Single Select polls let respondents choose only one option from multiple choices, ideal for factual questions or situations where only one logical answer exists.
When to use / prerequisites
Use for factual questions or when only one logical answer exists
Available on all PickFu plans
Best for situations like "How many kids do you have?" or binary choices
For finding the most preferred winner, use Ranked polls instead (instant runoff tallying)
Steps to create a Single Select poll
Click Create a Poll from your dashboard
Select Single Select as your poll type
Add your question (e.g., "Which book cover would make you most likely to buy?")
Upload 3-8 options (images, text, or combinations)
Set your audience targeting (optional but recommended)
Choose your sample size (50+ respondents recommended)
Review and launch your poll
How Single Select works
For respondents
Respondents see all your options at once
They select only their top choice
They explain why they chose that option
They cannot select multiple options
In your results
See the percentage who chose each option
Read detailed explanations for why people picked their favorites
Get clear winner identification
Review demographic breakdowns
Single Select vs. other poll types
Poll type | Best for | Key difference |
Single Select | Factual/binary questions | One choice only, logical answer |
Seeing broad appeal | Multiple choices allowed | |
Finding most preferred winner | Instant runoff tallying determines winner | |
Head-to-Head | Comparing exactly 2 options | Only works with 2 options |
Single Select is perfect for factual questions or binary choices. For finding the most preferred winner, use Ranked polls with instant runoff tallying.
Use 50+ respondents for reliable Single Select results, especially when margins are close.
Examples of effective Single Select polls
Product selection
"Which product name would make you most likely to buy?"
Option A: EcoClean Pro
Option B: GreenScrub Max
Option C: PlantPower Cleaner
Option D: Natural Shine
Design testing
"Which app icon would make you most likely to download?"
Upload 4-6 different icon designs
Get clear winner for app store optimization
Marketing copy
"Which headline would make you most likely to click?"
Test 3-5 headline variations
Find the most compelling message
Troubleshooting / FAQs
Can respondents see all options at once?
Yes, all options are displayed simultaneously so respondents can compare before making their choice.
What if there's a tie?
Single Select polls can have ties, but with 50+ respondents, you'll usually get a clear winner. Consider 100+ respondents if you expect close results.
Can I add more than 8 options?
Currently, Single Select supports up to 8 options. For more options, consider narrowing down first or running multiple polls.
How is this different from a survey with radio buttons?
Single Select polls include written explanations from respondents, demographic targeting, and PickFu's quality consumer panel.
Can I use images and text together?
Yes! You can combine images with descriptive text for each option to provide full context.
When should I use Ranked instead of Single Select?
Use Ranked polls when you want to find the most preferred winner. Ranked polls use instant runoff tallying to determine the option that would win in a head-to-head comparison against all others. Use Single Select for factual questions or when only one logical answer exists.
Related resources
Poll type tips - Learn which poll type to use for different scenarios
How to use Multi Select polls - Allow respondents to choose multiple options
Polling best practices - Get the most accurate and actionable results
Tips for interpreting and analyzing results - Make sense of your poll data
Anatomy of a PickFu poll - Understand all the components of a poll