Collecting data from customers or potential customers is a huge part of running a successful business. One of the most common ways to do this is by using an electronic form.
Years ago, producing forms used to take a certain amount of coding skills. But those days are gone and now there are no-code ways to build incredibly deep forms and embed them virtually anywhere.
What is Google Forms?
Google Forms may be the most popular form builder out there. This is partly because it’s totally free. But it’s also because Google Forms integrates well with other popular Google productivity apps, like their spreadsheet program Sheets.
Google Forms allows almost anyone to quickly build an online form and then store the data in a way that’s easily accessible and searchable.
What Can Google Forms Be Used For?
Google Forms can be used for almost anything. A simple use case can be a form that asks people if they will be attending an event. A more complex use can be for lead-generation purposes. With this type of form, different questions can be asked that later help segment that lead into various categories and then enter it into a CRM.
Why Look For A Google Forms Alternative
While Google Forms is free and easy to use, it can be limiting. For one thing, the layout doesn’t allow for much customization at all. This means you can’t brand the forms to match your website or company aesthetics.
Google Forms also lacks some of the more advanced functions that some businesses need to enhance their data-gathering workflow.Because of this, many alternatives have entered the market. Some of these are free and some have paid plans with enhanced features.Below, we’ll look at the 7 best Google Form alternatives so you can decide which one will help you take your forms to the next level.
Make sure to join the waiting list for Blitzi as we are building out our own Google Forms Alternative as well!
7 Best Google Forms Alternatives
1.Typeform
Typefrom focuses on no-code forms that can be used for everything from surveys to advanced lead generation.
The Typeform platform really stands out when it comes to templates. There are templates for virtually any application. This means you can start building your perfect form almost instantly, regardless of your design skills.
Typeform key features
- Extensive template library to fit almost any need
- Logic features allow for extensive form customization and dynamic inputs that change as the user enters information
- Robust sharing and analytics so your team can optimize your data collection strategies
Typeform Pros
- Connect with Google Sheets and many other business productivity apps
- Visual form builder has tons of images and videos so you can break away from boring forms
- Extensive customization options
Typeform Cons
- Typeform branding is on every form unless you pay for the Plus plan or higher
- The free plan is one of the more limited plans among the Google Form alternatives
- Although the templates are great, many are hard to make significant changes to, such as resizing or moving images
Who is Typeform Best For?
Typeform is best for users who like a template-based survey builder and don’t mind the slightly higher price in exchange for fast form creation.
Typeform pricing
Basic Plan – $25/month
- Unlimited forms and questions. 100 responses per month
Plus Plan – $50/month
- Everything in the Basic Plan with 1,000 responses per month. Zero branding and 3 additional users.
Business Plan – $83/month
- Everything in the Plus plan and 10,000 responses per month. 5 total users.
Integrations
Over 120 Integrations including Google Analytics, MailChimp, Excel, Hubspot, and more.
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.7/5
- Software Advice: 4.5/5
- G2: 4.5/5
2. Cognito Forms
Cognito Forms is a powerful form-creation platform that doesn’t break the bank. It has a solid free plan and the paid plans are lower than many of its competitors that offer the same features.
Cognito forms are no-code and you use a simple drag-and-drop interface to build them. Each data field is flexible for better data management and sorting options. Conginto also allows for additional form options such as electronic signatures, uploads, and even payment options directly from the form.
Cognito Forms key features
- Easy data collection for surveys and lead generation segmentation
- Fast workflow allows you to save common fields or form attributes to use later
- Conditional logic for dynamic forms that don’t get in the way of your data collection
- The lowest-cost plan still offers 2,000 entries per month
Cognito Forms Pros
- Automation and workflow tweaks eliminate a lot of the tedious work from form-building
- Drag-and-drop form building interface takes very little time to figure out
- Conditional logic offers many possibilities when building forms
- Extras like uploads or payment forms are easy to set up
Cognito Forms Cons
- Although getting started is easy, some complex functions are not clearly explained
- Users have reported that forms can be taken down after very few complaints
- Doesn’t have the advanced features that some more expensive form builders offer
Who is Cognito Best For?
Cognito Forms is best for those looking for a budget-friendly option that still has solid features. Although it lacks some of the more advanced features, if you just need a solid form builder for mainstream tasks, this will do it. You’ll also have a very easy learning curve to deal with.
Cognito Forms pricing
Pro Plan – $15/month
- No ads
- Unlimited forms
- 2000 entries per month
- 2 users
- Payment features
- 1 gig storage
Team Plan – $35/month
- Everything in the Pro Plan
- 5 user
- 10,000 entries per month
- 10 gig storage
Enterprise Plan – $99/month
- Everything in the Team Plan
- Unlimited entries
- 20 users
- 100 gig storage
Integrations
Integrates with popular platforms like Wix, Weebly, and WordPress. Also integrates with productivity software like Zapier, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office products.
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.6/5
- Software Advice: 4.5/5
- G2: 4.5/5
3. Wufoo Forms
Wufoo Forms has one of the easiest user interfaces of all the different form builders. If some of the other advanced form builders scare you away with their options, Wufoo will make you feel comfortable right away.
