Sign UpLogin With Facebook
Sign UpLogin With Google

Free Software Evaluation Survey

50+ Expert-Crafted Software Survey Sample Questions

Measuring software evaluation uncovers user pain points and boosts productivity by revealing which features truly drive engagement. A software evaluation survey collects targeted feedback on usability, functionality, and satisfaction, helping you optimize workflows and make data-driven decisions. Grab our free template preloaded with software evaluation questions and software survey sample questions, or visit our online form builder to create a custom version in minutes.

Which software product are you evaluating?
What best describes your role with this software?
End user
IT administrator
Developer
Manager
Other
How long have you been using the software?
Less than 1 month
1-6 months
6-12 months
More than 1 year
Overall, I am satisfied with the software.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
The software is easy to use.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
The software meets my functional requirements.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
The performance (speed and reliability) of the software is satisfactory.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
The quality of support and documentation meets my needs.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
I am likely to recommend this software to others.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
What features do you find most valuable in this software?
What improvements or additional features would you suggest?
Which industry are you in?
Technology
Finance
Healthcare
Education
Other
{"name":"Which software product are you evaluating?", "url":"https://www.poll-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"Which software product are you evaluating?, What best describes your role with this software?, How long have you been using the software?","img":"https://www.poll-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Trusted by 5000+ Brands

Logos of Poll Maker Customers

Top Secrets Every Team Needs for a Software Evaluation Survey

A Software Evaluation survey can be your secret weapon to unlocking honest feedback and improving product performance. Starting strong with clear software evaluation questions and a reliable software evaluation questionnaire example sets the stage for actionable insights. According to a Survey Research in Software Engineering: Problems and Strategies, careful question formulation and pre-testing can boost response rates by up to 40%. Use our poll to kick off a quick check that resonates with your team and customers.

Begin by defining what success looks like for your stakeholders. Frame questions like "How satisfied are you with the software's interface?" and "What features do you use most often?" in a logical flow, and pilot them with a small group. In practice, a marketing team once ran a targeted Software Survey on a beta tool, shaving two weeks off their launch timeline by spotting confusion early. Mapping results against metrics such as cost or schedule clarity, as seen in the Evaluation and Measurement of Software Process Improvement study, gives you quantitative confidence.

Next, balance open and closed questions. Use scales for satisfaction, dropdowns for usage frequency, and a free-text field for "What do you value most about our reporting?" This approach uncovers both the what and the why - key for prioritizing feature updates. Common pitfalls include double-barreled questions or jargon that confuses respondents. Keep wording simple and straight to the point to avoid skewed answers.

Track response rates weekly and set reminders to boost participation. A 15% response lift often comes from gentle email nudges or in-app prompts. Frame the invitation message to highlight the benefits: your insights shape the next release. Small tweaks in timing and tone can raise completion rates by up to 25%.

Finally, ensure anonymity where needed and share what you learn. Transparency builds trust and invites higher-quality answers. After collecting data, analyze trends weekly and share top insights in a live demo or newsletter. By following these top secrets, your Software Evaluation survey won't just gather data - it will drive real improvements.

5 Must-Know Mistakes That Can Tank Your Software Evaluation Survey

Launching a Software Evaluation survey without clear goals can waste weeks of work. A common slip is skipping the pre-test phase: experts in An Empirically Evaluated Checklist for Surveys in Software Engineering warn that untested surveys often yield unreliable data. For example, asking "How easy was it to complete tasks?" immediately after users explore your new UI can uncover usability barriers fast. Setting defined objectives - like measuring task success or error rates - anchors your design.

Another mistake is ignoring question order. Placing sensitive or rating-scale items too early can bias answers. Start with general usage facts before moving to satisfaction metrics like "Did you encounter any critical bugs?" or value-based prompts. Consider the situated approach from Software Evaluation: A Situated Approach, which emphasizes context and interaction to fine-tune question flow.

Overlooking response options is an easy trap. Offering too many scale points can overwhelm respondents, while too few hides nuances. Stick to 5- or 7-point Likert scales for satisfaction and clear frequency ranges for usage. Also, don't forget open-text comments for ideas you didn't anticipate - you might find a golden insight in a single phrase.

