SurveyMonkey's XLS export requires a paid plan, and the API returns raw choice IDs you must join against the survey structure to get readable question text.
Getting SurveyMonkey data into Excel has two friction points that most guides skip. First, the XLS export is only available on paid plans: the free Basic plan lets you view 25 responses per survey in the browser and stops there. Second, if you go the API route for a live connection, SurveyMonkey returns raw choice IDs in the response data, not the text of the answers, so you need an extra join against the survey structure before the data is usable. There is also a native Excel integration in the Connect Apps tab that auto-sends responses to an OneDrive workbook, though it is forward-only and gated to higher paid plans. This guide covers every method with those catches named upfront, and notes which ones work in Excel on the web versus desktop only.
Method 1: Export as XLS or CSV (paid plans)
In SurveyMonkey, open the survey and go to the Analyze section. Click Save As in the upper right, then Export file. You can choose from XLS, CSV, PDF, and other formats. The XLS export produces a flat spreadsheet where each row is one respondent and each column is one question, with the answer text written out rather than choice IDs. You can also apply filters in the Analyze view before exporting so only the filtered subset lands in the file.
The catch: this export is gated to paid plans. If you are on the free Basic plan, the export option does not produce an XLS or CSV file. The export is also a snapshot: new responses submitted after you click Export are not included. You re-export each time you need fresh data.
Method 2: Export from the Summary view
The Analyze section has both an individual Responses view and a Summary view with aggregate charts. The Summary view lets you apply filters, rules, and compare groups, then export the resulting chart data or cross-tab tables. This is useful when your end deliverable is an aggregate report rather than the raw individual-level data.
The catch: exporting from Summary gives you aggregate data, not individual response rows. If your Excel model needs row-level data for further calculation, use the Responses export or the API instead.
Method 3: Connect Apps native Excel integration
SurveyMonkey has a built-in Microsoft Excel integration in the Connect Apps tab inside your survey's Analyze section. Find Microsoft Excel under the Discover tab, click the arrow next to the button, and choose Use existing sheet to map responses to an existing OneDrive worksheet, or connect a new one. Once linked, each new survey response is written to the worksheet automatically.
The catch: this integration requires a paid plan (Advantage or above in most regions; plan names and feature tiers change, so verify on SurveyMonkey's pricing page). The workbook must live in OneDrive; locally saved files and network-drive workbooks are not supported. The integration is forward-only: responses collected before you connected are not backfilled. For historical data, use the XLS export or the API.
Method 4: Responses API via Power Query
SurveyMonkey's API exposes responses at https://api.surveymonkey.com/v3/surveys/{surveyId}/responses/bulk. You authenticate with an access token from your SurveyMonkey developer account. In Excel, use Data, then Get Data, then From Web, add the Authorization header with your token, and use Power Query's M code to expand the nested answers array into columns.
The API response includes a pages array containing questions, and each answer references a choice_id or a row_id rather than the text of the answer. To get readable labels, you need a second API call to the survey details endpoint (/v3/surveys/{surveyId}/details) to fetch the question structure, then merge the two tables on the choice ID field. This join is the main technical overhead compared to the flat XLS export. The API is paginated, returning up to 100 responses per page, so large surveys require looping through pages using the next_url field in the response.
The catch: API access requires a paid plan. Power Query refresh works in desktop Excel on Windows and Mac, but not in Excel on the web. The choice ID join adds meaningful complexity to the query, and any survey edit that changes question or choice IDs can break it silently.
Method 5: Brooked for Excel (scheduled, question text resolved)
Brooked for Excel is an add-in that connects to SurveyMonkey, resolves choice IDs to question and answer text automatically, and loads responses into the worksheet you choose. The join against the survey structure happens in the connector so you get a clean flat table with readable column headers and answer values from the start. It works in desktop Excel on Windows and Mac, and in Excel on the web, where Power Query refresh is not available.
Honest framing: Excel support is in beta. Manual imports and the AI analyst work today; scheduled refresh is rolling out through the beta. The Google Sheets version of the SurveyMonkey connector is fully live, so the data pipeline itself is mature.
