NPS

NPS Software for Small Business: We Tested 8 Popular Tools (2025 Results)

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Article written by Kate Williams

Content Marketer at SurveySparrow

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20 min read

17 October 2025

Key Takeaways:

After testing 8 popular NPS tools, we've identified the essential insights small businesses need to make informed decisions about customer feedback software.

  • NPS software transforms guesswork into strategy - Modern tools automate survey delivery across email, SMS, in-app, and web channels while providing real-time analytics that turn customer sentiment into actionable business insights.
  • Multi-channel distribution boosts response rates by 30-40% - Platforms offering at least three delivery channels significantly outperform single-channel solutions, making omnichannel capability essential for comprehensive feedback collection.
  • Automation features reduce administrative time by up to 70% - Workflow automation, triggered follow-ups, and CRM integrations eliminate manual tasks while ensuring timely responses to both promoters and detractors.
  • Refiner leads for SaaS, Delighted excels in simplicity - Refiner offers superior customization for digital products, while Delighted provides the most user-friendly experience with minimal learning curve for quick implementation.

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NPS software has become crucial for small businesses in 2024 to understand their customers' true thoughts. Customer loyalty can determine your business's success or failure, especially when you operate with limited resources. The question is: how do you measure and improve it systematically?

Quality NPS software makes it easy to collect, analyze and act on customer feedback. Tools like Refiner, Delighted, and SurveySparrow let you send surveys through multiple channels - including in-app, email, web, and SMS. These NPS tools offer robust features that turn raw feedback into useful information through targeting, follow-up logic, segmentation, and analysis. We tested the most popular options extensively and identified the best NPS survey software that meets small business requirements.

What Is NPS Software and Why Small Businesses Need It

Small business owners no longer need to guess what their customers think. You need reliable tools that measure your customers' true feelings about your products or services. NPS software provides the perfect solution.

Definition of NPS and how it works

Net Promoter Score (NPS) measures customer loyalty and satisfaction through a simple yet powerful framework. Fred Reichheld of Bain & Company created NPS in 2003, and it has become the standard way to measure customer loyalty worldwide.

NPS works brilliantly because it's simple. The system asks customers one basic question: "On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend our company/product/service to a friend or colleague?". Customer responses fall into three groups:

  • Promoters (9-10): Loyal enthusiasts who keep buying and bring others, which stimulates growth
  • Passives (7-8): Content but unenthusiastic customers who might switch to competitors
  • Detractors (0-6): Unhappy customers whose negative comments can harm your brand

Your NPS calculation is straightforward - subtract the detractor percentage from the promoter percentage. To cite an instance, see how a business with 70% promoters and 10% detractors would score 60. Scores range from -100 (all detractors) to +100 (all promoters).

NPS software makes this process automatic. The system sends surveys through email, SMS, in-app, and website channels. It analyzes responses and generates useful insights. You get immediate access to customer sentiment data that shapes strategic decisions, without spreadsheet hassles or manual calculations.

Why NPS matters for small business growth

Small businesses run on tight margins with limited resources, making each customer relationship vital. A powerful statistic shows that 65% of new business comes from referrals, making word-of-mouth your strongest marketing channel. This fact expresses why tracking and improving your NPS should top your priority list.

The business world has embraced NPS extensively. Bloomberg reports that two-thirds of Fortune 1000 companies use NPS, showing its value as a business metric. High NPS scores relate to better customer retention, increased revenue growth, and larger market share.

NPS reveals more than just feedback numbers. The follow-up question, "What is the reason behind this score?" offers great ways to get qualitative insights. This mix of numbers and detailed feedback paints a complete picture of your customer experience world.

The system helps identify your business's strengths and weaknesses. You can magnify what promoters love about your service. You can also fix detractor complaints to reduce customer losses – this matters because 89% of customers say they would switch to competitors after a poor experience.

NPS gives you a standard to improve upon. Calculating your score every six months lets you track progress and see how customer experience initiatives work. Evidence-based decisions replace hunches and stories.

