When to use it
Use NPS as a relationship metric on a recurring cycle, such as quarterly or twice a year, to track loyalty trends across your customer base. It also works as a transactional pulse after major milestones like onboarding completion, renewal, or a significant support resolution. Run it when you want a simple, comparable number to share with leadership and to benchmark against competitors and industry standards.
How it is measured
Scores of 9 to 10 are promoters, 7 to 8 are passives, and 0 to 6 are detractors. NPS equals the percentage of promoters minus the percentage of detractors; passives are excluded from the calculation. The result is a whole number between minus 100 and plus 100. For example, 50 percent promoters and 20 percent detractors gives an NPS of plus 30. Track the trend and always read the follow-up comments to understand what is driving it.
Recommended questions
1
How likely are you to recommend us to a friend or colleague?
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2
What is the main reason for the score you gave?
comment
3
Which part of your experience influenced your score the most?
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4
What is one thing we could do to improve your experience?
comment
5
How long have you been a customer?
radiogroup
6
May we contact you to follow up on your feedback?
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7
Overall, how satisfied are you with us today?
rating
Frequently asked questions
Any score above zero means you have more promoters than detractors, which is a positive sign. Scores above 30 are generally considered good, above 50 excellent, and above 70 world-class. However, benchmarks vary dramatically by industry; a great NPS in insurance may be average in software. The most useful comparison is your own score over time and against direct competitors. Focus on steadily converting detractors and passives into promoters rather than chasing a single universal target number.
The classic NPS survey is just two questions: the 0-to-10 likelihood-to-recommend rating, followed by an open-ended why. This minimalism is the format's biggest strength and drives high completion rates. You can add a few optional follow-ups, such as a satisfaction rating or a segmentation question, but keep the total under five to avoid eroding response rates. The rating question must always come first and should never be altered, so your scores stay comparable over time and against benchmarks.
For relational NPS that tracks overall loyalty, surveying each customer once a quarter or twice a year is typical, with a rolling sample so you always have fresh data without over-surveying anyone. For transactional NPS tied to a specific event, trigger it after the interaction but cap how often any individual is asked. Maintain a cooldown of at least 30 to 90 days between requests to the same person. Consistent timing matters more than frequency, because it keeps your trend line meaningful and comparable.
Promoters score 9 or 10; they are loyal enthusiasts who fuel growth through referrals and repeat business. Passives score 7 or 8; they are satisfied but unenthusiastic and vulnerable to competitors. Detractors score 0 to 6; they are unhappy and can damage your brand through negative word of mouth. The score only counts promoters and detractors, but passives still matter: nudging them toward promoter status is often the fastest way to lift your NPS, since they already have a generally positive view.