Employee engagement surveys are essential tools for companies seeking to measure and improve the emotional commitment and involvement of their workforce. These surveys gather data on employee satisfaction, well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational culture, helping organizations understand their employees' needs and make informed decisions to foster a motivated, productive, and loyal workforce. There are a number of vendors in the market that offer customizable, reliable, and actionable employee engagement survey vendors. Below is an overview of some key vendors in this space, outlining their unique offerings, features, and capabilities.

1. Gallup

Overview:
Gallup is one of the most established names in the employee engagement survey industry, widely recognized for its research-based approach to workplace engagement. Gallup has been measuring employee engagement since the 1990s and has developed a robust methodology for gathering and analyzing data.

Key Features:

• Q12 Engagement Survey: Gallup's flagship product, the Q12, consists of 12 questions designed to measure key drivers of engagement. The questions focus on aspects such as clarity of expectations, opportunities for development, and work environment.
• Actionable Insights: Gallup not only collects survey data but also offers in-depth analysis and advice on how to drive change. They provide coaching and development tools for managers to address engagement issues.
• Global Reach and Benchmarking: Gallup's vast database of global engagement data provides companies with benchmarking capabilities to compare their results against industry standards.

Best For:
Organizations looking for a scientifically validated tool with a strong emphasis on actionable insights and strategic advice.

2. SurveyMonkey (Momentive)

Overview:
SurveyMonkey (now Momentive) is a popular platform that offers customizable employee engagement surveys. It provides a user-friendly interface and a wide range of survey templates, making it accessible to companies of all sizes. Momentive allows organizations to gather valuable feedback from employees and make data-driven decisions.

Key Features:

• Customizable Surveys: Momentive provides pre-built templates, including ones specifically designed for employee engagement, but users can also design their own surveys with tailored questions.
• Advanced Analytics: The platform offers robust data analysis tools that help organizations understand survey results in detail, including trend tracking and sentiment analysis.
• Ease of Use: Known for its intuitive design, SurveyMonkey is easy to set up and use, even for teams without much experience in survey creation or data analysis.

Best For:
Small to mid-sized companies looking for an affordable, user-friendly, and flexible tool to gather employee feedback.

3. Culture Amp

Overview:
Culture Amp is a leading provider of employee feedback and engagement solutions, with a focus on helping companies build better cultures. The platform offers a range of tools for measuring engagement, performance, and organizational health.

Key Features:

• Engagement Surveys: Culture Amp’s employee engagement surveys are designed to measure factors like motivation, satisfaction, and company culture. The surveys are customizable, with a large library of questions and templates.
• Benchmarks and Reporting: The platform provides benchmarks based on data from thousands of companies, enabling businesses to see how their engagement scores compare with those in similar industries.
• Employee Development Tools: Beyond surveys, Culture Amp offers solutions for learning and development, performance reviews, and 360-degree feedback, ensuring a holistic approach to employee engagement.

Best For:
Medium to large organizations looking for a comprehensive employee engagement solution that also offers tools for employee development and performance management.

4. TINYpulse

Overview:
TINYpulse is a feedback and engagement platform designed to make it easy for organizations to gather continuous feedback from their employees. The tool focuses on real-time feedback, allowing companies to track engagement trends and address issues proactively.

Key Features:

• Pulse Surveys: TINYpulse allows businesses to run short, frequent "pulse" surveys to gauge employee engagement on a regular basis. These can be set to run weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
• Peer Recognition: One of the standout features of TINYpulse is its peer recognition tool, which allows employees to recognize and appreciate one another’s efforts, contributing to a positive organizational culture.
• Actionable Insights: TINYpulse provides detailed reports and analytics, making it easy to identify engagement trends, strengths, and areas for improvement.

Best For:
Companies that value ongoing, real-time feedback and want to continuously track engagement levels, rather than relying on annual surveys.

5. Qualtrics

Overview:
Qualtrics is a well-known enterprise-level platform that offers a wide array of tools for employee engagement, including survey creation, data collection, and detailed analytics. Its solutions are highly customizable and used by many global organizations to track engagement across multiple regions.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Survey Tools: Qualtrics provides a robust set of survey creation tools with advanced question types, logic, and customization options. Users can create both one-off and recurring surveys.
• Employee Lifecycle Feedback: In addition to engagement surveys, Qualtrics offers tools to collect feedback at every stage of the employee lifecycle, from onboarding to exit interviews, enabling a deeper understanding of employee satisfaction.
• Advanced Analytics: The platform uses AI and machine learning to analyze employee data and uncover actionable insights, making it ideal for larger organizations that require sophisticated data analysis.

Best For:
Large enterprises seeking a customizable, enterprise-grade solution with advanced analytics capabilities.

6. Peakon (a Workday company)

Overview:
Peakon, now part of Workday, is an employee engagement platform designed to help organizations collect real-time feedback and improve employee engagement. Its platform is known for its ease of use, automation, and ability to provide instant feedback.

Key Features:

• Real-Time Data: Peakon collects ongoing employee feedback, allowing businesses to get continuous insights into engagement levels across departments and teams.
• AI-Powered Insights: The platform uses artificial intelligence to analyze survey data, identify key trends, and offer personalized recommendations for improving engagement.
• Integration with Workday: For organizations already using Workday for HR and talent management, Peakon seamlessly integrates with these systems, allowing for a unified approach to employee engagement and performance.

Best For:
Organizations using Workday for HR management, or those looking for a real-time, data-driven solution to enhance engagement.

7. 15Five

Overview:
15Five is a performance and engagement platform that focuses on continuous feedback and recognition. The tool is designed to foster a culture of high performance through regular check-ins, feedback, and coaching.

Key Features:

• Weekly Check-Ins: Employees submit weekly reports on their progress, challenges, and achievements, giving managers a clear picture of team engagement and morale.
• Employee Recognition: The platform includes a built-in recognition feature where managers and peers can acknowledge each other's accomplishments, fostering a positive work environment.
• Performance Management: In addition to engagement surveys, 15Five offers tools for performance management, including 360-degree feedback, goal setting, and growth tracking.

Best For:
Companies that want a performance-driven approach to engagement, where regular check-ins and feedback are integral to the culture.

Conclusion

When selecting an employee engagement survey vendor, it's important to consider your organization's size, culture, and specific needs. Vendors like Gallup and Culture Amp are great for large organizations with complex needs, while platforms like SurveyMonkey and TINYpulse cater to smaller organizations or those looking for simplicity and affordability. Whether you’re focused on real-time feedback, comprehensive analytics, or a combination of performance and engagement, there’s an ideal vendor for every company.