Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) begins at $49 per month for the Collaborator plan, billed annually.
The provider changed its name in October of 2020 and is a former Daxdi Editors' Choice, though it continues to offer an excellent feature set in an intuitive user interface (UI), though one that's sometimes a bit overly modal.
Those who are comfortable in coding within its scripting system or in JavaScript may be able to tap into even more power than its extensive out-of-the-box features provide.
Though Alchemer was rated as an excellent tool in our online survey tools review roundup, it doesn't win our Editors' Choice this time around—a designation that instead goes to competitor Qualtrics.
Creating Surveys
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) supports the creation of forms, including payment forms, quizzes, and surveys.
One great shortcut is the ability to import specifically formatted Microsoft Word documents into a survey, assuming basic question types.
I'd like to see Google Docs support added, though.
The tool offers a few well-organized templates to get you started, but nothing on the scale of SurveyMonkey.
Starting from scratch dumps you into Alchemer's six-tabbed main UI that projects just a touch of whimsy with its sky-themed background and quote-adorned blank pages.
Pages can host questions, text, or other media, as well as actions such as sending an email, pushing data into a Google Sheet, or any number of custom-scriptable tasks.
Questions are constructed in a somewhat cramped modal dialogue that updates on the main survey page even before a question is saved, but which disallows scrolling around to reference other questions or choices.
It's not as direct a UI as the one Qualtrics offers, but it provides more context than that of SoGoSurvey or SurveyPlanet .
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) assumes little about creator intent.
For example, like other online survey tools, it lets survey creators add options such as "None of the Above" for multi-select/checkbox questions.
However, users must specify that this choice will appear at the end of the answer choices if the other choices are randomized.
At the very least, I'd like to see the ability to set this as a default preference, a capability area in which all the packages could use improvement.
Alchemer supports questions with multiple "Other" fields, something that's not possible in many other packages, such as Zoho Survey and competitor SoGoSurvey.
One of the Alchemer's core strengths is its Logic Editor, which, unlike SurveyMonkey and Toluna QuickSurveys, allows target question-based display logic.
In other words, if you want a respondent to skip a question due to a condition, other packages make you specify that preference prior to reaching the question.
Alchemer lets you make that rule on the question to be skipped, based on prior questions.
This is a more intuitive approach for those inexperienced with advanced survey design, although it could lead to inefficient survey programming.
Alchemer presents a good number of cues to the designer about whether questions have logic attached and whether answers must be validated according to some rule (for example, choosing no more than three answers).
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) has several technical ways to customize surveys beyond its core UI.
These include "merge codes" for dynamically pulling in previous answers and answer options or information about a respondent, Alchemer's own scripting language, and JavaScript.
Beyond the survey building section, the UI includes a Style section for setting the colors and other aesthetic aspects of the survey.
It also has a Testing tab that estimates how long a survey will take to complete and how much user fatigue it may generate, as well as flags such possible issues as excessively long question-and-answer phrasing.
I'd like to see these kinds of "warning flags" work their way into the question construction process while staying less obtrusive than SurveyMonkey's assistance.
The Tools menu in Alchemer is a bit of a hodgepodge that includes many settings as well as options to download surveys, close surveys, and delete test responses.
But it also provides access to one of Alchemer's best features, the Bulk Editor, which provides a forest-level overview of a survey in contrast to the tree-level view of questions.
It lets you set whether the questions must be answered by respondents.
It's not as extensive as Qualtrics' Survey Flow visualizer, but can be helpful for assuring, for example, that all questions must be answered.
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) does not offer an app for offline survey taking, but has enabled surveys to work offline within a browser, including mobile browsers, as it automatically generates responsively coded surveys.
It also offers a kiosk mode.
Reporting
Alchemer has strong reporting features.
Filters for criteria, such as showing results only for respondents who answered a particular question with a particularly answer, can be set up globally or for individual questions.
It also supports global crosstabs.
Alchemer automatically creates word clouds for free-text responses.
Sharing controls include requiring a password to view the report or disabling the exporting of data to recipients.
