Jotform vs Google Forms (Pros, Cons, and Which to Pick)

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Consider you’ve crafted the perfect survey to gather customer feedback on your business’s products or services, but when you send it out, it doesn’t look like you expected. As you investigate the problem, you discover that the survey tool you chose doesn’t have the features you need to customize your form. This is just one of many challenges small business owners often face when selecting between Jotform vs, Google Forms and other survey tools. This guide will help you compare Jotform and Google Forms to determine which suits your business’s survey needs better.

Notion Forms is one of the best survey tools for small business to help you get started on the right foot to avoid the stress of “survey tool” issues when customizing your following survey. Notion Forms easily integrates with Notion, a popular organization tool that helps you keep all your notes and data in one place to avoid the chaos of disorganized surveys.

What is Jotform?

Jotform is a robust and versatile online form builder trusted by over 25 million users worldwide. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and advanced features make it an industry leader for creating and managing online forms. Whether you’re a small business, enterprise, educator, or nonprofit, Jotform offers the tools to streamline data collection, improve workflow efficiency, and elevate user experience.

Key Features

Ready-Made Templates

Jotform provides access to over 10,000 pre-designed templates. These templates cover many use cases, including lead generation, surveys, event registrations, and payment forms. Customization options allow users to tailor templates to their specific needs.

Smooth Integrations

Offers over 200 integrations with popular third-party apps like Google Sheets, Dropbox, PayPal, and Salesforce—Automates workflows by connecting form responses directly to tools you already use.

Advanced Design Tools

It offers drag-and-drop functionality for easy form creation. It also supports conditional logic, custom branding, and responsive design to ensure that forms look professional and work seamlessly on any device.

Real-Time Reporting

Create graphical reports and tables directly from collected data. Visual dashboards provide insights, which are handy for surveys and event evaluations.

Multi-Language Support

It supports 25+ languages, making it ideal for global teams and audiences.

Popular Use Cases

Payment Forms

Easily integrate with payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe to collect payments securely.

Lead Generation

Capture prospects’ information with customizable forms that integrate with CRM tools.

Event Registrations

Use dynamic registration forms to streamline event sign-ups.

Surveys and Feedback

Gather customer insights with beautifully designed and responsive survey forms.

Application Forms

Efficiently create detailed application forms for jobs, grants, or scholarships.

User Reviews and Testimonials

Ease of Use

Users praise Jotform's user-friendly interface, describing it as intuitive and efficient for beginners and professionals. Example Review (Small Business, Dec 6, 2024): "The ease of use, aesthetic formatting, and ease-of-use make Jotform the best form option out there."

Flexibility and Customization

Jotform’s advanced customization options allow complete control over form design and functionality. Example Review (Enterprise, Dec 4, 2024): "Extremely complete and flexible system. Many interface plug-ins available. Real-time graphs and tables from linked forms are a huge advantage."

Automation and Workflow Integration

Reviewers highlight the seamless automation features and integrations with other tools. Example Review (Mid-Market, Dec 5, 2024): "Accredit surveys and create graphical reports automatically fantastic for business needs."

Pricing Overview

Free Plan

It is ideal for individuals or small teams needing basic functionality. Includes limited forms and submissions.

Paid Plans

Bronze Plan: $34/month, suitable for growing businesses.

Silver Plan

$39/month, offers more forms, submissions, and storage.

Gold Plan

$99/month, designed for enterprises requiring advanced features and maximum storage.

Exclusive G2 Deal

Save 50% on paid plans starting at $19.50/month.

Why Jotform Stands Out

Jotform’s extensive features, advanced customization, and seamless integration make it a preferred choice for organizations of all sizes. Its ability to create polished, professional forms for various use cases sets it apart from other form builders. If you’re looking for a powerful, all-in-one form-building solution, Jotform is a reliable and efficient option to streamline data collection and improve workflows.

Types of Survey Methods

Market Research Surveys

Survey Automation

What Are Surveys

Conduct Surveys

How to Get People to Take a Survey

What is a Panel Survey

Survey Data Collection

How to Increase Survey Response Rates

What is Google Forms?

Google Forms is a simple, free, easy-to-use form-building tool in the Google Workspace suite. Designed for individuals, educators, and small teams, It allows users to create forms quickly and collect responses efficiently. Its seamless integration with other Google tools like Google Sheets and Google Drive makes it a go-to choice for basic form-building needs.

Key Features

Ease of Use

Google Forms is highly intuitive, with a straightforward interface that doesn’t require technical expertise. Users can create forms in minutes, making them perfect for quick surveys, feedback collection, and essential data gathering.

Templates for Simplicity

It offers templates for everyday use cases, such as event registrations, quizzes, and job applications. While customization is limited, users can change colors and fonts and add basic branding.

Real-Time Collaboration

Like other Google Workspace tools, Google Forms supports real-time collaboration. Multiple users can work on a form simultaneously, making it ideal for teams.

