Count your responses first
The biggest difference between free plans is how many answers you can collect. Estimate how many people will fill in your form each month, then compare:
| Responses on the free plan | Builders |
|---|---|
| Unlimited, under fair use | Tally, Youform |
| Unlimited | forms.app (5 forms), 123FormBuilder (1 form with 10 fields) |
| 1,000 a month | Fillout |
| 500 a month | Zoho Forms |
| 250 a month | Formbricks |
| 100 a month | Jotform, Cognito Forms |
| Limited, number not stated | Typeform; SurveyMonkey limits how many responses you can view |
Fillout says forms keep collecting responses past the limit and the count resets on the 1st of the month. Other vendors do not say what happens, so check before a busy sign-up.
Branding and file uploads
Almost every free plan shows the builder's name on your form. Jotform and Cognito Forms say their branding is included, Fillout shows a badge, and Tally, Youform, forms.app and Formbricks list removing branding as a paid feature. Zoho Forms says its footer goes away only on a paid plan.
If people need to send you files, check the upload caps: Tally and Youform allow 10 MB per file, Fillout 20 MB per file, Jotform 100 MB of upload space, Cognito Forms 100 MB of storage and Zoho Forms 200 MB. 123FormBuilder's free plan has no upload storage.
Surveys you host yourself
If your answers must stay on your own server, two open source survey tools can be self-hosted. LimeSurvey is licensed under the GPL v2.0 or any later version. Formbricks is under the AGPLv3 and says you can host it with Docker without a subscription; its Enterprise features need a license key.
Self-hosting means you run, update and back up the server yourself.
Share and use the results
- QR code generator: print a code that opens your form on a poster or handout.
- URL shortener: turn a long form link into a short one.
- CSV to JSON and JSON to CSV: convert exported responses for another tool or a spreadsheet.
- Random name picker: draw a winner from the people who entered a giveaway.
We opened each builder's official pricing page, product page or repository on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. "Not stated" means the page does not say it.
Frequently asked questions
Which free form builder allows unlimited responses?
Tally lists unlimited forms and submissions on its free plan, and Youform unlimited forms and responses, both within fair use. forms.app allows unlimited responses on up to 5 forms, and 123FormBuilder unlimited submissions on 1 form.
Can I remove the branding on a free plan?
Not on the plans we checked. Jotform, Cognito Forms, Fillout and Zoho Forms say their branding stays on free forms, and Tally, Youform, forms.app, Formbricks and Typeform list removing branding as a paid feature.
What happens when I reach the monthly limit?
It depends on the builder. Fillout says forms still collect responses after the 1,000 a month limit and the count resets on the 1st. Most other pricing pages do not say, so read the vendor's help pages before a big launch.
Is there a free survey tool I can host myself?
Yes. LimeSurvey is a free and open-source survey platform under the GPL, and Formbricks is under the AGPLv3 and can be self-hosted with Docker without a subscription.
Can I collect payments with a free form?
Cognito Forms says unlimited forms and payments are available on every plan, including the free Individual plan. 123FormBuilder's free plan does not include payments.