If you’ve ever wondered how your survey performance compares to others, you’ve likely realized that "good" is a moving target. Because response rates depend so heavily on the channel you use and the questions you ask, a single average response rate rarely tells the whole story.
To help you move past the guesswork, we analyzed data from 8,391 surveys across 1,087 companies to establish clear, reliable benchmarks. This report breaks down response rates by survey type, delivery format, and goal, giving you a realistic baseline to measure your own performance against.
We’ve focused on revealing the hard data section by section, so you can see exactly where your engagement stands compared to current industry standards.
Methodology
Here are the steps we took in our analysis to make sure the data is as objective and reliable as possible:
- To ensure that the data is fresh, we analyzed surveys conducted throughout the full 2025 calendar year only.
- We only included surveys with 30+ responses to minimize the margin of error and avoid volatility from small sample sizes.
- For statistical relevance, we only analyzed data where we had at least 8 unique companies.
- We report median scores and percentiles rather than averages. The median is more reliable because it is less affected by extreme outliers – a few very high or very low response rates won't skew the overall picture.
- Our analysis includes display and branch logic, meaning respondents may not have seen every question in a survey. Surveys that personalize the experience this way often see higher completion rates.
- We analyzed one-question surveys separately, as they behave differently; a respondent either completes the single question (and gets a 100% completion rate score) or they do not.
Why we decided on the >=30 threshold for survey responses
We selected a survey-level threshold of 30 or more responses after testing multiple cutoffs across our full benchmark dataset. Our goal was to identify the lowest threshold that still provides a stable benchmark while preserving enough coverage across industries and survey formats.
The analysis shows that once the cutoff reaches 30 responses, the median response rate begins to stabilise more gradually. At the same time, higher thresholds substantially reduce the number of included surveys and companies. Selecting 30 responses therefore provides a practical balance between benchmark stability and dataset coverage.
The core calculations we used in our analysis
To make sure we were looking at cohesive data, we only qualified a user’s action as a response if it meant:
- starting a survey, or
- clicking on the survey’s welcome screen.
Here are the remaining definitions for our calculations:
- Response rate: We divide the number of responses by the number of views and multiply by 100.
- Median response rate by group: We take the median of all individual survey-level response rates inside each valid group.
- Percentiles by group: We calculate the distribution of survey-level response rates within each group to show different performance levels (not just for the 50 percentile, but also at 25 and 75).
- Company count by group: We count the number of distinct organization IDs within each group.
- Survey count by group: We count the total number of unique survey IDs within each group.
Key findings
- The overall median response rate across the benchmark is 29.05%
In the final sample of 8,391 surveys from 1,087 companies, half of all surveys achieved a response rate of 29.05% or higher. The middle 50% ranged from 8.63% to 56.34%, giving you a realistic benchmark – if you're around 29%, you're right in line with most companies.
- Page surveys deliver the highest median response rate among publishable formats
Surveys hosted on a dedicated Page URL achieved a strong median response rate of 55.07%, significantly outperforming Widget surveys (7.64%), Intercom surveys (5.41%), and Mobile surveys (18.69%). If your goal is to collect the maximum amount of feedback, the Page format is clearly the best choice.
- Educational Institutions (46.88%) and Retail (46.58%) lead all industries with median response rates above 46%.
They are followed closely by Fintech (44.10%) and Financial Services (43.26%) - all well above the overall median of 29.05% If you're in a lower-performing industry, such as Media (9.50%), Digital Marketplace (16.91%), or Agency/Consulting (25.93%), don't benchmark against the overall median - compare yourself to your peers.
- Surveys with 7+ questions surprisingly show the highest median response rate
Longer surveys (7 or more questions) recorded the best engagement with a median of 42.47%. Possibly thanks to smart display and branching logic, these surveys stay relevant to each respondent, proving that depth can drive better results when done thoughtfully. - B2C surveys outperform B2B with a median response rate of (36.67%), nearly double that of B2B (21.88%)
This gap reflects how differently individual consumers and business clients engage with feedback requests. B2C outcomes also vary far more widely (11.89% to 59.32%), meaning consumer surveys can soar or underperform depending on execution. B2B results are more predictable (6.80% to 52.30%), making the benchmark more directly useful as a planning reference.
How many people actually began a survey? The median is 29.05%
Before we dive into the scores themselves, let's look at how many people actually start a survey. Across our entire sample, the median response rate sits at 29.05%.
This means that for every five people you invite to a survey, you can generally expect at least one to start it. However, "normal" can look very different depending on your audience. While the bottom quarter of surveys saw rates around 8.63%, the top performers reached as high as 56.34%.
To keep this data reliable, we only included surveys that received at least 30 individual responses, giving us a robust look at 8391 surveys from 1,087 different companies.
Quick take: If your response rate is hovering around 29%, you’re right on track with the industry average. If you’re pushing past 56%, you’re officially a response rate superstar!
Where you ask matters: Page surveys are a clear winner
The way you deliver your survey can be just as important as what you’re asking. Our data shows that Page surveys – those that live on a dedicated URL – are the clear winners for engagement, boasting a median response rate of 55.07%.
Other formats like Mobile, Widget, and Intercom tend to see lower, more targeted engagement. Intercom surveys, which reach users directly through chat, recorded a median of 5.41%. While Page surveys lead the pack in volume, formats like Intercom and Widgets are essential for capturing feedback right in the middle of a customer conversation or browsing session.
