Best Free Survey Tools for 2025
Free Survey Software Options for Small Businesses, Students, and Limited Budgets
Discover the best free survey tools that won’t cost you a penny. Compare features, response limits, and find the perfect platform for collecting feedback without breaking the bank.
Collecting feedback shouldn’t require a big budget. Whether you’re a student conducting research, a small business gathering customer insights, or a nonprofit measuring satisfaction, free survey tools can deliver powerful results without the price tag.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ve researched and evaluated the best truly free survey software—not just free trials, but platforms you can use indefinitely at no cost. These tools range from completely unlimited options like Google Forms to feature-rich platforms with generous free tiers that rival paid alternatives.
What Makes a Great Free Survey Tool?
Before diving into the list, here’s what separates excellent free survey tools from mediocre ones:
- Unlimited surveys - No caps on how many surveys you can create
- Generous response limits - Enough responses to gather meaningful data
- Multiple question types - Beyond basic multiple choice
- Mobile optimization - Surveys that work on any device
- Basic analytics - Built-in reporting to understand your data
- Easy sharing - Multiple distribution options
- No forced branding (or minimal) - Professional-looking surveys
- Forever free - Not just a trial period
Overview
Finding the right free survey tool can transform how you collect feedback without spending a penny. Whether you’re a student conducting research, a small business gathering customer insights, or a nonprofit measuring satisfaction, these free platforms deliver professional results on zero budget.
After extensive research and testing of dozens of free survey platforms, I’ve compiled this guide featuring the top 10 free survey tools that excel in unlimited features, ease of use, and genuine value for students, small businesses, and budget-conscious users.
Here’s our pick of the 10 best free survey tools reviewed:
-
Google Forms – Best completely free tool with unlimited everything
-
SurveyPlanet – Best for unlimited surveys, questions, and responses
-
Microsoft Forms – Best for Microsoft 365 users and students
-
Jotform – Best for versatile forms and payment collection
-
Typeform – Best for engaging, conversational design
-
Zoho Survey – Best for Zoho ecosystem users
-
SurveySparrow – Best for conversational surveys with AI
-
LimeSurvey – Best open-source option for academics
-
Qualtrics – Best for advanced research and analytics
-
SurveyHero – Best student program with unlimited access
Top 10 Best Free Survey Tools
1. Google Forms - Best Completely Free Tool
Google Forms is a free survey tool that integrates seamlessly with Google Sheets and offers unlimited surveys, questions, and responses—making it the most generous free survey tool available.
What’s Free:
- ✅ Unlimited surveys
- ✅ Unlimited questions per survey
- ✅ Unlimited responses
- ✅ 17 question types
- ✅ Basic logic jumps
- ✅ Real-time response collection
- ✅ Automatic data export to Google Sheets
- ✅ Mobile responsive
- ✅ Collaboration with team members
- ✅ Email notifications
Pros:
- Completely free with no hidden costs or upgrade pressure
- Part of Google Workspace ecosystem
- Extremely easy to use - minimal learning curve
- Instant integration with Google Sheets for analysis
- Real-time collaboration
- Works perfectly on mobile devices
- Quick survey creation and deployment
Cons:
- Basic, limited design customization
- No custom branding options
- Simple analytics (better analysis requires Sheets)
- Limited conditional logic capabilities
- Not ideal for complex surveys requiring advanced branching
- Less visually engaging than modern alternatives
Best For:
Students, individuals, and small companies creating basic surveys, quick feedback collection, internal team surveys, event registration, academic research on a budget.
Pricing: Free forever (no paid upgrade available)
2. SurveyPlanet - Best for Unlimited Everything
SurveyPlanet offers unlimited surveys, unlimited questions, and unlimited responses on its free plan, making it one of the most generous free survey tools available.
What’s Free:
- ✅ Unlimited surveys
- ✅ Unlimited questions
- ✅ Unlimited responses
- ✅ 9 question types including image choice
- ✅ Pre-made themes
- ✅ 90+ pre-written survey templates
- ✅ Mobile responsive design
- ✅ SSL security
- ✅ Anonymous surveys
- ✅ 30+ language support
Pros:
- No limits on surveys, questions, or responses
- Excellent question bank with pre-written questions
- Simple, intuitive interface
- Good for both simple and moderately complex surveys
- Strong template library
- Mobile-optimized by default
- Anonymous survey capability
Cons:
- Cannot export data on free plan (must upgrade to Pro at $20/month)
- SurveyPlanet branding on surveys
- No advanced branching logic on free plan
- Limited customization options
- Basic analytics only
- No integrations on free plan
Best For:
Larger businesses or those wishing to conduct customer surveys often, as it allows unlimited surveys with unlimited responses, nonprofits, event organizers, researchers needing high response volumes.
