Top 8 alternatives to Microsoft Forms (paid and free) 2026
Last updated: April 2026. All pricing and features in this guide were verified directly from each platform's website in April 2026. Prices may change — we recommend checking each provider's pricing page before making a decision.
Microsoft Forms is included with Microsoft 365, works on any device, and handles basic surveys, quizzes, and polls with a clean, familiar interface. For organisations already in the Microsoft ecosystem, it is a practical starting point that requires no additional spend.
Its limits, however, are significant. The free personal account is capped at 200 responses. Question types are limited to eight. Branching logic is basic. There is no custom branding, no advanced analytics, no open-text analysis, no offline collection, and no dedicated customer support. And like Google Forms, all data is stored on US-based Microsoft infrastructure — a consideration for UK organisations operating under UK GDPR.
If you need more than Microsoft Forms provides, this guide covers eight alternatives — paid and free — with pricing verified in April 2026.
What you get with Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Forms supports basic survey creation using eight question types, 21 templates, and simple branching logic. Responses feed into Excel and integrate naturally with the Microsoft 365 suite. Real-time results and basic analytics are built in. Anonymous response collection is supported.
The free personal plan limits users to 400 surveys, 200 questions, and 200 responses. Upgrading to Microsoft 365 Personal (£5.99 per month or £59.99 per year) raises the response limit to 1,000. Microsoft 365 Apps for Business and Microsoft 365 Education plans support up to 5,000,000 responses. All data is stored on Microsoft's US-based infrastructure regardless of plan.
Pros
- Included with Microsoft 365 at no additional cost
- Clean, easy-to-use interface
- Seamless integration with Excel and Microsoft 365
- Real-time results and basic analytics
- Business plans support up to 5,000,000 responses
Cons
- Free personal plan limited to 200 responses
- Only eight question types
- Basic branching logic only
- No custom branding or white-labelling
- No advanced analytics or open-text analysis
- No offline collection mode
- No dedicated customer support
- Data stored on US-based Microsoft infrastructure
SmartSurvey
SmartSurvey is the UK's leading survey platform, trusted by over 500,000 users including the NHS, Cabinet Office, BAE Systems, the BBC, and Aldi. It covers the full feedback lifecycle — from survey creation with advanced logic and branching through to multichannel distribution and analysis with real-time dashboards, sentiment analysis, and AI-powered thematic analysis.
For UK organisations, the key differentiator over Microsoft Forms is data residency. All response data is stored and processed in the UK, which removes a significant compliance risk under UK GDPR that Microsoft Forms cannot address. The platform is also ISO 27001 certified, Cyber Essentials Plus accredited, and WCAG accessibility compliant.
The Advanced plan starts at £70 per month billed annually and includes 30,000 responses per year with no overage charges. The Growth plan (£100 per user per month billed annually) adds team features, thematic analysis, and cross-survey reporting. A free plan is available with no credit card required. A 14-day free trial is available on paid plans.
Why SmartSurvey stands out from Microsoft Forms
UK data storage: All response data is stored and processed in the UK. For organisations in healthcare, education, local government, or financial services, this removes a significant compliance risk that Microsoft Forms cannot address.
Sentiment and thematic analysis built in: Open-text responses are automatically scored for sentiment and grouped into themes. Microsoft Forms has no equivalent — data exports to Excel for manual analysis.
Cases — act on feedback, not just collect it: The Cases feature lets teams create follow-up actions directly from individual survey responses, closing the loop without switching tools.
AI translations: Surveys can be instantly translated into any language without manual effort — a significant advantage for organisations surveying multilingual audiences.
WCAG accessibility compliant: Surveys meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which is a legal requirement for many public sector and healthcare organisations.
Offline and kiosk collection: Responses can be collected without an internet connection — essential for field research, clinical settings, and events. Microsoft Forms requires connectivity.
