I know I said I wasn’t going to do this, but I get asked this question a lot so I’ve caving in. Here are my (current) favorite survey software packages:

Qualtrics: (internet survey software) has a fantastic variety of question types with a really easy to use survey development system. Also features advanced survey branching capabilities including looping, random blocks of questions and more.

SurveyGizmo: (internet survey software) Also extremely easy to use survey package with a lot of features. Probably the most “Web 2.0″ survey system out their. Friendly, irreverant, with plenty of features for both the advanced user who wants to control every element of the survey experience and the analyst who just wants to get the project done. Has good e-mail invite capabilities, basic analysis tools. Plus, the free account has more features than any other “free” accounts I’ve seen. (more…)

The October, 2006 issue of Research Magazine contains a review by Tim Macer of Techneos Entryware 6, a software package that works primarily with Palm handhelds (but also with Microsoft based handhelds) to create surveys and collect data in the field.

Tim liked the fact that the software works either online or offline and isn’t dependent on a permanent internet or wireless connection and that its automatic reminder function made it a great tool for self-completion diary studies. He didn’t like the fact that it is a standalone mobile and web solution without support for CATI or paper and that it offers only basic, inflexible reporting.

During my time at Paramount Parks I was actually a Techneos customer and was very pleased with both the flexibility and the ease of use of the software (we used the professional edition rather than the Enterprise edition). It has a thoughtfully designed interface, both in the survey designer and in the data collection module. The only thing that didn’t work for us was the pricing scheme, but I will readily admit that this was very likely tied to the unique way in which we were using the software.

Read Tim’s full review at Meaning.