Pricing: Free forever; Pro plan $20/month ($180/year)
3. Microsoft Forms - Best for Microsoft Users
Microsoft Forms is free to use and offers up to 400 surveys with 200 questions per survey and 200 responses, making it ideal for students and Microsoft 365 users.
What’s Free:
- ✅ 400 surveys maximum
- ✅ 200 questions per survey
- ✅ 200 responses per survey (1,000 with Microsoft Personal subscription)
- ✅ Multiple question types
- ✅ Branching logic
- ✅ Real-time results
- ✅ Integration with Microsoft 365
- ✅ AI-powered recommendations
- ✅ Automatic data analysis
- ✅ Excel integration
Pros:
- Free with any Microsoft account
- Clean, modern interface
- Excellent integration with Microsoft 365 suite
- AI suggestions for survey improvement
- Real-time collaboration
- Automatic Excel export
- Good for quizzes with automatic scoring
- Mobile app available
Cons:
- Limited to 200 responses per survey on free plan
- 400 survey limit (not unlimited)
- Fewer integrations outside Microsoft ecosystem
- Basic design customization
- Not as feature-rich as dedicated survey platforms
Best For:
Students, educators, organizations already using Microsoft 365, small businesses with Microsoft infrastructure, quick polls and quizzes.
Pricing: Free with Microsoft account; Microsoft 365 Personal £5.99/month increases response limit to 1,000
4. Jotform - Best for Versatile Forms
Jotform provides a flexible drag-and-drop builder with conditional logic, payment collection, and integrations with tools like Salesforce and PayPal.
What’s Free:
- ✅ 5 forms
- ✅ Unlimited questions
- ✅ 100 monthly submissions
- ✅ 10,000+ templates
- ✅ 100GB upload space
- ✅ Basic integrations
- ✅ Mobile forms app
- ✅ Payment acceptance (online mode)
- ✅ Conditional logic
- ✅ Basic reports
Special Offer:
Jotform offers unlimited form submissions for verified students through their Student Program.
Pros:
- Massive template library (10,000+)
- Drag-and-drop builder is very intuitive
- Payment processing capabilities
- Strong integration options (200+)
- HIPAA compliance available
- Offline form capability with mobile app
- Generous free tier compared to competitors
- Photo and signature capture
Cons:
- Limited to 5 forms on free plan
- Only 100 submissions per month
- Some features require paid upgrade
- Can feel cluttered for simple surveys
- Offline features require app download
Best For:
Small businesses needing payment forms, event registration, job applications, contact forms, customer intake forms, anyone needing versatile forms beyond surveys.
Pricing: Free plan; Starter $34/month; Bronze $39/month; Silver $49/month; Gold $129/month
5. Typeform - Best for Engaging Design
Typeform’s one-question-at-a-time interface creates surveys with a conversational feel, improving response rates for customer feedback, lead generation, and market research.
What’s Free:
- ✅ Unlimited forms
- ✅ 10 questions per form
- ✅ 10 responses per month
- ✅ Basic question types
- ✅ 3,000+ templates
- ✅ Mobile responsive
- ✅ Basic logic jumps
- ✅ WCAG 2.1 compliance
- ✅ GDPR compliance
Pros:
- Beautiful, conversational interface
- Highest engagement and completion rates
- One-question-at-a-time format reduces survey fatigue
- Excellent for brand-focused surveys
- Strong mobile experience
- Easy to use with minimal learning curve
- Great for lead generation and marketing
- Professional appearance
Cons:
- Very limited free plan (only 10 responses/month)
- Only 10 questions per survey on free plan
- Must upgrade for meaningful data collection
- Expensive for high-volume use
- No custom branding on free plan
- Limited analytics on free tier
Best For:
Small audiences (less than 1,000 people) where design and engagement are priorities, testing survey concepts, brand-conscious businesses, lead capture forms, short feedback forms.
Pricing: Free plan; Basic $29/month; Plus $59/month; Business $99/month; Enterprise custom
6. Zoho Survey - Best for Zoho Users
Zoho Survey provides multi-channel survey distribution, skip logic, and reporting features with unlimited surveys on the free plan.