Small businesses with tight marketing budgets find that NPS programs offer one of the most cost-effective ways to understand customers, keep them loyal, and build environmentally responsible growth.

Key Features to Look for in NPS Tools

Specific features can make a big difference in how you capture and use customer feedback through NPS software for your small business. Standard survey functions come with most tools, but certain capabilities make NPS platforms stand out from simple survey tools.

Multi-channel survey delivery

You need to reach customers where they feel most comfortable responding to maximize participation. The best NPS tools give you several ways to distribute surveys beyond email.

The best NPS software provides multiple touchpoints to gather feedback, typically including:

  • Website surveys through embedded forms, popups, and slide-ins
  • In-app surveys triggered by specific user actions or milestones
  • Email surveys with questions embedded directly in message bodies
  • SMS and WhatsApp messaging for mobile-friendly feedback collection
  • Offline kiosk options for physical locations and events

This approach helps you collect feedback throughout your customer's experience. Our tests showed that tools with at least three delivery channels got 30-40% higher response rates than single-channel solutions.

Small businesses should focus on tools that excel in their main customer interaction channels. A retail shop might get better results from SMS and kiosk options. A SaaS business needs strong in-app and web survey features.

Immediate analytics and dashboards

Data visualization and interpretation become vital once responses come in. Good NPS platforms show you insights through user-friendly dashboards.

Look for analytics that include snapshot reports of current NPS distribution, trend reports of scores over time, and segmented views comparing performance across locations, teams, or products. Advanced platforms use AI-powered sentiment analysis to sort and find themes in open-ended responses automatically.

Small businesses benefit most from alerts about negative feedback. These alerts let you handle detractor concerns quickly—often before they leave. Some platforms let team members customize dashboards to see metrics that matter to their roles.

Customer segmentation and targeting

Customer feedback varies in importance and context. The power to segment and target specific customer groups turns basic surveys into strategic research tools.

Your NPS software should let you segment based on demographics, purchase history, usage patterns, and previous survey responses. This helps you see how different customer groups feel and which ones need extra attention.

Our evaluations showed that platforms with strong segmentation tools helped businesses find 25% more ways to improve customer experience compared to basic tools. This detailed understanding lets you personalize your follow-up based on customer traits and feedback patterns.

Automation and follow-up workflows

Modern NPS tools can automate survey delivery and handle responses. These features turn NPS from a simple measurement into an active system to involve customers.

The core team needs scheduled surveys that trigger at specific customer milestones, different follow-up messages for promoters and detractors, and integration with CRM platforms and support systems. These connections make feedback data enhance existing customer profiles instead of sitting alone.

Small businesses with limited staff find automation features valuable. You can follow up promptly without constant manual work. The best platforms we tested cut NPS program management time by 70% while getting better responses through targeted questions and quick engagement.

These four feature categories should guide your choice of NPS tools for your small business. The right solution balances powerful features with ease of use and affordability that matches your business needs and customer base.

How We Tested and Compared the 8 NPS Tools

We created a detailed testing plan to find the best NPS software for small businesses in 2025. Our team spent eight weeks testing each platform hands-on. We created actual campaigns and analyzed response data. Here's how we tested these tools to find the ones that provide real value.

Evaluation criteria used

We started by identifying ten key factors that small businesses care about most when looking for NPS solutions:

  • Versatile survey capabilities - Support for NPS, CSAT, CES, and other feedback types
  • Accessible interface - Quality of drag-and-drop builders, templates, and dashboard navigation
  • Advanced functionality - Availability of branching logic, multiple question types, and immediate analytics
  • Customization options - White-labeling, branding, and survey flow adjustments
  • Integration ecosystem - Connections with CRMs, marketing platforms, and support systems
  • Reporting depth - Immediate updates, sentiment analysis, segmentation capabilities
  • Pricing structure - Transparency, free plans/trials, and flexibility for growth
  • Customer support - Responsiveness, onboarding assistance, and available training
  • Security infrastructure - End-to-end encryption, GDPR compliance, and role-based access controls
  • Self-service capabilities - User role management and independent reporting tools

Our original approach scored each platform on these dimensions using a 1-5 scale. We emphasized features that small businesses would find most useful.