Pros
- All data stored and processed in the UK
- Sentiment and thematic analysis built in from Advanced plan
- Cases feature for closing the feedback loop
- AI translations for instant multilingual surveys
- WCAG accessibility compliant
- Offline and kiosk survey collection
- Free plan with no credit card required
- 14-day free trial on paid plans
- No response overage charges on annual plans
Cons
- Advanced analysis features require a paid plan
- Platform interface is English-only
Qualtrics
Qualtrics is an enterprise experience management platform built for organisations with complex, high-volume research needs. It covers customer experience, employee experience, product, and brand research with over 100 question types, advanced statistical tools including conjoint and MaxDiff analysis, and enterprise integrations including SAP.
Its free account is limited to 500 total responses (lifetime) and three active surveys — not suitable for ongoing professional use. The only published paid tier is the Strategic Research plan at $420 per month billed annually, covering 1,000 responses across all users. All other plans require a sales conversation. Qualtrics is the specialist choice for organisations needing academic-grade research tools or regulated-industry compliance (HIPAA, FedRAMP) — not a practical step up from Microsoft Forms for most teams.
Pros
- Exceptional depth for complex and academic research
- Advanced statistical tools (conjoint, MaxDiff)
- Covers CX, EX, product and brand research in one platform
- HIPAA and FedRAMP compliance available
- Broad enterprise integrations including SAP
Cons
- No published pricing — business plans require a sales call
- High cost; most suitable for large enterprise budgets
- Significant learning curve
- AI analytics features are paid add-ons, not included as standard
- Data stored on US servers by default
Alchemer
Formerly known as SurveyGizmo, Alchemer is a mid-market survey platform with a strong emphasis on logic, customisation, and integration. Users can build highly adaptive surveys with complex branching, embed dynamic content including video and custom JavaScript, and connect responses to downstream systems via API and webhooks.
It is well suited to professional research teams and organisations running structured feedback programmes that need considerably more depth than Microsoft Forms allows. Reviewers consistently highlight its customer support quality. A seven-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
Individual and small team plans (up to three users) start at $55 per user per month on the Collaborator plan, rising to $165 per user per month for Professional and $275 per user per month for Full Access. Annual billing reduces costs significantly. Teams of four or more require a Business Platform plan with custom pricing.
Pros
- Highly flexible logic, branching, and customisation
- Strong API and webhook integrations
- Supports offline survey collection
- Highly rated customer support
- 7-day free trial, no credit card required
- Non-profit discounts available
Cons
- Monthly pricing is expensive relative to alternatives
- Teams of 4+ require custom Business Platform pricing
- Steeper learning curve than simpler tools
- Data stored on US servers
Typeform
Typeform takes a one-question-at-a-time approach that makes surveys feel conversational rather than form-like. The platform is visually distinctive and is reported to achieve higher completion rates than traditional survey layouts — making it a strong choice when respondent experience and presentation matter.
It works well for lead generation, customer onboarding flows, and brand-sensitive research. Core pricing has four tiers: Basic at $25 per month billed annually (100 responses per month, one user), Plus at $50 per month annually (1,000 responses, up to three users), Business at $83 per month annually (10,000 responses, up to five users), and Enterprise at custom pricing. A free plan is available but limited to 10 responses per month. Partial completions count toward the monthly limit, and CAPTCHA bot protection is only available on Growth plans (priced separately).
Pros
- Distinctive conversational survey design
- Higher completion rates reported versus traditional layouts
- Strong CRM and marketing tool integrations
- Payment collection via Stripe on Business plan and above
- Free plan available
Cons
- Strict monthly response limits — partial completions count
- CAPTCHA bot protection only on Growth plans (additional cost)
- Pricing escalates quickly as response volume grows
- Not well suited to long or complex surveys
- Data stored outside the UK
QuestionPro
QuestionPro is a comprehensive research and feedback platform serving over 5.3 million users across 100 countries. It includes 50+ question types, 350+ survey templates, advanced conditional logic, multi-channel distribution, and offline survey collection — a substantial step up from Microsoft Forms across the board.
