From biotech startups in Torrey Pines to craft breweries in North Park, San Diego businesses rely on solid consumer insights to guide their decisions. The city has some well-establised traditional local agencies and modern research companies, each with their own expertise.

While these San Diego research firms provide valuable face-to-face services and local expertise, today’s businesses often need faster, more scalable ways to gather insights. Many companies find themselves asking whether the traditional agency model still fits their needs.

Attest approaches market research differently. Rather than maintaining physical offices, we’ve built a technology platform that delivers consumer insights quickly and efficiently. While we don’t have a storefront in San Diego, our solution offers something different: the ability to gather data from millions of consumers, analyze it instantly, and make decisions faster. Wherever you are, and whenever you need it.

Our technology-driven approach means San Diego businesses can access insights from 125 million consumers across global markets, all while maintaining the expert support you’d expect from a top-tier research agency.

For businesses weighing their options, San Diego offers numerous established research firms with proven track records. This article explores both local traditional agencies and Attest as an alternative, helping you find the right partner for your needs—whether you’re conducting advertising research, testing new concepts, or analyzing market opportunities.

TL;DR – Market research companies San Diego

Company	Top features and rvices	G2 / Google Ratings
Attest	Brand tracking, consumer profiling, market analysis, creative testing, campaign measurement, product development research	G2: 4.5/5(145 reviews)
Stitch Marketing Research	Digital ethnography, focus groups, strategic analysis, market landscape reporting, concept testing, research strategy consulting	Google: 5.0(1 review)
Luth Research	Customer journey mapping, behavioral tracking (ZQ Intelligence®), online surveys, data analytics, telephone interviews	Google: 4.1 (38 reviews)
Competitive Edge Research & Communication	Public opinion polling, market analysis, voter behavior studies, strategic communication consulting, custom research design	Google: 3.4(45 reviews)
CIC Research	Survey research, program evaluation, economic impact studies, statistical analysis, market feasibility studies	Google: 4.2(14 reviews)
Culturati Research	Multicultural consumer insights, brand strategy, cultural trend analysis, cross-cultural marketing consulting	Google: 3.7(6 reviews)
Taylor Research	Participant recruitment, focus group facility rental, project management, healthcare research recruitment, B2B recruitment	Google: 4.3(79 reviews)

Top market research companies in San Diego

1. Attest – Best for fast, reliable consumer and market insights

Attest revolutionizes market research through an innovative combination of advanced platform and expert research support.

As a leading market research company serving businesses across California and beyond, Attest’s platform enables companies to gather insights across multiple markets simultaneously – perfect for organizations looking to understand differences between cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, or comparing consumer behavior across states.

“In order to get into the nuance behind some of these purchasing and behavioral choices, we ran a custom study to showcase Reddit’s unique influence. From programming to analysis, the multi-market feature saved valuable time and unlocked easier to spot insights between the different markets. We were able to easily identify where our US messaging scales across our smaller markets“

Marissa Bell, Marketing & International Head, Global Insights, Reddit

Location and reach

While not a traditional market research agency with physical offices in San Diego CA, Attest’s platform provides unparalleled access to 150+ million consumers across 59 countries. This extensive reach allows companies to gather insights from specific regions while maintaining the ability to compare results across multiple markets seamlessly.

Top services

Our suite of research services includes:

• Multi-market research capabilities that allow businesses to compare consumer behavior across different cities, states, or countries through a single dashboard
• Advanced brand tracking systems that monitor your market position with side-by-side comparison of different regions
• In-depth consumer profiling capabilities that help marketing agencies understand target audience behaviors across various locations
• Sophisticated market analysis tools that identify opportunities for revenue growth with market-specific insights
• Creative testing solutions that evaluate digital marketing campaigns across different geographical areas
• Project management tools that streamline multi-market research initiatives
• Automated analysis features that make cross-market comparison intuitive and actionable

Platform features

Attest’s platform stands out with unique capabilities:

• Side-by-side results viewing for easy market comparison
• Ability to draft and analyze surveys in English while gathering responses in multiple languages
• Customizable answer options for specific markets
• Real-time results dashboard with advanced filtering capabilities
• Expert support team providing guidance throughout your research journey

Pricing overview

Get a custom quote on request. Read more about your pricing options with Attest.

Customer feedback

On G2 Attest receives 4.5 out of 5 starts, alongside this review of a verified user: ”My reps were superb. They were attentive, helpful, efficient, and easily accessible. They were there every step of the way, from strategizing the best approach to a top to survey quality checks. They made my job a whole lot easier.”

2. Stitch Marketing Research – Best for human-centered research services

As one of the leading market research companies in San Diego CA, Stitch Marketing Research, founded in 2007, has spent over 15 years delivering extensive marketing research services through human-centered methodologies. Their small team of approximately 10 employees combines traditional market research with innovative digital strategy solutions, serving businesses throughout San Diego California and beyond.

Location and reach

Headquartered in San Diego with nationwide capabilities, Stitch Marketing Research conducts studies across multiple markets while maintaining strong expertise in the local San Diego market, including areas from Chula Vista to Rancho Santa Fe.