Setting up the SurveyMonkey connection
Open Brooked in the Excel ribbon, choose SurveyMonkey as the source, and authenticate with your SurveyMonkey account via OAuth. Pick the survey you want, choose a date range or import all responses, and pull them into the active worksheet. Each row is one respondent, each column is one question, with the full question text as the header. No choice ID mapping required.
Brooked AI, SurveyMonkeyMethod comparison
| Method | Cost | Works on | Refresh | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export as XLS or CSV | Paid plans only | Any Excel | Manual re-export | A one-off snapshot when you have a paid plan |
| Analyze & export from Summary | Paid plans only | Any Excel | Manual re-export | Exporting chart data or filtered cross-tab slices |
| Connect Apps native Excel integration | Paid plans only (Advantage or above) | Excel Online (OneDrive only) | Live as responses arrive (forward-only) | Auto-append to an OneDrive worksheet without code |
| Responses API via Power Query | Paid plans (API access) + effort | Windows & Mac desktop Excel | Manual refresh in Power Query | Developers who can handle nested choice ID joins |
| Brooked for Excel | Free during beta | Desktop, Mac & web Excel | Scheduled (rolling out in beta) | Readable response data with question text resolved |
What teams build with SurveyMonkey data in Excel
- Employee engagement score tracking across survey waves with trend charts
- NPS reporting segmented by product line, region, or customer tier
- Customer satisfaction data merged with CRM records for closed-loop follow-up
- Market research data tables combining multiple survey questions for cross-tabulation
- Pulse survey dashboards updated each quarter to monitor workplace sentiment over time
Troubleshooting common issues
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Frequently asked questions
Can SurveyMonkey export to Excel?
Yes, but only on paid plans. From the Analyze section of your survey, click Save As and choose Export file, then select XLS or CSV. The free Basic plan limits you to viewing 25 responses per survey and does not include XLS or CSV export. If you are on a free plan and need the data in Excel, the workaround is to copy-paste from the browser, which is impractical for large surveys.
Does SurveyMonkey integrate with Excel directly?
Yes. SurveyMonkey has a native Microsoft Excel integration available in the Connect Apps tab inside your survey's Analyze section. You can send survey responses to an existing Excel Online worksheet saved in OneDrive, or create a new one. Find Microsoft Excel under the Discover tab, click the down arrow on the button, and choose Use existing sheet (or Connect if it is your first time). Each new response is added to the worksheet automatically. The integration requires OneDrive and is forward-only: it does not backfill responses collected before you connected.
Does the SurveyMonkey export work the same on Windows, Mac, and Excel on the web?
The downloaded XLS file opens the same in Excel on Windows, Mac, and Excel on the web. The difference appears when you want to keep the data current: Power Query refresh works in desktop Excel on Windows and Mac, but is not available in Excel on the web. Brooked works across all three. The export download itself requires a desktop or laptop browser; the SurveyMonkey mobile app does not include an export option.
Why does the SurveyMonkey API return IDs instead of answer text?
SurveyMonkey's Responses API represents each answer as a choice ID rather than the text of the answer. To get readable labels you need to call the survey details endpoint, which returns the survey structure including question text and the text for each choice ID, then join the two datasets on the ID. This is extra work compared to the flat XLS export, which includes readable text by default.
Which SurveyMonkey plans allow data export?
Export to XLS, CSV, PDF, and other formats is included with paid plans. The free Basic plan does not include export, and limits response viewing to 25 per survey. Paid individual plans such as Standard, Advantage, and Premier all include export. If you need to verify which specific tier gates a feature you require, check the feature comparison on SurveyMonkey's pricing page, as plan names and features change periodically.
Can I get SurveyMonkey data into Excel automatically without re-exporting?
Not with the built-in export, which is always a manual snapshot. Using the Responses API via Power Query gives you a refresh button in desktop Excel, though it is still a manual trigger. For hands-off scheduled updates, a connector add-in is needed. Brooked pulls SurveyMonkey responses into Excel on a schedule and resolves the question and answer text automatically.
Get SurveyMonkey responses into Excel with question text already resolved, on a schedule.
Brooked for Excel is in beta and free to try. Using Google Sheets instead? Read the Sheets version of this guide.
See Brooked for Excel →