The free Essentials plan is genuinely functional for basic research and includes offline collection, which is unusual at no cost. The Advanced plan adds real-time reporting and more sophisticated logic. Team Edition and the Research Suite require custom quotes. CX and EX modules are priced separately. QuestionPro is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant, with free licences available for non-profits and academic institutions.
Pros
- Functional free plan with offline survey collection
- 50+ question types and 350+ templates
- ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant
- Free licences for non-profits and academic institutions
- Covers surveys, CX, and EX in one platform family
Cons
- Interface can feel cluttered on complex surveys
- Advanced analytics locked behind higher-tier plans
- CX and EX pricing requires a sales conversation
- Data stored on US servers
Snap Surveys
Snap Surveys is a UK-headquartered platform with a strong track record in academic research, healthcare, government, and market research. Its XMP platform covers online, offline, mobile, paper, and kiosk modes in a single solution — more collection modes than Microsoft Forms or most competitors offer.
It is ISO 27001 certified, Cyber Essentials Plus accredited, and operates both UK and US data centres. For UK organisations collecting data in environments without internet access — clinical settings, field research, or kiosk deployments — Snap's offline capability is a practical differentiator. Current XMP pricing: Starter (free, 1 user, 200 responses); Advanced ($30 per month billed annually, 1 user, 50,000 responses); Elite ($95 per user per month billed annually, 150,000 responses, offline surveys, kiosk mode, shared project working); Ultra (custom pricing, includes SSO, API, and white-labelling). All plans billed annually.
Pros
- UK-headquartered with UK and US data centres
- ISO 27001 certified and Cyber Essentials Plus accredited
- Online, offline, mobile, paper, and kiosk modes in one platform
- Strong analytical and reporting capabilities
- Highly rated customer support
- Free Starter plan available
Cons
- All plans billed annually — no monthly option
- Steep learning curve for new users
- API only available on Ultra (custom) plan
- Custom reporting can take time to configure
Jotform
Jotform is a US-based form builder serving over 25 million users globally. Its strengths are a large template library (10,000+ templates), an intuitive drag-and-drop builder, and broad payment integrations including Stripe, PayPal, and Square. It is a step up from Microsoft Forms for teams that need payment collection, custom branding, and more advanced conditional logic.
The free Starter plan includes 5 forms and 100 submissions per month. Paid plans: Bronze ($39 per month or $34 annually, 1,000 submissions), Silver ($49 per month or $39 annually, 2,500 submissions), Gold ($129 per month or $99 annually, 10,000 submissions, HIPAA compliance). Enterprise pricing is custom. All paid plans below Enterprise are single-user only — additional team members each require a separate account. Non-profits and educational institutions receive a 50% discount.
Pros
- 10,000+ templates across a wide range of use cases
- Intuitive drag-and-drop builder
- Payment collection via Stripe, PayPal, and Square
- Free plan available
- 50% discount for non-profits and educational institutions
- 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans
Cons
- Free plan limited to 5 forms and 100 submissions per month
- All plans below Enterprise are single-user only
- Submission limits reset monthly — unused submissions do not roll over
- HIPAA compliance only on Gold and Enterprise plans
- Data stored on US servers
Google Forms
Google Forms is the closest free alternative to Microsoft Forms. It is completely free for anyone with a Google account, offers unlimited surveys, unlimited questions, and unlimited responses — all areas where Microsoft Forms' free personal plan falls short. It integrates directly with Google Sheets, Drive, and Gmail, and works on all devices.
The trade-offs mirror Microsoft Forms: no custom branding, basic logic and branching (11 question types versus Microsoft's 8, but limited in complexity), no advanced analytics, no offline mode, and no dedicated support. Data is stored on US-based Google infrastructure. For UK organisations with data residency requirements, neither Google Forms nor Microsoft Forms is suitable.
