MARKET RESEARCH TOOLS: The 15 Best Market Research Tools in 2024

Best Free Market Research Tools for Small Business and Startups
Photo Credit: Image by jcomp on Freepik

For you to start and successfully run a business in 2024, you need to have accurate data on that venture to navigate a constantly evolving landscape. Before I started blogging, I was curious as to how other bloggers found out about current trends and even keywords that rank highly on Google searches. So while doing that research, I found out about Ubersuggest. This made me realize that certain market research tools can keep you informed on various trends. To stay relevant is not just a strategy—it’s a necessity. Let me introduce you to some of the best market research tools you can use in 2024, which will help you stay relevant.

Market Research Tools

In business and research, having the right market research tools is very important. They help you collect, analyze, and understand data in your target areas. These tools, in essence, serve as keys to understanding customer behavior, identifying market trends, and making informed decisions.

After years of using old-fashioned methods, market research now uses strategies that are based on technology. As of 2024, these tools not only gather data but also turn it into insights that you can use.

Let me take you through a personal journey where I encountered the challenges of outdated market research tools. Choosing market research tools is crucial. Outdated or inefficient tools can impede your market research journey. I vividly recall grappling with tools that felt like relics a few years ago—my journey was arduous, and the insights were lackluster. This experience underscored the importance of staying updated, propelling me on a quest to find the most effective tools. This experience has further shaped my perspective on staying updated and has led me to share some of the best market research tools.

Best Market Research Tools in 2024

#1. Statista

market research tools for small business

Statista, the data encyclopedia, boasts an extensive collection of statistics spanning various businesses. It’s a gold mine for researchers seeking reliable and comprehensive market trends and buyer behavior data. Statista is also a free market research tool. Furthermore, with customizable charts, global coverage, and regularly updated statistics, Statista simplifies data interpretation for researchers, marketers, and product creators like yourself.

Pros:

  • Extensive data collection from reliable sources.
  • User-friendly interface for seamless navigation.
  • Regularly updated statistics reflect current market dynamics.

Cons:

  • Limited free access; premium subscription required for in-depth insights.
  • It might be too expensive for smaller businesses.

Pricing:

  • A free basic account is available.
  • The premium account starts at $39 per month.

#2. Think with Google

best free market research tools for small businesses and startup

This platform is also part of the corporate giant “Google.” Think with Google, assist businesses in studying emerging trends, and understand consumer behavior through Google’s large data sets. Small businesses and startups can also use this market research tool for free.

Features:

  • Consumer trends and insights based on Google searches.
  • Industry-specific case studies and success stories.
  • Benchmarks for measuring performance against industry standards.

Pros:

  • Startups, small businesses, and enterprises can access the large sets of data that show insights into an industry for free.
  • Businesses can also use this tool to get useful tips and ideas.
  • Insights are derived from real-time Google search data.

Cons:

  • Limited customization options compared to other tools.
  • A focus on online trends might not cover all market aspects.

Pricing Plans:

Think with Google is free

#3. Make My Persona

best free market research tools for small businesses and startup

For businesses to create products and content tailored to their target audience, they must first know their buyer’s persona. “Make My Persona” by HubSpot makes this process easy. It further helps businesses create accurate buyer profiles. Crafted by experts in the field, this tool gives you a complete picture of your target audience.

Features:

  • Step-by-step persona creation with guided questions.
  • Templates for visualizing and sharing personas with your team.
  • Easily connects to other HubSpot tools 

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface for everybody.
  • Further ensures a complete audience understanding.
  • This tool also helps align marketing strategies with buyer personas.

Cons:

  • Limited in-depth demographic and psychographic data compared to dedicated research tools.
  • Dependent on HubSpot’s ecosystem for full functionality.

Pricing Plans:

This market research tool is also free.

#4. Tableau

best free market research tools for small businesses and startup

Data interpretation is very important when carrying out market research. This top-market research tool has been my trusted companion for data analytics since its inception. It also transforms raw data into easy-to-understand visualizations. When you want to understand a large amount of data about your target audience, Tableau is a go-to solution.

Features:

  • It enables the creation of dynamic visualizations 
  • Real-time collaboration and sharing of dashboards.
  • Integration with various data sources for comprehensive analysis.

Pros:

  • Exceptional data visualization capabilities for storytelling.
  • User-friendly interface, reducing the learning curve.
  • Robust community support and resources.

Cons:

  • The steeper learning curve for advanced functionalities.
  • Higher pricing compared to some other visualization tools.

Pricing Plans:

  • Viewer. $15. 
  • Explorer. $42
  • Creator. $70.

#5. SurveyMonkey

best free market research tools for small businesses and startup

SurveyMonkey assists businesses in gathering data and customer feedback. Every company occasionally needs to get customer feedback to learn what troubles them. SurveyMonkey is also a strong program that helps companies do successful market research. In addition, it will help a business understand your customer preferences.

