Is Microsoft Forms better than Cognito Forms?

Microsoft Forms ranks higher in our list of form and survey builders (#5 against #6, score 84.0 against 83.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Cognito Forms is best for: small offices that want forms with approval steps. Microsoft Forms is best for: quizzes and surveys for Microsoft 365 users.

Which is cheaper, Cognito Forms or Microsoft Forms?

Cognito Forms: Free Individual plan with 100 entries a month; paid plans from $24 a month. Microsoft Forms: Free survey tool; sign in with a Microsoft account.

Do Cognito Forms and Microsoft Forms run on the same platforms?

Cognito Forms supports Web. Microsoft Forms supports Web.

Comparison · Form and survey builders

Cognito Forms vs Microsoft Forms: which is better in 2026?

Cognito Forms83.5#6 in best form and survey builders

Microsoft Forms84.0#5 in best form and survey builders

Microsoft Forms ranks higher in our list of form and survey builders (#5 against #6, score 84.0 against 83.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.

How we rank Share

83.5
Editorial score
84.0
1
Platforms
1
Yes
Free to use
Yes
No
Open source
No

Which should you choose?

Choose Cognito Forms if you want

Small offices that want forms with approval steps.

Forms with approvals, file uploads and document generation, with sign-up free through Google, Microsoft or email. Feature limits and paid tiers need checking before a rollout, and it is more setup than Google Forms.

Choose Microsoft Forms if you want

Quizzes and surveys for Microsoft 365 users.

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.

The main differences

Cognito Forms is free plan, paid upgrades; Microsoft Forms is free.

Side by side

	Cognito Forms	Microsoft Forms
Score	83.5	84.0
Rank in list	#6 of 11	#5 of 11
Price	Free plan, paid upgradesFree Individual plan with 100 entries a month; paid plans from $24 a month	FreeFree survey tool; sign in with a Microsoft account
Free to use	Yes	Yes
Open source	No	No
Platforms	WebWeb	WebWeb
Made by	Not stated	Microsoft
Self-hosted option	No	No
Collects payments	Yes	No
Where responses are stored	Vendor cloud	Microsoft cloud, Excel export
Best for	Small offices that want forms with approval steps	Quizzes and surveys for Microsoft 365 users
Strengths	Approvals and document generation Government and industry templates	Free survey and quiz tool from Microsoft Responses export to Excel Quizzes with automatic scoring
Limits	Plan limits need checking before rollout More setup than Google Forms	Fewer design and analysis options than paid tools Requires a Microsoft account to sign in
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about Cognito Forms vs Microsoft Forms

Is Microsoft Forms better than Cognito Forms?: Microsoft Forms ranks higher in our list of form and survey builders (#5 against #6, score 84.0 against 83.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Cognito Forms is best for: small offices that want forms with approval steps. Microsoft Forms is best for: quizzes and surveys for Microsoft 365 users.
Which is cheaper, Cognito Forms or Microsoft Forms?: Cognito Forms: Free Individual plan with 100 entries a month; paid plans from $24 a month. Microsoft Forms: Free survey tool; sign in with a Microsoft account.
Do Cognito Forms and Microsoft Forms run on the same platforms?: Cognito Forms supports Web. Microsoft Forms supports Web.