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What is a survey and when should I use it?

Surveys let you ask multiple questions to the same audience. Mix and match question formats and get deeper insights.

Updated this week

A survey lets you ask up to 16 questions to the same targeted audience in a single test. Use it when you need comprehensive, multi-faceted insights on a topic – combining different question types to explore complex research questions.

Unlike single polls that capture one data point, surveys give you in-depth insights from a controlled panel. The same respondents answer every question, so you can spot patterns and connections that individual polls might miss.

This format is perfect for exploring complex topics, understanding nuanced consumer behavior, or testing multiple aspects of a product or concept at once.

When should I use a survey?

Surveys work best when you need to ask more than one question or cover multiple topics with the same audience. They're ideal for:

  • Product research – understand preferences, pain points, and purchase intent in one test

  • Concept exploration – gather multi-angle feedback on a new idea or offering

  • Competitive analysis – compare your product to competitors across multiple dimensions

  • User research – explore behaviors, motivations, and decision-making patterns

  • Pre-launch validation – test naming, pricing, messaging, and visuals together

Build a survey when a single-question poll isn't enough to answer your research questions.

How to create a survey

Setting up a survey takes just a few steps:

  1. Start a new poll the same way you usually do – Click the New poll from your dashboard

  2. Add multiple questions – add your first question, then click "Add question" to include additional questions (up to 16 total)

  3. Mix question types – combine any of our available poll types in your survey: Head-to-Head, Ranked, Open-Ended, Click Test, Single Select, etc.

  4. Upload your content – add text, images, videos, or other assets for each question

  5. Target your audience – choose demographics that match your target market

  6. Preview and launch – review your survey, then launch to start collecting feedback

Respondents will answer all questions in sequence. Since the same people answer every question, you get consistent, controlled data.

Example survey structure:

  1. Open-ended question – ask what features are most important when shopping for your product type

  2. Ranked choice – have respondents rank multiple design options

  3. Click Test – show a search results page and ask which listing they'd click

How to read your survey results

Once your survey completes, you'll see:

  • Per-question results – each question displays its results in the appropriate format (votes, rankings, heatmaps, etc.)

  • Consistent respondent pool – the same people answered every question, so you can cross-reference responses

  • AI Insights report – automated insights highlighting key themes and patterns across all questions

  • Downloadable reports – export results to share with your team

Look for patterns across questions. How do respondents who preferred Option A in question 1 respond to question 3? Surveys let you connect dots that individual polls can't.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions can I include in one survey?

You can include up to 16 questions per survey.

Can I use all the same question types available in polls?

Yes, you can choose any combination of question formats or poll types (Head-to-Head, Ranked, Open-Ended, Click Test, Single Select, Multi Select, and more) within one survey.

How long do surveys take to complete?

Most surveys finish within 24-48 hours, but long surveys with larger sample sizes, niche targeting, or more complex questions may take longer.

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