Qualtrics alternative
Sendsteps covers logic, randomisation, quotas, experimental groups, conjoint and SPSS export. Longitudinal studies run as several waves, with attrition per wave and a comparison across waves. Import your Qualtrics surveys, responses and contacts. Your data stays hosted in the EU, on an ISO 27001:2022 certified platform.
Last updated: November 2026
Import
Qualtrics survey (.qsf)
In September 2026, SURF published a Data Protection Impact Assessment of Qualtrics DesignXM. It identified 14 high risks and, for now, gives its members a negative advice on the setup it reviewed. Qualtrics does not share SURF's assessment, and each institution decides for itself. Many are now comparing options.
Survey responses are stored in the EU, by a Dutch company that works under EU law. The standard setup runs on AWS in Frankfurt, Germany. Qualifying licences can run the whole environment on Scaleway, also in the EU.
A data processing agreement, a published sub-processor list and a clear AI policy, ready for your own DPIA.
Experimental groups, randomisation, quotas, waves, choice experiments, weighting and SPSS export.
Many institutions already use Sendsteps in class. Add surveys and studies to the same platform, with the same single sign-on and admin control.
After the SURF DPIA
SURF's DPIA gives every institution a useful checklist. Here's how Sendsteps answers each point.
You do. On an institutional licence your institution is the controller of surveys and responses; Sendsteps processes them on your behalf, under a data processing agreement.
Yes. Anonymous links don't ask for a name or email, and you choose per survey whether responses are anonymous or identified.
Every sub-processor is listed in our privacy statement, with its purpose and location. See the list
You do. Write your own consent text and make agreement required before the first question.
Our cookie statement sets out every category we use, and we share the details for respondent pages on request. Cookie statement
Yes. Find and delete a respondent's answers, with every deletion logged in the audit list. We answer requests within four weeks.
No. Your content is never used to train AI models, and the survey product doesn't use AI at all. On a Campus or Enterprise licence we can switch AI off for your whole organisation, or connect your own AI supplier.
| Feature | Sendsteps | Qualtrics DesignXM |
|---|---|---|
| Company based in | The Netherlands (AWS in Frankfurt by default, Scaleway in the EU for qualifying licences) | United States |
| Built for | Education and research | Enterprise experience management (customer, employee and market research) |
| ISO 27001 | Certified (ISO 27001:2022) | Certified |
| SURF DPIA (September 2026) | Not assessed yet; privacy documentation on request | 14 high risks, negative advice on the reviewed setup. Qualtrics disputes the assessment. Source |
| Logic, randomisation, quotas | Yes | Yes |
| Experimental groups | Yes | Yes |
| Choice experiments (conjoint) | Yes | Yes |
| SPSS export | Yes | Yes |
| Import Qualtrics surveys (QSF) | Yes, with responses and contacts | Not applicable |
Last checked: November 2026. Qualtrics information from SURF and Qualtrics' public documentation.
Design
30+ question types, including matrix, constant sum, semantic differential, hot spot, heat map and map questions. Display logic, piping, loop and merge, custom validation.
Assign
Experimental groups by random, even or rule-based assignment. Randomise pages, questions and answers, with the order each person saw recorded.
Field
Quotas, panel parameters on the link, invites and reminders, personal links, multiple languages, paper surveys you can scan back in.
Follow up
Longitudinal studies: several waves, attrition per wave, and a comparison across waves.
Analyse
Coding and weighting, dashboards, crosstabs, open-text analysis and choice-experiment analysis.
Export and quality
SPSS (.sav), CSV with a codebook, Excel with a codebook sheet. Suspected bots flagged, minimum time per page, design review and a full audit list.
Switching
Switching doesn't mean rebuilding. We start by looking at what you run today, and only move what makes sense, when it suits your research calendar.
Not every survey is a study. Course evaluations, student-experience surveys and quick feedback run on the same platform, ready in minutes, with no account needed to answer.
An independent body audits our information security management system.
Data is stored in the EU, encrypted at rest and in transit. The standard setup runs on AWS in Frankfurt, Germany. Qualifying licences can run the environment on Scaleway, also in the EU.
Privacy statement and data processing agreement available for review.
On a Campus or Enterprise licence, staff sign in with their institutional account and admins manage roles and access.
Designed with WCAG 2.2 in mind. Respondents can switch on high contrast, larger text and reduced motion.
We share the documentation your privacy officer needs and answer their questions directly.
Request privacy documentation →Sendsteps is an EU-hosted survey and research platform built for education. It covers course evaluations as well as longitudinal studies with several waves, plus experimental groups, quotas and SPSS export, and it imports Qualtrics surveys.
Yes. Import a Qualtrics survey file (QSF), with responses and contacts as CSV if you have them.
In the EU, encrypted at rest and in transit. The standard setup is AWS in Frankfurt, Germany. Qualifying licences can run the environment on Scaleway, also in the EU. Within 30 days after your contract ends, your content is deleted.
Not yet. We provide a data processing agreement and the documentation your institution needs for its own assessment.
No. Your content is never used to train AI models, and the survey product doesn't use AI at all. On a Campus or Enterprise licence we can switch AI off for your whole organisation.
Yes, on a Campus or Enterprise licence. Staff sign in with their institutional account.
Yes. You can start with a pilot in one faculty or research group.
Usually research support or the university library, a few researchers, functional administrators, and colleagues from IT and privacy. We bring our product team, so the conversation can go into depth.
Research Survey is available on request. Book a call and we'll set it up for your institution.
Map out what you run today and what a switch would involve, with no commitment. Or request privacy documentation for your privacy officer.