Beware of survey length. A study by SurveyMonkey suggests completion rates drop sharply after 10 - 12 questions. If you need detailed feedback, break questions into thematic blocks or plan a follow-up survey. This keeps your Evaluation Survey concise and respectful of participants' time.

Finally, neglecting analysis prep can stall your insights. Build your analysis framework before you launch so you know if you need segmentation by role or experience level. Tools like cross-tabs and pivot charts make it easy to spot trends by developer versus manager responses. By dodging these pitfalls and following best practices, your Evaluation Survey becomes a powerful lever for software improvement.

Remember to follow up. Sharing a summary of what you learned and the changes you've made closes the feedback loop and boosts participation in future surveys. Treat every survey as the start of a conversation, not the end. That's how pros turn raw data into a roadmap for continuous software success.

Software Evaluation Questions

This category explores core aspects to assess before adopting new software. Use these questions to weigh strengths, functionality, and alignment with business needs. These prompts will guide any Software Survey or decision-making process.

  1. How well does the software meet your organization's core requirements?

    This question establishes baseline alignment between features and business needs. It helps identify gaps that could hinder adoption or require workarounds.

  2. Which key features are most valuable to your workflow?

    Understanding feature prioritization helps tailor training and development efforts. It also highlights which capabilities drive user satisfaction.

  3. Are there any required functionalities that are missing?

    Identifying missing features early informs the roadmap for customization or future updates. It prevents frustration and ensures comprehensive coverage.

  4. How does the software's performance compare under peak loads?

    Performance metrics under stress reveal scalability and reliability concerns. This insight guides infrastructure planning and SLAs.

  5. How intuitive is the user interface for first-time users?

    Ease of use impacts training costs and adoption speed. This question pinpoints UI refinements needed for a smoother onboarding.

  6. How satisfied are you with the level of customization available?

    Customization capabilities affect how closely the software fits unique processes. High flexibility often translates into better user engagement.

  7. How reliable is the software in terms of uptime and error rates?

    Reliability directly impacts productivity and trust in the solution. Low error rates reduce support tickets and downtime.

  8. How well does the software integrate with your existing systems?

    Seamless integration minimizes data silos and manual transfers. This question uncovers API or connector limitations early.

  9. What is your assessment of the software's security features?

    Security features are critical for compliance and data protection. This question highlights potential vulnerabilities or required enhancements.

  10. How would you rate the overall value for money provided?

    Perceived value influences renewal decisions and budget allocation. This question ties feature benefits to cost considerations.

Software Usage Survey Questions

Understanding how users interact with software on a daily basis is crucial for measuring engagement and identifying friction points. This set of questions helps collect usage patterns, frequency, and preferred features during normal operations. Integrate insights into your Software Usability Survey to drive enhancements.

  1. On average, how many hours per week do you use this software?

    Usage frequency benchmarks workload and adoption level. It helps quantify engagement and plan support resources.

  2. Which features do you use most frequently?

    Frequent use indicates high-value features that warrant prioritization. It also reveals underutilized components needing better awareness.

  3. How often do you encounter performance slowdowns?

    Tracking slowdowns helps identify performance bottlenecks. Regular issues can signal infrastructure or code optimization needs.

  4. How easily can you navigate between different modules?

    Navigation ease impacts overall user satisfaction and efficiency. This question uncovers UX improvements for multi-module workflows.

  5. Have you required assistance to complete common tasks?

    Help requests reveal areas where documentation or UI guidance falls short. Reducing support needs saves time and costs.

  6. How often do you switch to alternative tools for specific tasks?

    Tool switching indicates feature gaps or performance issues. It highlights where integration or enhancements are needed.

  7. How effective are the software's notifications and alerts?

    Timely notifications can improve productivity but overload hampers workflows. This question balances engagement with alert fatigue.

  8. How well does the software support collaboration within your team?

    Collaboration features drive cross-functional efficiency. This insight guides enhancements to messaging, sharing, or access controls.

  9. How frequently do you consult the help documentation?

    Documentation usage reflects clarity and completeness of support materials. Insight into this helps improve self-service resources.

  10. In what context do you find the software most useful?

    Contextual feedback highlights use cases delivering the greatest ROI. It guides marketing and further development focus.