Pros
- Completely free with unlimited responses
- No account limit on surveys or questions
- Seamless integration with Google Workspace
- Works on all devices with no setup
- 11 question types (more than Microsoft Forms' 8)
Cons
- Basic logic and branching only
- No custom branding or white-labelling
- No advanced analytics or open-text analysis
- No offline collection
- No dedicated customer support
- Data stored on US-based Google infrastructure
How to choose the right Microsoft Forms alternative
The right platform depends on what Microsoft Forms cannot do that you actually need. Here are the four questions worth asking.
Do you need data stored in the UK?
Microsoft Forms stores all data on US-based Microsoft infrastructure. For UK organisations in healthcare, local government, education, or financial services, this is a meaningful compliance consideration under UK GDPR. SmartSurvey and Snap Surveys are the only platforms on this list that offer UK data storage as standard.
Do you need to analyse open-text responses at scale?
If your surveys include open-text questions, you need tools to surface patterns without reading every response manually. SmartSurvey includes sentiment analysis and thematic analysis from the Advanced plan. Microsoft Forms, Google Forms, Jotform, and Typeform have no equivalent built in.
Do you need offline collection?
Microsoft Forms requires an internet connection. If you collect responses in environments without reliable connectivity — clinical settings, field research, events, or kiosk deployments — SmartSurvey, Snap Surveys, Alchemer, and QuestionPro all support offline collection.
Is there a free trial?
SmartSurvey offers a 14-day free trial on paid plans with no credit card required. Alchemer offers a seven-day free trial. Snap Surveys has a free Starter account (200 responses). Jotform has a free plan limited to 5 forms and 100 submissions. Google Forms is free with no limits. Qualtrics has a restricted free account with a 500 response lifetime limit.
Which is the best Microsoft Forms alternative?
For UK organisations that need more than a basic form tool, SmartSurvey is the strongest choice. It stores data in the UK, includes sentiment and thematic analysis, supports offline and kiosk collection, is WCAG compliant, and offers a 14-day free trial on paid plans with no credit card required.
For teams switching within the free tier, Google Forms offers unlimited responses and more question types than Microsoft Forms at no cost. For payment-integrated forms, Jotform is worth considering. For visually distinctive surveys, Typeform stands out. For academic or regulated-industry research, Qualtrics or Snap Surveys are the specialist options.
Explore SmartSurvey's plans or book a demo to see the platform in action with your own data.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Forms free?
Microsoft Forms is included with Microsoft 365, so for anyone with a Microsoft account it is free. The personal free plan is limited to 200 responses, 400 surveys, and 200 questions. Upgrading to Microsoft 365 Personal (£5.99 per month) raises the response limit to 1,000. Business and Education plans support up to 5,000,000 responses.
What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Forms?
Google Forms is the closest free alternative — it offers unlimited responses, unlimited surveys, and unlimited questions at no cost. SmartSurvey also has a free forever plan with no credit card required, which includes more advanced features than either Microsoft Forms or Google Forms.
What is the best Microsoft Forms alternative for UK organisations?
SmartSurvey is the strongest option. It stores all data in the UK, is WCAG compliant, ISO 27001 certified, and is used by the NHS, Cabinet Office, and BAE Systems. Snap Surveys is another UK-headquartered option with strong compliance credentials and multi-mode collection.
Which Microsoft Forms alternatives support offline survey collection?
SmartSurvey, Snap Surveys, QuestionPro, and Alchemer all support offline data collection — useful for field research, clinical settings, and events where internet access is unreliable. Microsoft Forms requires connectivity throughout.
Can I switch from Microsoft Forms without losing my data?
Yes. Microsoft Forms allows you to export response data in Excel or CSV format before switching. Most platforms, including SmartSurvey, can import this data or support building equivalent surveys in the new platform. SmartSurvey's team can support the process as part of onboarding.
Neil has a deep understanding of software and how to bring its value to market. With experience across Human Capital Management, Learning & Development, AI-powered platforms and omnichannel communications, he knows what it takes to connect solutions with real business needs. Neil’s passionate about helping organisations turn insight into action and elevate the customer experience.
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