Let us ask you how you feel about...
A product? A thread on Twitter/X? A cat video you have just seen on the subway?
Polls are powerful in crowdsourcing public opinions. Organisations need them to make business acumen. Educators use polls to gauge student comprehension. Online polling tools have thus become indispensable assets.
Let's explore the 5 free online polling tools that are revolutionising how we collect and visualise feedback this year.
Top Free Online Polling Tools
Comparison Table
| Feature | AhaSlides | Slido | Mentimeter | Poll Everywhere | ParticiPoll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Educational settings, business meetings, casual gatherings | Small/medium interactive sessions | Classrooms, small meetings, workshops, events | Classrooms, small meetings, interactive presentations | Audience polling inside PowerPoint |
| Question types | Multiple-choice, open-ended, scale ratings, Q&A, quizzes | Multiple-choice, rating, open-text | Multiple-choice, word cloud, quiz | Multiple-choice, word cloud, open-ended | Multiple-choice, word clouds, audience questions |
| Synchronous and asynchronous polls | Yes✅ | Yes✅ | Yes✅ | Yes✅ | No |
| Customisation | Moderate | Limited | Basic | Limited | No |
| Usability | Very easy 😉 | Very easy 😉 | Very easy 😉 | Easy | Easy |
| Free plan limitations | No data export | Poll limit, limited customisation | Participant limit (50/month) | Participant limit (40 concurrent) | Only works with PowerPoint, participant limit (5 votes per poll) |
1. AhaSlides
Free plan highlights: Up to 50 live participants, polls and quizzes, 3000+ templates, AI-powered content generation
AhaSlides excels by integrating polls within a complete presentation ecosystem. They offer extensive choices on how the poll looks. The platform's real-time visualisation transforms responses into compelling data stories as participants contribute. This makes it especially effective for hybrid meetings where engagement is challenging.
Key Features of AhaSlides
- Versatile question types: AhaSlides offers a wide array of question types, including multiple-choice, word cloud, open-ended, and rating scale, allowing for varied and dynamic polling experiences.
- AI-powered polls: You only need to insert the question and let the AI generate the options automatically.
- Customisation options: Users can customise their poll with different charts and colours.
- Integration: AhaSlides' poll can be integrated with Google Slides and PowerPoint so you can let the audience interact with the slides while presenting.
- Anonymity: Responses can be anonymous, which encourages honesty and increases the likelihood of participation.
- Analytics: Although detailed analytics and exporting features are more robust in paid plans, the free version still offers a solid foundation for interactive presentations.
2. Slido
Free plan highlights: 100 participants, 3 polls per event, basic analytics
Slido is a popular interactive platform that offers a range of engagement tools. Its free plan comes with a set of polling features that are both user-friendly and effective for facilitating interaction in various settings.
Best For: Small to medium-sized interactive sessions.
Key Features
- Multiple poll types: Multiple-choice, rating, and open-text options cater to different engagement goals.
- Real-time results: As participants submit their responses, the results are updated and displayed in real-time.
- Limited customisation: The free plan offers basic customisation options, allowing users to adjust some aspects of how polls are presented to match the tone or theme of their event.
- Integration: Slido can be integrated with popular presentation tools and platforms, enhancing its usability during live presentations or virtual meetings.
3. Mentimeter
Free plan highlights: 50 live participants per month, 34 slides per presentation
Mentimeter is a widely-used interactive presentation tool that excels in turning passive listeners into active participants. Its free plan comes packed with polling features that cater to a variety of needs, from educational purposes to business meetings and workshops.
Free Plan ✅
Key features
- Variety of question types: Mentimeter does offer multiple-choice, word cloud, and quiz question types, providing diverse engagement options.
- Unlimited polls and questions (with a caveat): You can create an unlimited number of polls and questions on the free plan, but there's a participant limit of 50 per month and a presentation slide limit of 34.
- Real-time results: Mentimeter displays responses live as participants vote, creating an interactive environment.
4. Poll Everywhere
Free plan highlights: 40 responses per poll, unlimited polls, LMS integration
Poll Everywhere is an interactive tool designed to transform events into engaging discussions through live polling. The free plan provided by Poll Everywhere offers a basic but effective set of features for users looking to incorporate real-time polling into their sessions.
Free Plan ✅
Key features
- Question types: You can create multiple-choice, word cloud, and open-ended questions, offering diverse engagement options.
- Participant limit: The plan supports up to 40 concurrent participants. This means only 40 people can actively vote or answer at the same time.
- Real-time feedback: As participants respond to polls, results are updated live, which can be displayed back to the audience for immediate engagement.
- Ease of use: Poll Everywhere is known for its user-friendly interface, making it simple for presenters to set up polls and for participants to respond via SMS or web browser.
5. ParticiPolls
Poll Junkie is an online tool designed for creating quick and straightforward polls without the need for users to sign up or log in. It's an excellent tool for anyone looking to gather opinions or make decisions efficiently.
Free plan highlights: 5 votes per poll, 7-day free trial
ParticiPolls is an audience polling add-in that works natively with PowerPoint. While limited in responses, it's ideal for presenters who want to stay within PowerPoint rather than switching between applications
Key features
- PowerPoint native integration: Functions as a direct add-in, maintaining presentation flow without platform switching
- Real-time results display: Shows polling results instantly within your PowerPoint slides
- Multiple question types: Supports multiple-choice, open-ended, and word cloud questions
- Usability: Functions on both Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint
Key Takeaways
When choosing a free polling tool, focus on:
- Participant limits: Will the free tier accommodate your audience size?
- Integration needs: Do you need a standalone app or an integration with
- Visual impact: How effectively does it display feedback?
- Mobile experience: Can participants engage easily on any device?
AhaSlides offers the most balanced approach for users seeking comprehensive polling without initial investment. It's a low-stake free option to engage your participants easily. Try it for free.
