Two popular form builders compared on the same 25-row feature matrix and pricing, with FormBuilder shown as a third column so you can see another option to consider.
Overview
Google Forms is the default form tool for a large share of the internet because it costs nothing and is already there. Anyone with a Gmail account can build a form, quiz or survey in minutes, share a link, and watch responses land in a linked Google Sheet. There is no meaningful response cap on personal accounts, which is rare among free tools.
The builder is deliberately simple: a dozen or so question types, sections with "go to section based on answer" branching, quizzes with automatic grading and answer feedback, file uploads (respondents must be signed in to Google), collaborator sharing, and light theming with a header image, colour and font. Since 2025 Google has been adding Gemini features — a "help me create" prompt that drafts a form from a description — on paid Workspace tiers with Gemini included.
Microsoft Forms is the survey and quiz builder that ships with Microsoft 365. It started in Office 365 Education as a quiz tool for teachers and has since become the default way Microsoft shops collect feedback, run polls in Teams meetings, and grade simple quizzes. Anyone with a personal Microsoft account can use it free; work and school accounts get it as part of their Microsoft 365 licence.
The builder is deliberately simple: a handful of question types (choice, text, rating, date, ranking, Likert, Net Promoter Score, file upload), basic branching, themes, and automatic response charts. Its real advantage is the plumbing around it — responses land in Excel with one click, forms can be dropped into Teams, SharePoint, OneNote and PowerPoint, and Power Automate can trigger a flow on every submission. Copilot can now draft a form from a prompt inside Microsoft 365.
Pricing
In each vendor's own terms; Google Forms checked 2026-08-17, Microsoft Forms checked 2026-08-17. FormBuilder: free plan (5 forms, 100 responses / mo) and Pro at $39 / month or $390 / year.
Feature comparison
25 capabilities across building, design, data workflow and security.
| Feature | GGoogle Forms | MMicrosoft Forms | FFormBuilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | |||
| AI form generation from a prompt | PartialGemini "help me create" on paid Workspace tiers | YesCopilot draft; requires M365 / Copilot licence for full use | Yes |
| Drag-and-drop visual builder | PartialQuestion list with reordering; no canvas or layout control | PartialQuestion-list builder; reorder only | Yes |
| Template library | PartialA few dozen basic templates | PartialSmall gallery of survey & quiz templates | Yes300+ |
| Conditional logic / branching | PartialGo-to-section branching only; no field-level show/hide | PartialBasic branching; no complex rules | Yes |
| Multi-page / multi-step forms | YesSections | PartialSections act as pages | YesPro |
| Calculations & scoring | PartialQuiz auto-grading; no calculated fields | PartialQuiz points & auto-grading only | YesCalculation field + auto-graded quizzes |
| File uploads | YesRespondents must sign in to Google; 1 GB / form default | YesWork / school accounts only; files go to OneDrive | Yes100 MB free · 1 GB Pro |
| Payment collection | No | No | YesStripe — paid to your own account, no platform fee |
| E-signature field | No | No | Yes |
| Design | |||
| Custom themes & branding | PartialHeader image, colour & font only | PartialThemes, header image, logo; layout fixed | YesPro |
| Remove vendor badge | NoGoogle footer cannot be removed | NoMicrosoft footer always shown | YesPro, $39 |
| Custom domain | No | No | Yes |
| Embed on any site | Yesiframe | Yesiframe; native in Teams, SharePoint, Sway | Yes |
| Data & workflow | |||
| Free-plan monthly responses | YesUnlimited | Partial200 per form (personal); unlimited in practice on M365 work accounts | Partial100 / mo, overflow held |
| Over-limit responses kept (not rejected) | YesNo cap to hit | NoForm closes at limit | Yes |
| Email notifications & autoresponders | PartialOwner email per response; autoresponder needs Apps Script or add-on | PartialOwner email; richer via Power Automate | Yes |
| Webhooks | PartialApps Script or third-party add-on | PartialThrough Power Automate, not native | YesAll plans |
| Zapier / native integrations | YesZapier, Make; native Sheets | PartialPower Automate native; Zapier trigger available | Yes6,000+ apps |
| Built-in analytics (views, drop-off) | PartialResponse summary charts; no views or drop-off | PartialResponse summary charts; no drop-off | Yes |
| CSV / spreadsheet export | YesGoogle Sheets, CSV | YesExcel, live-linked | Yes |
| Team workspaces & collaboration | YesCollaborators; shared drives on Workspace | YesGroup forms via Microsoft 365 Groups / Teams | Yes |
| Security | |||
| Password-protected forms | PartialRestrict to signed-in / org users only | PartialRestrict to org sign-in; no public password | YesPro |
| HIPAA / BAA | YesBAA via paid Workspace plans | YesCovered by Microsoft 365 BAA on eligible plans | PartialHIPAA plan coming soon |
| GDPR tooling & DPA | YesWorkspace DPA | Yes | Yes |
| SSO / SAML | YesWorkspace | YesEntra ID on all M365 plans | PartialEnterprise |
Another option to consider
AI-first form builder with a generous free plan, held (never lost) responses, and 6,000+ integrations. Describe the form you need, the AI drafts it, and you refine it with logic, multi-page layouts, uploads, signatures and Stripe payments. Free plan: 5 forms and 100 responses a month with overflow held, never lost. Pro: $39 / month for 100 forms and 10,000 responses with the badge removed.
Questions
Google Forms's entry paid plan (Business Starter at $7 / user / month (annual)) is cheaper than Microsoft Forms's (Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99 / month). Both offer a free plan (Unlimited forms & responses · 15 GB shared Drive storage · Google footer · no admin controls) and a free plan (200 responses / form · 400 forms · basic themes) respectively. Note the plans differ in limits — see the tables above. FormBuilder Pro, for reference, is $39 / month for 10,000 responses.
Google Forms offers a free plan (Unlimited forms & responses · 15 GB shared Drive storage · Google footer · no admin controls). Forms itself is free with any Google account. Business features come with a Google Workspace subscription, priced per user per month (annual commitment; monthly "Flexible" billing costs about 20% more). Google was running a 50%-off first-year promo for the first 20 seats through Nov 30, 2026.
Microsoft Forms offers a free plan (200 responses / form · 400 forms · basic themes). Forms is never sold on its own — it comes with a Microsoft account or a Microsoft 365 seat. Prices below are per user per month on annual billing; response caps are per form, not per month.
Google Forms payments: No. Microsoft Forms payments: No. FormBuilder collects Stripe payments to your own account with no platform fee on every plan, including free.
Google Forms HIPAA / BAA: Yes (BAA via paid Workspace plans). Microsoft Forms HIPAA / BAA: Yes (Covered by Microsoft 365 BAA on eligible plans). FormBuilder's HIPAA plan with BAA ($99 / month) is currently rolling out.
Google Forms is google's free, no-frills form and survey tool — unlimited forms and responses for anyone with a Google account, wired straight into Sheets and Drive. Microsoft Forms is microsoft's built-in survey, quiz and poll tool — free with a Microsoft account and bundled into every Microsoft 365 business and education plan. Google Forms is best for anyone who needs a free survey or sign-up sheet in five minutes; Microsoft Forms is best for organisations already licensed for Microsoft 365 that want zero-cost internal surveys and quizzes.
FormBuilder is worth a look if you want an AI generator that drafts forms from a sentence, 100 free responses a month with overflow held rather than lost, Stripe payments with no platform fee, and a flat $39 / month Pro plan for 10,000 responses. See our full FormBuilder vs Google Forms and FormBuilder vs Microsoft Forms comparisons.
Last reviewed August 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
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