through shop.lumivero.com, while organizations with 10+ licenses must contact sales for quotes.

Source
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
NVivo: What are NVivo add-on costs?

NVivo AI Assistant costs $250 per year. Transcription costs $499 per year (50 hours annually) or $30 one-time (60 minutes). Collaboration Cloud for team sharing costs $99 per year.

Source
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
NVivo: Does NVivo offer a free version?

No free version of NVivo is available. Free trials are available at the product website, though trial duration is not specified. Individual users can purchase licenses directly through lumivero.com.

Source
NVivo: Is NVivo AI Assistant included in subscription?

No, NVivo AI Assistant is a paid add-on costing $250 per year. However, through August 18-September 15, 2026, AI Assistant is free with annual NVivo + AI subscriptions using code BTSAI100.

Source
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