Surveys aren’t just about collecting answers—they’re about understanding people. Whether you’re a growing brand seeking customer insights or a non-profit trying to measure community impact, the tool you choose matters. In this Glow vs SurveyMonkey review, we’ll dive deep into how both platforms stack up in 2025 and which one truly deserves your attention.
Having used both tools for various projects—from academic research to product feedback—I’ve seen the strengths and struggles of each. While SurveyMonkey has been a household name for decades, Glow is quietly making waves with a fresh, simplified approach. So, which is better for you?
First Impressions: Simplicity vs. Experience
When you first land on SurveyMonkey’s dashboard, you can tell it’s built by pros. The interface is slick, and it offers you a wide set of tools, but it can feel a little overwhelming—especially if you’re just trying to whip up a quick customer feedback form.
Glow, on the other hand, takes a minimalist route. Its layout is clean, with fewer buttons and distractions. That might sound like a downside, but it’s not. If you’ve ever felt lost in a sea of survey options, Glow’s simplicity is a breath of fresh air.
Personal story time: I remember creating a product survey for a new skincare brand. I had 48 hours. SurveyMonkey’s options were powerful, but I lost nearly two hours deciding which logic features to use. Then I tested Glow—and had my survey ready in 30 minutes. That speed matters.
Key takeaway: If you’re new to surveys or need something fast, Glow is friendlier. If you want maximum control and customization, SurveyMonkey gives you the edge.
Design and Customization: Who Lets You Be More “You”?
One of the biggest factors in choosing a survey tool is how much you can make it feel like your brand. Let’s compare.
| Feature | Glow | SurveyMonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Themes & Colors | Simple palette choices | Full branding suite (paid) |
| Custom Fonts | Limited | Available with upgrade |
| Image Uploads | Logo + header | Only in paid versions |
| Templates | 15+ sleek, modern forms | 250+ industry-specific forms |
SurveyMonkey wins on sheer depth—you get more templates, logic flows, and advanced layouts, but you’ll pay for them. Branding features, like custom fonts and logos, are locked behind a paywall.
Glow offers fewer design tweaks but shines in visual simplicity. All users, even on the free plan, can change themes, add headers, and include logos without friction. For startups or creators on a tight budget, that’s golden.
Tip: If you’re after full branding flexibility, SurveyMonkey is your guy—but if you want simple elegance that looks good out of the box, Glow keeps it easy and stylish.
Survey Creation: Guided or Go-It-Alone?
In this Glow vs SurveyMonkey review, this might be the most important point—how easy is it to build the actual survey?
SurveyMonkey gives you power—but you need to know how to use it. You get:
- A question bank with suggested questions (great for beginners)
- AI-generated surveys (very helpful if you’re stuck)
- Complex logic flows
- A/B testing (for data-driven marketers)
Meanwhile, Glow doesn’t try to compete feature-for-feature. Instead, it simplifies:
- Clean drag-and-drop interface
- Contextual tips (appearing as you build)
- Smart question types based on your previous entries
- Templates built with plain language for humans, not robots
While SurveyMonkey feels like piloting a spaceship (with autopilot turned off), Glow is more like riding a bicycle on a sunny day—straightforward, smooth, and a little fun.
Pro insight: If you’re building research-grade surveys or need full control of question logic, SurveyMonkey is superior. But if you’re building feedback loops, onboarding questions, or event RSVP forms, Glow is fast, friendly, and frustration-free.
Pricing: Free vs. Feature-Filled
Money matters, especially when you’re scaling or just getting started. Let’s break down what you get without opening your wallet.
| Plan Feature | Glow Free Plan | SurveyMonkey Free Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited responses | ✅ | ❌ (capped at 25 responses) |
| Number of questions | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ 10 questions per survey |
| Export data | ✅ CSV & Google Sheets | ❌ (paid only) |
| Templates | ✅ 15+ Free | ❌ (most locked) |
| Branding | ✅ Logo, theme customization | ❌ Paid feature |
SurveyMonkey becomes powerful—but only if you pay. Their cheapest individual plan starts at $39/month billed annually. Team plans? That’s $25/user/month, with a minimum of three users.
Glow, however, keeps its core features open—even to free users. You can add unlimited questions, collect unlimited responses, and even export to spreadsheets.
In plain words: SurveyMonkey is a solid long-term investment if you’re conducting serious research. But for most teams, creators, and growing startups, Glow gives you more for free.
Analytics and Insights: Data That Talks
So, you’ve launched your survey. Now what?
SurveyMonkey gives you a full dashboard with graphs, charts, filters, and export tools (if you’re on a paid plan). You can even create segments and customize how your data appears—perfect for researchers, marketers, and data nerds.
Glow doesn’t dive that deep. Instead, it focuses on showing real-time insights with clean visuals. Think: bar graphs, pie charts, and individual answers you can scroll through. And yes, you can connect it with tools like Zapier, Notion, or Slack to keep things flowing.
Bottom line: SurveyMonkey helps you slice and dice your data like a chef with a sushi knife. Glow keeps it simple, showing you just what you need—nothing more, nothing less.
Advanced Features: Who Offers the Secret Sauce?
Let’s look at the nerdy stuff—what hidden superpowers do these platforms offer?
SurveyMonkey’s Advanced Toolkit Includes:
- A/B testing
- Buying targeted responses from a third-party audience
- Randomizing question order (to avoid bias)
- Survey logic with custom paths
- Response quotas and limits
Glow’s Advanced Toolkit Includes:
- Real-time AI survey optimization
- In-survey smart tips for improvement
- Easy integrations (Zapier, Google Sheets, Notion)
- Response analysis powered by machine learning
- One-click form duplications for workflows
Glow may not offer things like audience purchasing or A/B testing (yet), but it’s perfect for agile teams who want fast, beautiful insights with zero friction. Think of it like comparing a Swiss Army knife (SurveyMonkey) to a sharp chef’s knife (Glow). Both are powerful—but for different jobs.