What’s Free:
- ✅ Unlimited surveys (3 active at a time)
- ✅ 10 questions per survey
- ✅ 100 responses per survey
- ✅ 15+ question types including matrix
- ✅ Basic skip logic
- ✅ Mobile responsive
- ✅ Basic reporting
- ✅ Email distribution
Pros:
- Integrates with Zoho ecosystem
- Good variety of question types
- Unlimited survey creation
- Clean, professional interface
- Multi-channel distribution
- Good for customer experience tracking
- Decent analytics for free tier
Cons:
- Only 3 active surveys at a time
- Limited to 10 questions per survey
- 100 response cap per survey
- Branding restrictions on free plan
- Fewer integrations outside Zoho ecosystem
- Must upgrade for advanced features
Best For:
Businesses using Zoho products, customer satisfaction surveys, employee feedback, market research with moderate response needs.
Pricing: Free plan; Plus $25/month; Professional $50/month
7. SurveySparrow - Best for Conversational Surveys
SurveySparrow offers 3 active surveys with 50 responses per month in the free version, with 1000+ survey templates and AI surveys available.
What’s Free:
- ✅ 3 active surveys (10 total)
- ✅ Unlimited questions
- ✅ 50 responses per month
- ✅ 1,000+ templates
- ✅ Conversational interface
- ✅ AI survey creation
- ✅ Mobile app
- ✅ Multi-channel sharing
- ✅ Basic analytics
- ✅ Email, Slack, Teams sharing
Pros:
- Chat-like conversational interface
- AI-powered survey creation
- Excellent mobile experience
- Good template library
- Multiple sharing channels
- Modern, engaging design
- Good free tier for testing
Cons:
- Only 50 responses per month
- Limited to 3 active surveys
- Must upgrade for full features
- Some users report occasional bugs
Best For:
Small businesses testing conversational surveys, customer feedback collection, employee pulse surveys, NPS tracking.
Pricing: Free plan; Basic $19/month; Starter $49/month; Business $149/month
8. LimeSurvey - Best Open-Source Option
LimeSurvey is a free and open-source survey tool offering unlimited surveys with 25 responses per month on the free plan.
What’s Free:
- ✅ Unlimited surveys
- ✅ Unlimited questions
- ✅ 25 responses per month
- ✅ 28 question types
- ✅ Advanced logic
- ✅ Multilingual surveys (80+ languages)
- ✅ GDPR compliant
- ✅ Open-source
- ✅ Self-hosted option
Special Offers:
LimeSurvey offers a 50% student discount for verified students, and completely free versions for students and academics.
Pros:
- Open-source and customizable
- 50% student discount
- Completely free for universities
- Advanced features available
- Self-hosting option for data control
- Strong privacy and security
- Large user community support
- Complex survey logic capabilities
Cons:
- Only 25 responses per month on free plan
- Steeper learning curve
- Interface less modern than competitors
- LimeSurvey branding on free plan
- Requires technical knowledge for self-hosting
Best For:
Academic researchers, students, universities, organizations needing data sovereignty, complex research projects, privacy-conscious users.
Pricing: Free plan (25 responses); Professional plans start at ~€35/month; 50% student discount available
9. Qualtrics - Best for Advanced Research
https://qualtrics.com/free-account
Qualtrics’ free survey account allows 3 active surveys at any given time with a limit of 500 responses per survey and 50+ pre-built templates.
What’s Free:
- ✅ 3 active surveys (unlimited total)
- ✅ Unlimited questions
- ✅ 500 responses per survey
- ✅ 50+ expert-designed templates
- ✅ 8 question types
- ✅ Advanced analytics
- ✅ Real-time dashboards
- ✅ Data filtering
- ✅ Multiple export formats
Pros:
- Enterprise-grade platform available free
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Professional survey templates
- Excellent for academic research
- Complex logic and branching
- Strong data visualization
- Export to research tools (R, SPSS, Stata)
- 500 responses per survey is generous
Cons:
- Only 3 active surveys at a time
- Steep learning curve
- Complex interface can overwhelm beginners
- Limited question types on free plan
- Must contact sales for paid features
Best For:
Large businesses and organizations requiring enterprise-grade capabilities, academic researchers, advanced market research, complex survey workflows.
Pricing: Free plan; Paid plans require custom quote
10. SurveyHero - Best Student Program
https://surveyhero.com/students
SurveyHero offers a 100% FREE Student Account with unlimited surveys at no cost for the duration of your studies.
