Microsoft Forms vs Google Forms: Which Form Builder is Better for You?

As organizations increasingly rely on digital tools to enhance their operations, choosing between Google Forms and Microsoft becomes essential for maintaining consistency and cost-effectiveness. Both Microsoft Forms and Google Forms offer robust features, but each is tailored to different needs and preferences.

If you’re deciding between the two, this blog will help you compare microsoft forms with google forms, weigh the pros and cons of each platform, so you can choose the one that best online form building meets your data collection needs.

Pros and Cons of Microsoft Forms

Microsoft Forms is an obvious choice for organizations already using Microsoft 365, because it integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products. This makes it an attractive option for businesses that rely on file sharing across teams.

But what if you’re not already using Microsoft 365, what if you have very specific enterprise requirements from your form builder- what then?Now, let's explore the Microsoft Forms pros and then the cons.

Pros:

• Seamless Integration with Microsoft 365 Suite: Ofcourse, one of the biggest benefits of Microsoft Forms is how well it works with Microsoft Suite users. If your organization already uses Microsoft Suite products like Microsoft Excel, Word, or Outlook, then Microsoft Forms fits in perfectly. You can easily gather information and export it to Excel for further analysis, or share forms through Outlook. For advanced data analysis, exporting form results into pivot tables within Excel is also a powerful way to optimize Microsoft forms for MS users. This makes it a convenient option for businesses who are already part of the Microsoft ecosystem.
• User-Friendly Interface for Microsoft Users: If you're familiar with Microsoft tools and use a Microsoft account, you'll find Microsoft Forms is very user-friendly. The interface is simple and straightforward, so even if you're not very tech-savvy, you can create survey forms quite easily. This makes it a great option for quick form creation and comes in handy for anyone who needs to make basic surveys or quizzes with multiple choices without spending too much time learning a new tool.
• Free for Individual Use: Microsoft Forms is free for individual users, which makes it a great choice for small projects or personal use. This is especially helpful for freelancers, teachers, or small business users who need a reliable tool without having to spend that extra money.
• Suitable for Small-Scale Data Collection: If your data collection needs are less, Microsoft Forms offers the right tools to gather and analyze information effectively. Its simplicity makes it ideal for small businesses or teams that don't need advanced features.

Cons:

• Limited Customization for Enterprise-Level Users: Microsoft Forms doesn’t offer many options to create customized forms with advanced features like linear scales. If you want to create surveys and add your own themes, logos, or colors, you might find it lacking. This can be a huge problem for businesses that need to keep their branding consistent.
• Missing Advanced Features: Microsoft Forms doesn’t have advanced features like conditional logic (where the form changes based on answers) or payment options. This makes it less suitable for complex survey forms or online transactions which can be a significant drawback for healthcare providers, event planners or even e-commerce businesses.
• Storage Limits for Free Users: While you can use Microsoft Forms for free, the storage space is limited.  If you are collecting large amounts of data or files, you might run out of space quickly.
• Integration Issues with Non-Microsoft Tools: Microsoft Forms works well with other Microsoft tools, but it can be challenging to integrate with non-Microsoft applications. This could be a drawback if your enterprise relies on a variety of digital tools like Slack, Trello, or Salesforce, which are popularly used by many organizations.

Pros & Cons of Google Forms

Before diving into the pros and cons, let’s talk about  why so many people choose this tool to gather data. Microsoft Forms vs Google Forms is a frequent comparison because both tools offer strong features, yet Google's web based app stands out for its flexibility.

Whether you're looking to gather feedback, conduct research, or manage event registrations, this form building tool provides a range of features that make the form creation process easier and more efficient for you.

Now, let's explore the Google Forms pros and then the cons.

Pros

• Advanced Customization Options for Branding: Google Forms allows you to create forms based on personal preference with custom, dynamic themes, images, and color schemes. This is great for businesses that want their forms to match their brand’s style and identity.
• Advanced Features: It also offers key features like linear scale questions, conditional and branching logic, which lets the form adapt based on the user's answers, and payment integrations for businesses handling transactions. It supports uploads to Google Docs, making it easier to store and manage document-based responses. Google Forms makes it simple to collect responses from users and automatically process them for easy analysis. It also supports Google doc, and Google Sheets uploads, making it suitable for various types of data collection. Advanced users can even enhance form functionality using Google Apps to automate form responses and workflow.
• Integration with Google Workspace: Google Forms makes it easy to integrate with other Google Workspace tools like Google Doc, Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Docs. This means you can easily store, analyze, and share the collected data across the Google ecosystem using file sharing tools. It also integrates with Google Data Studio for enhanced data visualization and analysis. The platform is designed to enable users to collaborate in real-time and collect data efficiently for further analysis. It also integrates seamlessly with Google Business Suite, making it perfect for businesses looking for a unified platform to manage data. You can also use Google forms easily on mobile devices. For example, responses can be automatically added to Google Sheets for easy tracking and detailed analysis.
• Generous Storage on the Free Plan: Even if you’re using this tool for free, you get generous storage limits. This is especially useful if you need to gather information without worrying about running out of space, making it a great option for schools or businesses with extensive survey needs.
• Versatility for Various Survey Needs: Google Forms is versatile enough to handle everything from simple polls to complex survey forms. Its user-friendly interface and powerful features make it a good fit for both individuals and organizations.

