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Research · head to head

NVivo vs SurveySparrow

NVivo logo

NVivo

Research

Easy-to-use, collaborative qualitative analysis software

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: NVivo base plan pricing not displayed on shop page; requires adding to cart or contacting sales; SurveySparrow the free plan allows 75 responses per quarter, 3 active surveys and 10 questions per survey
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NVivo and SurveySparrow actually diverge.

Attributes where NVivo and SurveySparrow differ
AttributeNVivoSurveySparrow
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown2011

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 SurveySparrow does not also cover.

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.

NVivo

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

SurveySparrow

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

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

NVivo

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the NVivo review.

SurveySparrow

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

Which should you pick?

Choose NVivo if

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

NVivo 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 NVivo or SurveySparrow better?
Neither clearly leads. NVivo 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, NVivo or SurveySparrow?
SurveySparrow has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for NVivo and Free for SurveySparrow.
Does NVivo or SurveySparrow run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use SurveySparrow for free?
Yes. SurveySparrow 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 SurveySparrow is typically brought in for.
What can NVivo do that SurveySparrow cannot?
SurveySparrow covers Survey creation, Engagement surveys, Pulse surveys, Analytics dashboard.

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
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
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
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
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
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
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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