Imagine finding a market research partner that doesn't just tick the boxes of what you need, but actually delivers eye-opening, sales-boosting, and creatively inspiring insights—the kind of breakthrough understanding you couldn't have gotten anywhere else. That's the experience every company deserves from their research investment.
That's why we've compiled this guide to a variety of different market research companies, complete with what you can expect from each one: who they're designed for, what they deliver, who you'll be working with, and estimates of timelines. Because choosing the right research partner is about so much more than just the data they provide.
Of course, we've also cover pricing, capabilities, and specializations to help you find the perfect fit for your specific research needs.
|
Company |
Primary focus |
Pricing model |
Timeline (estimate) |
Who's it for? |
|
Highlight |
CPG product testing & IHUT |
Project-based, sample size dependent |
2-3 weeks |
CPG brands, product validation |
|
NielsenIQ |
Consumer behavior & market measurement |
Subscription + custom projects |
4-8 weeks |
Large enterprises, market tracking |
|
Ipsos |
Multi-methodology global research |
Custom project pricing |
6-12 weeks |
Global brands, complex studies |
|
Kantar |
Brand insights & consumer understanding |
Subscription + project-based |
4-10 weeks |
Fortune 500, brand strategy |
|
Qualtrics |
Survey platform & experience management |
Subscription tiers |
1-4 weeks |
Enterprise, survey research |
|
GfK |
Consumer goods & retail insights |
Custom project pricing |
6-10 weeks |
Retail, consumer goods |
|
Mintel |
Market intelligence & trend analysis |
Subscription + custom reports |
2-6 weeks |
Market analysis, trend research |
|
Euromonitor |
Global market research & data |
Subscription + custom projects |
4-8 weeks |
International expansion, market sizing |
|
Suzy |
Real-time consumer insights |
Pay-per-response |
24-48 hours |
Quick validation, concept testing |
|
dscout |
Ethnographic & diary studies |
Project-based |
2-4 weeks |
UX research, behavioral studies |
|
Zappi |
Creative & concept testing |
Subscription model |
1-2 weeks |
Advertising, creative validation |
|
Dynata |
Data collection & audience insights |
Custom project pricing |
2-6 weeks |
Panel management, data collection |
|
Research Now SSI |
Online research & data collection |
Project-based |
1-3 weeks |
Online surveys, panel research |
|
Toluna |
Consumer insights & polling |
Subscription + project-based |
1-2 weeks |
Brand tracking, consumer polling |
|
YouGov |
Public opinion & consumer research |
Subscription + custom projects |
2-4 weeks |
Public opinion, brand perception |
Highlight is a vertically integrated product intelligence platform specializing in in-home usage testing (IHUT) for consumer packaged goods. Our technology-first approach combines smart authentic consumer testing with streamlined logistics and impactful analytics. We're literally hands-on.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Pricing is based on sample size and product logistics complexity. A standard sensory test with 100 participants has different pricing than shipping 300 units of fragile products. Custom testing components like video reactions or competitive comparisons adjust pricing accordingly. Subscription plans offer significant cost savings for brands with ongoing research roadmaps.
Project details
Read about our turnkey logistics to find out more about the details, shipping and results.
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Emerging CPG brands and established companies launching new products. Ideal for food & beverage, personal care, household goods, and pet products requiring authentic usage validation.
Nielsen is a big name. As a global measurement and data analytics company they are providing businesses with market research, audience measurement, and consumer behavior insights across 100+ countries.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Subscription-based for ongoing tracking services, with custom project pricing for specific research initiatives. Enterprise-level contracts typically required.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact Nielsen for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Large enterprises needing ongoing market tracking and established brands requiring truly competitive intelligence.
Ipsos is a multinational market research company offering specialized research services across advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public opinion research.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Custom project pricing based on methodology complexity, sample size, and geographic scope. Typically requires significant budget allocation.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact Ipsos for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Multinational corporations requiring global research capabilities and complex, multi-market studies.
Kantar is a data, insights, and consulting company specializing in understanding consumer behavior and brand performance across the complete consumer journey.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Combination of subscription services for ongoing brand tracking and project-based pricing for custom research initiatives.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact Kantar for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Fortune 500 companies with substantial research budgets focused on brand strategy and consumer behavior analysis.
Qualtrics is an experience management platform offering survey research capabilities, customer feedback collection, and employee engagement measurement.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Subscription-based tiers ranging from basic survey tools to enterprise experience management suites.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact Qualtrics for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Organizations with internal research teams needing flexible survey capabilities and mid-market companies requiring cost-effective research solutions.
GfK is a German market research company providing consumer insights, retail measurement, and market intelligence across consumer goods, retail, and technology sectors.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Custom project pricing with subscription options for ongoing tracking services.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact GfK for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Consumer goods companies operating in European markets and retailers requiring point-of-sale insights.
Mintel provides market intelligence combining consumer research, trend analysis, and competitive intelligence to help brands understand market dynamics and consumer behavior.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Subscription-based access to market intelligence reports with custom research project options.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact Mintel for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Product development teams needing market context and trend insights for innovation planning.
Euromonitor provides global market research and business intelligence across industries, helping companies understand market opportunities and consumer trends worldwide.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Subscription-based access to market research database with custom consulting project options.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact Euromonitor for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Companies planning their international expansion and organizations who need allround global market intelligence.
Suzy is a consumer insights platform providing real-time feedback collection and rapid market research capabilities for fast-moving consumer goods and retail brands.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Pay-per-response model with subscription options for ongoing research programs.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact Suzy for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
Agile product teams needing quick validation and brands requiring rapid consumer feedback loops.
dscout specializes in ethnographic research and diary studies, providing deep behavioral insights through mobile-first research methodologies.
Services & capabilities
Pricing model
Project-based pricing determined by study length, participant requirements, and methodology complexity.
Project details
(Estimates based on company research - contact dscout for exact details)
Pros & Cons
Who's it for?
UX teams and brands needing deep behavioral understanding of consumer interactions and usage patterns.
Traditional market research companies excel at tracking market trends, measuring brand awareness, and providing competitive intelligence. But if you're developing or improving physical products—whether that's a new snack formulation, personal care routine, or household cleaning solution—you need research that captures authentic usage behavior, not just consumer opinions.
Highlight bridges this gap by specializing in authentic in-home usage testing for CPG brands. While other companies survey consumers about hypothetical scenarios, Highlight ships actual products to real consumers' homes and observes how they integrate into daily routines. This approach reveals insights that traditional surveys miss—like how a morning skincare routine actually works in a busy household, or which snack flavors hold up to repeated consumption.
Understanding different types of market research will help you evaluate which company's capabilities align with your research objectives. Whether you need primary market research for product development or secondary research for market analysis, the right partner makes all the difference.
Ready to see how authentic product testing can transform your development process? Explore comprehensive market research analysis or discover how to write your own effective market research questions that will get you meaningful insights.