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Maps · head to head

ArcGIS Survey123 vs Mappedin

ArcGIS Survey123 logo

ArcGIS Survey123

Maps

Form-centric field data collection that writes straight into an ArcGIS organisation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mappedin logo

Mappedin

Maps

Enterprise indoor mapping platform that helps venues create interactive 3D maps, wayfinding

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mappedin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ArcGIS Survey123 the app is free and the licensing is not: every person completing a secure survey needs a paid ArcGIS user type, so a hundred-person field programme costs tens of thousands a year before anyone counts credits.; Mappedin location naming is the leading source of integration failures, requiring manual cleanup of AI-generated labels
  • They diverge on capability: ArcGIS Survey123 covers XLSForm authoring, Mappedin covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArcGIS Survey123 and Mappedin actually diverge.

Attributes where ArcGIS Survey123 and Mappedin differ
AttributeArcGIS Survey123Mappedin
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per year by ArcGIS user typeUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android, Cloud
FoundedUnknown2011

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

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 ArcGIS Survey123

  • XLSForm authoring
  • Web designer
  • Offline collection
  • Direct ArcGIS write
  • Repeats and nested records
  • Media and signature capture
  • Webhooks and integration
  • Reports

Only in Mappedin

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

ArcGIS Survey123

  • A water utility recording hydrant inspections that must appear on the corporate asset map the moment they are submitted, not after a nightly importnot Mappedin
  • A local authority running a public consultation where anyone can submit without a licence, while staff review responses in an ArcGIS dashboardnot Mappedin
  • An environmental monitoring programme with complex conditional forms authored in XLSForm and completed offline in areas with no signalnot Mappedin
  • A field crew already licensed for ArcGIS Field Maps that needs structured forms alongside map-based editing without adding another vendornot Mappedin

Mappedin

  • Indoor navigation and map experience for buildingsnot ArcGIS Survey123
  • Operations management for facility and workplace planningnot ArcGIS Survey123

Where each one falls short

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

ArcGIS Survey123

  • The app is free and the licensing is not: every person completing a secure survey needs a paid ArcGIS user type, so a hundred-person field programme costs tens of thousands a year before anyone counts credits.
  • Esri does not publish user type prices on its main pricing pages, so buyers reconstruct the cost from marketplace listings or a sales conversation, which makes budgeting an ArcGIS rollout unnecessarily opaque.
  • Credits are consumed by geocoding, storage and some analysis, and a data collection programme that generates heavy attachment volumes can burn through the bundled allowance and trigger a mid-year top-up.
  • It is useless without ArcGIS. There is no standalone deployment, so the decision to use Survey123 is really a decision to buy or keep an ArcGIS estate.
  • Form authoring splits between a web designer that is easy but limited and XLSForm plus Survey123 Connect that is capable but requires learning a spreadsheet syntax, and teams routinely start in the wrong one and rebuild.

Mappedin

  • Location naming is the leading source of integration failures, requiring manual cleanup of AI-generated labels
  • Multi-building campus maps not supported for Microsoft Places integration
  • No native digital signage CMS for integrated sign management
  • Limited analytics capabilities compared to competitors in complex enterprise environments

Pricing, plan by plan

ArcGIS Survey123

On request
  • Survey123 appFree
    • No separate charge for the app itself
    • Requires an ArcGIS Online or Enterprise organisation
    • Public surveys can be completed without a licence
  • Creator user type$undefined/year
    • Required to author and publish surveys
    • Foundational user type, can administer the organisation
    • Includes an annual credit allowance
  • Mobile Worker user type$undefined/year
    • Required for each person completing a secure survey
    • Dependent user type, must be added to an organisation with a foundational licence
    • Public marketplace listings have shown around $400 per year

Mappedin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 map
    • Basic indoor mapping
    • No SDK access
  • Custom Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • Subscription-based on square footage
    • Full platform access
    • SDKs and APIs

Which should you pick?

Choose ArcGIS Survey123 if

  • You need xlsform authoring.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want web designer.
ArcGIS Survey123 review

Choose Mappedin if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
  • You also want user interface.
Mappedin review

Questions people ask

Is ArcGIS Survey123 or Mappedin better?
Neither clearly leads. ArcGIS Survey123 starts at On request and Mappedin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArcGIS Survey123 or Mappedin?
Mappedin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for ArcGIS Survey123 and Free for Mappedin.
Does ArcGIS Survey123 or Mappedin run on more platforms?
ArcGIS Survey123 runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows. Mappedin runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
Can I use Mappedin for free?
Yes. Mappedin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ArcGIS Survey123 starts at On request.
What is ArcGIS Survey123 best used for?
ArcGIS Survey123 is most often used for a water utility recording hydrant inspections that must appear on the corporate asset map the moment they are submitted, not after a nightly import, a local authority running a public consultation where anyone can submit without a licence, while staff review responses in an arcgis dashboard, an environmental monitoring programme with complex conditional forms authored in xlsform and completed offline in areas with no signal, a field crew already licensed for arcgis field maps that needs structured forms alongside map-based editing without adding another vendor. Of those, a water utility recording hydrant inspections that must appear on the corporate asset map the moment they are submitted, not after a nightly import and a local authority running a public consultation where anyone can submit without a licence, while staff review responses in an arcgis dashboard are not what Mappedin is typically brought in for.
What can ArcGIS Survey123 do that Mappedin cannot?
ArcGIS Survey123 covers XLSForm authoring, Web designer, Offline collection, Direct ArcGIS write. Mappedin covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ArcGIS Survey123: Is Survey123 free?

The app is. Using it is not, unless your surveys are public. Authoring needs a Creator licence and each person completing a secure survey needs a Mobile Worker, Editor, Creator or GIS Professional user type.

Mappedin: Does Mappedin support multi-building campus mapping?

Mappedin supports multi-building deployments, but the Places integration requires each building to be mapped as a separate venue rather than as one unified campus map.

Source
ArcGIS Survey123: How much are the user types?

Esri does not list them on its main pricing pages. Public marketplace listings have shown roughly $700 a year for Creator and $400 for Mobile Worker; confirm with Esri or a distributor for your region.

Mappedin: How long does it take to deploy Mappedin for a large venue?

Large venue deployments typically go live within 30-60 days from contract signature. The Mappedin Maker platform enables rapid map creation from floor plans, with professional map-making services available for additional fees.

Source
ArcGIS Survey123: Can respondents fill in a survey without a licence?

Yes, if the survey is shared publicly. Secure surveys require a licensed user type.

Mappedin: What platforms and SDKs does Mappedin provide?

Mappedin offers SDKs for Web, iOS, and Android, plus comprehensive APIs and webhooks for integrations. The platform supports venues including airports, shopping malls, stadiums, workplaces, and healthcare facilities.

Source
ArcGIS Survey123: Does it work offline?

Yes, in the mobile app, with sync when connectivity returns.

Mappedin: Does Mappedin have a free plan?

Yes, Mappedin offers a free plan for creating one initial digital map at app.mappedin.com. Pricing is subscription-based and scales with building size in square footage or square meters.

Source
ArcGIS Survey123: Is it the same as ArcGIS Field Maps?

No. Field Maps is map-centric editing; Survey123 is form-centric. Many organisations license both, which doubles nothing because user types cover the whole app suite.

Mappedin: What compliance certifications does Mappedin have?

Mappedin is SOC2 certified, GDPR compliant, and WCAG accessible. The platform includes real-time data management and analytics capabilities.

Source
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