When it comes to picking an online form builder, the choice between Formstack vs. Microsoft Forms can feel overwhelming. Both tools are excellent in their way, but they’re designed for different purposes.
Don’t worry—In this article, we’ll break everything down for you in simple terms so you can figure out which one works best for your needs.
About Formstack
Formstack is a powerful online form builder that allows businesses to create and manage forms without needing any technical skills.
Formstack is particularly popular in industries like healthcare, education, and e-commerce due to its robust features, such as advanced customization, HIPAA compliance, and extensive integrations. It also helps businesses automate workflows, collect payments, and analyze data seamlessly.
About Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Forms is a lightweight, easy-to-use form tool that comes bundled with Microsoft 365. It’s great for creating quick surveys, quizzes, or polls, especially for teams that already use Microsoft apps like Excel, Teams, or Outlook. While it’s not as feature-rich as Formstack, it’s a budget-friendly solution for simple tasks.
What Formstack vs Microsoft Forms Offer?
Both Formstack and Microsoft Forms are excellent tools, but they have different focuses. Here’s a quick look at what each offers:
Formstack Features:
- Drag-and-drop form builder.
- Conditional logic and advanced workflows.
- HIPAA compliance for sensitive data.
- Robust analytics and reporting.
- Extensive template library.
Microsoft Forms Features:
- Simple and easy-to-use interface.
- Basic themes for customization.
- Real-time response tracking.
- Export options to Excel.
- Accessible for small teams and individual users.
Formstack vs Microsoft Forms: Key strengths
When comparing Formstack and Microsoft Forms, each tool excels in different areas depending on the user’s specific needs. Here’s a breakdown of the key strengths of both platforms:
Formstack: Key Strengths
Advanced Customization and Flexibility
Formstack offers a high level of customization, allowing businesses to create forms tailored to their specific requirements. Whether it’s using conditional logic to control how questions appear or integrating with third-party apps, Formstack’s flexibility makes it ideal for complex workflows.
HIPAA Compliance and Security
For industries like healthcare, where handling sensitive data is critical, Formstack offers HIPAA compliance, ensuring that forms are secure and meet the necessary legal requirements for data protection. This makes it a top choice for businesses in regulated industries.
Microsoft Forms: Key Strengths
Simplicity and Ease of Use
Microsoft Forms is known for its user-friendly interface. Anyone, even those without technical expertise, can create a form in just a few clicks. Its intuitive design makes it a great choice for users who need to build quick surveys, polls, or quizzes without a steep learning curve.
Basic Customization Options
While it doesn’t offer the same level of customization as Formstack, Microsoft Forms still provides some basic theme options and customization features that allow users to personalize the appearance of their forms. It’s simple but functional for users who don’t need extensive design options.
Formstack vs. Microsoft Forms: Key Weakness
Both Formstack and Microsoft Forms have their strengths, but they also come with some limitations that could affect your decision depending on your needs. Here’s a breakdown of the key weaknesses of each platform:
Formstack: Key Weaknesses
Complexity for Beginners
Formstack’s rich feature set and advanced customization options can be overwhelming for new users. The learning curve can be steep, especially for those who are unfamiliar with form-building tools or who don’t have technical experience. Setting up complex workflows, integrations, or conditional logic can take time and effort.
Higher Cost
Formstack’s pricing starts at $83 per month, which can be steep for small businesses or teams with limited budgets. Higher-tier plans with additional features can be quite expensive. For users who don’t need advanced functionalities, the price may not be justified.
Limited Free Plan
Formstack does not offer a robust free version. The platform provides a free trial, but to unlock its full range of features, users must subscribe to a paid plan. This can be limiting for smaller projects or users looking for a free option.
Microsoft Forms: Key Weaknesses
Limited Customization Options
While Microsoft Forms offers basic customization options, it doesn’t compare to Formstack’s advanced design and logic capabilities. Users who need more control over the form layout, appearance, and functionality may find Microsoft Forms lacking.
Basic Features for Complex Needs
Microsoft Forms excels at creating simple surveys and quizzes but falls short when it comes to handling more complex form-building requirements. Features like conditional logic, multi-step workflows, and advanced integrations are not as robust as in Formstack, making it less ideal for businesses with intricate needs.
Fewer Integration Options
Microsoft Forms integrates well with Microsoft 365 tools (like Excel, Teams, and Outlook), but it has fewer integration options compared to Formstack, which supports a wider array of third-party applications. Businesses looking for extensive integrations with other platforms might find this a limitation.
Which One is Better: Formstack vs Microsoft Forms
Choosing between Formstack and Microsoft Forms comes down to your needs:
- Choose Formstack if You need advanced features, such as complex workflows, data analytics, integrations, and compliance with industry regulations like HIPAA. It’s perfect for larger businesses, especially in healthcare, education, or e-commerce.
- Choose Microsoft Forms if You need a simple, cost-effective tool for basic surveys, polls, or quizzes. It’s ideal for individuals, small teams, or businesses that already use Microsoft 365 and don’t require advanced customization or integrations.
Pricing
- Formstack: Pricing starts at $83 per month for basic plans and goes up based on additional features and users. While it’s an investment, the features you get make it worth it for businesses needing robust tools.
- Microsoft Forms: Included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, making it a very cost-effective option for those already using Microsoft products.
Another Fantastic Option to Consider: QuestionPro
If you’re exploring form-building tools beyond Formstack and Microsoft Forms, QuestionPro is a fantastic option to consider. It stands out as a versatile, feature-rich platform that can meet the needs of businesses and individuals alike. Here’s a closer look at what makes QuestionPro a great alternative:
QuestionPro lets you design surveys and forms that fit your exact needs. It gives you the flexibility to add different types of questions, multimedia, and even custom branding to your forms.
This platform offers advanced logic and branching, which lets you customize the survey experience based on how people answer questions. If you’re working in a team or running large-scale surveys, QuestionPro’s features make it a great choice.
One of the standout features of QuestionPro is its in-depth analytics tools. Once your form is out in the wild, you can easily track responses, view detailed insights, and generate reports that help you make smarter decisions.
Additionally, you can collaborate with team members, control permissions, and manage different aspects of your surveys without missing a beat. Also, QuestionPro gives you plenty of options for sharing your forms.
Conclusion
Both Formstack and Microsoft Forms have their strengths, and the choice comes down to your specific needs. If you require advanced features, compliance, and integrations, Formstack is the clear winner. However, if you’re looking for a simple, cost-effective tool and already use Microsoft products, Microsoft Forms could be the perfect fit.
If you’re looking for another form-building platform with a range of features, QuestionPro is another option to explore. With strong analytics, survey creation tools, and integrations, it can be a versatile choice for businesses. Contact QuestionPro for further information.
