Google Forms vs Malcolm!

UmfrageOnline

Jotform

SurveyMonkey

UmfrageOnline provides businesses with a multi-language survey creation platform, as well as multi-channel survey distribution and real-time reporting. Features include logical workflows, customizable branding, mobile device compatibility, dynamic content, answer piping, and more.

Jotform is a cloud-based form builder platform that helps businesses streamline form creation via ready-made templates, integrations with third-party applications, and design features that cater to organizations globally.

SurveyMonkey is an AI-based survey platform designed to help teams collect actionable feedback. The platform offers expert templates for various use cases including customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and event feedback. Organizations can distribute surveys to targeted audiences, analyze results with AI-based insights, and integrate with various business tools for streamlined workflows.

Service tech

I even tried using customer service and they couldn't help me either.

Commercial Director

The inbuilt complex employee scheduling capabilities of our sales reps on the field are virtually nonexistent, and there is no dedicated customer service that can be contacted whenever we want to implement complex integrations.

Medical Biller

Its built-in features cover most survey and form requirements without needing add-ons, and customer support is supported by extensive documentation and community resources. While payment options are not applicable since it’s a free tool, this actually enhances its value, making Google Forms a highly accessible and efficient solution for collecting and managing data.

Founder

I used it to build a branded Archetype quiz for my community and was able to design, share, and collect responses in under an hour—no tech headaches, no hidden paywall nonsense.

Google Forms is a free form builder tool that enables users to create surveys and questionnaires online in order to collect and organize information

Access Controls/Permissions

Anonymous Feedback

Autofill

Collaboration Tools

Conditional Logic

Customizable Branding

Customizable Fields

Customizable Forms

Customizable Questions

Customizable Templates

Data Analysis Tools

Data Capture and Transfer

Data Import/Export

Data Visualization

Drag & Drop

Dynamic Content

Email Marketing

Email Reminders

Forms Creation & Design

Forms Management

Lead Generation

Mobile Access

Mobile Survey

Multi-Channel Distribution

Multi-Language

Multiple Question Types

Question Branching

Real-Time Data

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Response Validation

Skip Logic

Survey Builder

Surveys & Feedback

Template Management

Third-Party Integrations

URL Customization

Visual Analytics

Web Forms

Reviews for Google Forms come from a wide variety of industries, including education management (11% of reviewers), computer software (8%), and information technology and services (6%). The most frequent use case for Google Forms cited by reviewers is conducting surveys (73% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Most reviewers indicate Google Forms offers excellent value for money due to its free access and comprehensive features. Most users consider the lack of hidden fees a major benefit, though some reviewers find minor drawbacks like limited customization and required branding.

Value for money

The Google Forms integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: Google Sheets (a spreadsheet product rated 4.8 out of 5 for its integration with Google Forms), Google Drive (a cloud storage product, 4.9), and Microsoft Excel (a spreadsheet product, 4.7).

Integrations

Google Forms is a survey tool with key features that include survey builder, forms creation and design, reporting and analytics, data import/export, access controls and permissions, customizable templates, and more.

Google Forms

Web-based

Microsoft Forms

Zoho Forms

Wufoo

Typeform

Mailchimp

Formsite

Zoho Survey

Formstack Forms

123FormBuilder

monday.com

QuestionPro

forms.app

Gravity Forms

Paperform

Basic

Limited security and permissions

Technology Lead

Google forms also has some demerits like Security, Google forms is always termed to be less secure as it is managed by Google and users does not have much control compared to coding and developing own forms.

45% of reviewers feel negative about Google Forms’ security and access control. Users report concerns about data privacy, limited encryption, and insufficient control over who can access or submit forms. Reviewers indicate that the lack of advanced security features, such as password protection or role-based permissions, makes the tool unsuitable for collecting sensitive information. They say sharing and permission settings can be confusing, sometimes resulting in unauthorized access or difficulty granting the right permissions. Many users mention that organizations with strict data security requirements may avoid Google Forms due to these limitations.

Dependence on internet connectivity

Incubation manager 

No offline support: Google Forms does not support offline access, meaning you cannot collect responses if you do not have an internet connection.

exercise physiologist

What I like least about this software is that if there is an internet issue then the form can't be filled so it causes a limitation for people who may not otherwise have phones with internet connection

42% of reviewers feel negative about Google Forms’ reliance on internet access. Users report frustration that forms cannot be created, edited, or completed offline, making the tool unusable in areas with poor or no connectivity. Reviewers say this limitation affects data collection in remote locations, during travel, or in environments with unreliable internet. They also mention that losing connection can result in lost progress or inability to submit responses. Some users find the mobile experience less reliable, further complicating access when away from a stable internet connection.