But just because the interface is simple doesn’t mean it’s lacking core features. A lot is going on with Wufoo and you can implement advanced features as your needs grow.
Wufoo key features
- Over 400 customizable web templates
- Easily export data in different forms or to different spreadsheets
- Sync Wufoo with Google apps, Microsoft Office, and many more programs
- Straightforward interface makes building forms fun and easy
- Over 1,000 integrations
Wufoo Pros
- Building forms is incredibly intuitive and you don’t get bogged down with features
- Accepts all file formats as uploads directly from the form
- Payment integration for Paypal, Stripe, and more
- Hundreds of templates make it easy to find one that fits what you need
- Forms can be encrypted for enhanced security
Wufoo Cons
- Creating more advanced layouts does require some technical knowledge
- Some embedding options can be limiting depending on your web page and form choice
- The free plan only allows for 5 forms
Who is Wufoo Best For?
Wufoo is best for those looking for a straightforward form builder that is easy to use right out of the gate. The templates and easy interface will have you building forms quickly. The free plan may be limiting, but it can be used to find out if Wufoo is right for you.
Wufoo Pricing
Free Plan – $0/month
- 5 forms
- 100 entries
- Only 10 fields per form
- No storage
Starter Plan – $14.08/month
- No ads
- 10 forms
- 1000 entries per month
- 1 users
- Payment features
- 1 gig storage
Professional Plan – $29.08/month
- Unlimited forms
- 3 users
- 5,000 entries per month
- 5 gig storage
Advanced Plan – $74.08/month
- Unlimited forms
- 25,000 entries
- 5 users
- 10 gig storage
Ultimate Plan – $183.25/month
- Unlimited forms
- 200,000 entries
- 10 users
- 20 gig storage
Integrations
Wufoo shines with over 1000 integrations including almost every popular app and software tool you can think of.
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.4/5
- Software Advice: 4.5/5
- G2: 4.4/5
4. AirTable
Airtable is an interesting app since it does far more than just build forms. But the forms integrate all other functions within Airtable. This means there is an almost limitless number of things you can do with something as simple as a form.
Airtable is a mix of no-code tools that all work together. You can create your own apps by using data that you’ve inputted, imported, or captured via a form.
It’s a truly unique app and one that takes forms a step further than what you may be accustomed to.
Airtable key features
- Create forms or have the system create forms from existing tables and data
- Templates for creating your form quickly without much effort
- Built-in communication tools allow you to collaborate seamlessly while building forms
- The data collected can be turned into other useful tools within Airtable
- A complete project management system lives under the hood
Airtable Pros
- A complex data tool that’s surprisingly easy
- Use your data for extensive marketing research and other purposes not possible with a simple form builder
- Set up entire marketing projects in Airtable
Airtable Cons
- It is simple considering what it does, but it still has a steeper learning curve than a form builder
- Some formatting options for form data can be limiting
Who is Airtable Best For?
Airtable is best for those who want to dig deeper into the data they collect. Airtable is an all-in-one data and project management tool that doesn’t require you to be a data scientist.
If your projects revolve around data and you want an intuitive and visual way of working with that data, Airtable is a great choice.
However, Airtable is far more than just a form builder, so if you only want forms, Airtable may be too much.
Airtable Pricing
Free Plan – $0/month
- Unlimited bases
- 1,000 entries per base
- 1 gig of storage
Team Plan – $20/month
- 50,000 records per base
- Automation runs
- 20 gigs of storage
- Gantt views for project management
Business Plan – $40/month
- 125,000 records per base
- Automation runs
- 100 gig storage
Integrations
Airtable integrates with many popular apps, such as Salesforce, Google Drive, and Zendesk. You can find a full list of integrations here.
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.6/5
- Software Advice: 4.5/5
- G2: 4.6/5
5. Formstack Forms
Formstack is used by top brands such as Netflix, the NBA, and Twitter (now X). Part of that reason is that Formstack focuses on being able to brand your forms as much as possible. This includes using custom URLs for forms not embedded on your site.
Formstack also has powerful analytics tools for after your data is collected. However, Formstack is held back by having no free trial and the pricing tiers lock many of the best features behind higher price points.
Formstack key features
- Great branding options so your forms always look like they come straight from your company
- Over 300 templates including for industries like healthcare, which are HIPAA compliant.
- Works with all popular CRMs and payment services
Formstack Pros
- Easy to take advantage of the open branding options
- Intuitive form builder consists of a simple drag-and-drop interface
- Conditional logic for all form fields
- Lots of built-in walkthroughs if you get stuck
Formstack Cons
- No free plan – Only a trial
- Advanced features are locked behind higher price points
- Support page says answers can take up to 2 days
- Pricing options are somewhat confusing
Who is Formstack Best For?
Formstack is best for those who want a lot of branding options in a form builder that is still very easy to use. There’s also a lot of help available directly on each page, so you don’t need to watch YouTube videos or read help files if you get stuck.
