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Top 17 Market Research Companies in the US (2025)

Top 17 Market Research Companies in the US (2025)

The US continues to set the global standard for market research innovation, with a vibrant landscape of established agencies and fast-rising boutiques leading the way in 2025. As brands face a changing consumer landscape, digital disruption, and secular industry shifts, demand for insightful, reliable, and fast market intelligence has never been higher. The challenge: finding a partner that not only supplies rich consumer insights, but also leverages the latest technologies and methodologies to turn raw data into actionable strategy. In this comprehensive review of the top market research companies in the US, we draw from recent data, case studies, and expert opinion to showcase the very best US research and analytics firms making an impact in retail, tech, healthcare, and beyond. Whether you’re a CMO, product manager, or entrepreneur, you’ll discover the options and insights needed to upgrade your own market research approach for sustained competitive advantage.

Introduction to US Market Research Companies

The US market research industry generated over $47 billion in revenue in 2024, accounting for about 40% of total global spend (Statista). With Fortune 500 companies and rising-scale-ups alike investing in sophisticated consumer insights, leading market research firms in the USA have become deeply embedded as strategic partners. Agencies here offer a full suite of research services—from survey research and focus groups, to real-time analytics platforms, digital behavior tracking, and tailored industry panels. Their expertise covers qualitative and quantitative methods, serving sectors as diverse as retail, finance, technology, healthcare, and FMCG.

Cutting-edge US research and analytics firms also differentiate themselves by embracing new technologies: mobile research tools, automated fieldwork, and AI-driven reporting are fast becoming the norm. As a result, the US market is not just the largest but also the most dynamic, with firms capable of delivering both depth and agility—an essential combination for today’s decision-makers.

Why Market Research is Essential in 2025

Business environments in 2025 move faster than ever before. Companies must stay closely attuned to consumer sentiment, industry trends, and competitor activity. Here’s why working with the best US market research agencies is indispensable:

  • Navigate Economic Volatility: Data-driven decisions help brands mitigate risk amid economic uncertainty and rapidly shifting demand.
  • Capture New Opportunities: Consumer insights reveal evolving pain points and needs, enabling first-mover advantage.
  • Optimize Product & Service Strategies: In-depth analytics inform feature prioritization and Go-To-Market plans across new and mature categories.
  • Enhance Customer Experience (CX): Continuous feedback loops—powered by advanced survey and panel tools—drive improvements in loyalty and engagement.
  • Stay Ahead of Trends: Leading agencies deliver trend forecasting and scenario planning, empowering clients to anticipate change rather than just react to it.

With 68% of Fortune 500 companies relying on external agencies for at least one major research project in 2024 (Exploding Topics), infusing external expertise and benchmarking fosters a fresh, competitive edge.

The Top 17 Market Research Companies in the US (2025)


Overview and Selection Criteria


The following companies were selected based on a combination of:

  • Reputation and longevity in the industry
  • Caliber of client portfolio (including leading US and global brands)
  • Methodological innovation and tech adoption (digital, mobile, automation)
  • Service breadth (qualitative, quantitative, analytics, custom panels, etc.)
  • Proven results and industry recognition between 2023–2025

Firm Profiles


Research America, Inc

Clients: eBay, Casio, American Airlines
With expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research, Research America stands out for its custom-tailored studies and agile fieldwork capabilities. Known for rapid deployment of multi-method studies, it supports Fortune 500s and challengers alike with everything from path-to-purchase mapping to innovation pipeline testing.

BrandIQ

Clients: Energizer, TGI Fridays, Airbnb
This agency blends rigorous research design with creative brand strategy consulting. BrandIQ is lauded for integrating behavioral analytics with attitudinal insights—helping CX teams and marketers better understand emotional drivers in tough-to-penetrate demographics.

InterQ Research

Clients: Salesforce, Google, Delta Airlines
InterQ specializes in B2B and B2C qualitative research, excelling at focus groups, in-depth interviews, and consumer ethnographies. Their proprietary digital communities facilitate rich longitudinal engagement, ensuring nuanced insights in fast-moving markets.

BlueLabel

Clients: Consumer Reports, Google
One of the top digital-first agencies, BlueLabel pairs advanced survey design with mobile-friendly methodologies and real-time analytics dashboards. They are recognized for their work in retail, e-commerce, and tech, using data to optimize user journeys and conversion funnels.

Attrock

Clients: HubSpot, SemRush
Attrock brings deep digital and automation expertise, particularly in content-driven sectors. Their hybrid approach combines AI-enabled automated research tools with hands-on consulting, enabling fast, actionable consumer insights and campaign effectiveness measurement.

Harris Insights & Analytics

Clients: Major US CPG and financial service brands
Industry veteran renowned for The Harris Poll, providing authoritative trackers and public opinion studies, with strengths in predictive analytics and longitudinal data.

GfK North America

Clients: Global retail, tech, and health brands
Full-service giant excelling in audience panel management, omnichannel analytics, and advanced segmentation, with extensive US and international reach.

NielsenIQ

Clients: Leading FMCG, retail, and ad/commerce companies
Known for its unparalleled retail and media measurement capabilities, NielsenIQ delivers syndicated and custom research driving go-to-market and media optimizations for both legacy and digital-first brands.

Kantar

Clients: Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Unilever
Kantar offers end-to-end brand, shopper, and innovation research, grounded in massive data assets and proprietary tech platforms serving every US region and category.

Dynata

Clients: Automotive, pharma, consumer tech
With one of the world’s largest first-party data sets, Dynata excels at digital surveys, tracking, and audience profiling for campaign and programmatic measurement.