What’s Free for Students:
- ✅ Unlimited surveys
- ✅ Unlimited questions
- ✅ Unlimited responses
- ✅ All fundamental question types
- ✅ Multilingual surveys
- ✅ Built-in poll tool
- ✅ Real-time reports
- ✅ Survey template bank
- ✅ Professional features
How to Get It:
- Create a free SurveyHero account
- Apply for Student Account with .edu email
- Application reviewed within 24 hours
- Account upgraded to unlimited student access
- Re-verification periodically required
Pros:
- Completely unlimited for verified students
- Professional features included
- Lasts duration of studies
- No external funding required
- All existing data preserved
- Can be used for academic projects
- Fast approval process
Cons:
- Must be a current student
- Requires verification
- Reverts to basic free plan after graduation
- For academic use only (not commercial)
- Individual use only (no sharing)
Best For:
University students, undergraduate research, master’s theses, doctoral research, academic projects, student organizations.
Pricing: Free for verified students; Regular plans available post-graduation
Comparison Chart: Best Free Survey Tools
| Tool | Surveys | Questions | Responses | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Forms | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Students, quick surveys, budget users |
| SurveyPlanet | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Small businesses needing no limits |
| Microsoft Forms | 400 max | 200/survey | 200/survey | Microsoft 365 users, students |
| Jotform | 5 forms | Unlimited | 100/month | Form versatility, payment collection |
| Typeform | Unlimited | 10/survey | 10/month | Engaging design, small-scale testing |
| Zoho Survey | Unlimited | 10/survey | 100/survey | Zoho ecosystem users |
| SurveySparrow | 10 surveys | Unlimited | 100/month | Conversational surveys |
| LimeSurvey | Unlimited | Unlimited | 25/month | Open-source, academic research |
| Qualtrics | 3 active | Unlimited | 500/survey | Advanced analytics, researchers |
| SurveyHero | Student: Unlimited | Student: Unlimited | Student: Unlimited | Students with verified .edu email |
How to Choose the Right Free Survey Tool
By Use Case:
Students:
- Best overall: SurveyHero (unlimited with student verification)
- No verification needed: Google Forms, SurveyPlanet
- Academic research: LimeSurvey, Qualtrics
Small Businesses:
- Budget-conscious: Google Forms, SurveyPlanet
- Customer feedback: Zoho Survey, SurveySparrow
- Lead generation: Typeform (for small volume), Jotform
- Payment collection: Jotform
Nonprofits:
- Unlimited responses: Google Forms, SurveyPlanet
- Event feedback: SurveyPlanet, Microsoft Forms
- Donor surveys: Jotform (with payment integration)
Researchers:
- Academic: Qualtrics, LimeSurvey
- Market research: Qualtrics, SurveySparrow
- Complex surveys: LimeSurvey, Qualtrics
By Priority:
Need Unlimited Everything:
- Google Forms (completely free)
- SurveyPlanet (free but can’t export)
- SurveyHero (students only)
Best Design & Engagement:
- Typeform (limited responses)
- SurveySparrow (50 responses/month)
- Jotform (100 responses/month)
Most Features on Free Plan:
- Google Forms
- Qualtrics (advanced analytics)
- Jotform (versatility)
Best for High Response Volume:
- Google Forms (unlimited)
- SurveyPlanet (unlimited)
- Qualtrics (500/survey)
Easiest to Use:
- Google Forms
- Microsoft Forms
- SurveyPlanet
Best Analytics:
- Qualtrics
- Google Forms (via Sheets)
- SurveySparrow
Common Limitations of Free Plans
Understanding limitations helps set realistic expectations:
Response Limits
- None: Google Forms, SurveyPlanet, SurveyHero (students)
- 10/month: Typeform
- 50/month: SurveySparrow
- 100/month: Jotform, Zoho Survey
- 200/survey: Microsoft Forms
- 500/survey: Qualtrics
Survey Limits
- Unlimited: Google Forms, SurveyPlanet, Typeform, Zoho, LimeSurvey
- 3-10 active: Qualtrics, SurveySparrow, Zoho
- 5 forms: Jotform
- 400 max: Microsoft Forms
Feature Restrictions on Free Plans
- No data export: SurveyPlanet, most free plans
- Branded surveys: Most free plans include platform branding
- Limited logic: Basic branching only
- No custom domains: Requires paid upgrade
- Limited integrations: Most integrations behind paywall
- Basic analytics: Advanced analytics require upgrade
Tips for Maximizing Free Survey Tools
- Combine tools - Use Google Forms for unlimited responses, export to Sheets, then visualize elsewhere
- Leverage templates - Start with pre-built templates to save time
- Keep surveys short - Higher completion rates and stays within question limits
- Use question logic wisely - Make basic branching work for you
- Export regularly - Don’t lose data if you hit limits
- Test first - Use free plans to test before committing to paid
- Plan upgrade path - Know what features you’ll need when you outgrow free
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these tools really free forever?