Top services

Their research services include:

• Advanced digital ethnography studies that help marketing agencies understand consumer behavior
• Professional focus group facilitation delivering qualitative research insights for informed decisions
• Full-service research strategy consulting that transforms data collection into revenue growth
• Market analysis and research services tailored for small businesses and enterprise clients
• Content marketing assessment and digital marketing evaluation services
• Project management solutions for complex research initiatives

Pricing overview

Custom pricing based on research scope and business objectives.

3. Luth Research – Best for digital behavior analysis and marketing strategy

Established in 1977, Luth Research stands among the top market research agencies in San Diego, revolutionizing research services through their in-house ZQ Intelligence® technology. Their team of 201-500 employees combines traditional market research firms’ expertise with advanced digital services.

Location and reach

Based in San Diego CA, with extensive capabilities serving clients from San Francisco to South Carolina, while maintaining strong roots in the San Diego California market.

Top services

Their market research services include:

• Sophisticated customer journey mapping for marketing agencies and direct clients
• Advanced behavioral tracking informing digital strategy and website traffic analysis
• Custom market analysis solutions for business needs across industries
• Data collection and analysis supporting revenue growth initiatives
• Full-service market research for companies in San Diego
• Marketing solutions that combine research and strategic implementation

Pricing overview

Customized pricing based on project scope and research requirements.

4. Competitive Edge Research & Communication – Best for public opinion and market research

Since 1987, Competitive Edge Research & Communication has established itself among the premier market research companies in San Diego, specializing in public opinion polling and robust market analysis. Their expertise serves marketing agencies and businesses seeking deep insights into consumer behavior and public sentiment.

Location and reach

Operating from their San Diego CA headquarters, they conduct research throughout California and nationwide, serving clients from small businesses to large corporations.

Top services

Their research services include:

• Advanced public opinion polling informing marketing strategies and business objectives
• Multifaceted market analysis supporting revenue growth initiatives
• Behavioral research informing digital marketing campaigns
• Strategic communication consulting for content marketing optimization
• Custom research design supporting lead generating agency needs
• Data collection and analysis for informed decisions

Pricing overview

Project pricing varies based on scope and complexity.

5. CIC Research – Best for economic impact studies and market analysis

A stalwart among market research agencies in San Diego since 1965, CIC Research combines traditional research methodology with modern digital services. Their expertise serves companies throughout San Diego California seeking broad market research solutions.

Location and reach

Based in San Diego with extensive experience throughout Southern California, serving clients from Rancho Santa Fe to Chula Vista.

Top services

Their research services include:

• Advanced survey design supporting marketing strategy development
• Economic impact studies informing business objectives
• Project management for complex research initiatives
• Statistical analysis supporting revenue growth strategies
• Market feasibility studies for small businesses
• Full-service marketing research solutions

Pricing overview

Tailored pricing based on research scope and methodology requirements.

6. Culturati Research – Best for multicultural marketing research

Culturati Research was founded in 2004 to help businesses understand diverse market segments through a range of research services. Their team of approximately 21 employees particularly serves marketing agencies and companies seeking insights into multicultural markets.

Location and reach

San Diego presence with expertise spanning markets across California and nationwide, supporting both local and national market research needs.

Top services

Their specialized research services include:

• Multicultural consumer insights informing digital marketing strategies
• Brand development research supporting marketing solutions
• Cultural trend analysis for content marketing optimization
• Integrated qualitative research methodologies
• Market research supporting revenue growth initiatives
• Custom research services for diverse business needs

Pricing overview

Custom pricing structures based on project requirements and research scope.

7. Taylor Research – Best for qualitative research services

Operating since 1957, Taylor Research has established itself among the leading market research firms in San Diego, specializing in participant recruitment and focus group facilitation. Their services support marketing agencies and businesses throughout San Diego CA.

Location and reach

Centrally located in San Diego California with nationwide capabilities, serving clients from small businesses to enterprise organizations.

Top services

Their services include:

• Professional research participant recruitment supporting marketing research
• State-of-the-art focus group facilities for qualitative research
• Project management supporting digital strategy initiatives
• Healthcare and B2B research services
• Data collection supporting informed decisions
• Custom research solutions for business objectives

Pricing overview

Custom quotes based on project requirements and research needs.

Why choose Attest for your market research needs

When selecting a market research agency in San Diego or beyond, it’s crucial to consider how quickly and effectively you can gather actionable insights. Attest offers several unique advantages that set us apart from traditional marketing research firms:

1. Unmatched speed to insights – receive an in-depth market analysis in days rather than weeks
2. Access to a broader consumer base than traditional research agencies in San Diego
3. Advanced analytics supporting digital marketing and content marketing initiatives
4. Dedicated research expertise and project management support
5. Cost-effective solutions with transparent pricing for businesses of all sizes

Looking for market research companies in other locations? Check out our other regional guides:

• Top market research agencies in Los Angeles
• Top market research agencies across the US
• Top market research agencies in Boston
• Best market research companies in Houston