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Research · head to head

STARLIMS vs SurveySparrow

STARLIMS logo

STARLIMS

Research

Laboratory information management from Abbott for regulated and public health 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: STARLIMS implementation is lengthy and outcome quality depends heavily on the partner doing the configuration; SurveySparrow the free plan allows 75 responses per quarter, 3 active surveys and 10 questions per survey
  • They diverge on capability: STARLIMS covers Sample and specimen management, SurveySparrow covers Survey creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which STARLIMS and SurveySparrow actually diverge.

Attributes where STARLIMS and SurveySparrow differ
AttributeSTARLIMSSurveySparrow
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, 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 STARLIMS

  • Sample and specimen management
  • Quality management
  • Instrument integration
  • Public health reporting
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Web and mobile access

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.

STARLIMS

  • Public health laboratories handling surveillance and outbreak investigationnot SurveySparrow
  • Clinical laboratories needing regulated specimen tracking and reportingnot SurveySparrow
  • Food safety and environmental testing laboratoriesnot SurveySparrow
  • Multi-site laboratory networks standardising methods and specificationsnot SurveySparrow

SurveySparrow

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

Where each one falls short

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

STARLIMS

  • Implementation is lengthy and outcome quality depends heavily on the partner doing the configuration
  • Pricing is quote-based with no public reference, making early budget setting difficult
  • The breadth across laboratory types means some verticals get less development attention than others
  • Interface modernisation has lagged behind newer cloud-native laboratory platforms
  • Over-specified for small laboratories, where a lighter LIMS delivers most of the value for a fraction of the effort

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

STARLIMS

On request
  • STARLIMS$undefined/year
    • Sample management
    • Quality management
    • Instrument integration

SurveySparrow

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

Which should you pick?

Choose STARLIMS if

  • You need sample and specimen management.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Cloud, On-premise.
  • You also want quality management.
STARLIMS 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 STARLIMS or SurveySparrow better?
Neither clearly leads. STARLIMS 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, STARLIMS or SurveySparrow?
SurveySparrow has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for STARLIMS and Free for SurveySparrow.
Does STARLIMS or SurveySparrow run on more platforms?
STARLIMS runs on Web, Windows, 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. STARLIMS starts at On request.
What is STARLIMS best used for?
STARLIMS is most often used for public health laboratories handling surveillance and outbreak investigation, clinical laboratories needing regulated specimen tracking and reporting, food safety and environmental testing laboratories, multi-site laboratory networks standardising methods and specifications. Of those, public health laboratories handling surveillance and outbreak investigation and clinical laboratories needing regulated specimen tracking and reporting are not what SurveySparrow is typically brought in for.
What can STARLIMS do that SurveySparrow cannot?
STARLIMS covers Sample and specimen management, Quality management, Instrument integration, Public health reporting. SurveySparrow covers Survey creation, Engagement surveys, Pulse surveys, Analytics dashboard.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

STARLIMS: Who owns STARLIMS?

Abbott. That gives it institutional weight in laboratory procurement and a natural relationship with Abbott diagnostic instruments.

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
STARLIMS: Where is it strongest?

Public health and clinical laboratories. Surveillance reporting, outbreak investigation and unpredictable specimen surges are different problems from pharmaceutical QC, and it handles them well.

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
STARLIMS: What does it cost?

Not published. Enterprise licensing plus implementation, quoted on laboratory count, users and modules.

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
STARLIMS: How does it compare to LabWare?

Both are enterprise LIMS with regulatory depth. LabWare is more dominant in pharmaceutical QC; STARLIMS has more presence in public health and clinical. Implementation partner quality matters more than the platform difference.

STARLIMS: What decides a successful implementation?

Configuration and validation quality, not platform features. Evaluations that compare feature lists rather than implementation approach are asking the wrong question.

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