Testing process and duration

We used a three-phase approach for each platform during our eight-week testing period:

Phase 1: Setup and Implementation (Weeks 1-2) We created accounts on all eight platforms and designed similar NPS campaigns targeting the same customer segments. This helped us compare setup complexity, template quality, and customization options under the same conditions.

Phase 2: Active Campaign Management (Weeks 3-6) We launched our test campaigns and sent surveys through email, in-app, web, and SMS when possible. Response rates were tracked, and we analyzed incoming data. Each platform's reporting capabilities were tested with real user feedback.

Phase 3: Analysis and Workflow Testing (Weeks 7-8) The final phase showed us how well each tool helped us make use of information from collected feedback. We tested automation features, follow-up workflows, and connections with common small business tools.

We kept detailed notes about user experience challenges, technical limitations, and standout features throughout the process.

Scoring methodology

Our weighted scoring system reflected what small businesses need most:

  • Core functionality (30%) - How well the simple NPS collection and reporting worked
  • Ease of implementation (25%) - Time and technical knowledge needed to get started
  • Value proposition (20%) - Benefits received compared to cost
  • Scalability (15%) - Room for growth with your business
  • Support quality (10%) - Help available when needed

This approach let us review each platform based on small business requirements. Platforms with immediate dashboards and easy-to-use sentiment analysis scored higher for advanced analytics.

We preferred clear pricing models with flexible options since small businesses need predictable costs that grow sensibly. Platforms with good free tiers or affordable entry-level pricing received better scores.

The thorough testing process helped us find platforms that work best for small businesses wanting to run NPS programs without big budgets or technical teams.

SurveySparrow: Conversational Surveys with Automation

SurveySparrow stands out from other NPS tools because of its chat-like survey approach that gets more people to respond. Our tests show that this platform turns boring surveys into interactive conversations that feel natural to participants.

Omnichannel support

SurveySparrow's distribution options impressed us the most. The platform lets you share surveys through more than 10 different channels, so you can reach customers wherever they are. We tested several key ways to share surveys:

  • Email surveys with customizable templates and branding
  • In-app embedding to collect feedback in context
  • SMS and WhatsApp messaging for mobile-friendly responses
  • QR codes for physical locations and printed materials
  • Offline surveys when there's no internet

This multi-channel strategy worked well in our tests. Response rates went up compared to using just one channel. We found that sharing through multiple channels brought in more responses.

The survey builder is worth talking about. Its accessible interface supports both traditional forms and chat-style surveys. You can pick the format that appeals to your audience best.

Workflow automation

SurveySparrow really shines with its automation tools. You can create custom workflows that handle responses based on specific conditions. This saves time and ensures consistent follow-up.

The workflow automation features are easy to set up. You can trigger automated actions based on:

  • Score-based rules (different follow-ups for promoters vs. detractors)
  • Question responses that meet specific criteria
  • Time-based conditions for delayed follow-up
  • Custom variables you define for your business

The follow-up email system proved valuable during testing. We set up personalized email templates for different NPS segments to thank promoters and address detractor concerns automatically. This helped us close the feedback loop without constant manual work.

SurveySparrow's case management is another great feature. The system turns feedback into support tickets, sends them to the right team members, and tracks resolution status—all in one place. This connection between feedback and issue resolution made our customer experience management more efficient.

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Best use cases

Our tests show that SurveySparrow works great for businesses that need to collect feedback from multiple sources. It's perfect for:

  • Retail businesses that want feedback from online and physical stores
  • Companies using many channels to connect with customers
  • Teams that need automated responses without technical expertise
  • Businesses combining transactional and relationship NPS measurement

The platform's sentiment analysis tools add extra value. They analyze text responses automatically to find patterns in customer feedback. This helped us spot trends we might have missed when reading hundreds of responses by hand.