Software Survey Sample Questions

Sample questions serve as a blueprint for creating a balanced survey that covers functionality, support, and overall satisfaction. These examples can be adapted to fit your specific context and ensure comprehensive feedback collection. Leverage this set in your Product Evaluation Survey for a streamlined approach.

  1. Would you recommend this software to a colleague?

    This Net Promoter Score - style question gauges overall sentiment and loyalty. It's a quick indicator of advocacy potential.

  2. How clear are the software's onboarding materials?

    Clarity of documentation impacts adoption speed and reduces support needs. Valuable for refining training resources.

  3. How responsive is customer support when you have an issue?

    Support responsiveness directly influences user satisfaction and system uptime. Early detection of gaps can improve SLA metrics.

  4. How satisfied are you with the frequency of software updates?

    Update cadence affects security, feature relevance, and user trust. Balance stability with innovation based on feedback.

  5. How well does the software handle large data sets?

    Data handling performance is crucial for scalability and analytics tasks. This question reveals limits and optimization needs.

  6. How would you rate the mobile or remote access experience?

    Increasingly, users work offsite or on mobile devices. This evaluates cross-platform consistency and accessibility.

  7. Have you experienced any critical bugs or crashes?

    Identifying critical failures prioritizes bug fixes and stability improvements. It's essential for trust in mission-critical systems.

  8. Does the software meet compliance or regulatory standards?

    Compliance features are non-negotiable in regulated industries. This question ensures legal requirements are addressed.

  9. How transparent is the vendor about future roadmap and pricing?

    Transparency builds trust and helps with budgeting. It informs negotiation and long-term planning.

  10. What additional training resources would improve your usage?

    User feedback on training needs guides content creation. Targeted resources can boost proficiency and satisfaction.

Software Evaluation Questionnaire Example Questions

Crafting an effective questionnaire means combining qualitative and quantitative queries to capture nuanced perspectives. This group of example questions provides a template to refine your interview or survey framework. Use them in your Evaluation Survey to standardize data and compare across respondents.

  1. What motivated your organization to select this software initially?

    Understanding initial drivers helps align ongoing goals and communication. It also surfaces priorities that may have shifted over time.

  2. How thorough was the pre-purchase evaluation process?

    Evaluating the rigor of your process highlights areas for improvement. It can increase confidence in future selections.

  3. Which vendor evaluation criteria were most important?

    Ranking criteria uncovers decision-makers' priorities and trade-offs. Useful for refining procurement guidelines.

  4. How effectively did you measure return on investment?

    ROI measurement methods impact perceived success. Clear metrics encourage accountability and continuous improvement.

  5. Who were the primary stakeholders involved in the decision?

    Identifying stakeholders clarifies roles and ensures balanced feedback. It also fosters better change management.

  6. How long did the trial or pilot phase last?

    Trial duration affects confidence in the outcome. It helps set realistic timelines for future pilots.

  7. What methodology did you use to score different tools?

    Scoring methods influence objectivity and fairness. This question guides best practices for evaluation frameworks.

  8. How did you collect feedback during the trial period?

    Feedback channels determine data quality and participation rates. Effective methods yield actionable insights.

  9. What benchmarks did you set before making a final choice?

    Benchmarks provide clear success criteria and reduce ambiguity. They align stakeholders around measurable goals.

  10. How did you document and share evaluation results?

    Transparent reporting fosters collaboration and learning across teams. It also supports future audits or reviews.

Post-Implementation Evaluation Questions

After rolling out software, it's important to evaluate actual performance against expectations and gather actionable feedback. This category focuses on post-implementation insights, from user satisfaction to impact on workflows. Include these in your Program Evaluation Survey to optimize future deployments.

  1. Since implementation, how has productivity changed?

    Measuring productivity shifts determines the real business impact. It highlights improvements or bottlenecks that need addressing.

  2. What new processes were introduced by the software?

    Identifying new workflows reveals change management success. It also uncovers areas requiring additional training.

  3. How satisfied are users with the training provided?

    Training quality affects adoption and correct usage. This question guides enhancements for future sessions.

  4. Have error rates or manual interventions decreased?

    Reduced errors signal automation effectiveness. Tracking interventions shows where further optimization is possible.