Response Summaries and Analytics

It automatically compiles responses into a Google Sheet for easy data analysis and provides built-in charts and summaries for quick insights into form data.

Integration with Google Workspace

Forms sync seamlessly with Google Sheets, Docs, and Drive, ensuring smooth data storage and reporting workflows.

Free and Unlimited Usage

Google Forms is free, with no limits on the number of forms, responses, or users.

Popular Use Cases

Surveys and Feedback

Collect feedback from employees, customers, or event attendees with simple survey forms.

Event Registrations

Use Google Forms for quick and easy event sign-ups, complete with automated data collection in Google Sheets.

Educational Quizzes

Popular among educators for creating online quizzes with grading capabilities.

Basic Data Collection

Ideal for internal forms such as timesheets, meeting RSVPs, or anonymous feedback.

User Reviews and Testimonials

Simplicity and Accessibility

Users appreciate the tool’s simplicity and the fact that it’s free to use.

Example Feedback

"I love how easy it is to create forms and collect responses without worrying about costs or technical difficulties."

Integration with Google Workspace

Users highlight its seamless integration with other Google apps as a significant advantage.

Example Feedback

"I use Google Forms to collect survey data, which is automatically populated in Google Sheets. It saves so much time."

Limitations in Customization

While praised for its simplicity, some users note that customization options are minimal compared to other form builders like Jotform.

Example Feedback

"It’s great for quick forms, but I wish it offered more design flexibility and advanced features."

Pricing Overview

Free Plan

Google Forms is entirely free for all users. Includes unlimited forms, responses, and collaborators.

No Paid Plans

While Google Workspace subscriptions add value (e.g., additional Drive storage), Google Forms does not have premium tiers.

Why Google Forms Stands Out

Google Forms is the best choice for users who need a free, quick, and reliable form solution without requiring advanced features. Its seamless integration with Google Workspace tools like Sheets and Drive makes it perfect for teams already using Google’s ecosystem.

Survey Tools For Data Collection

Survey vs Questionnaire

How to Create an Effective Survey

Customer Satisfaction Survey Best Practices

Survey Design Best Practices

Survey Question Types

Survey Data Analysis

Employee Survey Tools

Customer Satisfaction Survey Software

Best Customer Feedback Tools

HIPAA Compliant Survey Tools

Survey Tools for Research

Redcap vs Qualtrics

Jotform vs. Google Forms

The Smooth Operator: Ease of Use

Google Forms is the go-to for people who want something quick and easy. If you’re not tech-savvy, no problem—it’s incredibly straightforward. You can create a form in minutes, perfect for basic tasks like surveys or sign-ups. You don’t need to spend time learning how to use it because everything is laid out simply.

Jotform, while still user-friendly, takes things up a notch. It has a drag-and-drop interface that’s simple to use but offers way more features than Google Forms. This means you might need time to explore and get comfortable with all the tools it provides, especially if you’re diving into customization options or workflow automation. But once you’re familiar, it’s just as easy to use.

Standing Out in the Crowd: Customization

This is where Jotform shines. It lets you completely customize your forms. Want a form that matches your brand’s colors, includes your logo, or even has different layouts? Jotform can handle it. It even has more than 10,000 templates to help you get started quickly. You can also add innovative features like conditional logic, which changes the questions or sections users see based on their answers.

Google Forms, on the other hand, is very basic. You can change the background color and font, but that’s about it. While it does the job for simple tasks, it’s not ideal if you want your forms to look professional or unique.

The Feature Showdown: Jotform vs. Google Forms

Jotform is like the Swiss Army knife of form builders. It’s packed with features that go beyond just collecting responses. You can integrate it with over 200 apps like PayPal, Stripe, or Salesforce. You can collect payments, manage leads, and automate tasks directly from your forms. It has advanced features like creating approval workflows, real-time reporting dashboards, and even HIPAA compliance for sensitive data.

Google Forms sticks to the basics. It’s excellent for collecting and syncing responses to Google Sheets for analysis. However, it doesn’t offer advanced tools like payment processing, conditional logic, or integrations outside the Google ecosystem. If you’re a casual user or just need to create a quick form, it’s perfect. But for more complex needs, it might feel a bit limiting.

Integration: Get More Done with Jotform

Google Forms is a natural fit if you already use Google Workspace (like Gmail, Drive, or Sheets). It syncs seamlessly with these tools, which is great for organizing and analyzing data. However, it doesn’t integrate well with third-party tools outside of Google.

Jotform, on the other hand, connects with just about everything. From payment platforms like Stripe and PayPal to CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, Jotform makes it easy to plug your forms into your existing workflows. This makes it ideal for businesses that rely on multiple tools to manage their operations.

The Cost of Forms: Jotform vs. Google Forms

Google Forms wins in the cost department because it’s completely free. You can create unlimited forms and collect unlimited responses without spending a dime. This is a massive advantage for personal use, small teams, or educators.

