How to export survey data from Refiner to Google Sheets

If you’re running surveys in Refiner and need to get that data into Google Sheets, you’re in the right place. Maybe your boss wants a chart, maybe you’re wrangling numbers for a team meeting, or maybe you just can’t stand looking at one more dashboard. Whatever the reason, moving survey responses from Refiner to Google Sheets can be smooth—or a little clunky—depending on how you do it.

This guide is for anyone who’d rather spend time acting on survey data than fighting with exports and integrations. I’ll walk through the straightforward methods, call out the gotchas, and point out what to skip. No fluff, just the steps and real-world advice.

Step 1: Decide How Often You Need Data in Sheets

First, figure out if this is a one-off export or if you want data to flow into Sheets automatically.

One-time or occasional exports: If you just need a snapshot now and then, a manual export will do.
Live sync or frequent updates: If you want your Google Sheet to always have the latest survey responses, you’ll need to set up an integration (with tools like Zapier or Make).

Pro tip: Don’t overcomplicate things. Unless you’re running surveys constantly, manual exports are usually less hassle.

Step 2: Manual Export from Refiner

If you just want the data out—fast—Refiner has a built-in export feature. Here’s how to do it:

2.1 Download Your Survey Data

Log into Refiner.
Go to the survey you want to export data from.
Look for the “Responses” or “Results” section—this is where your survey responses live.
You’ll see an “Export” or “Download” button (usually at the top right or in a dropdown menu).
Click it and choose your preferred format. Refiner exports usually come as CSV or XLSX files. Pick CSV if you’re not sure—Google Sheets handles it just fine.
Save the file to your computer.

Heads up: The exported file will include all visible responses, often filtered by your current selection. Double-check that you’re exporting the set you want (e.g., all responses, not just this week’s).

2.2 Import the Data into Google Sheets

Open Google Sheets.
Go to File > Import.
Choose “Upload” and pick the CSV file you just downloaded.
Decide whether to create a new sheet, insert into an existing one, or replace the current sheet.
Click “Import data.”

Done. Your survey data is now in Sheets, ready for you to slice, dice, and chart as you like.

What works about this method

It’s quick and reliable. No integrations to break.
You control what gets exported. Filters in Refiner let you pick which responses to include.
No extra tools needed.

What doesn’t work

No automation. You have to repeat these steps every time you want fresh data.
Formatting quirks. Sometimes CSV files don’t play nice with Google Sheets (e.g., weird date formats or extra columns). Usually fixable, but annoying.

Step 3: Automated Sync Using Zapier

If you need survey responses to show up in Google Sheets as they come in, you’ll want automation. Zapier is the most common way to do this, but it’s not perfect.

3.1 Set Up the Zap

Sign up for Zapier (if you haven’t already).
Click “Create Zap.”
Choose Refiner as the trigger app.
Trigger event: “New Survey Response.”
Connect your Refiner account. You’ll need your API key (find this in your Refiner account settings).
Set Google Sheets as the action app.
Action event: “Create Spreadsheet Row.”
Connect your Google account.
Pick the spreadsheet and worksheet where you want new responses to go.
Map the fields from Refiner to the correct columns in your sheet.
Test the Zap to make sure data shows up as expected.
Turn the Zap on.

3.2 What Works, What Doesn’t

Pros

Hands-off after setup. New survey responses appear in Sheets within minutes.
Customizable. You can add filters, send notifications, or branch into more complex workflows.

Cons

Zapier isn’t free. You’ll burn through Zapier’s free tier quickly if you get lots of responses.
Setup can be fiddly. Mapping fields is straightforward, but things break if you change your survey (like adding new questions).
Rate limits. If you get a surge of responses, Zapier may lag or skip some.

Pro tip: Keep your Sheets structure simple—don’t try to get fancy with formulas or layouts that move around. Zaps can’t handle shifting columns or headers.

Step 4: Alternative: Use Make (formerly Integromat)

Make is another automation tool that does what Zapier does, but sometimes cheaper and with more flexibility. The process is similar:

Create a scenario with Refiner as the trigger (“New Survey Response”).
Set Google Sheets as the action (add a row).
Map your fields.
Test and activate.

Honest take: Use Make if you’re already on it or Zapier is too pricey for your volume. For most people, the difference isn’t huge.

Step 5: Skip the “Google Sheets Add-ons” Hype

Some blog posts will tell you to use Google Sheets add-ons to “pull data directly from Refiner.” As of now, Refiner doesn’t have a first-party Sheets add-on. There are some generic CSV importers and API connectors, but they’re more hassle than help for this use case:

They rarely work out of the box. You’ll end up fiddling with API keys, endpoints, and custom scripting.
Little to no support. If it breaks, you’re on your own.
Possible data privacy headaches.

Unless you love debugging scripts, stick to the methods above.

Step 6: For Developers – Use the Refiner API (Advanced)

If you have coding chops and want full control, Refiner offers an API. This is overkill for most folks, but useful if you:

Need to pull data on a schedule not supported by other tools
Want to combine survey data with other sources
Have specialized formatting needs

How it works:

Use the Refiner API to fetch survey responses (see their docs for the GET /responses endpoint).
Write a script (Python, Google Apps Script, etc.) to fetch the data and write it into Google Sheets.
Schedule it (with cron jobs, Google Apps Script triggers, etc.) if you want it to run automatically.

Warning: This takes time to build and maintain. Only worth it if you have very specific needs.

Troubleshooting: Common Gotchas

Column mismatches: If you change your survey questions, your Sheets columns might not match anymore. Update your Zap/Make scenario or re-import.
Duplicate rows: Automations can sometimes create duplicates if there’s a hiccup. Google Sheets’ “Remove duplicates” feature can help.
Timezone weirdness: Dates and times may show up in UTC or another timezone. Adjust formatting as needed.
Data privacy: Be careful who has access to the Google Sheet, especially if you’re collecting sensitive info.

Keep It Simple, Iterate as Needed

Don’t get sucked into complicated setups. Most teams are fine with a manual export every week or two. Automate only if you really need it—and don’t trust any tool to “just work” forever. Check your Sheet from time to time to make sure data is still flowing.

Survey data’s only useful if it’s easy to access and act on. Start simple, improve as you go, and spend your time on what actually matters: learning from your users, not wrangling CSVs.