What Is the Difference Between a Survey and a Rating?

A rating asks one quick question and returns a score, such as 1 to 5 stars or a thumbs up. It tells you how someone feels. It does not tell you why.

A survey asks several structured questions. It takes longer to answer, but it collects what a rating misses: opinions, preferences, and contact details.

When to Use Each

  • Use a rating to measure satisfaction at scale, for example after checkout or a support chat
  • Use a survey when you need the reasons behind a score, or when you are researching a product decision

Where NPS Fits

Net Promoter Score sits between the two. It is a single 0 to 10 rating of how likely someone is to recommend you, usually followed by an optional question asking why. The NPS Survey Action in Gleam works this way, and answering earns the entrant a giveaway entry.

NPS Survey action with a 0 to 10 score scale

To ask website visitors for quick ratings and longer answers, start with a survey popup.

  Use a Survey Popup Template

For more ways to run and promote surveys, read the complete guide to Running a Survey With Gleam.

See Next Article

How Do I Calculate Cart Abandonment Rate?

Divide completed purchases by carts created, take that from 1 and multiply by 100. 300 sales from 1,000 carts is a 70% cart abandonment rate.