Quick answer
Yes — for the part of SurveyMonkey covered on this page, Pulsecheck is a one-time-purchase alternative. It costs $29 once, while SurveyMonkey lists from $25/mo. One-question surveys by link, email or widget with instant detractor alerts, self-hosted. It is not a 1:1 replacement for everything SurveyMonkey does — the honest limits are spelled out below.
The verdict
Switch to Pulsecheck if the slice of SurveyMonkey you actually pay for is the slice Pulsecheck covers — and a $29 one-time price beats from $25/mo for as long as you use it.
Stay with SurveyMonkey if this sounds like you — SurveyMonkey offers long multi-page surveys, question banks, skip logic and statistical analysis. Pulsecheck is deliberately one question at a time — research-grade instruments are SurveyMonkey's territory.
Head to head
| Pulsecheck | SurveyMonkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29 once | from $25/mo |
| Where it runs | Your own server (self-hosted) | Vendor cloud (hosted service) |
| Renewal | None — the license never expires | Recurring — access ends when you stop paying |
| 5-year cost | $29 | ~$1,500 |
About SurveyMonkey: SurveyMonkey is a survey platform with templates, logic and analysis. Team plans list from $25/user/mo billed annually (about $300/user/yr); individual plans are priced higher per month.
Where SurveyMonkey still wins
SurveyMonkey offers long multi-page surveys, question banks, skip logic and statistical analysis. Pulsecheck is deliberately one question at a time — research-grade instruments are SurveyMonkey's territory.
Where Pulsecheck wins
For the most common SurveyMonkey job — NPS and quick pulse surveys — Pulsecheck is purpose-built: one-question surveys delivered by link, email or widget, with instant detractor alerts and a clean dashboard. Self-hosted, $29 once, unlimited responses.
- Price, permanently. $29 once versus from $25/mo for as long as you use it. There is no renewal, no seat count and no tier gate.
- Three survey types. NPS (0-10), CSAT (1-5) and CES (1-7), each with correct documented score math (NPS = %promoters minus %detractors, ranged -100 to 100).
- Three delivery channels. A standalone survey link, personalized email sends via your own SMTP, and an embeddable widget script.
The math
SurveyMonkey lists from $25/mo. Pulsecheck is $29, paid once:
- After 1 year: Pulsecheck has cost you $29 total — SurveyMonkey has cost ~$300.
- After 3 years: Pulsecheck is still $29 — the subscription is at ~$900.
- After 5 years: Pulsecheck is still $29 — the subscription is at ~$1,500.
Common questions
Is it really free on GitHub?
Yes, Pulsecheck is MIT-licensed at github.com/bensblueprints/nps-survey-tool-mvp. The $29 buys the packaged Windows installer and 1-click setup; building from source is free.
Where do my responses live?
In a SQLite file on your own server. It is 100% local, with no telemetry and no response caps.
Is this a subscription in disguise?
No. $29 once, no renewal, no monthly response limit.
Try Pulsecheck — $29, one time
Or get Pulsecheck plus every other app in the suite: the OneTimeSuite bundle is currently $97, one time.