Listening to your customers isn’t just good manners—it’s smart business. And for that, online survey tools are a must. They help you create surveys with various question types, gather feedback, measure satisfaction, and test market trends. But if budget is tight a free survey tool lets you create surveys without the cost. These free online survey options offer various question types, helping startups and smaller teams create surveys easily before upgrading to paid plans.

In this guide, we’ll cover both completely free survey software like Google Forms and paid survey software that offer free plans, like Typeform, SurveyMonkey, and Jotform. So, let's get you a free survey tool to start collecting feedback on budget. 

1. Google Forms

Best for: Quick internal surveys, simple feedback collection
Google Forms is a free survey tool that integrates with Google Sheets. It supports multiple-choice, dropdowns, and open-ended question types, but lacks advanced survey logic, branding, and analytics. It is best suited for internal team surveys, and quick feedback collection, but Google Forms may not meet your needs when you require deeper insights or custom styling.
Free plan limit: Unlimited surveys & responses
Paid plan: Free (no premium version)

2. Typeform

Best for: Engaging, interactive surveys with a polished design
Typeform’s one-question-at-a-time interface creates surveys that have a conversational feel, improving response rates for customer feedback, lead generation, and market research. Typeform includes logic jumps, custom branding, and integrations with tools like HubSpot and Zapier. However, Typeform's free plan limits responses and customization, making it best for small-scale surveys rather than high-volume data collection.
Free plan limit: 10 questions per survey, 10 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $29/month

3. SurveyMonkey

Best for: Simple surveys with structured analytics
SurveyMonkey is a classic and it's one of the most widely used survey software, offering pre-built survey templates, analytics, and multi-channel distribution. It's great for seeking structured insights, but SurveyMonkey's free plan limits survey customization, branding, and response volume.
Free plan limit: 10 questions per survey, 40 responses per survey
Paid plan: Starts at $39/month

4. Jotform

Best for: Highly customizable forms with a drag-and-drop survey maker
Jotform provides a flexible drag-and-drop builder, allowing users to create surveys that are highly customized with conditional logic, payment collection, and integrations with tools like Salesforce and PayPal. Jotform's free plan is quite limited, which makes it a solid option for smaller teams but less than ideal for high-traffic data collection.
Free plan limit: 5 forms, 100 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $34/month

5. Zoho Survey

Best for: Small teams needing professional survey software
Zoho Survey is an excellent choice for those already using the Zoho ecosystem. Zoho Survey provides multi-channel survey distribution, skip logic, and reporting features. While Zoho Survey's free plan includes unlimited surveys, responses are capped, and branding is restricted. Paid tiers for Zoho Survey unlock advanced features and integrations.
Free plan limit: Unlimited surveys, 100 responses per survey
Paid plan: Starts at $25/month

6. SurveyJS

Best for: Developers who need embeddable, open-source surveys
SurveyJS is a developer-focused survey tool that allows you to embed surveys within their websites and applications while maintaining full control over the data. Unlike traditional hosted survey platforms, SurveyJS is self-hosted, meaning you can store responses internally without relying on third-party databases. It is ideal for those prioritizing data privacy and custom UI integration.
Free plan limit: Open-source and self-hosted (no limits)
Paid plan: Varies based on implementation

7. SurveyPlanet

Best for: Unlimited surveys with a simple interface
SurveyPlanet is a user-friendly tool that allows unlimited surveys and responses, making it a standout choice for budget-conscious users. While SurveyPlanet lacks advanced logic, integrations, and branding control, it remains a strong option for teams that need basic survey capabilities without restrictions.
Free plan limit: Unlimited surveys & responses
Paid plan: Starts at $20/month

8. SoGoSurvey

Best for: Advanced reporting and analytics
SoGoSurvey provides a robust feature set, including AI-powered analytics, automated workflows, and customer experience tracking. The free plan is highly restrictive, offering only a small number of responses annually, making it unsuitable for high-volume survey collection. However, SoGoSurvey's paid versions provide enterprise-level analytics, which is a great add on to a survey maker.
Free plan limit: 15 surveys, 100 responses per year
Paid plan: Starts at $25/month