One thing to watch out for is the advanced features like document integration or signing. If the features you need are in the higher-priced plans, you may be able to find a cheaper alternative on this list. The Formstack pricing tiers are also designed to make you pay for the “all-in-one” bundle, which you may not want.
Formstack Pricing
Free Trial – $0/month
- 14-days
- All features unlocked during the trial period
Forms Plan – $50/month
- 20 forms
- 1000 submissions per form
- Custom themes
- Payment integrations
- Payment features
- 1 gig storage
Document Plan – $92/month
- 10 Documents
- Allows for document integration with forms
- Data routing
Sign Plan – $18/month
- Unlimited signatures
- Allows signatures on forms and documents
- Integrates with email
Suite Plan – $66/month
- All of the apps and features in one plan
Integrations
Over 260 integrations with popular apps. You can view a full list here.
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.8/5
- Software Advice: 4/5
- G2: 4.6/5
6. Hubspot Forms
You’ve probably heard of the Hubspot CRM, but it’s also a form builder. It’s part of their marketing bundle and it offers a lot of useful tools for businesses. The best thing is that you can use just the form builder for free, although it does have the Hubspot logo on it.
If you run a business and have been considering using a CRM, Hubspot Forms is a great way to test out some of the features to see if it’s right for you. If not, you still get a great free form builder in the process.
Hubspot Forms key features
- Totally free so it works just like Google Forms, but with more options
- Forms geared toward marketing instead of general-purpose forms
- Landing page creator for your forms
- Unlimited forms and fields, even on the free plan
Hubspot Pros
- Drag-and-drop form builder is easy to use, without a lot of extra menus or distractions
- Access basic CRM features to see if a CRM may be right for your business needs
- Unlimited submissions and data entries. Some paid plans don’t even have that
Hubspot Cons
- Hubspot branding stays on all forms in the free plan
- Only a few templates, and they don’t vary too much
- Jumping up to the paid version is expensive, but you get CRM features
Who is Hubspot Best For?
Hubspot Forms is best for those who want something with a little more customization than Google Forms. It’s also for those who may be considering a CRM for their business. Hubspot Forms will save all your data into the relevant CRM fields. So if you ever updated to the full version, you’re ready to go.
Just be aware that Hubspot in general is geared toward marketing, sales, and lead generation/management. It’s not really built for quizzes or job application-type forms.
Hubspot Pricing
Free plan – $0/month
- Unlimited forms and submissions
Starter CRM Plan – $20/month
- Adds CRM features, but the form builder doesn’t change
- Removes Hubspot branding
Integrations
Over 100 integrations. You can view the full list here.
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.5/5
- Software Advice: 4.5/5
- G2: 4.4/5
7. Jotform
Jotform is one of the “OG” online form builders. Since its inception, they’ve continually updated the product and it boasts some incredible numbers. With over 20 million users, they must be doing something right.
Jotform has the most templates of any other form builder on our list. But even with all those templates, the interface is clean and easy to use for those just starting out.
Overall, this is a great platform for building forms.
Jotform key features
- Useful widgets allow you to easily place additional functions into your forms
- Visual report builder and Google Analytics integration allow for easy data management
- Built-in collaboration tools allow you to share and build forms with your entire team
- Payment integration
- Conditional logic for all fields
Jotform Pros
- Form building is easy and intuitive via the clean interface
- Responsive forms look great on any device
- Over 10,000 templates
- Google Forms easily imports into Jotforms
Jotform Cons
- Some of the more advanced features are difficult to use
- Free version is limited
Who is Jotform Best For?
Jotforms is best for those who want the most templates available and a package that is still easy to use, at least for standard forms. More advanced features are a little convoluted compared to other form builders.
It’s also great for those moving from Google Forms as everything you already have can be easily imported.
Jotform Pricing
Free plan – $0/month
- 5 forms
- 100 submissions per month
- 100 MB of storage
- 1,000 form views per month
Bronze Plan – $34/month
- 25 forms
- 1,000 submissions per form
- 1 gig of storage
- 10,000 form views
- 10 signed documents
- 10 monthly payments
Silver Plan – $39/month
- 50 forms
- 2,500 submissions per form
- 10 gigs of storage
- 100,000 form views
- 100 signed documents
- 100 monthly payments
Gold Plan – $99/month
- 100 forms
- 10,000 submissions per form
- 100 gig of storage
- 1,00,000 form views
- 1,000 signed documents
- 1,000 monthly payments
Integrations
Jotform integrates with the most popular business tools and payment gateways.
Ratings
- Capterra: 4.6/5
- Software Advice: 4.5/5
- G2: 4.7/5
Final Tips On Choosing The Best Google Forms Alternative For Your Business
We tried to choose a wide variety of form builders for our top 7 list. From basic forms that you can start creating instantly to data tools that expand your abilities, we’ve got something for everyone here.
Always start with the free plan and really try to dig in and see what each one has to offer. Sometimes a software app can seem perfect at first, but after playing around with it you realize it’s missing some key features or workflow elements you need.
If this happens and you already signed up for an annual plan, that means you’re stuck with it unless they offer refunds.
So take your time with each free plan and really kick the tires. That way you’ll know exactly what you want before you whip out your credit card.
