Microsoft Forms
Microsoft's simple form builder tool within Office 365
TL;DR
Microsoft Forms is a free form builder tool within Microsoft 365, and it looks better than Google Forms. But it still lacks the polish and advanced features of dedicated form builders.
Overview
Microsoft Forms is a web-based application within the Office suite, and it allows users to create online surveys, forms, quizzes, and questionnaires.
When you think of form builders, Microsoft probably isn't the first name that comes to mind. That's the interesting thing about Microsoft Forms; it doesn't try to be. It's a practical tool built into the Microsoft 365 suite and works great for simple surveys, forms, and quizzes.
For organizations already invested in Microsoft's ecosystem, Forms offers a convenient solution that integrates seamlessly with Excel, Teams, and other familiar tools. But how does it stack up against both its closest competitor, Google Forms, and dedicated form builders like Typeform, forms.app, and Fillout?
In this review, we created forms, collected responses, tested its features, examined user comments across multiple platforms, and compared it to other tools in the market.
Among Microsoft 365 tools, like Powerpoint, Excel, etc. Microsoft Forms appears as "Forms". So, people online sometimes refers Microsoft Forms, as just Forms.
Ease of Use 4/5
Microsoft Forms looks modern. The dashboard is clean and straightforward.
The form creation process is pretty simple. You choose between starting from scratch, using a template (there are 22 available), or duplicating an existing form. Surprisingly, the AI form creation option is not available unless you have a Microsoft 365 account and a Copilot license. This feels like a missed opportunity to us; if you competitor gives this feature for free and if you want people to use your AI, you need to make this available to everyone Microsoft.
The template library is modest, with just 22 templates. It's more than Google Forms' 17 templates, but nowhere near the thousands offered by tools like Jotform and forms.app.
The form editor itself takes some getting used to. It's not as intuitive as Google Forms, which feels more natural right from the start. There's a learning curve with how settings are organized and where to find certain features. For example, branching logic exists and is better than Google Forms' implementation, but finding and setting it up isn't immediately obvious.
Once you get the hang of it, though, the editor is functional. Adding questions is straightforward, and the settings for each question type are accessible. The interface has a somewhat raw feeling. It lacks the smoothness you'd find in tools built specifically for forms.
Overall, Microsoft Forms strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. It's easy enough for beginners but not quite as effortless as Google Forms, earning it a solid 4 out of 5.
Features 2/5
Microsoft Forms keeps things relatively simple on the features front. It covers the basics well but doesn't venture far into advanced territory.
Standard features like conditional logic (branching), file uploads, quizzes with auto-grading, and basic statistics are all present. The quiz functionality is particularly well-developed, likely because Forms is popular in educational settings. Teachers can create self-grading assessments with point values, and there's even a practice mode for students.
There's also an NPS (Net Promoter Score) question type, which is handy for customer feedback forms. The branching logic works better than Google Forms', allowing you to create more sophisticated form flows.
Excel integration is another standout feature. Responses automatically sync to Excel in real-time, and the connection is seamless. For teams that live in Excel for data analysis, this is genuinely valuable. You can also connect Forms to Power Automate for workflow automation, though this requires building flows yourself. There are no pre-built automation templates within Forms itself. Third-party integrations exist primarily through Power Automate rather than native connections.
What's missing is notable. There are no payment integrations, no webhook support directly in Forms (you need Power Automate for that), limited customization options compared to dedicated form builders, and no features for tracking partial submissions or drop-offs. The platform doesn't offer advanced features like data enrichment, custom domains for form URLs, or sophisticated analytics beyond basic charts.
Microsoft Forms does what it's designed to do: basic to intermediate data collection. It's not trying to compete with full-fledged form builders, and that shows in the feature set. It gets a 3 out of 5. Solid for its purpose, but limited if you need more advanced capabilities.
Key Features
Lacking Features
Looks & Design 4/5
Microsoft Forms does a really nice job in form design, especially compared to Google Forms. The forms look modern and clean.
You can change the background color, add images, and choose from various coverlayouts. There isn't much to customize, but the forms have a contemporary feel that doesn't look dated, which is a common complaint about Google Forms. That said, there's still that "raw" feeling. The forms lack the polish and smoothness you'd get from a tool like Typeform or forms.app.
For a free tool included with Microsoft 365, the form design is quite good. It earns a 4 out of 5. It's modern enough to avoid embarrassment, but not refined enough to impress.
Customer Satisfaction 4/5
Microsoft Forms maintains a decent reputation. At the time of this review, it holds 4.6 stars on Capterra, and generally above 4 stars.
What people like:
- No additional cost: For organizations already paying for Microsoft 365, Forms is "free" and requires no separate subscription for basic features.
- Microsoft ecosystem integration: Users consistently praise how well Forms works with Excel, Teams, SharePoint, and other Microsoft tools. The seamless data flow to Excel is frequently mentioned as a major benefit.
What people don't like:
- Limited customization: This is the most common complaint. Users find the design options restrictive compared to other form builders, with limited branding capabilities and appearance controls.
- Basic features: Many reviewers note that Forms feels basic compared to dedicated form builders or even Google Forms in some aspects. The lack of advanced features frustrates users trying to create complex surveys.
- Confusing pricing model: Some users are confused about what requires a basic Microsoft account versus what needs a Microsoft 365 subscription versus what needs Copilot.
- Limited reporting: The analytics are described as "fairly basic" with users often needing to export to Excel for any meaningful analysis.
Microsoft Forms Pricing 5/5
Here's where Microsoft Forms truly has an edge: pricing. For most users, it's effectively free.
If you have a personal Microsoft account (Hotmail, Outlook.com, or Live), you can use Microsoft Forms for free with some limitations compared to Microsoft 365 users, but the core functionality is available.
If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, Microsoft Forms is included at no additional cost. For organizations already paying for Microsoft 365 for email and Office apps, Forms comes as a bonus.
The Copilot AI features require an additional Microsoft 365 Copilot license (around $30/user/month on top of your Microsoft 365 subscription), which is a significant additional expense but not required to use Forms itself.
While we would like Microsoft to include AI features in the free plan; Microsoft Forms still offers a solid pricing. You can use it for free; and you can use it tiny bit better if you are in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Free Plan
- Unlimited responses
- Basic statistics
- 22 Free templates
- 8 Form fields
Pros & Cons of Microsoft Forms
Pros
- • Allows unlimited form responses
- • Integrates seamlessly with other Office 365 tools
- • Modern, clean design that looks better than Google Forms
- • Capable branching logic
- • NPS question type built-in
- • Gets regular updates
Cons
- • UX is a bit clunky
- • Lacks advanced form features
- • Very limited customization options
- • Basic analytics and reporting
- • Limited template library (22 templates)
- • Copilot AI features require expensive additional license
The Verdict
Microsoft Forms is a practical tool that serves its purpose well. It's not trying to revolutionize form building; It's trying to give Microsoft 365 users a convenient way to collect data without leaving their ecosystem.
If you're already using Microsoft 365, Microsoft Forms is a no-brainer. The Excel integration alone makes it valuable for many business users. It's better looking than Google Forms and offers some more advanced features like better branching logic.
However, if you need payment processing, advanced customization, sophisticated workflows, or premium design, you'll need a different form builder. It's safe to say that Microsoft Forms is better than Google Forms in appearance and some functionality, but it still falls behind dedicated form builder tools like Typeform, forms.app, and Fillout in terms of features, polish, and flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Forms
when was Microsoft Forms launched?
Microsoft Forms was released on June 20, 2016.
Is Microsoft Forms actually free?
Yes, you can use Microsoft Forms for free, even with a personal account.
Does Microsoft Forms work on mobile?
Yeah, Microsoft Forms works fine on mobile browsers. But here's the thing: there's no dedicated Microsoft Forms mobile app. You can create and respond to forms through your phone's browser, and the interface is responsive, but it's not quite as smooth as a native app experience.
How many questions can I have per form on Microsoft Forms?
According to the official support article from Microsoft, each form can have up to 200 questions.
How many responses can I collect per form on Microsoft Forms?
Microsoft's official support article states that you can collect up to 5,000,000 responses per form.
How many forms/quizzes can I create on Microsoft Forms?
Microsoft Forms allows you to create up to 400 forms/quizzes. If you belong to a team, the team has a limit of up to 400 shared forms, which will show up in the Group forms tab on the Microsoft Forms portal. The 400 shared forms are in addition to the 400 forms you can create as an individual.
Can I collect e-signatures with Microsoft Forms?
No, Microsoft Forms doesn't have an e-signature question type.
Can I shuffle questions on Microsoft Forms?
Yes, Microsoft Forms allows shuffling questions. 1. Open a form on Microsoft Forms. 2. Click on the settings button located on the top bar next to Preview and Style. 3. Find and check the shuffle questions option.
This review has been researched and written following our strictly standardized FormBuilderTools methodology. We believe in transparency and consistency.
- We create real accounts and build actual forms.
- We test specific features like logic, payments, and integrations.
- We evaluate the respondent experience on mobile and desktop.
- We verify pricing claims and support responsiveness.