Want to improve your customer feedback process? Try SurveySparrow to make use of chat-like surveys with powerful automation.

SurveySparrow combines an easy-to-use design with smart automation. It's a great choice for small businesses that want to run a complete NPS program across multiple channels without overwhelming their teams.

Refiner: Best for SaaS and Digital Products

Our analysis of multiple NPS tools showed Refiner as the best choice for SaaS companies and digital product teams. The platform proved its worth by delivering great results to collect customer feedback within software products during our tests.

Survey customization and targeting

Refiner's survey design capabilities shine with amazing flexibility. You get 12 different question types including standard NPS, CSAT, CES, rating matrix, and CTAs. The surveys blend naturally into your product experience instead of looking like external elements, which we found impressive.

You can do more than simple branding customization. The platform lets you adjust colors, images, borders, corner rounding, and apply custom CSS to create surveys that match your brand. We made the surveys look exactly like our native application interface during testing, which helped boost response rates.

Refiner stands out from basic survey tools with its precise targeting. You can launch surveys based on:

  • User traits and behaviors
  • Country, device type, and language
  • Time delays or specific page visits
  • Custom events you define yourself

This detailed control helps you collect feedback at the right moment in your user's experience instead of random surveys. We noticed users gave more relevant and applicable information compared to generic tools.

Integrations and automation

Refiner connects well with tools that SaaS businesses use. The platform has native integrations with product analytics tools (Amplitude, Mixpanel), customer data platforms (Segment, Rudderstack), CRMs (HubSpot, Salesforce), and automation platforms (Zapier, Make).

These connections work both ways. You can send survey responses to other tools and pull user data into Refiner to segment better. To cite an instance, you can set up follow-up emails based on NPS responses or update your CRM's customer records.

Small teams with limited resources will love the workflow automation features. The platform sends automatic notifications to Slack when users respond to surveys in specific ways. This quick visibility helps businesses respond fast to detractors and use promoter feedback effectively.

Refiner's connection to Make (formerly Integromat) allows hundreds of automations without needing developers. Teams with limited technical knowledge can create complex response workflows.

Pricing and scalability

Refiner offers three pricing tiers based on Monthly Active Users (MAU). The Essentials plan costs $99 per month, Growth costs $239 per month, and there's a custom Enterprise plan for bigger implementations.

All plans include unlimited survey responses, which protects small businesses from unexpected charges as they grow. You can save about 17% by choosing annual billing over monthly payments.

Refiner balances advanced features with fair pricing for growing businesses. The platform grows with your customer base because core features like user segmentation, reporting dashboards, and workflow automation come with the basic plan.

Advanced features like event tracking, CDP integrations, and API access need the Growth plan. This setup lets small businesses start with core features and add advanced tools as they expand.

The 30-day free trial gives full access to all features without a credit card. This approach lets you test the platform fully before making a decision.

Delighted: Simple and Effective for Quick Feedback

Delighted stands out as the most user-friendly NPS software that balances functionality with simplicity. Our tests show how teams can quickly set up feedback programs without technical know-how.

Ease of setup and use

The platform needs almost no learning curve—a welcome change from other NPS tools we tested. True to its "ridiculously easy setup" promise, you won't need training sessions or consultants. We had surveys up and running minutes after creating an account because the platform builds best practices right into its design.

Delighted shines with its accessible interface. One reviewer called it a platform with a "non-existent learning curve". The administrative side follows the same simple approach. Creating projects and setting up user roles follows clear steps that anyone can handle, whatever their technical background.

Up-to-the-minute data analysis shows up as responses arrive, so you spot problems early. Small businesses use this quick insight loop to fix issues before they grow. You can handle customer feedback without experts or dedicated staff.