If you’re confused about how to use Tableau, here is an introductory video that can give you a basic idea of how to use it to make informed and strategic decisions for your business

Features:

  • User-friendly survey creation with customizable templates.
  • Advanced survey logic for dynamic question paths.
  • Robust analytics tools for interpreting survey results.

Pros:

  • Quick and easy survey deployment.
  • Integration capabilities with other tools.
  • Provides a free basic plan for smaller businesses.

Cons:

  • The free plan includes a limited number of features.
  • Pricing can become more expensive as survey complexity increases.

Pricing Plans:

  • A free plan is available.
  • The Standard Monthly Plan: $99 a month.
  • The Advantage Annual Plan: $39 a month, billed annually.
  • The Premier plan: $119 a month, billed annually.
  • The Team Advantage plan: $25 a month, per user, billed annually.
  • The Team Premier plan: $75 a month, per user, billed annually.
best free market research tools for small businesses and startup

Google Trends is a free and impressive market research tool. It assists businesses in finding out the most popular and most searched keywords. It also shows the history of the keywords, presents trends in line graphs, and ranks such keywords on a scale of 1 to 100. 

Features:

  • Visual representation of search trends.
  • Comparison of multiple search terms.
  • Regional and global insights into search popularity.

Pros:

  • Free access to real-time search data.
  • Quick and easy visualization of trending topics.
  • Integration with other Google tools for a seamless workflow.

Cons:

  • Limited in-depth data compared to specialized research tools.
  • It focuses on search queries and excludes other data sources.

Pricing Plans:

Google Trends is free 

#7. Typeform

Typeform, a market research tool and online survey tool, offers a unique approach to survey design. In addition, it assists businesses in creating market research surveys in an easy-going manner. Businesses can also use formats such as multiple-choice, short-form, and rating scale questions, among others, to carry out their survey.

Unique Features:

  • Conversational and interactive survey design.
  • Responsive forms that adapt to different devices.
  • Integration with various third-party tools.

Pros:

  • Aesthetic and user-friendly survey interface.
  • Higher response rates are due to the engaging form design.
  • Allows free access to essential features.

Cons:

  • The free plan includes a limited number of features.
  • Advanced functionalities require a premium subscription

Pricing Plans:

  • Basic: $25
  • Plus: $50
  • Business:83
  • Entreprise: Contact Typeform

#8. BrandMentions

When you want to find out how many times your brand has been mentioned in the digital landscape, then this tool is highly recommended. Additionally, it shows people’s perceptions and feelings about your brand.

Features:

  • Real-time brand monitoring across online platforms.
  • Social media sentiment analysis.
  • Competitor tracking for benchmarking.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive coverage of online mentions.
  • User-friendly dashboard for easy monitoring.
  • In-depth sentiment analysis for brand perception.

Cons:

  • Limited historical data is included in the free plan.
  • Pricing can be higher for extensive monitoring needs.

Pricing Plans:

  • Free trial: 7days
  • Growing Business: 79/month, billed yearly
  • Company: 249/month, billed yearly
  • Agency/Enterprise: $399/month, billed yearly

#9. Ubersuggest

UberSuggest is a powerful tool for keyword and content research. It details their unique aspects, like suggesting long-tail keywords, related searches, and keyword difficulty. Furthermore, “revealing the top 10 ranking pages for any keyword” or “showing estimated traffic potential” makes it more specific and impactful. It can also help optimize blog posts, social media content, and even advertising campaigns. Personally, it has helped me achieve a successful keyword strategy or content creation plan

Features

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface 
  • Free access to basic keyword data.
  • Competitor Insights
  • Comprehensive SEO analysis 

Cons:

  • The free plan includes a limited number of features.
  • Some advanced features require a paid subscription.

Pricing 

  • Free
  • Individual: $29 per month.
  • Business: $49 per month.
  • Enterprise: $99 per month.

#10. Qualaroo

Qualaroo, just like SurveyMonkey, is a market research tool for carrying out customer surveys. You, as a business owner, can also use Qualtrics to perform your business survey. Furthermore, this tool can help you insert your surveys into your websites.

Features:

  • In-site surveys for contextual feedback.
  • Targeted surveys based on user behavior.
  • Integration with popular analytics tools.

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface for survey creation.
  • Real-time feedback for agile decision-making.
  • Cost-effective solution for website feedback.

Cons:

  • The free plan includes a limited number of features.
  • Some advanced targeting options require a paid subscription.

Pricing Plans:

Qualroo offers a free trial, while the paid plans start at $69.