  5. How well does the software scale with increased usage?

    Scalability evaluation ensures the solution can grow with business demands. It prevents performance issues during peak periods.

  6. What ongoing maintenance challenges have you faced?

    Maintenance feedback highlights stability and support concerns. It informs vendor or internal resource planning.

  7. How has the software impacted cross-department collaboration?

    Collaboration insights show whether the tool bridges silos or creates new ones. This guides improvements in sharing and permissions.

  8. Are there any unexpected benefits you've observed?

    Unforeseen advantages can become selling points or areas to expand usage. Capturing these informs future marketing and ROI cases.

  9. What follow-up support would improve your experience?

    Identifying desired support services helps the vendor or IT team plan resources. It ensures users feel continuously supported.

  10. How likely are you to renew or expand the software contract?

    Renewal likelihood indicates overall satisfaction and ROI. This key metric informs retention strategies and vendor negotiations.

FAQ

What are the key questions to include in a software evaluation questionnaire?

Include questions on core functionality, usability, performance, security, customer support, integration, scalability, cost, and vendor reliability. A robust software evaluation questionnaire template guides consistent scoring, while example questions enable clear comparisons. Use a free survey to benchmark features, risks, and ROI, ensuring comprehensive insights across all critical categories.

How do I assess the usability of a software product during evaluation?

Assess usability by defining key user tasks, timing completion, and collecting satisfaction scores via a survey template. Include example questions on navigation ease, visual design, and error recovery. Use a software evaluation survey to track task success rates, error counts, and user feedback. Analyze results to identify UI improvements and boost adoption.

What factors should I consider when evaluating software performance?

Evaluate performance by measuring response times, throughput, resource usage, and error rates under various loads. Use a software evaluation questionnaire with example questions about peak concurrency and latency. Incorporate a performance survey template to record metrics, simulate real-world scenarios, and compare vendor benchmarks for informed decision-making and reliable performance insights.

Why is it important to include security-related questions in a software evaluation survey?

Including security-related questions in your software evaluation survey template ensures you assess data protection, compliance standards, and vulnerability management. Example questions on encryption, access controls, and incident response clarify risk exposure. A security-focused questionnaire guides vendor discussions, highlights gaps, and safeguards your organization against threats while ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements.

How can I determine if a software solution meets my business needs?

Determine if a software solution meets business needs by mapping key requirements to features in a software evaluation survey. Use example questions on workflow compatibility, integration, and ROI expectations. Pilot a free survey template with stakeholders to gather feedback on functionality, usability, and support. Analyze results to confirm alignment with strategic objectives.

What are some examples of software evaluation questions to ask vendors?

Ask vendors about SLA uptime guarantees, support response times, data migration processes, customization options, and release frequency. Include example questions like: "What is your average resolution time?" or "How do you handle security patches?" Use a software evaluation questionnaire example questions template to compare vendor capabilities side by side.

How do I evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a software product?

Evaluate cost-effectiveness by comparing total cost of ownership (licensing, implementation, maintenance) against projected ROI. Use a software evaluation survey to collect budget impact data, training expenses, and support fees. Example questions on cost breakdowns and ROI timelines help identify the most economical solution in a structured, template-driven decision framework.

What role does customer support play in software evaluation?

Customer support is critical in software evaluation; it impacts user satisfaction, issue resolution speed, and long-term adoption. Include survey template questions on support channels, SLAs, and training resources. Use example questions like: "How quickly do you respond to critical issues?" A detailed software evaluation survey highlights vendor responsiveness and overall service quality.

How can I assess the scalability of a software solution during evaluation?

Assess scalability by simulating increasing workloads and measuring performance metrics in a test environment. Include survey template questions on maximum user concurrency, database expansion, and infrastructure demands. Use a software evaluation survey to gather vendor data on horizontal and vertical scaling strategies, ensuring the solution can grow with your business.

What are the best practices for conducting a software evaluation survey?

Best practices include defining clear evaluation objectives, using a structured survey template, and mixing quantitative and qualitative questions. Pilot your software evaluation survey with a small user group, refine ambiguous items, and ensure anonymity for honest feedback. Analyze results using a scoring model, and share insights to support data-driven vendor selection.