Cons

• Requires a Google Account: To fully use Google Forms, you need a Google account and/or google workspace subscription. This can be inconvenient for users who don’t want to create an account or for organizations that don't use Google Workspace.
• Less Intuitive for Non-Google Users: If you’re not familiar with Google products, the interface might not feel as intuitive. There can be a learning curve, especially for those who are more used to other platforms.
• Limited Offline Functionality: Unlike some other tools, Google Forms has limited offline capabilities. You need an internet connection to create, edit, or submit forms, which can be a downside if you're in an area with unstable or no internet access.

Microsoft Forms vs. Google Forms Feature Comparison

When it comes to choosing between Microsoft Forms vs Google Forms, the best way to look at it is through the lens of the key features. Both tools can help you create surveys, multiple choice quizzes, and forms, but they differ in terms of customization options, functionality, and integration. Understanding these key differences can help you decide which web based app is best for your needs.

Let’s compare Microsoft and Google Forms and see how they stack up against each other in key areas.

Templates and Question Types

Both Microsoft and Google Forms offers various user-friendly templates and question types to make form creation easy. Unlike Google Forms, Microsoft Forms offers simple but fewer templates for quizzes, surveys, and feedback forms. On the other hand, Google Forms offers a wider range of templates and more complex question types, such as file uploads and grid scales.

Who wins? Microsoft Forms wins for simplicity and ease of use, while Google Forms has a more advanced features and template library for custom forms.

Image and Video Support

Google Forms excels in its ability to support multimedia elements.sers Users can add images and videos within their forms. This feature is particularly useful for creating interactive form-based questions, surveys or educational quizzes. While MS Forms does offer basic image support, it doesn’t integrate multimedia elements as effectively as Google Forms does.

Who wins? Google Forms takes the lead for multimedia support

Conditional Logic

Conditional logic is a feature that allows forms to change dynamically based on the user's previous answers. Google Forms offers this feature, making it more flexible for creating complex forms that adapt to different responses. Microsoft Forms, however, does not include this, which limits its ability to create forms that are dynamic and responsive.

Who wins? Google Forms wins for adaptability

Integration with Other Tools

Both form-builders integrate well with tools within their respective ecosystems. Microsoft Forms works seamlessly with Microsoft 365 products like Excel and Outlook, making it ideal for users already entrenched in the Microsoft Office environment. Google Forms, offers broader compatibility with third-party applications and seamlessly integrates  with Google Workspace tools like Google Sheets, and Docs. This broader compatibility makes this tool a better option for users who need to connect their forms with various other software outside the Google or Microsoft Office ecosystems.

Who wins? Microsoft Forms wins for those deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, while Google Forms is better for broader compatibility.

Pricing

Microsoft Forms offers a free version for its individual users but this comes with some limitations. To access more key features and enhanced security, a Microsoft 365 subscription is required. Pricing for Microsoft 365 starts at $6.99 per month for individuals.

Google Forms is entirely free for anyone with a Google account, offering generous storage and most of the key features at no cost. For businesses using Google Workspace, which starts at $6 per user per month, Google Forms is included with additional features and enhanced security.

Who wins? Microsoft Forms wins for those already using Microsoft 365, while Google Forms is a more cost-effective option for individual users.

Collaborative Features and Sharing

Microsoft Forms lets users collaborate for real-time mainly within the Microsoft ecosystem, making it easy to share forms with colleagues using tools like Microsoft Teams and Outlook.

Google’s form builder excels in real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit a form simultaneously. Sharing options are flexible, with the ability to send links, embed forms, or file through Google Drive, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

Who wins? Microsoft Forms wins for seamless integration within the Microsoft ecosystem, while Google Forms is the go-to for broader, more flexible collaboration features.

Summary: Microsoft Forms vs Google Forms

In summary, Microsoft Forms vs Google Forms comparisons often focus on how Google Forms excels in data analysis features, including integrations with Google Data Studio for better visualization. Google Forms generally offers superior customization, more advanced features, and broader integrations compared to Microsoft Forms. Google Forms is also often preferred in educational settings due to its simplicity and ease of access for both students and teachers. However Microsoft Forms is a strong option for users already within the Microsoft ecosystem who need straightforward form building tools that seamlessly integrate with their existing ecosystem. For personal use, Microsoft Forms can be a better choice for those who are familiar with Microsoft Office and prefer its interface.

But if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution that combines the strengths of both Microsoft Forms and Google Forms, MakeForms is a fantastic option

MakeForms brings together the best elements of Microsoft Forms and Google Forms with its intuitive interface and easy integration with various tools, advanced customization options, and more advanced analytics.

Whether you need simple online surveys or complex forms with branching logic features and multimedia elements, MakeForms can handle it all. It’s designed to meet diverse data collection needs efficiently.

But there's more - MakeForms enables teams to create surveys that are advanced, visually striking with cutting-edge security standards, all enhanced by AI capabilities.