Owner Versus Admin: What Each Role Can and Cannot Do

Overview

Owner and Admin look similar day to day — both manage surveys, members, and settings. The difference shows up around billing and authority.

The difference

	Owner	Admin
Build and field surveys	✓	✓
Manage members and settings	✓	✓
Change the plan / billing	✓	✗ (billing is Owner-level)
Grant the Owner role	✓	✗
Position in hierarchy	Highest	Second

Why the authority rule matters

You can only invite or promote someone at or below your own level. So an Admin can create Researchers, Analysts, and Viewers — but cannot mint another Owner, and cannot promote themselves. That's what stops role escalation.

Tips

Tip: Keep at least two people who can act on the account, but don't hand out Owner freely. Admin covers everything operational; reserve Owner for whoever is actually responsible for the subscription.

Note: Both Owner and Admin consume a full builder seat. Making someone an Admin purely so they can "see everything" is an expensive way to grant read access — use Viewer.

Related articles

• Understanding the Six Workspace Roles in Surveti — all six roles
• Changing a Team Member's Role After Invitation — promote or demote
• Upgrading Your Plan and How Prorated Billing Works — an Owner action