Comparison

SurveyMonkey vs Bidstation

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SurveyMonkey

Design, distribute, and analyze surveys and feedback forms on any device. Customize questions, track responses in real-time, and share insights easily. Ideal for both casual users and professional researchers.

Highlights
  • Create surveys, quizzes, and polls
  • Edit live surveys
  • Analyze charts and responses
  • Filter and compare results
  • Share survey links
  • Monitor responses with push notifications
Features
Read full description

Create, edit, and send surveys, review results, build with expert templates, and more — seamlessly across your desktop, tablet, and phone. Here’s some of that “more” we’re talking about: • Make a survey, quiz, or poll and send it out • Edit a live survey—fix a typo or add a question you forgot to ask • Open and close surveys in your account • Analyze charts and individual responses • Filter, compare, and analyze results • Share your survey link via text, email, or social media • Share results—decide what and with whom to share • Enable push notifications to monitor responses SurveyMonkey is a global leader in survey software. We’re trusted by 98% of the Fortune 500 and over 60 million users worldwide. We’re here for survey experts and dabblers alike. PS — if you’d like to take surveys to earn gift cards or donate to charity, head on over to the SurveyMonkey Rewards app. Our app is free to download and use. Signing up for a paid plan through the app unlocks access to more advanced survey tools through an auto-renewing subscription. Subscription prices may vary based on your country of purchase. If you already have a paid plan, simply log in to enjoy paid features. Privacy Policy: https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/policy/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/policy/terms-of-use/

About

Bidstation

This app streamlines traditional silent auction events by integrating modern payment technology with familiar bid sheets. It simplifies check-in, checkout, and payment processing for organizers and guests, enhancing engagement and profitability without requiring app downloads from attendees.

Highlights
  • Streamlined silent auction management
  • Integrated Square Payments
  • Fast check-in and checkout
  • Record cash and check payments
  • Simple volunteer onboarding
  • Track bids, raffles, and more
Features
Read full description

Bidstation iOS App – Companion App for Bidstation Desktop software for Silent Auctions with Square Payments integration. Important: This app requires Bidstation desktop software and a US or Canada Square account (UK, and Australia coming soon). The Smarter Way to Run Silent Auctions Mobile bidding platforms promise to modernize your fundraising—but often deliver complexity, tech hurdles for donors, and similar net revenue for higher cost. Bidstation takes a different approach: streamline the gold-standard of traditional silent paper bid sheet and live fundraising auction events with modern payment technology to make it easier to organize and run. The result? Events that are easier to run, more engaging for donors, and just as profitable—without forcing guests to download apps or navigate unfamiliar technology. No need to go mobile! Why Traditional Auctions with Bidstation: • Zero donor friction – No apps for bidders to download, no QR codes to scan, no incessant notification dings no screen fatigue, no wi-fi overload issues. • Higher engagement – Guests walk the room, see items in person, who’s bidding to create more bidding excitement. • Simpler execution – Volunteers master check-in in minutes. • Better donor experience – Social, interactive, and fun—not isolated behind screens • Perfect for live auctions and Paddle Raises. • Track everything: bids, raffle tickets, games, wine pulls, drinks, etc. • Lower costs – No contracts, transparent pricing, no fees on cash and check payments and license pricing to make Bidstation affordable for any size of event _______________________________ How the Bidstation App Works Use iPhones or iPads with Square card readers and streamline the parts of traditional auctions that used to be painful: • Fast Check-In: Capture card-on-file in seconds during check-in. Guests can skip checkout lines entirely or pay instantly at pickup. • Rapid, “no-lines” Checkout: Accurate invoices to process payments individually or in batches. No more long lines or calculation errors. • Simple for Volunteers and Staff: Your team changes year to year? No problem. The app is designed for non-technical volunteers and staff who can learn the basics quickly using their knowledge of the event and its organization. ________________________________________ What You Need • Bidstation software (Windows) (Web version coming soon) • iPhones or iPads (iOS 14 or later) • Square card reader hardware (any compatible model) • Square account (US, Canada only. UK, Australia coming soon) • Basic Internet connection at the venue _________________________________ How It Works 1. Before the event: Use Bidstation desktop to set up your auction, import items and guests, and create professional bid sheets. 2. During the event: Use this app for Express-Pay check-in, bidder registration and record updating, recording cash and check payments, processing card payments. 3. After the event: Process remaining payments in a batch from desktop. The desktop is the command center. The app handles guest-facing tasks and syncs data in real-time. ________________________________________ Flexible Pricing for Any Event Size • Flex Plan: $30/year + 1% platform fee on card payments • Flat Plan: $399/year unlimited use, no processing fees Both plans include unlimited events. Use your own devices and Square readers. ________________________________________ Perfect For: Schools, nonprofits, foundations, hospitals, and community organizations running traditional-style silent auctions, live auctions, paddle raises, and fund-a-need campaigns. _________________________________ Get Started New to Bidstation? Visit our website to learn more and download a fully-functional free trial of the desktop software sample database for training. Existing customers- Download this app and connect to your desktop system. ________________________________ Support & Training Free online resources, phone, email and chat support.

Screenshots

SurveyMonkey4 screens
Bidstation4 screens

Verdict

The call

SurveyMonkey and Bidstation both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Bidstation's written reviews are positive against 41% of SurveyMonkey's. Bidstation also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10). SurveyMonkey's advantage is ratings volume (2.8K vs 7) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SurveyMonkey sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $15.99 per month. Bidstation asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SurveyMonkey against 4.7 for Bidstation. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SurveyMonkey has 2.8K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of SurveyMonkey's written reviews are positive against 100% of Bidstation's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SurveyMonkey ships an update every 2 months, Bidstation every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SurveyMonkey versus Bidstation: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurveyMonkeyBidstation
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.8K ratings)4.7 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.8K — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.116.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB96 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSurveyMonkeyAuctionZoom

Customer experience

SurveyMonkey

All ratings2,762 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative7.5%
Written reviews502 reviews
Positive41.4%
Neutral4.4%
Negative54.2%

Bidstation

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

SurveyMonkey

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login and authentication problems
  • Inconsistent survey response tracking
  • Syncing issues between web and mobile versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Offline survey capabilities
  • Improved mobile editing and customization
  • Tiered pricing plans for different user needs
  • Better customer support and communication

Bidstation

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

SurveyMonkey

Subscriptions10
  • SELECT Plan$15.991 Month
  • SELECT Plan$17.991 Month
  • SELECT Plan$21.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Select Plan$22.991 Month
  • SELECT Plan$23.991 Month
  • SELECT Plan$25.991 Month
  • Standard Plan (monthly)$98.991 Month
  • SELECT Plan$199.991 Year
  • SELECT Plan$229.991 Year
  • Standard Plan (annual)$399.991 Year
None

Bidstation

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SurveyMonkey free?
SurveyMonkey is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bidstation free?
Bidstation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SurveyMonkey or Bidstation?
Bidstation is rated higher. SurveyMonkey averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while Bidstation averages 4.7 from 7 ratings.
Do SurveyMonkey or Bidstation have ads?
Neither SurveyMonkey nor Bidstation shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SurveyMonkey or Bidstation?
SurveyMonkey ships an update every 2 months, and Bidstation every 5 months. Most recently, SurveyMonkey was updated on October 19, 2026 and Bidstation on October 14, 2026.

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