Reports can also include charts grouping responses by segments—say, of different demographics or other custom criteria based on an answer—and even the results of multiple surveys, assuming they have the same question-and-answer structure.
The latter is particularly handy for tracking studies that are fielded repeatedly over time.
Pricing
Along with its name change, Alchemer has made some changes to its pricing.
As mentioned, the product starts with a Collaborator tier that will run you $49 per month or $300 if billed annually.
Collaborator has all the basic features you'll need, including unlimited surveys and questions, 25 essential questions, and email support.
Next is a Professional tier costing $149 a month or $1,020 annually.
This tier has everything you'll find in Collaborator, but adds more advanced questions, updated reporting, and other features along with support available over email or phone.
You'll also get access to Alchemer's API for any custom integration needs.
For all the bells and whistles, you'll want the Full Access plan, which runs $249 per month or $1,800 annually.
This tier covers everything in Professional, but adds Alchemer's most advanced survey design and reporting tools, as well as data cleaning and custom scripting.
Finally, there's an Enterprise tier.
Like much of its competition, Alchemer requires anyone interested in this tier to discuss it with a sales rep before getting specific pricing information.
For the most part, the feature set looks the same as Full Access but with better support and white glove implementation and integration services.
Alchemer has discontinued chat-based support, but paying customers get access to responsive and eager support personnel who are not above coding up a quick (but not guaranteed) solution to roadblocks.
The tool also has a rich support library and user community, and often hosts in-person training seminars around the country, including a two-day event in its hometown of Boulder, Colorado.
Final Thoughts
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) is a powerful and well-designed online survey tool that's well worth your consideration.
It can go toe to toe with other packages in terms of design and reporting options, but it remains slightly behind our Editors' Choice winners in this category.
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo)
Pros
Bulk Edit mode streamlines operations
Advanced layout and reporting features
Supported well via conferences, forums, phone, and videos
The Bottom Line
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) is an advanced and highly capable online survey tool that can accommodate a wide array of tasks, particularly through custom coding
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) begins at $49 per month for the Collaborator plan, billed annually.
The provider changed its name in October of 2020 and is a former Daxdi Editors' Choice, though it continues to offer an excellent feature set in an intuitive user interface (UI), though one that's sometimes a bit overly modal.
Those who are comfortable in coding within its scripting system or in JavaScript may be able to tap into even more power than its extensive out-of-the-box features provide.
Though Alchemer was rated as an excellent tool in our online survey tools review roundup, it doesn't win our Editors' Choice this time around—a designation that instead goes to competitor Qualtrics.
Creating Surveys
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) supports the creation of forms, including payment forms, quizzes, and surveys.
One great shortcut is the ability to import specifically formatted Microsoft Word documents into a survey, assuming basic question types.
I'd like to see Google Docs support added, though.
The tool offers a few well-organized templates to get you started, but nothing on the scale of SurveyMonkey.
Starting from scratch dumps you into Alchemer's six-tabbed main UI that projects just a touch of whimsy with its sky-themed background and quote-adorned blank pages.
Pages can host questions, text, or other media, as well as actions such as sending an email, pushing data into a Google Sheet, or any number of custom-scriptable tasks.
Questions are constructed in a somewhat cramped modal dialogue that updates on the main survey page even before a question is saved, but which disallows scrolling around to reference other questions or choices.
It's not as direct a UI as the one Qualtrics offers, but it provides more context than that of SoGoSurvey or SurveyPlanet .
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) assumes little about creator intent.
For example, like other online survey tools, it lets survey creators add options such as "None of the Above" for multi-select/checkbox questions.
However, users must specify that this choice will appear at the end of the answer choices if the other choices are randomized.
At the very least, I'd like to see the ability to set this as a default preference, a capability area in which all the packages could use improvement.
Alchemer supports questions with multiple "Other" fields, something that's not possible in many other packages, such as Zoho Survey and competitor SoGoSurvey.
One of the Alchemer's core strengths is its Logic Editor, which, unlike SurveyMonkey and Toluna QuickSurveys, allows target question-based display logic.