Quick take: If you’re looking for the highest volume of feedback, a Page survey is your best bet. However, don't sleep on Mobile and Widgets. They are excellent for capturing "in-the-moment" sentiments, even if their typical response rates are more modest.
Education & retail audiences are most determined to respond
Industry is one of the most revealing dimensions in this dataset. Across a sample of 8,391 surveys from 1,087 companies, response rates vary widely – from a median of 9.50% to 46.88%.
Educational institutions lead all industries with a median response rate of 46.88%, though a relatively small sample of 85 surveys from 20 companies means this result should be treated with some caution. Retail follows closely at 46.58%, backed by a large and statistically reliable sample of 1,274 surveys from 181 companies. Fintech and Financial Services also perform strongly, with medians of 44.10% and 43.26% respectively.
At the other end of the spectrum, Media records the lowest median at 9.50%. Digital Marketplace also underperforms at 16.91%, suggesting lower engagement is a challenge in that segment.
The largest groups by survey count – SaaS (1,831 surveys from 280 companies) and Agency/Consulting (1,192 surveys from 203 companies) – sit closer to the overall benchmark median, at 26.79% and 25.93% respectively. Their size makes them the most statistically reliable reference points in this section.
Manufacturing and Healthcare Provider sit in the mid-range, both with median response rates just above 32%. E-learning emerges as a distinct category with a median of 26.74%, aligning closely with the SaaS and Agency/Consulting benchmarks.
7 question surveys have the highest median response rate
The number of questions you ask has a surprising impact on how people engage. Our data shows that surveys with seven or more questions lead with the highest median response rate at 42.47%.
While it might seem counterintuitive that longer surveys perform better, this often happens because these surveys use display and branching logic to keep the experience personalized and relevant to the respondent.
Surveys with 2 to 3 questions follow with a consistent median of 21.68%, while single-question surveys sit closely behind at 21.96%. Interestingly, surveys in the 4 to 6 question range see the lowest median engagement at 21.35%.
Note: Often, the "7+ question" surveys aren't showing every question to every person. Instead, they might use smart logic to only show what’s necessary, which keeps completion rates high despite the total question count.
From start to finish: 82% of users cross the finish line
While getting someone to click "start" is the first hurdle, the real magic happens when they reach the end. The data shows that once a user engages, they are incredibly likely to finish. The overall median completion rate is a high 81.9%.
Most people who start a survey intend to see it through to the end, likely because the experience is designed to be respectful of their time. With a median completion time of just 114 seconds, these surveys prove that you don't need an hour of someone's day to get valuable insights – just about one minute will do.
Quick take: Completion rate is the ultimate "finish behavior" metric. Since most users finish in under 120 seconds, keeping your surveys snappy is the best way to ensure that 82% of your respondents make it all the way to the "Thank You" page.
B2C median response rate nearly double that of B2B
The type of audience you target, whether they are business clients or individual consumers, creates a notable shift in how people interact with surveys.
Our data shows that B2C companies lead with a significantly higher median response rate of 36.67%, while B2B surveys follow with a median of 21.88%.
The gap between the two is wider than it might first appear. B2C's 25th and 75th percentiles, respectively, grow from 11.89% to 59.32%. This tells you that consumer-facing surveys see enormous variety in outcomes: some perform exceptionally well, others fall far below the median.
B2B response rates, by contrast, are considerably more predictable. The middle band runs from 6.80% to 52.30%, a spread of roughly 45 percentage points. A B2B company running a survey can reasonably expect to land somewhere in that range, making the benchmark more directly actionable as a planning reference.
What is a good response rate for surveys, then?
Just like with NPS, there is no single "perfect" number for a response rate. Instead, a "good" rate is one that provides a representative sample of your audience and allows you to make confident decisions.
In absolute terms, our findings show that the median response rate is 29.05%. However, because engagement varies so much by how and where you ask, it’s helpful to view "good" through different lenses.
The absolute benchmarks
In general terms, here is how to define your response rate based on our 2025 data:
- 0–9%: Needs improvement. This is common for broad, unsegmented surveys or "exit" widgets where users are already leaving.
- 10–29%: Good. This is where the majority of companies sit (the median is 29.3%). It’s a solid, healthy range for most Customer and Product Experience surveys.
- 30–56%: Great. You are likely using high-engagement formats like Page surveys or targeting very specific, loyal user segments.
- 56+: Excellent. This puts you in the top 25% of performers. Achieving this usually requires a combination of perfect timing and a highly motivated audience.
4 factors that influence your "good" rate
While the numbers above provide a baseline, four key factors will consistently shift what "good" looks like for your specific survey:
- The delivery channel: As we saw earlier, a 55.07% rate is standard for a Page survey, but that same 55% would be legendary for a Website Widget (where the median is closer to 8%).
- The relationship: Surveys sent to long-term, loyal customers (Relational surveys) often see higher engagement than those sent to anonymous website visitors or first-time users.
- The effort required: Our data shows that most people finish surveys in under 114 seconds. If your survey is long or complex, your response and completion rates will naturally dip.
- The incentive: While not always necessary, offering a "thank you" or an incentive can push a "good" response rate into the "excellent" category by motivating those who might otherwise stay silent.
Don't get discouraged if you aren't hitting 55% immediately. If your response rate is above 29%, you are performing better than half of the companies we analyzed. Focus on your own growth trends – improving your own rate over time is more valuable than any single "perfect" number.
