What are the main types of survey questions?

Most surveys use five kinds: multiple choice for picking from a list, rating and scale questions for measuring opinions, ranking for priorities, open text for answers in people’s own words, and matrix questions for rating several statements on the same scale.

Which question type should I use for an election?

With two candidates, a single-choice multiple choice question is enough. With three or more, use ranked choice voting: voters rank the candidates and an instant runoff finds the winner a majority accepts.

What’s the difference between ranking and ranked choice voting?

Ranking gives each place points and shows the group’s overall order, which suits priorities. Ranked choice voting counts in rounds and drops the last option each round until one has a majority, which suits electing a single winner.

Should I use a rating or a scale?

Use a star rating for quick satisfaction questions with an average score. Use a scale when you want your own range and labels, like “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”, or the 0 to 10 Net Promoter Score question.

Can I mix question types in one poll?

Yes. Add as many questions as you like, of any type, and split them across pages. A single question makes a quick poll, several make a survey or a form.

Are all question types free?

Yes. Every question type is available on every plan, including the free one.

Question types

The right question type for every poll and survey

Mix and match 28 question types in a single poll, or keep it to one quick tap. See each one in action on a real poll.

Pick from a list

4 types

Quick decisions in one tap.

Multiple choice The classic poll. Let people pick one option or several, and allow write-in answers for ideas you didn’t think of.
Dropdown One answer from a long list, like countries, departments or sizes, without filling the screen.
Picture choice Let images do the talking. Perfect for logos, outfits, photo contests and anything people judge by eye.
Yes / No The fastest decision there is. One tap, one answer and a clear result.

Find out what people prefer

5 types

Fairer results than a single vote when there are several good options.

Ranking When “which one?” isn’t enough. People put options in their order of preference and you see the overall ranking.
Point allocation Give everyone a budget of points to spread across options, so you see how strongly people feel and not just what they prefer.
Ranked choice voting Voters mark their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice on a ballot, and an instant runoff finds the option a majority can accept.
Score voting Every option gets its own score and the best average wins. A fair way to judge entries side by side.
This or that Options face off two at a time until a winner emerges. Easy to answer, even when the list is long.

Measure opinions

3 types

Turn feelings into numbers you can compare.

Rating Ask people to score something from one to five stars and see the average straight away.
Opinion scale Measure opinions on a numbered scale with your own labels, including the classic 0–10 recommendation question.
Matrix Rate several statements on the same scale without repeating the question. Ideal for surveys and feedback forms.

Collect answers in their words

3 types

Open answers and amounts.

Short text Collect a short answer in people’s own words, like a name, a suggestion or a dish for the potluck.
Long text Give people room to explain. Ideal for open feedback and “anything else?” questions.
Number Ask for an amount, like a headcount or a budget, and get numbers you can work with.

Scheduling and sign-ups

3 types

Find the best time, then see who’s coming and who brings what.

Meeting poll Suggest dates and times and let everyone mark when they’re free. The best slot is highlighted automatically.
Sign-up sheet A sign-up sheet that works like the paper one. Add your own columns, and each person fills in a row while seeing who already signed up. Made for potlucks, volunteer shifts and carpools.
Date Let people pick a single day, like a birthday, a preferred delivery date or a deadline.

Engage a live audience

3 types

Made for the big screen and the room.

Word cloud Ask for a word or two and watch the cloud grow on screen. Popular answers get bigger as they come in.
Audience Q&A People send in questions and upvote the ones they want answered, so the best ones rise to the top.
Image hotspot Show an image and let people click the spot they mean. Good for floor plans, designs and maps.

Collect details

7 types

Turn your poll into a form that gathers what you need.

Name Ask who is answering. The name shows with each response, so you know who said what.
Email Collect an email address to follow up, send a confirmation or build a list. Typos are caught before sending.
Contact info Ask for a name, email address or other details, for example to follow up or send a confirmation.
Address Collect a full postal address in clear fields, for prizes, merchandise or deliveries.
File upload Let people send you a document or image along with their answers, like a photo entry or a CV.
Signature Let people sign with a mouse or a finger, for agreements, permission slips and sign-offs.
Consent Add a checkbox people have to tick, with a link to your terms or privacy policy.

Screens and layout

Turn a single question into a full form with pages, information and a proper ending.

Page title Introduce the form
Image Show a picture
Video Embed a YouTube, Vimeo or video link
Hidden fields Save link parameters with each response
Page break Start the next page
End screen Show a message after submitting
Redirect Send people to another page

Good to know

How to choose the right question type

The question type decides what you can learn from the answers. Here is how to pick one for decisions, priorities, feedback, dates and live sessions.

2 min read

Start from what you want to know

Before you pick a type, finish the sentence “After this poll, I’ll know…”. The answer points to the type:

Which option wins: Multiple choice, Yes / No or Picture choice.
In what order people want things: Ranking, Ranked choice voting or This or that.
How strongly people feel: Point allocation, Score voting, Rating or Opinion scale.
Why: Short text or Long text.
When: Meeting poll.
Who and how to reach them: Contact info, Sign-up sheet and other form fields.

Decisions: picking a winner

Multiple choice handles most decisions. Turn on Allow more than one answer when people would accept several options, and the winner is the one most of you can live with. Picture choice shows an image per option, for logos, designs or destinations.

For an election with several candidates, Ranked choice voting avoids split votes: the weakest candidate drops out round by round until someone has a majority.

Priorities: ranking and points

Ranking puts options in order, and each place earns points. Best for a clear overall order of a short list.
This or that shows options in pairs. Best for long lists nobody wants to sort by hand.
Point allocation gives everyone a budget to spread. Best when resources are limited, because nobody can rate everything as top priority.
Score voting rates each option on its own. Best for juries and judging entries.

Feedback and research

Rating and Opinion scale measure how people feel; set an opinion scale to 0–10 for a Net Promoter Score. Matrix rates several statements on one scale, which keeps long surveys short. Follow every scale with one open question, and use conditional logic to ask it only where it matters.

Image hotspot lets people click a spot on an image, for floor plans, maps and “where would you click?” tests.

Live sessions

In present mode, Word clouds warm up a room, Audience Q&A collects and upvotes questions, and Multiple choice or Rating make quick check-ins. Turn on Quiz mode to mark right answers and show a leaderboard.

Every question type is included on every plan, with unlimited votes.

Choosing a question type

Need the details? Read the question types guide.

Stop debating. Start voting.

Share one link with your friends, your team or your audience, and watch the votes roll in. No sign-up needed, for you or anyone answering.

Create a free poll

The right question type for every poll and survey

Pick from a list

Find out what people prefer

Measure opinions

Collect answers in their words

Scheduling and sign-ups

Engage a live audience

Collect details

Screens and layout

Start from what you want to know

Decisions: picking a winner

Priorities: ranking and points

Feedback and research

Live sessions

Choosing a question type

Everything else you can make with StrawPoll

Stop debating. Start voting.