#11. Qualtrics

This is one of the best tools for carrying out customer surveys. Instead of going around in search of participants, this tool provides them. you will not have to worry about finding people to fill out your market research surveys. Once you have determined the specifics of your target audience, Qualitrics provides participants for you. After the survey, this tool will also help you analyze the data and provide the result in an easy-to-understand manner

Features:

  • Advanced survey and feedback tools.
  • Customer journey mapping for holistic insights.
  • Employee experience management for HR insights.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive experience management capabilities.
  • Advanced analytics for in-depth insights.
  • Integration with various third-party tools.

Cons:

  • The higher learning curve for new users.
  • The pricing might be too expensive for smaller businesses.

Pricing Plans:

Custom prices based on request

#12. Userlytics

This is also a top market research tool that assists businesses in understanding how their target audience interacts with their websites, mobile apps, etc.

Businesses that want to learn more about their customers and make their digital products more successful should use Userlytics. In essence, it is a powerful and flexible platform.

Features:

  • Remote user testing
  • Session recordings of user interviews.
  • Usability testing

Pros:

  • Powerful features
  • User-friendly interface, remote testing flexibility
  • Actionable insights
  • Global reach

Cons:

  • Higher pricing than some competitors.
  • It can also be time-consuming to set up complex tests.

Pricing:

  • A free trial is available 
  • $49/participant (Quick & Easy)
  • $69/participant (Annual Enterprise); 
  • Custom pricing is available on request

#13. BuzzSumo

This website, BuzzSumo, is great for researching popular content. When a business wants to check the most trendy topics or other metrics, BuzzSumo is the market research tool to use. The information businesses get from this tool can further provide actionable insights into what consumers are searching for at that moment. 

Features:

  • Content trend discovery and competitor analysis tools.
  • Identify influencers and key players in your niche.
  • Analyze your content performance and optimize your content strategy.
  • Track social media shares and engagement metrics.
  • Generate content ideas and identify potential guest blogging opportunities.

Pros:

  • It further provides insights for content creators and marketers
  • Discover trending topics and audience interests.
  • Identify influencers to collaborate with and amplify your reach.
  • Great for staying ahead of the content marketing curve.

Cons:

  • Advanced features can be complex for beginners.
  • Pricing scales with data volume, potentially making it expensive for high-volume accounts.
  • Relies on social media data, which may not be representative of all audiences.

Pricing

  • Content creation: $159/month, billed yearly
  • PR & Comms: $239/month, billed yearly
  • Suite: $399/month, billed yearly
  • Enterprise: $999/month, billed yearly

#14. U.S. Census

Businesses, no matter how big or small, can use the US Census Bureau to do powerful and comprehensive market research. Additionally, it provides accurate information on the citizens of America, their buying trends, and their preferences. It is also a free tool for market research.

Features

  • American Community Survey (ACS)
  • Trends and Projections
  • Granular data

Pros

  • Accuracy and Credibility
  • Affordability
  • Actionable Insights

Cons

  • Complexity
  • Limited Analysis Tools

Pricing: Free

#15. SEMrush

best market research tools

This is a very powerful market research tool. SEMrush provides tools for monitoring organic ranking, content creation, and increased SEO, and helps businesses achieve overall online visibility.

Features:

  • Keyword research and analysis.
  • Backlink analysis for SEO strategies.
  • Competitor research and tracking.

Pros:

  • Comprehensive toolkit.
  • User-friendly interface
  • with actionable insights.
  • Comprehensive toolkit

Cons:

  • Higher pricing compared to some specialized tools.
  • Some features might be overwhelming for beginners.

Pricing Plans:

  • Pro: 119.95 per month.
  • Guru: 229.95 per month.
  • Business: 449.95 per month.

Benefits of Using Market Research Tools

Using market research tools offers a myriad of benefits for businesses and professionals seeking to make informed decisions and stay competitive in the dynamic business environment. The following are some benefits of adding market research tools to your marketing strategy:

  • Strategic Decision-Making: In addition to providing the data, making use of market research tools can offer you insights into industry trends, and this can also help you make informed and strategic decisions.
  • The use of market research tools also leads to efficiency and time savings. The automation features streamline processes and save time and resources.
  • Data Accuracy and Reliability: Market research tools can also offer you real-time data to make accurate decisions.
  • Improved Customer Understanding: when you use tools that study customer behavior and preferences, you can tailor your goods and services using the current trends and feedback from your tools
  • Competitive Edge:  Using market research tools gives you a competitive edge in the digital landscape, as you can use the tools to identify weaknesses and trends before your competitors.

In summary,

The context of market research is a constantly changing ecosystem. Additionally, to understand how markets work, how people behave, and what trends will emerge in the future, each tool you possess is equally significant.

However, if you want to succeed in a world where everything is constantly changing, staying competitive is not enough; you need to put money into the right tools. Whether you are trying to make sense of social media, gauge people’s emotions, or navigate international markets, these tools will be your reliable companions.

Use these tools, fellow market researchers, and be ready to change with the times. Gain insights to be successful in 2024 and beyond.

What tools have you used? Do you have a favorite one?

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References

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