{
    "slug": "form-and-survey-builders",
    "name": "Form and survey builders",
    "title": "Best Form and Survey Builders in 2026",
    "category": "business",
    "filter": null,
    "available_filters": [],
    "page": "https://listme.name/best/form-and-survey-builders",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/lists/form-and-survey-builders.json",
    "updated": "2026-10-10",
    "intro": "Form builders differ in where responses are stored, whether they take payments and how much logic they support. Google Forms and Microsoft Forms cover most simple surveys for free, while paid tools add branding, analytics and payments. LimeSurvey is the open-source choice for teams that want the data on their own server.",
    "criteria": [
        "Free plan and usage limits",
        "Logic and question types",
        "Payments and integrations",
        "Response data control",
        "Analysis and reporting"
    ],
    "specs": [
        {
            "key": "self_hosted",
            "label": "Self-hosted option",
            "type": "bool"
        },
        {
            "key": "payments",
            "label": "Collects payments",
            "type": "bool"
        },
        {
            "key": "data_location",
            "label": "Where responses are stored",
            "type": "text"
        }
    ],
    "how_to_choose": [
        {
            "point": "Where responses go",
            "detail": "Google Forms and Microsoft Forms write to a spreadsheet you already use; most other tools keep responses on their own servers."
        },
        {
            "point": "Payments",
            "detail": "Google Forms and Microsoft Forms do not collect payments; Tally, Jotform and Fillout do, as do Typeform and SurveyMonkey on their plans."
        },
        {
            "point": "Logic and branching",
            "detail": "Most tools here offer conditional logic, and survey platforms such as SurveyMonkey add advanced logic on higher tiers."
        },
        {
            "point": "Hosting control",
            "detail": "Only LimeSurvey runs on your own server; choose it when response data must stay within your organization."
        }
    ],
    "faq": [
        {
            "q": "What is the best free form builder?",
            "a": "Google Forms and Microsoft Forms are free for most simple surveys and export to spreadsheets. Tally is the stronger free choice for payments and logic, since its free plan includes unlimited forms and submissions."
        },
        {
            "q": "Which form builder is open source?",
            "a": "LimeSurvey is open source under GPL-2.0-or-later and runs on your own server. Its interface is more technical than the hosted tools, and the server and upgrades are the owner's job."
        },
        {
            "q": "Which form tools take payments?",
            "a": "Tally, Jotform, Fillout, Typeform and SurveyMonkey can collect payments on their plans. Google Forms and Microsoft Forms do not, so use a hosted form tool when payment is part of the form."
        },
        {
            "q": "Is SurveyMonkey worth paying for?",
            "a": "SurveyMonkey suits research teams that need advanced logic, statistical tools and AI analysis. Its free Basic plan works for a single survey, but its response cap and data deletion rule apply after a downgrade."
        }
    ],
    "entries": [
        {
            "rank": 1,
            "score": 92.5,
            "verdict": "Unlimited forms and submissions on the free plan, with logic, payments and signatures included. Branding removal needs Pro, and responses stay on Tally's servers, unlike Google Forms, which keeps them in a linked spreadsheet.",
            "best_for": "Free forms that need logic and payments",
            "spec": {
                "self_hosted": false,
                "payments": true,
                "data_location": "Tally's servers"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "tally",
                "name": "Tally",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://tally.so/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/tally",
                "tagline": "Free form builder with unlimited forms and submissions",
                "summary": "Tally is a web form builder with a block editor, unlimited forms and submissions on its free plan, and conditional logic, payments and signatures. Paid Pro and Business plans add branding removal and organization features.",
                "developer": "Tally",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free forever; Pro and Business plans add branding and features",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Unlimited forms and submissions on the free plan",
                    "Block editor with conditional logic",
                    "Payments and signatures inside forms"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Removing Tally branding needs Pro",
                    "Responses are stored on Tally's servers"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 2,
            "score": 89,
            "verdict": "The default free choice for simple surveys and sign-up forms, with responses written to Google Sheets. Its design options are plainer than Tally or Typeform, and it does not collect payments.",
            "best_for": "Simple surveys with results in Google Sheets",
            "spec": {
                "self_hosted": false,
                "payments": false,
                "data_location": "Google Sheets (linked)"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "google-forms",
                "name": "Google Forms",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://workspace.google.com/intl/en/products/forms/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/google-forms",
                "tagline": "Free online form and survey builder with Google Sheets responses",
                "summary": "Google Forms is a web-based form and survey builder from Google, with responses written to a linked Google Sheets spreadsheet. Forms are created with a Google Account and are part of Google Workspace.",
                "developer": "Google",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "free",
                "price_note": "Free with a Google Account; included in Google Workspace",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Free with a Google Account",
                    "Responses flow into Google Sheets",
                    "Simple to share by link or embed"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Limited design and branding options",
                    "No built-in payment collection"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 3,
            "score": 88,
            "verdict": "One-question-at-a-time forms with conditional logic, AI-assisted creation and a free plan to start. Paid plans cap responses and users each month, and form data is stored on Typeform's servers.",
            "best_for": "Conversational forms for leads and applications",
            "spec": {
                "self_hosted": false,
                "payments": true,
                "data_location": "Typeform's servers"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "typeform",
                "name": "Typeform",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.typeform.com/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/typeform",
                "tagline": "Conversational forms and surveys with AI form creation",
                "summary": "Typeform is a hosted form and survey builder known for showing one question at a time. It offers a free plan, paid Basic, Plus and Business plans, and an Enterprise plan with single sign-on and dedicated support.",
                "developer": "Typeform",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free plan; paid plans set by monthly responses and users",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "One-question-at-a-time form design",
                    "Conditional logic and webhooks on paid plans",
                    "AI-powered form creation"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Paid plans cap responses and users each month",
                    "Form data is stored on Typeform's servers"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 4,
            "score": 86.5,
            "verdict": "A large template library, payment processors and many integrations in one hosted builder, with a free plan. The interface offers many options and can feel busy, and paid tiers add responses and features.",