9. Tally

Best for: No-code form building with unlimited surveys
Tally is a lightweight, Notion-style survey builder that allows unlimited surveys with no technical expertise required. Unlike traditional form builders, it operates with a markdown-like syntax that simplifies the survey creation process. It integrates with Notion, Airtable, and Google Sheets, making it a strong choice for startups and independent creators.
Free plan limit: Unlimited surveys & responses
Paid plan: Starts at $29/month

10. Fillout

Best for: Highly customizable surveys for small teams
Fillout offers a visual form builder with extensive customization options, allowing you to create advanced surveys without technical knowledge. It integrates with CRM tools like HubSpot and Airtable, making it ideal for sales and marketing teams that need seamless data collection and automation.
Free plan limit: Unlimited surveys, 100 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $19/month

11. Youform

Best for: AI-powered survey creation
Youform leverages artificial intelligence to assist with survey design, question generation, and automated data insights. It is particularly useful for creating large-scale surveys quickly without manual configuration. However, its free plan is limited in terms of response count and access to AI-generated insights.
Free plan limit: 5 surveys, 50 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $20/month

12. Formshare

Best for: Secure, privacy-first surveys
Formshare is designed for high levels of data security and compliance, such as healthcare providers, legal firms, and financial institutions. It includes encrypted data storage and GDPR compliance features, making it a top choice for organizations handling sensitive information.
Free plan limit: 3 forms, 50 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $15/month

13. Formbricks

Best for: Open-source, customizable self-hosted surveys
Formbricks is an open-source, developer-friendly survey platform that allows full customization and self-hosting. This means you can modify survey functionality to fit their exact needs while maintaining data control. It’s ideal for organizations prioritizing flexibility and security but requires technical expertise to deploy.
Free plan limit: Open-source (self-hosted, no limits)
Paid plan: Varies

14. Alchemer 

Best for: Advanced automation & voice-of-customer insights
Alchemer, formerly known as SurveyGizmo, is an enterprise-level survey tool designed for teams  that need automation, AI-powered insights, and deep data filtering. It includes robust integrations with CRM platforms and marketing tools, making it a strong choice for large-scale customer feedback initiatives.
Free plan limit: Limited to testing mode only
Paid plan: Starts at $55/month

15. Wufoo

Best for: Simple online forms with cloud storage
Wufoo is a longstanding survey and form-building tool known for its simple interface and cloud-based storage system. Though you could use it for other purposes, it’s known to be better for event registrations, online payment collection, and contact forms rather than advanced data collection.
Free plan limit: 5 forms, 100 entries per month
Paid plan: Starts at $14/month

16. Survio

Best for: Small teams needing structured surveys
Survio offers a wide range of survey templates, automated reports, and a user-friendly interface tailored for small and medium enterprises. While it supports unlimited surveys in the free version, responses are capped, making it ideal for low-volume business use.
Free plan limit: Unlimited surveys, 100 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $25/month

17. forms.app

Best for: AI-powered form building with intuitive design
forms.app is an all-in-one free survey maker that incorporates artificial intelligence to assist with survey structuring. It includes real-time analytics and automation, making it useful for streamlining customer feedback processes.
Free plan limit: 5 surveys, 100 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $12/month

18. QuestionPro

Best for: Advanced survey features for smaller research
QuestionPro includes powerful survey logic, real-time analytics, and advanced question types, making it a top choice for research studies and academic institutions.
Free plan limit: 10 questions per survey, 200 responses per survey
Paid plan: Starts at $99/month

19. Delighted

Best for: Quick customer feedback via NPS, CSAT, and 5-star ratings
Delighted is a customer experience survey tool that specializes in fast, automated feedback collection with survey templates for NPS and CSAT. It integrates with platforms like Slack and Zendesk. It's also a Qualtrics company, so it has the ability to scale with your needs.
Free plan limit: 25 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $224/year

20. SurveySparrow

Best for: Omnichannel surveys with conversational and chatbot-style forms
SurveySparrow transforms surveys into engaging, chat-like experiences, improving response rates across multiple channels, including email, SMS, and embedded web forms. Surveysparrow supports automation, recurring surveys, and integrations with platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce, making it ideal for continuous customer feedback. Surveysparrow's free plan is limited in responses, but its intuitive design and AI-powered analytics make SurveySparrow a strong contender.
Free plan limit: 3 active surveys, 100 responses per month
Paid plan: Starts at $19/month

How to Use Free Survey Tools Effectively

Picking the right tool is just the first step. To really make the most out of a free survey tool, you need to structure your surveys strategically, time them well, and take meaningful action based on the responses. Here’s how to maximize their impact using online survey tools effectively.