Versatile feedback collection

Coordinator

It is a very cost-effective tool for us to better capture feedback from our employees, especially after company events, as well as from key stakeholders when gathering feedback on specific projects.

97% of reviewers feel positive about Google Forms’ feedback capabilities. Reviewers appreciate how easy it is to create and distribute forms for gathering feedback from customers, employees, and event participants. Users say the tool supports a wide range of feedback scenarios, from internal surveys to customer reviews, and enables quick data collection and analysis. They find the integration with Google Sheets valuable for organizing and analyzing responses. Many users mention that the ability to customize questions and receive real-time feedback helps them improve their services, products, or organizational processes efficiently.

Free and cost-effective solution

Manager

Google Forms works well for most all of my applications ... can do most everything a paid form application can do for free!  

It's free (at least for now) it has no limitation of "pro" / "premium" service, hence you can use it at the fullest without paying a dime

97% of reviewers feel positive about Google Forms’ pricing. Users appreciate that the software is completely free for individuals and organizations with a Google account, allowing them to access robust features without incurring costs. Reviewers indicate that the lack of a paid or premium tier makes it accessible for those on tight budgets, such as nonprofits and small businesses. They say the free version offers capabilities comparable to paid competitors, helping them save money while meeting their data collection needs. Many users find this especially valuable when compared to other form tools that restrict features behind paywalls.

Intuitive and accessible design

SAP B1 Consultant

I would say anyone can quickly create a google form for a particular use in a matter of minutes.

96% of reviewers feel positive about Google Forms’ ease of use. Users think the platform is intuitive, allowing both beginners and experienced users to quickly create, distribute, and analyze forms. Reviewers indicate that the simple interface reduces the learning curve and makes it easy to set up forms for various purposes. They find that tasks such as setting up surveys, collecting responses, and managing data are straightforward and require minimal technical knowledge. Many users highlight the time-saving aspect and the convenience of being able to create forms in just a few minutes.

Research Scholar

It also lacks **sophisticated logic features**, such as the ability to perform complex mathematical calculations within the form or provide detailed "save and continue" functionality for longer entries.

Marketing Director

Specifically, I wish Google Forms let you customize fonts, add different background, or even restructured the ordering of the form to make it appropriate for your customer base.

Student Intern

It sort of allows you to choose answer options like selecting an answer either abc or d, it also allows one to type in an answer, it has options to rate, and it also provides results in tables and graphs if you want them like that.

Legal Assistant

The intuitive interface makes it easy to create forms quickly, and features like multiple question types, response validation, and basic logic cover most everyday needs.

Language Instructor

The options of complex employee scheduling and the possibility of managing several class schedules are practically absent, and specialized customer care for our small education facility is unavailable.

Sr. Communications Consultant

Google Forms is an amazingly efficient and easy way to collect data in various types of documents (write-in answers, multiple choice, drop-down options, etc.), saving time and energy to focus on other non-administrative tasks.

Senior Sales

The best and most important thing I like most about Google Forms is the convenience and efficiency it brings my business in saving time with paperwork to free up time to actual service!

The level of easy usability in terms of survey design is unprecedented and our language teachers are able to create vocabulary quizzes and student feedback portals with ease with no technical expertise.

Its primary strength lies in its **user-friendly interface**, which streamlines the process of designing and distributing surveys while ensuring a smooth experience for respondents across different devices.

Associate Lawyer

I love that you can tailor the questions and that it pre-empts the best format for your questions/answers ie multiple choice, short answer etc. Have used it internally for staff preferences on office related matters and it is very handy and user-friendly.  

Therapist

I use Google Forms for data collection and the features that the platform offers that connects to other things like Google Sheets and the AI feature connected to Google Docs

Tax Processor

It's conditional logic is simple (section-based, not highly dynamic); only about 12 question types; no built-in payments, e-signatures, native email notifications for new responses (requires add-ons or workarounds), or advanced calculations.

Lead Tutor

We use this to input monthly data for a tutoring program and we’re able to easily retrieve detailed data from multiple program sites.

Survey design options are minimal and don’t allow much customization, and there are no built-in payment options, which makes it unsuitable for collecting payments or fees.