            "best_for": "Forms with payments, templates and app integrations",
            "spec": {
                "self_hosted": false,
                "payments": true,
                "data_location": "Jotform's servers"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "jotform",
                "name": "Jotform",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.jotform.com/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/jotform",
                "tagline": "Form builder with templates, online payments and integrations",
                "summary": "Jotform is a hosted online form builder with a large template library, online payment collection and integrations with apps such as Google Sheets and Salesforce. It offers a free plan, and paid plans add more responses and features.",
                "developer": "Jotform",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free plan; paid plans start at $19 per month",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Large library of form templates",
                    "Payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal",
                    "Integrations with Google Sheets and Salesforce"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Interface offers many options and can feel busy",
                    "Paid tiers add responses and features"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 5,
            "score": 84,
            "verdict": "Free quizzes and surveys from Microsoft, with responses in Excel and branching flows. It has fewer design and analysis options than paid tools and requires a Microsoft account to sign in.",
            "best_for": "Quizzes and surveys for Microsoft 365 users",
            "spec": {
                "self_hosted": false,
                "payments": false,
                "data_location": "Microsoft cloud, Excel export"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "microsoft-forms",
                "name": "Microsoft Forms",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://forms.cloud.microsoft/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/microsoft-forms",
                "tagline": "Free survey, quiz and form tool from Microsoft",
                "summary": "Microsoft Forms is a free, AI-assisted survey and quiz tool from Microsoft. It creates forms, surveys, quizzes and polls in a browser, and responses can be analyzed in Excel.",
                "developer": "Microsoft",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "free",
                "price_note": "Free survey tool; sign in with a Microsoft account",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Free survey and quiz tool from Microsoft",
                    "Responses export to Excel",
                    "Quizzes with automatic scoring"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Fewer design and analysis options than paid tools",
                    "Requires a Microsoft account to sign in"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 6,
            "score": 82.5,
            "verdict": "Unlimited forms on its free plan, with payments, scheduling, calculations and PDF output built in. The free plan caps responses at 1,000 a month, and responses stay on Fillout's servers.",
            "best_for": "Forms with calculations, bookings and PDF output",
            "spec": {
                "self_hosted": false,
                "payments": true,
                "data_location": "Fillout's servers"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "fillout",
                "name": "Fillout",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.fillout.com/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/fillout",
                "tagline": "Form builder with unlimited forms on its free plan",
                "summary": "Fillout is a hosted form builder with unlimited forms and seats on its free plan, which includes 1,000 responses a month. Paid Starter, Pro and Business plans add more responses and branding options, and the tool supports payments, scheduling and PDF output.",
                "developer": "Fillout",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free plan with 1,000 responses a month; paid plans add more",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Unlimited forms on the free plan",
                    "Payments, bookings and PDF output built in",
                    "Conditional logic and calculations included"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Free plan caps responses at 1,000 a month",
                    "Form data is stored on Fillout's servers"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 7,
            "score": 80,
            "verdict": "A survey platform for research teams, with advanced logic, statistical tools and AI analysis on higher tiers. Its free Basic plan caps responses per survey, and paid tiers are aimed at teams rather than casual forms.",
            "best_for": "Research surveys with analysis and reporting",
            "spec": {
                "self_hosted": false,
                "payments": true,
                "data_location": "SurveyMonkey's servers"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "surveymonkey",
                "name": "SurveyMonkey",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.surveymonkey.com/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/surveymonkey",
                "tagline": "Survey platform for research and feedback with analysis tools",
                "summary": "SurveyMonkey is a hosted survey platform for research, customer feedback and employee surveys. It has a free Basic plan for single surveys, and paid team and enterprise plans add advanced logic, statistical tools and AI analysis.",
                "developer": "SurveyMonkey",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free Basic plan; paid Team and Enterprise plans",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Advanced survey logic on higher tiers",
                    "Statistical and thematic analysis tools",
                    "Free Basic plan for a single survey"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Free Basic plan caps responses per survey",
                    "Advanced features sit on paid team tiers"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 8,
            "score": 74.5,
            "verdict": "Open-source survey software you run on your own server, with logic and layout controls and no vendor hosting. Setup, upgrades and backups need server skills, and the interface is more technical than the hosted tools.",
            "best_for": "Self-hosted surveys where data must stay in-house",
            "spec": {
                "self_hosted": true,
                "payments": false,
                "data_location": "Your own server"
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "limesurvey",
                "name": "LimeSurvey",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.limesurvey.org/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/limesurvey",
                "tagline": "Open-source survey software you run on your own server",
                "summary": "LimeSurvey is open-source survey software that runs on a server you control, with question types, logic and layout options. It is released under the GNU GPL and is developed by the LimeSurvey project team.",
                "developer": "LimeSurvey Project Team",
                "platforms": [
                    "web",
                    "self-hosted"
                ],
                "pricing": "open-source",
                "price_note": "Free open-source download; you run the server",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": true,
                "license": "GPL-2.0-or-later",
                "source": "https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey",
                "strengths": [
                    "Open-source under GPL-2.0 or later",
                    "Keeps response data on your own server",
                    "Many question types and logic options"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Setup and upgrades need server skills",
                    "Interface is more technical than hosted tools"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial, 0 to 100. Entries with product.connected_to_publisher true are made by or connected to the publisher and receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}