Real-World Use Cases: Who’s Using These Tools—and How
Understanding how real people use Glow and SurveyMonkey reveals their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a snapshot of how each tool performs in the wild.
Glow in Action
Startup Teams: Fast-growing SaaS companies use Glow for customer onboarding and churn feedback. Its minimal setup time means teams can move quickly, iterate faster, and keep data flowing into Notion or Slack.
Coaches and Creators: Glow is a go-to for creators collecting newsletter feedback, course satisfaction ratings, or even webinar registrations. They love the clean UX and zero learning curve.
Non-profits: Smaller organizations use Glow to run event sign-ups or donor surveys without worrying about seat licenses or billing cycles.
“I switched to Glow for my coaching intake forms. It saves me 3–4 hours a week, and the forms look like part of my brand.” – Indie creator, 2025
SurveyMonkey in Action
Enterprises: Major companies like IBM, Samsung, and the U.S. government use SurveyMonkey for employee satisfaction surveys, market research, and complex academic studies.
Agencies and Researchers: Agencies appreciate the ability to design deeply segmented surveys, collect hundreds (or thousands) of responses, and drill down with custom reports.
Education: Universities use it to conduct multi-stage surveys and analyze trends over time, particularly when working with IRB-approved research.
“SurveyMonkey is our gold standard for longitudinal research. The advanced logic is essential for our behavioral studies.” – University Research Analyst, 2024
Integrations: Where Do These Tools Fit in Your Stack?
Modern survey tools aren’t just about what happens on the page—they’re about what happens after the form is submitted.
Glow Integrations:
- 🔁 Zapier (connect with 5000+ apps)
- 📊 Google Sheets
- 🧠 Notion
- 💬 Slack
- 🔗 Webhooks for custom workflows
Glow’s integrations are lean, but they hit the sweet spots for smaller teams and indie workflows. No coding required—just plug and go.
SurveyMonkey Integrations:
- 📈 Salesforce
- 📧 Mailchimp, HubSpot
- ⚙️ Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace
- 🧩 PowerBI, Tableau
- 🌐 REST API for developers
SurveyMonkey’s integrations are enterprise-grade. If you need your survey data flowing into complex dashboards or CRM systems, it’s built for that.
Bottom line: If your stack is simple and speed matters, Glow covers the essentials. For enterprise needs and BI-heavy workflows, SurveyMonkey fits better.
Customer Support: Help When You Need It
Glow:
- ✅ Email support (fast responses)
- ✅ Knowledge base and tutorials
- ✅ Community Slack channel
- ❌ No live chat (as of mid-2025)
Glow’s support is friendly and fast—but not 24/7. For most use cases, email is sufficient, but if you’re working against a deadline, you might miss a quick answer.
SurveyMonkey:
- ✅ 24/7 email and chat (paid plans)
- ✅ Dedicated success managers (enterprise)
- ✅ Rich documentation, webinars, forums
- ❌ Free users get minimal help
SurveyMonkey scales its support based on your plan. Pay more, get more. That’s fair—but it means free users are mostly on their own.
Tip: If you’re launching mission-critical surveys, SurveyMonkey’s enterprise-grade support might be a safer bet. For most creators and small teams, Glow’s support is more than enough.
FAQs: Common Questions About Glow vs SurveyMonkey
1. Is Glow really free forever?
Yes, Glow offers a generous free plan with unlimited surveys, questions, and responses. Paid plans add team collaboration and white-label options, but the core features are 100% free.
2. Can SurveyMonkey handle large-scale surveys (10,000+ responses)?
Absolutely. In fact, that’s where it shines. It can manage big surveys, segment responses, and export data cleanly—especially with the right plan.
3. Which is better for customer feedback surveys?
Depends on your needs:
- For fast, branded customer surveys → Glow
- For deep, segmented NPS tracking or CSAT reports → SurveyMonkey
4. Does either tool offer AI features?
Yes, both do!
- Glow uses AI to suggest survey improvements and summarize responses.
- SurveyMonkey offers AI-generated survey templates and sentiment analysis (on paid plans).
5. Can I export my survey data?
- Glow allows full exports on all plans (CSV, Sheets).
- SurveyMonkey limits exports to paid users.
Final Verdict: Glow vs SurveyMonkey—Which One Wins in 2025?
Let’s zoom out and put it plainly.
| Criteria | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | ✅ Glow |
| Branding & Simplicity | ✅ Glow |
| Advanced Logic & Customization | ✅ SurveyMonkey |
| Free Plan Value | ✅ Glow |
| Enterprise-Grade Features | ✅ SurveyMonkey |
| Support & Documentation | ✅ SurveyMonkey (paid) |
| Speed to Launch | ✅ Glow |
Choose Glow if:
You’re a solo founder, marketer, coach, or startup looking for beautiful, lightweight surveys with zero stress. It’s fast, free, and human-friendly.
Choose SurveyMonkey if:
You’re conducting large-scale research, need advanced features, and want total control over your survey architecture—especially in enterprise or academic settings.
Final Thought
In 2025, survey tools are no longer just forms. They’re part of your brand, your workflow, and your feedback loop.
Glow is a rising star—lean, modern, and generous to its users. SurveyMonkey is the veteran—robust, trusted, and packed with features (if you can pay for them).