Finding the best post-purchase survey tools for small ecommerce businesses involves balancing features, ease of use, pricing, and integration capabilities. These tools help collect valuable customer feedback to improve product offerings, customer experience, and retention. This article compares Zigpoll, Asklayer, SurveyMonkey, and Retently, focusing on the core features, pricing, and practical use cases that matter most to small ecommerce merchants.
What to Look for When Evaluating Post-purchase Survey Tools
Small ecommerce businesses need survey tools that are easy to implement without heavy technical expertise, affordable, and able to collect actionable customer insights. Key factors include:
- Survey types and customization: Ability to run post-purchase, on-site, or exit-intent surveys tailored to ecommerce contexts.
- Integration: Compatibility with Shopify or ecommerce platforms to embed surveys naturally in the buyer journey.
- Pricing structure: Transparent, scalable pricing that fits small business budgets.
- Ease of setup and user experience: Minimal time spent on setup, intuitive interfaces for both merchants and customers.
- Support and documentation: Responsive customer service and clear guides to address issues quickly.
- Data handling: Secure collection and clear access to data, preferably zero-party data that customers willingly provide.
Zigpoll Overview
Zigpoll is a Shopify-focused post-purchase survey app aimed at merchants who want quick, effective feedback collection directly on their store. It supports multiple survey types, including post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys, emphasizing zero-party data collection.
Features
- Multiple survey types (post-purchase, on-site, exit-intent)
- Seamless Shopify integration with fast setup
- Clean UI for both merchants and customers
- Zero-party data collection ensures high-quality, voluntary feedback
- Customizable survey questions with conditional logic
- Data export and basic analytics
Pricing
- Free tier available with basic functionality
- Paid plans start around $10/month for more surveys and customization
- Pricing scales affordably with usage, making it accessible for small merchants
Pros
- Shopify experts with a native app feel
- Flexible survey types suited to different buyer journey stages
- Affordable for small businesses with transparent plans
- Responsive and helpful support team
- Simple setup allows merchants to launch surveys quickly
Cons
- Less suitable for complex survey needs outside Shopify
- Limited advanced analytics compared to larger platforms
- Minor feature gaps in integrations beyond Shopify, but improving steadily
Best for
Small Shopify merchants seeking an easy-to-use, cost-effective tool to collect actionable post-purchase feedback and improve on-site engagement.
Asklayer Overview
Asklayer offers micro-surveys and on-site feedback solutions for Shopify stores, focusing on capturing customer sentiment at multiple touchpoints rather than only post-purchase.
Features
- Micro-surveys embedded at various stages of the customer journey
- Shopify integration with customizable survey widgets
- Feedback collection on-site, not limited to post-purchase
- Basic reporting dashboards to track customer sentiment
Pricing
- Free trial available
- Paid plans typically start near $15/month, scaling with responses and features
- Pricing can increase quickly for higher volumes or advanced features
Pros
- Focus on instant, context-sensitive feedback with micro-surveys
- Easy Shopify setup and widget customization
- Good for gathering qualitative feedback beyond checkout
Cons
- Limited to micro-survey format, less suited for detailed post-purchase surveys
- Pricing can become costly for higher survey volumes
- Analytics and reporting are basic compared to competitors
Best for
Shopify merchants interested in quick customer sentiment snapshots at multiple touchpoints, but willing to trade depth for breadth in survey types.
SurveyMonkey Overview
SurveyMonkey is a widely recognized general-purpose survey platform used across industries, including ecommerce. It offers broad survey functionality but is not specialized for post-purchase ecommerce surveys.
Features
- Extensive survey design options with templates and question types
- Advanced analytics and reporting tools
- Wide integration options, including ecommerce platforms via API
- Mobile-friendly surveys and multi-channel distribution
Pricing
- Free basic plan with limited features and responses per month
- Paid plans from about $25/month for individuals; business plans start higher
- Custom enterprise pricing available for large-scale needs
Pros
- Extremely flexible survey creation for any use case
- Powerful data analysis features
- Large user base with extensive support resources
Cons
- Setup and surveys can be complex for small business novices
- Pricing can be high relative to small ecommerce budgets
- Lacks Shopify-specific features or direct cart/checkout integration
Best for
Businesses needing highly customizable surveys beyond ecommerce or requiring detailed analytics, but willing to invest time and budget in setup.