Multi-channel delivery options

Delighted lets you reach customers through their preferred channels. The platform supports many survey methods:

  • Email surveys with DKIM, SPF, and DMARC authentication for better delivery
  • Web popups and embeds for website visitors
  • SMS text messaging for mobile-friendly feedback
  • In-app surveys via SDKs for digital products
  • Kiosk mode for physical locations and in-person feedback
  • Shareable links for email signatures, chat, social media, or printed materials

This flexibility means one survey works across multiple touchpoints. To name just one example, see our NPS campaign that reached users through web, in-app, and email channels at once. We used throttling settings to avoid survey fatigue.

The platform pays special attention to user experience. Clean and friendly surveys boosted completion rates in our tests. Customers get personalized thank-you messages with next steps after submitting feedback, which creates a complete experience.

Limitations for advanced users

Delighted has some drawbacks you should know about. The platform values simplicity over advanced customization, which might frustrate tech-savvy teams. Some reviewers say the interface looks "a little old fashioned" and lacks visual customization options compared to enterprise solutions.

Project limits are another factor to think over. Free and trial accounts let you run just one survey project, but premium plans support multiple projects at once. Growing businesses need to pick their subscription level based on how complex their feedback program is.

On top of that, it needs add-ons for certain features, which raises costs. SMS credits, advanced question types, and extra projects make expenses climb as your feedback program grows.

The platform connects with popular tools like Intercom, Shopify, Slack, and Zendesk. Yet some reviewers wanted direct integrations with "Klaviyo or Google Big Query".

Small businesses looking for a sweet spot between features and simplicity will find Delighted a great starting point for collecting customer feedback. With 75,000+ brands using it for more than 300 million surveys yearly, the platform proves it makes customer feedback available to organizations of all sizes.

AskNicely: Real-Time Feedback for Service Teams

AskNicely brings a fresh perspective to NPS software by focusing on service teams and the core team. Our eight-week testing showed that this tool bridges the gap between customer feedback and employee action—a common challenge for many small businesses.

Frontline team participation

AskNicely stands out by putting customer feedback right into your frontline employees' hands. The user-friendly mobile app lets staff see feedback as soon as it arrives. This creates a real connection between their actions and customer responses. Staff can now see how their service affects customer satisfaction.

The platform's "Focus Areas" feature makes an even bigger difference. It spots the best opportunities for each team and adjusts surveys to break down issues further. This targeted method helped our service teams focus on changes that would substantially improve NPS scores.

AskNicelyTV makes shared team participation better by showing live feedback on screens in common areas and break rooms. This open approach keeps customer experience visible and important to everyone.

Goal tracking and recognition

This NPS tool stands apart with its strong goal-setting and recognition system. Every frontline employee tracks their personal NPS goals on their phone. They know what to expect and feel motivated to improve their service.

The "Goals and Recognition" feature changes how employees see feedback. Instead of something scary, it becomes a path to growth and recognition. Our tests showed this approach made team members naturally want to provide better service.

Monthly report cards give employees valuable insights:

  • Clear performance metrics
  • Recognition of achievements
  • Personalized feedback from managers
  • Specific areas for improvement

CRM integrations

AskNicely combines smoothly with popular business tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. These connections ensure feedback flows into your existing systems instead of creating a separate data silo.

Small businesses benefit from the two-way Salesforce integration. You can start surveys based on specific CRM events while keeping feedback in customer records. You might send an NPS survey right after a purchase or support interaction.

The Slack integration proved valuable during our testing. Teams could broadcast live feedback to specific channels. This quick visibility helped teams respond fast to both positive comments and customer issues.

Small businesses looking to turn feedback into action will find AskNicely offers essential tools that link customer sentiment with frontline improvement. Service-oriented companies will find it valuable, especially when staff interactions play a big role in customer loyalty.

Zonka Feedback: Affordable and Feature-Rich for SMBs

Zonka Feedback stands out as an impressive and versatile NPS tool that fits most budgets. Our tests show this platform works great for small-to-medium businesses that need reliable functionality without paying enterprise prices.