In other words, if you want a respondent to skip a question due to a condition, other packages make you specify that preference prior to reaching the question.
Alchemer lets you make that rule on the question to be skipped, based on prior questions.
This is a more intuitive approach for those inexperienced with advanced survey design, although it could lead to inefficient survey programming.
Alchemer presents a good number of cues to the designer about whether questions have logic attached and whether answers must be validated according to some rule (for example, choosing no more than three answers).
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) has several technical ways to customize surveys beyond its core UI.
These include "merge codes" for dynamically pulling in previous answers and answer options or information about a respondent, Alchemer's own scripting language, and JavaScript.
Beyond the survey building section, the UI includes a Style section for setting the colors and other aesthetic aspects of the survey.
It also has a Testing tab that estimates how long a survey will take to complete and how much user fatigue it may generate, as well as flags such possible issues as excessively long question-and-answer phrasing.
I'd like to see these kinds of "warning flags" work their way into the question construction process while staying less obtrusive than SurveyMonkey's assistance.
The Tools menu in Alchemer is a bit of a hodgepodge that includes many settings as well as options to download surveys, close surveys, and delete test responses.
But it also provides access to one of Alchemer's best features, the Bulk Editor, which provides a forest-level overview of a survey in contrast to the tree-level view of questions.
It lets you set whether the questions must be answered by respondents.
It's not as extensive as Qualtrics' Survey Flow visualizer, but can be helpful for assuring, for example, that all questions must be answered.
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) does not offer an app for offline survey taking, but has enabled surveys to work offline within a browser, including mobile browsers, as it automatically generates responsively coded surveys.
It also offers a kiosk mode.
Reporting
Alchemer has strong reporting features.
Filters for criteria, such as showing results only for respondents who answered a particular question with a particularly answer, can be set up globally or for individual questions.
It also supports global crosstabs.
Alchemer automatically creates word clouds for free-text responses.
Sharing controls include requiring a password to view the report or disabling the exporting of data to recipients.
Reports can also include charts grouping responses by segments—say, of different demographics or other custom criteria based on an answer—and even the results of multiple surveys, assuming they have the same question-and-answer structure.
The latter is particularly handy for tracking studies that are fielded repeatedly over time.
Pricing
Along with its name change, Alchemer has made some changes to its pricing.
As mentioned, the product starts with a Collaborator tier that will run you $49 per month or $300 if billed annually.
Collaborator has all the basic features you'll need, including unlimited surveys and questions, 25 essential questions, and email support.
Next is a Professional tier costing $149 a month or $1,020 annually.
This tier has everything you'll find in Collaborator, but adds more advanced questions, updated reporting, and other features along with support available over email or phone.
You'll also get access to Alchemer's API for any custom integration needs.
For all the bells and whistles, you'll want the Full Access plan, which runs $249 per month or $1,800 annually.
This tier covers everything in Professional, but adds Alchemer's most advanced survey design and reporting tools, as well as data cleaning and custom scripting.
Finally, there's an Enterprise tier.
Like much of its competition, Alchemer requires anyone interested in this tier to discuss it with a sales rep before getting specific pricing information.
For the most part, the feature set looks the same as Full Access but with better support and white glove implementation and integration services.
Alchemer has discontinued chat-based support, but paying customers get access to responsive and eager support personnel who are not above coding up a quick (but not guaranteed) solution to roadblocks.
The tool also has a rich support library and user community, and often hosts in-person training seminars around the country, including a two-day event in its hometown of Boulder, Colorado.
Final Thoughts
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) is a powerful and well-designed online survey tool that's well worth your consideration.
It can go toe to toe with other packages in terms of design and reporting options, but it remains slightly behind our Editors' Choice winners in this category.
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo)
Pros
Bulk Edit mode streamlines operations
Advanced layout and reporting features
Supported well via conferences, forums, phone, and videos
The Bottom Line
Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo) is an advanced and highly capable online survey tool that can accommodate a wide array of tasks, particularly through custom coding