Jotform offers a free plan, but it limits the number of forms and submissions. You’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan for more advanced features. Prices start at $19.50/month (with discounts) and go up to $99/month for enterprise features. While it’s not free, the extra functionality and customization options can be worth the investment for businesses.

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Which One Is Right for Your Needs?

When to Choose Jotform: The Advanced Functionality of Jotform

Jotform is the better option if you’re looking for advanced features, customization, and a more professional form-building experience. Here’s why:

You Need Advanced Functionality

Jotform is designed to handle more than just collecting responses. It offers features like payment processing, conditional logic, and workflow automation. For example, if you’re running an event and need a form that collects payments, automatically emails confirmations, and organizes attendee information, Jotform can do it all. While great for collecting data, Google Forms doesn’t have these capabilities.

Customization is Important

Branding matters, especially for businesses and professionals. Jotform allows you to create forms that match your brand’s colors, include your logo, and even offer dynamic layouts. Whether you’re designing a lead generation or a registration form, Jotform ensures your forms look polished and professional. If you need this level of design flexibility, Jotform is the clear winner.

You Want Smooth Integration with Business Tools

Jotform integrates with over 200 third-party applications, including CRMs like Salesforce, payment processors like Stripe, and project management tools like Trello. This means you can connect your forms to the tools you’re already using and automate workflows. For example, you can create a form that sends customer inquiries directly to your sales team’s CRM or syncs responses with your email marketing platform.

You Handle Sensitive Data

If you’re in an industry like healthcare or finance and need to collect sensitive information, Jotform’s HIPAA-compliant forms and advanced security features make it a safer choice. Google Forms, while secure, doesn’t offer HIPAA compliance or the same level of data protection.

You’re Willing to Invest

Jotform’s paid plans unlock powerful features that make it worth the investment for businesses and professionals. The cost is justified if you need advanced tools, are handling high-volume responses, or require extensive integrations.

When to Choose Google Forms: The Simplicity of Google Forms

Google Forms is ideal if you’re looking for something simple, free, and efficient for essential data collection. Here’s when Google Forms is the right choice:

You Need a Free Solution

Google Forms is free to use, without limits on the number of forms, responses, or users. This makes it perfect for individuals, small teams, or educators working on a tight budget. If you don’t need advanced features, you can save money using Google Forms.

Simplicity is Key

If you’re new to form building or don’t want to spend time learning a new tool, Google Forms is a great choice. Its interface is clean, and creating a form is as simple as adding questions, choosing response types, and sharing the link.

You’re Already Using Google Workspace

If you use tools like Google Sheets, Drive, and Gmail, Google Forms fits perfectly into your workflow. For example, responses from your forms automatically populate in a Google Sheet, making it easy to analyze data or share it with your team. This seamless integration is a significant advantage if you work within the Google ecosystem.

Your Needs Are Basic

Google Forms works well for straightforward tasks like surveys, quizzes, or feedback forms. If you’re an educator creating a class quiz or an individual organizing a party, RSVP, Google Forms has everything you need without any unnecessary features.

Collaboration Matters

Google Forms allows real-time collaboration, meaning multiple people can simultaneously work on the same form. This makes it an excellent option for teams working on shared projects or educators co-creating quizzes with colleagues.

Who Should Use Both?

Some users might benefit from using both tools. For instance, you could use Google Forms for quick and straightforward internal tasks while leveraging Jotform for external-facing, more complex projects like collecting customer payments or managing workflows. Each platform has its strengths, so using them together can maximize efficiency.

Key Considerations to Help You Decide

Budget

If you want a free tool, Google Forms is the clear choice. If you’re willing to pay for advanced features, Jotform provides excellent business value.

Complexity

For professional-grade forms with dynamic features and branding, Jotform is the better choice. For simple, quick forms, Google Forms is more practical.

Integration Needs

Jotform integrates with a broader range of apps, making it ideal for businesses with complex workflows. If your workflow is limited to Google Workspace, Google Forms is more than sufficient.

Data Sensitivity

If you’re collecting sensitive information requiring advanced security, Jotform’s features, like HIPAA compliance, make it safer.

Frequency of Use

For occasional, low-stakes use, Google Forms is a no-brainer. If forms are a core part of your workflow, the extra features and customization of Jotform may be worth the investment.

Create a Form for Free Today with our Notion Forms Builder

NoteForms is a powerful form builder for Notion that enhances the data collection capabilities of the productivity tool Notion. NoteForms's Notion forms builder supercharges Notion by enabling seamless form creation that integrates directly with Notion databases. Our key features include creating forms from existing Notion DBs, storing submissions in Notion DBs, unlimited forms and submissions, full customization (custom domains, design, logic, webhooks), embeddable forms, integrations (email, Zapier, Slack), support for Notion-specific columns (relation, people), writing to page body, and database views as a sub-product.