Offline and online survey options

Zonka Feedback shines with its flexible survey distribution methods. The platform lets you collect feedback from multiple touchpoints, both online and offline. We found its offline survey features especially useful since they sync data automatically when internet connection returns.

You can turn your iPad, Android tablet, or smartphone into a complete feedback station, which works great for:

  • Remote locations with limited connectivity
  • In-store kiosk mode for unattended feedback collection
  • Face-to-face interactions with customers
  • Event-based feedback gathering

Zonka goes beyond offline options. You can send surveys through email, SMS, WhatsApp, website embeds, in-app widgets, and dedicated survey links. This multi-channel approach helped us gather feedback throughout the customer's experience during our testing.

AI-powered sentiment analysis

The platform's AI capabilities left a strong impression on our team. Its intelligence engine analyzes responses using GenAI, contextual NLP, and emotion-intent modeling.

The sentiment analysis proved highly accurate at detecting positive, negative, or neutral feedback. We found it even more useful that it could spot emotions like frustration, appreciation, and disappointment.

Beyond simple sentiment detection, Zonka's advanced AI features automatically sort feedback into themes and tag responses with relevant entities. This detailed analysis helped us spot what drives customer satisfaction without manual review.

Pricing tiers and value

Zonka Feedback uses clear, adaptable pricing that grows with your business. While specific pricing depends on feedback volume, they offer several options:

  • Essential plans for offline surveys start at $15 monthly
  • Starter packs with online capabilities from $49 monthly
  • Enterprise plans with custom pricing for larger implementations

The platform's value really shows in how all plans include AI-powered sentiment analysis by default—even starter options. Small businesses can access advanced analytics without needing premium upgrades.

Conclusion

Our hands-on testing over several weeks showed how the right NPS software can turn customer feedback from guesswork into a real advantage for your small business. These tools have their own strengths that you should think about based on what your business needs.

Refiner excels with SaaS and digital product teams thanks to its powerful customization and targeting features. Delighted makes things simple with a user-friendly platform that doesn't cut corners on core features. On top of that, SurveySparrow caught our attention with its chat-like surveys that got more people responding across different channels. SurveySparrow is a great NPS solution that small businesses can use to grow through better customer understanding.

AskNicely took us by surprise with its focus on frontline teams and turned feedback into practical guidance for staff. Zonka Feedback brings great value by combining offline features and AI-powered analysis at prices that won't break the bank.

Our extensive testing revealed something important - you don't need big company resources to run a solid NPS program anymore. Small businesses can now make evidence-based decisions about customer experience just like the big players.

You might ask which tool is the "best" - but the answer comes down to your business type, budget, and goals. All the same, picking any of these NPS platforms will help you learn what customers really think. This knowledge will build loyalty, keep customers around longer, and help your business grow by making customers happier.

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Kate Williams

Content Marketer at SurveySparrow

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

While some argue NPS is outdated, it remains a valuable tool for tracking customer satisfaction over time. Its simplicity and ease of implementation make it particularly useful for small businesses looking to gage customer sentiment and identify areas for improvement.

NPS software automates feedback collection across multiple channels, provides real-time analytics, and enables quick response to customer concerns. It can significantly reduce administrative time, boost response rates, and turn customer sentiment into actionable insights for business growth.

By systematically collecting and analyzing customer feedback, NPS software helps businesses identify both satisfied customers (promoters) and dissatisfied ones (detractors). This allows companies to address issues promptly, enhance positive experiences, and ultimately improve overall customer loyalty.

Yes, there are budget-friendly NPS tools available that offer advanced features like AI-powered sentiment analysis and multi-channel survey distribution. Platforms like Zonka Feedback provide enterprise-level capabilities at price points accessible to small businesses.

Selecting the right NPS software depends on factors such as your business type, technical requirements, and budget. Consider features like survey customization, integration capabilities, automation options, and analytics depth. It's also beneficial to take advantage of free trials to test how well a platform fits your specific needs before committing.

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