Spreadsheets · head to head
Baserow vs LimeSurvey
LimeSurvey
Surveys
Open source survey software you can self-host, with German-hosted cloud as the alternative
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Baserow the free tier is capped at 3,000 rows and 2GB of storage per workspace; LimeSurvey self-hosting shifts patching, backups and PHP upgrades onto your own team, and neglected installations become a security liability holding participant data.
- They diverge on capability: Baserow covers Database tables, LimeSurvey covers Question type depth.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Baserow and LimeSurvey actually diverge.
| Attribute | Baserow | LimeSurvey |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Open source, with paid cloud hosting |
| Platforms | Web, Api, Self-hosted | Web, Self-hosted |
| Category | Spreadsheets | Surveys |
| Founded | 2019 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Baserow
- Database tables
- Multiple views
- Forms
- API access
- Real-time collaboration
- Templates
- Plugins
- Self-hosting
Only in LimeSurvey
- Question type depth
- Expression manager
- Quotas and screening
- Multilingual surveys
- Participant management
Both cover
- Self-hosted deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Baserow
- Self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet databasenot LimeSurvey
- Structured team data with Kanban, calendar and grid viewsnot LimeSurvey
- Building internal tools on top of a database with an APInot LimeSurvey
- Sharing data with external app users without giving them full seatsnot LimeSurvey
LimeSurvey
- A university study whose ethics approval requires participant data to stay on institutional serversnot Baserow
- A public body procuring survey software under European data protection rulesnot Baserow
- A market research agency running multilingual instruments with quotas and screening logicnot Baserow
- A team that needs complex matrix and ranking questions consumer form builders do not supportnot Baserow
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Baserow
- The free tier is capped at 3,000 rows and 2GB of storage per workspace
- Kanban, calendar and survey views need Premium at $10 per user per month billed yearly
- Role-based permissions, audit logs and SSO require Premium or higher
- Row limits are per workspace rather than per table, so splitting data across bases does not raise the ceiling
- Automation runs are metered as credits, 2,000 a month on free
LimeSurvey
- Self-hosting shifts patching, backups and PHP upgrades onto your own team, and neglected installations become a security liability holding participant data.
- The default interface and themes look dated beside Typeform or Jotform, which measurably lowers completion rates on consumer-facing surveys.
- Cloud plans are capped on responses per period, so an unexpectedly successful field wave can force an upgrade in the middle of data collection.
- Serious theming and layout changes require template and CSS work rather than a visual designer, so agencies often budget developer time per project.
- Support on the free edition is community forums only, and paid support is a separate purchase, which is a poor fit for teams with no technical staff.
Pricing, plan by plan
Baserow
Free- FreeFree
- 3000 rows per workspace
- 2 GB storage per workspace
- 2000 automation credits monthly
- Premium$10/month
- 50000 rows per workspace
- 20 GB storage per workspace
- 100000 automation credits monthly
- Advanced$18/month
- 250000 rows per workspace
- 100 GB storage per workspace
- 500000 automation credits monthly
- Enterprise$null/month
- 1000000 rows per workspace
- 1000 GB storage per workspace
- 2000000 automation credits monthly
LimeSurvey
Free- Community Edition (self-hosted)Free
- Free under the GNU General Public Licence
- No response limits imposed by the vendor
- Hosting, patching, backups and upgrades are your responsibility
- LimeSurvey Cloud$undefined/year
- Hosted on servers in Germany
- Tiered on responses and storage per period rather than per user
- Higher tiers add branding removal, more storage and support
Which should you pick?
Choose Baserow if
- You need database tables.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api, Self-hosted.
- You also want multiple views.
Choose LimeSurvey if
- You need question type depth.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Self-hosted.
- You also want expression manager.
Questions people ask
- Is Baserow or LimeSurvey better?
- Neither clearly leads. Baserow starts at Free and LimeSurvey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Baserow or LimeSurvey?
- Baserow starts at Free and LimeSurvey at Free.
- Does Baserow or LimeSurvey run on more platforms?
- Baserow runs on Web, Api, Self-hosted. LimeSurvey runs on Web, Self-hosted.
- Can I use Baserow for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Baserow best used for?
- Baserow is most often used for self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet database, structured team data with kanban, calendar and grid views, building internal tools on top of a database with an api, sharing data with external app users without giving them full seats. Of those, self-hosting an open source alternative to a spreadsheet database and structured team data with kanban, calendar and grid views are not what LimeSurvey is typically brought in for.
- What can Baserow do that LimeSurvey cannot?
- Baserow covers Database tables, Multiple views, Forms, API access. LimeSurvey covers Question type depth, Expression manager, Quotas and screening, Multilingual surveys. Both handle Self-hosted deployment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Baserow: Does Baserow have a free plan?
Baserow's Free plan includes 3000 rows per workspace, 2 GB storage, 2000 automation credits monthly, and access to Grid, Form, and Gallery views. It supports up to 500 external app users and includes 65+ templates with no credit card required.
SourceLimeSurvey: Is LimeSurvey really free?
The self-hosted Community Edition is free under the GPL with no vendor response limits. The hosted cloud is paid and tiered by response volume.
Baserow: What row and storage limits does Baserow provide by plan?
Free plan: 3000 rows and 2 GB storage; Premium plan: 50000 rows and 20 GB; Advanced plan: 250000 rows and 100 GB; Enterprise plan: 1000000 rows and 1 TB. All limits are per workspace.
SourceLimeSurvey: Where is cloud data stored?
On servers in Germany, which is why public sector and academic buyers choose it over United States hosted competitors.
Baserow: How much does Baserow Premium cost?
Baserow Premium costs $10 per user per month when billed annually, or $12 per month when billing monthly. Yearly billing provides better rates than monthly. Advanced plan costs $18/user/month annually or $22/month monthly.
SourceLimeSurvey: Can it handle complex research designs?
Yes. Quotas, randomisation, piping and matrix question types are core features rather than enterprise add-ons.
Baserow: What are automation credit limits in Baserow?
Free plan provides 2000 monthly automation credits, Premium provides 100000 monthly credits, Advanced provides 500000 monthly credits, and Enterprise provides 2000000 monthly credits for workflow automation.
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