Ask the Right Questions

Not all questions are created equal. Keep your surveys short and focused to avoid survey fatigue. Aim for 5-7 key questions that get straight to the point. Use a mix of question types, such as multiple-choice for quick responses and open-ended questions for deeper insights. If the goal is user experience, ask about specific pain points rather than general satisfaction. Many free online survey platforms provide survey templates, making it easier to structure questions properly. Additionally, using logic in your surveys can create a more dynamic and personalized experience by adjusting the flow based on previous answers.

Time It Right

Timing matters just as much as the content. A poorly timed survey can frustrate users or result in skewed responses. Don’t bombard users with a survey before they’ve had a chance to fully experience your product. Instead:

• For onboarding surveys, wait until users have completed key actions.
• For product feedback, ask after they’ve used a feature multiple times.
• For customer satisfaction surveys, check in periodically but not so often that it becomes annoying.

Many online survey tools include automation features that schedule surveys at optimal times to improve response rates. If you're using a free survey maker that allows you to embed surveys directly into your website or app, ensure they appear at natural points in the user journey rather than interrupting the experience.

Act on Feedback

Data is useless if it just sits in a spreadsheet. Once you collect responses, analyze the trends and take action. Here’s how to turn insights into impact:

• Improve onboarding by identifying where users get stuck and adjusting tutorials or tooltips.
• Tweak messaging if users consistently misunderstand a feature’s purpose.
• Refine product features by prioritizing requests that appear frequently in survey responses.
• Address pain points quickly—if a common complaint emerges, acknowledge it and show users you’re listening.

Most free online survey platforms also provide analytics that help you track trends over time. If you find that you need deeper insights, consider upgrading to paid plans that offer advanced reporting, automation tools, and enhanced survey logic.

Automate Where Possible

Survey responses are more powerful when they’re part of a data-driven workflow. Instead of manually tracking survey results, integrate them with analytics tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Google Analytics to see trends in real time. Many free survey tool options offer integration features that can:

• Trigger follow-up emails based on responses.
• Alert your team to negative feedback so they can act quickly.
• Segment users based on survey answers to personalize future interactions.

For teams that need more customization, upgrading to paid plans unlocks additional features such as API access, custom branding, and real-time data sync. If you’re just starting, a free online survey tool can provide enough functionality to test the waters before committing to a free survey maker subscription.

When Should You Start Considering Paid Survey Tools?

A free survey tool like Google Forms or SurveyPlanet is great for getting started, but they often come with limitations such as caps on responses, limited question types, and restricted branding. If you needs deeper insights, it may be time to upgrade to advanced options, like paid plans of SurveyMonkey or Typeform, which offer more flexibility in design, analytics, and integrations.

However, if you're looking for more than just a standalone survey solution, Userflow provides a comprehensive suite that goes beyond data collection. Unlike dedicated tools like SurveyPlanet or SurveySparrow, Userflow seamlessly integrates in-app surveys with onboarding, user analytics, and automation. This means you’re not just gathering feedback—you’re implementing it instantly to refine user flows, optimize engagement, and reduce churn. Instead of relying on a free survey tool that only collects insights, Userflow helps you take action by turning feedback into real-time product improvements. 

The Best Free Survey Tool Depends on Your Needs

The best survey tool isn’t just the one with the most features. It’s the one that helps you take action. Free online survey tools like Google Forms, Typeform and forms.app work well for basic feedback, while options like Jotform and QuestionPro offer more customization. For SaaS companies focused on user experience, in-app solutions like Userflow provide real-time insights that drive product improvements. 

Whichever survey maker you choose, don’t let responses sit in a spreadsheet. Set clear goals, time surveys strategically, and integrate results with your existing tools. Whether you're running a free online survey or investing in survey software, the real value isn’t in the data you collect—it’s in how you use it.