Forrester Research

Clients: Technology leaders, fast-growth startups
Forrester’s US arm is especially strong in B2B, offering deep trend forecasting, customer experience benchmarking, and bespoke strategy insights for digital transformation.

Westat

Clients: US government, education, health organizations
A leader in academic and social research, Westat specializes in large-scale survey research, complex data analytics, and program evaluation for public and private clients.

Gallup

Clients: Education, policy, HR, enterprise Best known for its global opinion surveys and strengths in organizational analytics, Gallup brings powerful benchmarking resources across employee and consumer research.

Ipsos North America

Clients: Major automotive, consumer, and financial entities
Ipsos offers custom and syndicated studies, excelling in shopper research, ad and content effectiveness, and sentiment analytics with robust panels and AI tools.

Edelman Data & Intelligence (DxI)

Clients: Fortune 200, nonprofits, healthcare, and more
Part of the famed Edelman network, DxI leverages advanced analytics for brand health, media impact, and audience insights in complex stakeholder environments.

LRW Group

Clients: CPG, retail, entertainment, services
LRW (now part of Material+) is known for behavioral science-based research, holistic analytics, and agile new product concept testing across Fortune 500s and growth brands.

Phoenix Marketing International

Clients: Financial, healthcare, automotive
This specialist delivers best-in-class ad tracking, brand health measurement, and customer experience research in highly regulated and complex markets.

Burke, Inc.

Clients: FMCG, tech, financial services
Burke is respected for custom quantitative research, advanced survey design, and robust data analytics integrating classic and next-gen methodologies for actionable business impact.

The market research industry in 2025 is being reshaped by several transformative shifts:

  • Digital, Mobile, and Automation Boom: Platforms enabling survey creation, distribution, and analytics (like PollPe) are fueling a 15% annual growth in automation-driven research. Mobile-first and QR-enabled tools ensure feedback is collected in-the-moment and at scale.
  • Real-Time Insights and Dashboards: Custom dashboards and live reporting are now standard, empowering business leaders to act on current data, not last quarter’s trends.
  • Panel Diversity and Hyper-Segmentation: Agencies are expanding panel diversity and leveraging AI to create hyper-targeted segments, improving representativeness and relevance for niche B2B and B2C audiences.
  • AI and Predictive Analytics: More agencies are integrating AI for survey generation, text analytics, and forecasting, reducing time-to-insight and surfacing deeper patterns in consumer behavior.
  • Integration with CX and Loyalty Programs: Market research is increasingly embedded into ongoing CX programs, helping brands close the feedback loop and link insight to action. Reward-based feedback tools (such as PollPe) are especially effective for driving participation and enhancing data quality.

Post-pandemic, there has also been a marked shift toward “always-on” research—less reliance on one-off studies, and more programs designed for continuous learning and rapid iteration.

How to Choose the Right Market Research Partner

Selecting a market research firm in the USA can be daunting, but the following steps ensure a strategic fit:

  1. Define your objectives: Are you validating a new product, understanding customer loyalty, or benchmarking competitors? Choose an agency with clear expertise in your desired area.
  2. Assess methodologies: Look for firms comfortable with both qualitative (in-depth interviews, focus groups) and quantitative (surveys, analytics) approaches, as well as emerging technology-powered solutions.
  3. Check client portfolios and case studies: A firm’s track record with brands similar to yours signals their ability to deliver sector-relevant insight.
  4. Prioritize flexibility and tech integration: In 2025, your provider should offer mobile, digital, and real-time capabilities—enabling survey distribution across email, QR, social, and more.
  5. Consider cultural alignment: Strong partnerships result from transparent communication, shared values, and a client-first mindset—qualities found in trusted agencies and feedback solutions like PollPe.

Boutique vs. full-service firm: Boutiques often offer greater agility and a more hands-on approach, while full-service firms provide scale, global reach, and access to larger proprietary data sets. Your choice should reflect your organization’s needs for speed, technology, and industry specialization.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What services do top US market research agencies offer in 2025?
    Modern agencies provide a spectrum of services, including: custom survey research, mobile fieldwork, consumer and B2B panels, predictive analytics, focus group moderation (both in-person and remote), competitor benchmarking, and advanced trend forecasting. Many offer ongoing CX or loyalty research programs, integrating with platforms like PollPe for scalable feedback collection and analytics.
  • How have market research trends shifted post-pandemic?
    The pandemic catalyzed a move to digital and mobile research, as remote work and omnichannel commerce accelerated the need for real-time, location-agnostic insights. Agencies invested in automation, AI, and digital communities to reduce turnaround times and foster continuous engagement.
  • What are the advantages of working with a boutique vs. full-service market research firm?
    Boutique firms generally provide more tailored service and niche expertise, while full-service agencies offer large-scale analytics, benchmarking, and access to global resources. Many leading brands blend both, using boutiques for agile projects and full-service agencies for major initiatives.

Conclusion

The US market research scene in 2025 is driven by relentless innovation and a renewed focus on actionable consumer insight. These top 17 market research companies are shaping the future by leveraging cutting-edge tools, advanced analytics, and creative methodologies to help brands unlock growth and retain a competitive edge. As always, the right partner should blend sector expertise with digital agility—qualities consistently delivered by the leading agencies and by tech-forward feedback platforms like PollPe. For business leaders, product teams, and researchers aiming to drive results, aligning with proven research partners and enabling technology is the shortcut to smarter, faster, and more impactful decision-making.