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Surveys · head to head

Cognito Forms vs Qualtrics CoreXM

Cognito Forms logo

Cognito Forms

Surveys

Powerful forms made easy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Qualtrics CoreXM logo

Qualtrics CoreXM

Surveys

Enterprise survey and market research platform, priced by seat and response volume through negotiated contracts

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cognito Forms has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cognito Forms individual free plan caps at 100 entries per month and 1 user; Qualtrics CoreXM there is no public pricing for any deployment beyond a small individual self-service plan, so budgeting requires a sales conversation before a shortlist can even be built.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cognito Forms and Qualtrics CoreXM actually diverge.

Attributes where Cognito Forms and Qualtrics CoreXM differ
AttributeCognito FormsQualtrics CoreXM
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Surveys).

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 Cognito Forms

Nothing recorded that Qualtrics CoreXM does not also cover.

Only in Qualtrics CoreXM

  • Advanced survey logic
  • Statistical analysis tools
  • Text analytics
  • Dashboards and reporting
  • Panel integration
  • API and platform integrations

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cognito Forms

  • Building HIPAA-compliant data collection forms without codingnot Qualtrics CoreXM
  • Creating multi-step approval workflows for contract signingnot Qualtrics CoreXM
  • Collecting payments inline within customer intake formsnot Qualtrics CoreXM
  • Routing applications automatically based on responsesnot Qualtrics CoreXM

Qualtrics CoreXM

  • A market research team running quantitative studies that need built-in statistical significance testingnot Cognito Forms
  • A product team wanting text analytics on open-ended customer feedback at scalenot Cognito Forms
  • An enterprise consolidating multiple survey tools into one platform with a single data warehouse integrationnot Cognito Forms
  • A researcher who needs access to third-party respondent panels alongside the survey buildernot Cognito Forms

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cognito Forms

  • Individual free plan caps at 100 entries per month and 1 user
  • Pro plan ($24/mo monthly, $19/mo billed annually) still limits to 2 users and 2,000 entries per month
  • HIPAA compliance and single sign-on are restricted to the Enterprise tier ($174/mo monthly, $129/mo annual)

Qualtrics CoreXM

  • There is no public pricing for any deployment beyond a small individual self-service plan, so budgeting requires a sales conversation before a shortlist can even be built.
  • Typical small enterprise contracts run 25,000 to 50,000 US dollars a year, which puts it far outside the budget of small businesses that Typeform, Jotform or SurveyMonkey serve well.
  • The interface and logic builder have a steep learning curve compared with lighter tools, so new users need training before building complex surveys confidently.
  • It is easy to confuse with Qualtrics EmployeeXM in the same product family; buyers evaluating employee engagement specifically should look at EmployeeXM, not CoreXM.
  • Multi-year contracts with per-module add-ons mean the effective cost tends to grow year over year as teams add capabilities piecemeal.

Pricing, plan by plan

Cognito Forms

Free
  • IndividualFree
    • 100 entries per month
    • 1 user
    • Cognito Forms branding included
  • Pro$24/month
    • 2000 entries per month
    • 2 users
    • Electronic signatures
  • Team$49/month
    • 10000 entries per month
    • 5 users
    • 5 guest access
  • Enterprise$174/month
    • Unlimited entries
    • 20 users
    • 20 guest access

Qualtrics CoreXM

On request
  • CoreXM$undefined/year
    • Self-service entry plan around 35 USD a month for small individual use
    • Typical small enterprise contracts between 25,000 and 50,000 USD a year
    • Priced by seats, response volume and modules selected

Which should you pick?

Choose Cognito Forms if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cognito Forms review

Choose Qualtrics CoreXM if

  • You need advanced survey logic.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want statistical analysis tools.
Qualtrics CoreXM review

Questions people ask

Is Cognito Forms or Qualtrics CoreXM better?
Neither clearly leads. Cognito Forms starts at Free and Qualtrics CoreXM at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cognito Forms or Qualtrics CoreXM?
Cognito Forms has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cognito Forms and On request for Qualtrics CoreXM.
Does Cognito Forms or Qualtrics CoreXM run on more platforms?
Cognito Forms runs on Web. Qualtrics CoreXM runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Cognito Forms for free?
Yes. Cognito Forms has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Qualtrics CoreXM starts at On request.
What is Cognito Forms best used for?
Cognito Forms is most often used for building hipaa-compliant data collection forms without coding, creating multi-step approval workflows for contract signing, collecting payments inline within customer intake forms, routing applications automatically based on responses. Of those, building hipaa-compliant data collection forms without coding and creating multi-step approval workflows for contract signing are not what Qualtrics CoreXM is typically brought in for.
What can Cognito Forms do that Qualtrics CoreXM cannot?
Qualtrics CoreXM covers Advanced survey logic, Statistical analysis tools, Text analytics, Dashboards and reporting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cognito Forms: How much does Cognito Forms cost?

Cognito Forms offers a free Individual plan with 100 entries per month. Paid plans start at $24/month for the Pro plan, $49/month for the Team plan, and $174/month for the Enterprise plan. Annual prepayment provides up to 20% discount off monthly rates.

Source
Qualtrics CoreXM: How is CoreXM different from Qualtrics EmployeeXM?

CoreXM is the general-purpose survey and market research engine; EmployeeXM is a separate, HR-focused product built specifically for employee engagement programmes.

Cognito Forms: What is the difference between Cognito Forms plans?

The Individual plan (free) includes 100 entries/month and 1 user. Pro adds electronic signatures and accommodates 2000 entries/month with 2 users. Team plan (Best Value) supports 10000 entries/month with 5 users and includes client portal and approvals. Enterprise provides unlimited entries, 20 users, and HIPAA compliance.

Source
Qualtrics CoreXM: Is there a published price list?

No, only a small self-service plan around 35 USD a month is public; organisational deployments are negotiated and typically run into five or six figures annually.

Cognito Forms: Does Cognito Forms have a free version?

Yes, Cognito Forms offers a free Individual plan that includes 100 entries per month, 1 user, unlimited forms, and payment processing capabilities. Higher-tier plans are available for increased capacity and features.

Source
Qualtrics CoreXM: Does CoreXM include text analytics?

Yes, automated theme and sentiment extraction on open-ended responses is included as a core capability.

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