Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Survona, AI models, data privacy, and billing.
What is Survona?
Survona is an AI-powered research and survey platform. Build surveys, generate synthetic personas, run focus groups, analyze data, and create websites — all using natural language. No code required.
What survey question types are supported?
Survona supports 12 question types: radio buttons, checkboxes, text fields, Likert scales, star ratings, number inputs, date pickers, dropdowns, matrix grids, ranking, file upload, and section headers.
What is MCP and why does Survona support it?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets AI assistants like Claude connect to external services. Survona's MCP server (95+ tools) lets your AI client control surveys, personas, and apps directly.
How does AI categorization work?
Survona offers 4 categorization modes: Quick Classify (fast triage), Deep Analysis (multi-pass reasoning), Thematic Coding (qualitative research), and Custom Classifier (your own rules). Each assigns quality scores and detailed flags.
What AI models power Survona?
Survey generation uses GPT-5, reports use GPT-5 (Normal) or Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Extended/Max thinking modes), audio transcription uses OpenAI Whisper, and persona generation supports GPT-5.2, o3, and o4-mini.
Can I deploy surveys to KoboToolbox?
Yes — Survona supports deployment to native web, KoboToolbox/ODK, and Google Forms. Export as XLSForm for KoboToolbox or Google Apps Script for Google Forms.
How do synthetic personas work?
Generate 3-100 AI personas with Big Five personality traits, demographics, and attitudes. Chat 1-on-1, run focus groups, conduct debates, and have personas respond to surveys in-character.
Is there a free plan?
Yes — sign up for free and start building surveys and apps at no cost. See the Pricing page for plan limits and features.
How do I get an MCP API key?
Sign in to your dashboard → Settings → API Keys → Create MCP Key. Keys are free and generated instantly.
Is my data private?
Yes — your workspace data is isolated and encrypted. MCP API keys are hashed server-side and never stored in plain text. Survey responses are stored securely on Azure.