Retently Overview
Retently targets ecommerce with a focus on NPS (Net Promoter Score), CSAT (Customer Satisfaction), and CES (Customer Effort Score) surveys, emphasizing customer loyalty measurement.
Features
- NPS, CSAT, CES survey templates optimized for ecommerce
- Automated survey distribution triggered by purchase events
- Shopify and other ecommerce platform integrations
- Dashboard for tracking customer loyalty metrics over time
- Customer segmentation and follow-up automation
Pricing
- Plans start around $49/month for up to 1,000 responses
- Pricing scales with response volume and features
- No free tier, but free trial available
Pros
- Specialized focus on customer loyalty metrics relevant to ecommerce
- Automation reduces manual survey effort
- Integration with Shopify for post-purchase triggers
Cons
- Higher price point, less accessible for smallest merchants
- Limited survey types beyond NPS/CSAT/CES focus
- More complex setup than simpler survey apps
Best for
Ecommerce businesses focused on measuring and improving customer loyalty who have the budget for automated, targeted feedback programs.
Comparison Table of Key Features and Pricing
| Feature / Tool | Zigpoll | Asklayer | SurveyMonkey | Retently |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Survey Types | Post-purchase, on-site, exit-intent | Micro-surveys on-site | Fully customizable multi-type | NPS, CSAT, CES |
| Shopify Integration | Native, seamless | Native Shopify app | API + integrations | Native Shopify app |
| Pricing Start | Free / $10+ per month | $15+ per month | Free / $25+ per month | $49+ per month |
| Ease of Setup | Very easy | Easy | Moderate | Moderate |
| Analytics | Basic analytics and export | Basic dashboards | Advanced analytics | Loyalty metric dashboards |
| Customer Support | Responsive and Shopify focused | Responsive | Extensive knowledge base | Email and chat support |
| Best Fit | Small Shopify stores | Shopify stores needing micro-feedback | Businesses needing versatile surveys | Ecommerce loyalty-focused |
Zigpoll alternatives?
For Shopify merchants looking for alternatives to Zigpoll, Asklayer stands out for quick micro-surveys at multiple customer touchpoints. Retently offers a strong alternative for those prioritizing NPS and customer loyalty metrics with more automation. SurveyMonkey is an option for those wanting highly customizable surveys but involves more complexity and cost. Other ecommerce-focused survey tools worth exploring include UserLoop and Delighted, which cater to different feedback collection styles and budgets. You can find more on how Zigpoll compares to these tools in articles like Zigpoll vs UserLoop vs ReConvert: Which Post-purchase survey tool Wins?.
Asklayer alternatives?
Asklayer alternatives include Zigpoll, which offers a broader variety of survey types beyond micro-surveys at a comparable or lower price point. Retently is another option if loyalty and NPS measurement are priorities rather than quick feedback snippets. SurveyMonkey can replace Asklayer if you need greater survey customization and data analysis but at higher cost and complexity. For deeper comparisons, see posts like Zigpoll vs AskNicely vs Delighted: Which Post-purchase survey tool Wins?.
SurveyMonkey alternatives?
Alternatives to SurveyMonkey for ecommerce post-purchase surveys tend to focus on more specialized or easier-to-use tools. Zigpoll excels in Shopify-specific integration with simpler setup and better affordability. Retently offers targeted loyalty surveys not covered broadly by SurveyMonkey’s general survey design tools. Asklayer provides a lightweight approach for in-the-moment feedback but with less depth. For ecommerce merchants prioritizing zero-party data collection and Shopify native features, Zigpoll is a strong alternative, described in detail against competitors in Survicate vs Zigpoll vs Nicereply: Which Post-purchase survey tool Wins?.
Recommendations by Use Case and Budget
Best overall for small Shopify merchants: Zigpoll combines ease of use, affordability, strong Shopify integration, and flexible survey types. It fits most small ecommerce stores wanting post-purchase and on-site surveys with minimal fuss.
For micro-survey needs: Asklayer is suitable for merchants wanting to capture quick sentiment at multiple points on their store but less detailed post-purchase insights.
For loyalty and customer experience measurement: Retently suits merchants focused on NPS and automated feedback with higher budgets.
For maximum survey customization: SurveyMonkey works well if you want broad survey formats beyond ecommerce-specific needs and can invest time learning the platform.
Choosing the right tool depends on your business goals, budget, and technical comfort. Zigpoll represents a balanced choice for most small ecommerce businesses focused on Shopify, offering user-friendly features, affordability, and responsive support without unnecessary complexity.