SmarterSelect vs SurveyMonkey Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated May 2026 8 min read

SmarterSelect

0.0 (0 reviews)

SmarterSelect is a specialized application management software designed to help you create, manage, and evaluate online applications for scholarships, grants, awards, and specialized programs with ease.

Starting at $125/mo
Free Trial 0 days
VS

SurveyMonkey

0.0 (0 reviews)

SurveyMonkey is a versatile online survey software that helps you capture voices and opinions through customizable forms, automated data analysis, and specialized audience targeting to drive informed decision-making.

Starting at Free
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL

Quick Comparison

Feature SmarterSelect SurveyMonkey
Website smarterselect.com surveymonkey.com
Pricing Model Subscription Freemium
Starting Price $125/month Free
FREE Trial ✓ 0 days free trial ✘ No free trial
Free Plan ✘ No free plan ✓ Has free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment saas cloud mobile
Integrations Salesforce Blackbaud Stripe PayPal Google Drive Dropbox Salesforce Microsoft Teams Slack Google Drive Mailchimp HubSpot Zapier Zoom Marketo Tableau
Target Users small-business mid-market enterprise freelancer small-business mid-market enterprise
Target Industries education non-profit government
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2007 1999
Headquarters Plano, USA San Mateo, USA

Overview

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SmarterSelect

SmarterSelect is a dedicated platform built to simplify how you manage complex application processes. Whether you are running a local scholarship fund, a corporate grant program, or an internal awards ceremony, you can move away from paper forms and messy spreadsheets. You can build custom application forms in minutes using a library of templates and then automate the entire collection process from start to finish.

The software focuses on the three pillars of application management: collecting data, managing reviewers, and selecting winners. You can set up automated messaging to remind applicants of deadlines and provide reviewers with a centralized portal to score submissions. It is designed to scale with your organization, helping you save time on administrative tasks so you can focus on the impact of your programs.

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SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey is a flexible survey platform that helps you gather feedback and transform it into actionable insights. Instead of guessing what your customers or employees think, you can create professional surveys in minutes using a library of pre-written templates and expert-certified questions. You can reach your audience wherever they are—via email, social media, or embedded on your website—and watch your data populate in real-time.

The platform handles everything from simple internal polls to complex market research projects with advanced branching logic and skip patterns. You can analyze your results automatically with built-in reporting tools that highlight trends and sentiment. It scales to fit your needs, offering a free basic version for quick tasks and robust paid plans for teams requiring deep data integration and custom branding.

Overview

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SmarterSelect Features

  • Form Builder Create custom application forms quickly with a drag-and-drop interface and access to over 100 pre-built templates.
  • Automated Messaging Send automated email reminders to applicants and references to ensure all materials are submitted before your deadline.
  • Reviewer Portal Give your evaluators a private space to view applications and submit scores without sharing sensitive login credentials.
  • Eligibility Rules Set up qualifying questions that automatically filter out ineligible applicants so you only review the most qualified candidates.
  • Document Uploads Collect transcripts, photos, and letters of recommendation directly within the platform to keep all your files organized.
  • Reporting Tools Generate detailed reports on applicant demographics and scoring trends to share insights with your board or stakeholders.
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SurveyMonkey Features

  • Expert Templates. Access over 250 expert-written survey templates so you can start collecting high-quality data without writing questions from scratch.
  • Skip Logic. Create a personalized experience for your respondents by showing only relevant questions based on their previous answers.
  • Real-time Analytics. Monitor your results as they come in and use automated charts to visualize trends and key insights instantly.
  • Custom Branding. Add your own logos, colors, and fonts to your surveys to ensure a consistent and professional look for your brand.
  • Multi-channel Distribution. Send your surveys through email, mobile apps, social media, or QR codes to reach your audience on their preferred platforms.
  • Sentiment Analysis. Use AI-powered tools to automatically categorize open-ended text responses and understand the emotional tone behind the feedback.

Pricing Comparison

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SmarterSelect Pricing

Create
$125
  • Up to 100 applications per year
  • Unlimited programs
  • Standard email support
  • Basic reporting tools
  • Automated email notifications
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SurveyMonkey Pricing

Basic
$0
  • Unlimited surveys
  • Up to 10 questions per survey
  • Up to 100 responses per survey
  • Standard survey templates
  • Basic reporting and analysis

Pros & Cons

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SmarterSelect

Pros

  • Intuitive interface makes form creation fast
  • Automated reminders significantly reduce manual follow-up
  • Reviewer portal simplifies the committee scoring process
  • Excellent customer support during initial setup

Cons

  • Initial configuration can be time-consuming
  • Reporting features have a slight learning curve
  • Pricing may be high for very small funds
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SurveyMonkey

Pros

  • Extremely intuitive interface for beginners
  • Massive library of pre-built question banks
  • Reliable mobile app for managing surveys
  • Clean and professional respondent experience

Cons

  • Individual plans require annual billing
  • Free version has strict response limits
  • Advanced logic features have a learning curve
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