Many people love Google Forms because it is easy to use and free to build forms online which makes surveying your audience simple. However, its simplistic design and lack of features can make it difficult to customize to your exact data collection needs. If you are looking for an alternative to Google Forms that offers more flexibility without breaking the bank, check out these alternative online form builders.
1. Microsoft Forms
If the ultimate goal of your online form is data analytics, then you may prefer Microsoft Forms Through Google Forms. Whether you are surveying your co-workers on the topic of your next party across the company or seeking critical customer feedback to improve your products, Microsoft Forms can help you accomplish this task quickly. Microsoft Excel makes it easy to analyze data, and you can import your form data into Excel with just a few clicks.
Like most other Microsoft applications, Microsoft Forms is a free tool within any Office365 subscription. This means that Forms integrates easily with all other Microsoft applications, including the Stream Video Sharing Service.
To build a Microsoft form, simply log in to your Office365 account and drag the Forms app. From there, create a form from scratch or use one of Microsoft’s provided templates – it’s your choice. Once you’re done, you can easily share or embed a link on your website.
Unfortunately, similar to Google Forms, Microsoft Forms provides only a limited number of templates and design features. However, there are some other options that Google Forms does not offer, such as the Likert scale and Net Promoter Score formats.
Overall, if you want charts, automated reports, and the ability to perform deep analysis dives quickly with Excel, you may be willing to face the Microsoft Forms design limitations for your end result.
There are several ways to use Microsoft Office for free, and Microsoft Forms does One of the included apps. However, some features are not available for free, so you may need to fully explore them before making the switch.
Also read:6 ways you can use Microsoft Office for free
2. Jotform
Jotform Allows you to create online forms and PDF files that can be easily filled out. Its towing and release system makes shape creation simple. This means that even those with zero coding backgrounds can create a custom form that can be filled out in minutes.
Furthermore, you can get submissions directly in your inbox, integrate them into CRM, store them in your company’s cloud storage system, or easily import them into your brand’s email marketing platform.
Although Jotform offers a number of paid registration levels, many of the most prominent features of the online form builder are available for free. Once you sign up for an account, you can choose to create a form from scratch, use one of the more than 10,000 Jotform pre-made templates, or even import an existing form from a URL or PDF. In addition, you have the option to fully customize your form – an option not available with Google Forms.
One feature that really helps Jotform stand out is the conditional logic. Essentially, conditional logic defines specific parameters based on a user’s previous answers. This means that each respondent answers only the most relevant questions for his situation.
With conditional logic, you can set specific fields to hide or appear based on a previous answer, require users to detail their answer with additional text fields, or even program your form to complete calculations or add comments. Jotform includes conditional logic in their free version, while competitors like Typeform charge for this feature.
Jotform also offers many integration tools, which really helps it stand out from Google Forms. In total, Jotform offers integrations with over 100 apps, including Dropbox, Google Calendar and a number of payment collection systems.
Unfortunately, the free version of Jotform does limit you to a total of five active forms and 100 responses per month. However, you can cancel forms and create new forms at any time, and your 100-comment limit is reset at the beginning of each month, so it’s pretty easy to get around those two.
3. WPForms
If you are using WordPress as your site platform, then WPForms Is probably the best alternative to Google Forms for you. Although WPForms is technically just a simple WordPress plugin, the build builder forms and releases works just like most of the other offers on this list. However, the biggest positive for this is that you can easily integrate your forms into your WordPress site.
The free version of WPForms, WPForms Lite, lets you create unlimited forms and get unlimited responses, just like Google Forms. In addition, WPForms Lite allows you to add reCAPTCHA to your forms, which can help you avoid submitting cluttered spam.
The only downside to WPForms Lite is the limitations associated with receiving and storing your forms. That means you have to use the paid Pro version to store results in the WordPress dashboard or export your submission entries. While you can take the email results and manually add them to a spreadsheet or other location, being able to export and print all of your entries at once may save you time.