Marketing Coordinator

The absence of the native payment options also means that it is not possible to sell the event tickets directly via the form, and the customer support is virtually nonexistent in case of the problems.

Events Coordinator

I use Google Forms regularly to send surveys and collect data. When you work with a large team, this is an effective way to gather opinions and quickly organize results.

Trust Systems Manager

Branding and customization were big on our list, and Google Forms allows us to add logos and custom backgrounds.

AI Researcher

I usually fill out forms instead of creating them or surveying with them, so it is nice to use and work with them. and it has a wide range of features and fields to cover, which makes them great, and it is so good for surveying, since they are simple and exhaustive. and the data from them get exported in excel files which makes them so usefull.

Senior Product Manager

The beauty of it is that all the answers land in a Google Sheet automatically, so I can visualize the data on a list without needing to do any further work.

But the design is very basic. And I can´t change fonts, layout that much so it allways looks like a google form Let's say I want to create a really fancy looking survey that matches my company brand and I can't do here.

Graphic designer

Google form has been an incredible software tool where I create surveys,quizzes,order forms , feedback forms etc.

LVT, Supervisor

This allows me to be able to create the data and present the results in a way that everyone can understand, while still making answers anonymous.

Accountant

I love that it is free to use, allows for data collections, a lot of different features to choose from, allows me to get feedback on what fits certain people schedules and you are able to include who needs to be included.

Creator

I can gather all sorts of information from the survey options it provides, and it creates a google sheet to handle that information.

Managing Editor

It has helped me solicit feedback, conduct surveys, and call for submissions from contributors-all free and with an interface anyone on my team can use right off the bat.

Nurse Supervisor

It’s a dependable and easy-to-use tool that makes creating and managing surveys straightforward. While it may lack some advanced features, it covers all the essentials well and is especially useful for quick data collection and collaboration.

Executive

Our dental offices have used it to generate appointment request forms, patient satisfaction surveys, and pre-visit questionnaires.

Quant Modeling

My experience with Google Forms has been smooth and efficient for simple surveys, but its limited logic and customization make it less effective for complex or adaptive use cases.

Sales Coordinator

I turn on this form only to manage occasional registrations, create opinion polls for new products and validation quizzes.

Project Manager

The interface & customization allow me to get all the information I need and present in a clean, organized way.

It’s helpful for creating basic forms and collecting information, but the value for money is limited since it lacks more advanced features without using add-ons.

Customer Support Manager

Particularly, Google forms has allowed me to quickly create review templates, and CS tracking tools, sales tracking tools.

Founder and CEO

Drag-and-drop editor, themes, and media insertion make forms for intake and feedback simple to create easily, and answers appear in Sheets immediately to filter, pivot, and share without export agony or version mess.

Vice President of Sales and Operations

We used it for our end of class surveys so each student gets a link that they can fill out to rate our sessions.

Intake, event RSVPs, and student satisfaction data were gathered ahead of time, with Sheets views in real-time assisting teams to prioritize responses and schedule follow-ups, eliminating the lag between capture and action.

Google forms has also been useful for us to organize our files (we drop files into our google drive through the forms, and this allows us to have a living, organized document of all important documents)

Owner, Manager

The features I liked best about Google Forms were the ability to create a range of availability checks, general information gathering documents, surveys and more.

There are times when sharing the form with constituents outside of your organization takes a few extra clicks, or you will start to receive requests to share and update the settings.

Operations

Limited ability to create a certain look for your survey (realistically only one standard template) and it very limited in ability to customize sequence questions.

I created a Google Form on my mobile device once rather than on my laptop, and once I sent it out it prompted everyone filling it out to download the app, rather than being able to simply open the form in their browser or directly in their email.

SR EA

There are many automated features that allow you to not only build forms but very quickly report on metrics.

Tech Specialist

Sharing options are flexible, with forms accessible on any device, and responses are automatically organized for further analysis.

Owner Operator

Google Forms allows you to create many different forms, surveys, and questionnaires for you business that are easy to share and integrate with emails and websites.

Blogger

Basic designs options are not brand-kit friendly and the ability to create stackable flows or conditional questions is limited.

The design and feature options are limited for more sophisticated surveys, while payment collection only works with extra add-ons.

president

Easily integrated with my email system, and allows folks without google email address to still participate in the form functionality.

People Business Partner

You can easily track results and export into Sheets or Excel to create more visual graphs and use when reporting.

Google Forms vs Malcolm! Comparison (2026)

Google Forms

Malcolm!

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives