When evaluating form and survey builders for ecommerce, it's essential to consider tools that offer robust features, scalability, and seamless integration with ecommerce platforms. Google Forms and Jotform are two prominent options, each catering to different needs and user bases.
Google Forms
Google Forms is a free, simple survey and form builder by Google, designed for users seeking straightforward data collection solutions.
Features
- Unlimited Forms and Responses: Create an unlimited number of forms and collect unlimited responses, making it suitable for basic data collection needs.
- Integration with Google Workspace: Seamlessly integrates with Google Sheets for data analysis and other Google Workspace tools for enhanced productivity.
- Basic Question Types and Logic: Offers a variety of question types and basic conditional logic to tailor forms to specific requirements.
Pricing Model
- Free Tier: Provides unlimited forms and responses with 15GB of shared storage across Google services.
- Google Workspace Starter: Priced at $7 per user per month, offering 30GB of storage per user, custom email domains, and additional administrative controls.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Cost-Effective: The free tier is entirely free, and the paid plans are competitively priced.
- User-Friendly: Intuitive interface suitable for users with minimal technical expertise.
- Integration with Google Services: Easy integration with Google Sheets and other Google Workspace tools.
Cons:
- Limited Customization: Offers basic design customization options, which may not meet the branding needs of ecommerce businesses.
- Basic Features: Lacks advanced features like payment collection, advanced analytics, and extensive third-party integrations.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
Ideal for individuals or small businesses requiring simple forms and surveys without the need for advanced features or extensive customization.
Jotform
Jotform is an online form and survey builder with extensive templates, catering to users seeking more advanced functionalities and customization options.
Features
- Extensive Templates and Widgets: Offers a vast library of templates and widgets to create customized forms tailored to specific needs.
- Advanced Conditional Logic: Provides advanced conditional logic to create dynamic forms that adapt based on user input.
- Payment Integrations: Supports integration with various payment gateways, enabling payment collection directly through forms.
- HIPAA Compliance: Available on higher-tier plans, ensuring data security for sensitive information.
Pricing Model
- Starter (Free): Allows 5 forms, 100 submissions per month, and 100MB storage.
- Bronze: Priced at $34 per month (or $39 monthly), includes 25 forms, 1,000 submissions per month, and 1GB storage.
- Silver: Priced at $39 per month (or $49 monthly), includes 50 forms, 2,500 submissions per month, and 10GB storage.
- Gold: Priced at $99 per month (or $129 monthly), includes 100 forms, 10,000 submissions per month, and 100GB storage.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations requiring advanced features and support.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Feature-Rich: Offers a wide range of features, including payment integrations and advanced conditional logic.
- Customization: High level of customization to match branding and functional requirements.
- Scalability: Pricing tiers cater to various business sizes, from startups to large enterprises.
Cons:
- Pricing: Paid plans can be relatively expensive, especially for small businesses or startups.
- Learning Curve: The abundance of features may require a learning period for new users.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
Suitable for small to large businesses, including ecommerce platforms, that require advanced form functionalities, customization, and integration capabilities.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Google Forms | Jotform |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free tier; Paid plans start at $7/user/month | Free tier; Paid plans start at $34/month |
| Form Limit | Unlimited | Free: 5; Paid: 25 (Bronze), 50 (Silver), 100 (Gold) |
| Monthly Submissions | Unlimited | Free: 100; Paid: 1,000 (Bronze), 2,500 (Silver), 10,000 (Gold) |
| Storage | 15GB shared across Google services | Free: 100MB; Paid: 1GB (Bronze), 10GB (Silver), 100GB (Gold) |
| Integrations | Google Sheets, Google Drive, Google Analytics | 100+ integrations, including payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square |
| Customization | Basic design customization | Extensive design and functionality customization |
| Advanced Features | Basic conditional logic, no payment collection | Advanced conditional logic, payment collection, HIPAA compliance (Gold and Enterprise) |
| Ideal for | Individuals and small businesses needing simple forms and surveys | Small to large businesses, including ecommerce, requiring advanced features and integrations |
Which to Choose
When deciding between Google Forms and Jotform for ecommerce, consider the following scenarios:
For Simple Data Collection: If your ecommerce business requires basic forms for customer feedback or simple surveys, Google Forms offers a cost-effective and user-friendly solution.
For Advanced Functionalities: If you need forms with advanced features like payment processing, extensive customization, and integration with various platforms, Jotform is more suitable.
For Scalability and Compliance: For larger ecommerce operations requiring scalability, HIPAA compliance, and enterprise-level support, Jotform's higher-tier plans offer the necessary features.�
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
If you're evaluating options for form and survey builders, Zigpoll is also worth a look. Zigpoll is a Shopify survey app offering post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys, with zero-party data collection and a clean, Shopify-native setup. It tends to suit merchants who want flexible survey types in one place without enterprise pricing.