4. Type form
Type form Helps users build aesthetic call forms that are easy for respondents to fill out and submit. Many people say that the presentation on a single question that Typeform uses makes your audience feel more relaxed and involved. This format also makes it much more mobile friendly than Google Forms, which may get you more responses.
The Typeform workspace looks similar to that of a presentation app. The interface allows you to customize your online form as much as you want. In fact, you can completely edit the form design, choose a unique theme and change the layout of each individual question with a few clicks.
Unlike the other builders on this list, Typeform allows you to set a survey time limit and survey closing date. Plus, you can get emails for every comment or just combine your comments with third-party tools like Google Sheets, email marketing platforms and more.
There is no limit to the number of forms you can create with the free version of Typeform. However, there are limits on the number of questions you can create in the form and the number of answers you can get in a month. By and large, however, these limitations are nothing compared to the features you get.
5. Zoho Forms
Anyone who knows anything about Zoho knows that the company offers an impressive software package to help business owners carry out everything involved in running their business. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to anyone that Zoho offers an amazing alternative to Google Forms as well.
Zoho Forms Offers many form templates and many great customization options even with their free version. Like many other form builders on this list, Zoho Forms offers a drag and drop builder that makes it easy for you to add, remove and rearrange fields until you are satisfied with your form.
Furthermore, Zoho Forms includes conditional logic so that your respondents do not waste time on questions that are not relevant to them. It also provides seven-language survey construction, which can be great for those doing international surveys.
Like most of Zoho’s other business tools, Zoho Forms integrates with many other applications that your business may use, such as Salesforce, Zapier, Office365, or any of Zoho’s other business tools.
6. Survey legend
Survey Legend Helps users build compelling, custom surveys and free online forms. These forms can include unlimited questions and unlimited responses, and the SurveyLegend creation tool for dragging and dropping makes it easy to arrange the questions in any way you like. Plus, you can create forms online with your computer or tablet, and the forms are designed so that your respondents can easily fill them out with any device (including their smartphone).
SurveyLegend includes many free advanced features. It provides a total of 20 different question types, including slider scales, image selection, and Likert scales, none of which are available with Google Forms. In addition, SurveyLegend includes a number of advanced logic and branching features that can help you offer a completely individualized experience to each respondent.
Unfortunately, the free version of SurveyLegend comes with some limitations. For example, you can have only three active forms at a time. While you can delete forms you no longer use, this limit of three forms may not work for everyone.
Furthermore, SurveyLegend’s free subscription does not allow any kind of data export. This means you can see your results just by logging in to your SurveyLegend account. Although a variety of analytical tools are offered, the inability to export may not work for everyone.
Also read:How to delete files from Google Drive on mobile and PC
Common questions
1. Are there any free alternatives to Google Forms?
Yes, there are many online form builders available for free. However, not every form builder online offers every feature without a paid subscription. Before moving from Google Forms to another online form builder, you need to make a list of the features you need, and then research which form builders on this list will meet your needs.
2. Why do I need an alternative to Google Forms?
Although Google Forms builds great basic forms, it lacks many features that individuals or businesses may need. Depending on how you use online forms, you may need something with additional features.
Unfortunately, Google Forms offers very little in terms of customization. This means you will not always be able to tailor the form to meet the style and branding of your business. You may also want to use features like conditional logic, payment collection or application integration – none of which are available with Google Forms.
Which Google Forms alternative will meet your needs?
Although Google Forms is great for creating basic online forms and surveys, it lacks many features and customization tools. Fortunately, all six online form builders on this list offer free versions that take Google Forms out of the water. All the free alternatives to Google Forms included here are amazing tools for even the least savvy people in technology, so you really can not go wrong with any of them. If you make the transition from Google Forms, you may also want to delete files from your Google Drive.
Photo credit: Survey with a young woman holding a tablet computer By 123RF
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Megan Glosson is a freelance writer based in Nashville, TN. It is now published on more than a dozen websites, including Investopedia, Moms.com and The Mighty. Megan also serves as the content editor for Unwritten, a digital publication focusing on millennial lifestyles. You can learn more about Megan Glosson and watch writing examples on her website, http://meganglosson.com/.