Yes! All tools listed offer forever-free plans, not just trials. Google Forms, SurveyPlanet, Microsoft Forms, and others don’t expire. Some have upgrade options if you need more features, but the free tiers remain available indefinitely.
What’s the difference between free and paid survey tools?
Free plans typically limit:
- Response volumes
- Advanced features (branching, custom branding)
- Data export options
- Integrations
- Priority support
However, for basic surveys, free tools offer everything most users need.
Can I use free survey tools for business?
Yes! Google Forms, SurveyPlanet, and most tools allow commercial use on free plans. Check each tool’s terms of service. Some student-specific plans (like SurveyHero) require academic use only.
Which free survey tool has the best response rate?
Typeform reports that 3 out of 4 customers say it helped achieve higher completion rates due to its conversational, one-question-at-a-time format. However, on the free plan you’re limited to 10 responses/month, so for volume, use Google Forms or SurveyPlanet.
Can I remove branding from free survey tools?
Most free plans include the platform’s branding. Google Forms doesn’t add intrusive branding. To remove all branding typically requires upgrading to paid plans.
Do free survey tools work on mobile?
Yes! All modern survey tools listed are mobile-responsive and work on smartphones and tablets. Some (like Jotform and SurveySparrow) offer dedicated mobile apps.
Can I collect payments with free survey tools?
Jotform’s free plan allows payment collection through integrations with PayPal, Stripe, and other processors. However, you’re limited to 100 submissions/month. Zoho Survey also offers payment integration on free tier.
Are free survey tools secure?
Reputable free survey tools use SSL encryption and comply with data protection standards. For sensitive data:
- HIPAA compliant: Jotform (paid tier)
- GDPR compliant: Most platforms
- SOC-2: Typically paid tiers only
- Self-hosted: LimeSurvey (for complete control)
What’s the best free survey tool for students?
- SurveyHero - Unlimited everything with student verification
- Google Forms - No verification needed, unlimited
- LimeSurvey - 50% student discount, academic features
- Jotform - Student program with unlimited submissions
- Qualtrics - Advanced research features
Can I export my data from free survey tools?
- Yes: Google Forms (to Sheets), Microsoft Forms (to Excel), Qualtrics, Jotform (limited formats)
- No: SurveyPlanet requires Pro upgrade ($20/month)
- Limited: Most free plans offer basic CSV export
Final Recommendations
Best Overall Free Survey Tool
Google Forms - Unlimited surveys, questions, and responses with zero cost forever. Perfect for 80% of survey needs.
Best for Students
SurveyHero - Apply with .edu email for completely unlimited access during studies.
Best for Small Businesses
SurveyPlanet - Unlimited surveys and responses, though you’ll need Pro to export data.
Best for Engaging Surveys
Typeform - Beautiful design that boosts completion rates, but very limited free tier (10 responses/month).
Best for Microsoft Users
Microsoft Forms - Seamless integration with Office 365 and clean interface.
Best for Versatility
Jotform - More than just surveys—forms for any purpose with payment processing.
Best for Advanced Research
Qualtrics - Enterprise features with 500 responses per survey on free tier.
Best Open-Source Option
LimeSurvey - Complete control, self-hosting option, strong student support.
Conclusion
Free survey tools have evolved significantly—many now offer professional features that rival paid alternatives. The key is matching the tool to your needs:
- Need unlimited everything? Choose Google Forms or SurveyPlanet
- Student doing research? Get SurveyHero’s free student account
- Want beautiful, engaging surveys? Use Typeform for small projects
- Need payment collection? Jotform handles it on the free tier
- Doing academic research? Qualtrics or LimeSurvey offer advanced features
Most importantly, don’t feel pressured to upgrade immediately. Free plans for most tools provide everything needed for basic to moderate survey requirements. Start free, learn what you need, then upgrade only when limits genuinely restrict your goals.
The best survey tool is the one you’ll actually use—and with these free options, there’s no reason not to start gathering valuable feedback today.
About This Guide
This guide was created through extensive research of free survey platforms, analyzing features, limitations, user reviews, and actual free-tier capabilities. All information is current as of October 2025. Free plan features may change, so always verify current offerings on each platform’s official website.
