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Surveys · head to head

Jotform vs LimeSurvey

Jotform logo

Jotform

Surveys

Powerful forms get more done

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LimeSurvey logo

LimeSurvey

Surveys

Open source survey software you can self-host, with German-hosted cloud as the alternative

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Jotform free tier limited to 5 forms and 100 monthly submissions; LimeSurvey self-hosting shifts patching, backups and PHP upgrades onto your own team, and neglected installations become a security liability holding participant data.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jotform and LimeSurvey actually diverge.

Attributes where Jotform and LimeSurvey differ
AttributeJotformLimeSurvey
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, with paid cloud hosting
PlatformsWebWeb, Self-hosted

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Jotform

Nothing recorded that LimeSurvey does not also cover.

Only in LimeSurvey

  • Self-hosted deployment
  • Question type depth
  • Expression manager
  • Quotas and screening
  • Multilingual surveys
  • Participant management

What people use each for

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

Jotform

  • Form creation and collectionnot LimeSurvey
  • Survey distributionnot LimeSurvey
  • Lead generationnot LimeSurvey
  • Workflow automationnot LimeSurvey

LimeSurvey

  • A university study whose ethics approval requires participant data to stay on institutional serversnot Jotform
  • A public body procuring survey software under European data protection rulesnot Jotform
  • A market research agency running multilingual instruments with quotas and screening logicnot Jotform
  • A team that needs complex matrix and ranking questions consumer form builders do not supportnot Jotform

Where each one falls short

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

Jotform

  • Free tier limited to 5 forms and 100 monthly submissions
  • Bronze tier requires $39/month to remove Jotform branding
  • Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales

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

Jotform

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 5 active forms
    • 100 monthly submissions
    • 100 MB storage
  • Bronze$39/month
    • 25 active forms
    • 1,000 monthly submissions
    • 1 GB storage
  • Silver$49/month
    • 50 active forms
    • 2,500 monthly submissions
    • 10 GB storage
  • Gold$129/month
    • 100 active forms
    • 10,000 monthly submissions
    • 100 GB storage

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 Jotform if

  • You want to start without paying.
Jotform review

Choose LimeSurvey if

  • You need self-hosted deployment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want question type depth.
LimeSurvey review

Questions people ask

Is Jotform or LimeSurvey better?
Neither clearly leads. Jotform 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, Jotform or LimeSurvey?
Jotform starts at Free and LimeSurvey at Free.
Does Jotform or LimeSurvey run on more platforms?
Jotform runs on Web. LimeSurvey runs on Web, Self-hosted.
Can I use Jotform for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Jotform best used for?
Jotform is most often used for form creation and collection, survey distribution, lead generation, workflow automation. Of those, form creation and collection and survey distribution are not what LimeSurvey is typically brought in for.
What can Jotform do that LimeSurvey cannot?
LimeSurvey covers Self-hosted deployment, Question type depth, Expression manager, Quotas and screening.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Jotform: Is there a free version of Jotform?

Yes, Jotform's Starter plan is free and allows 5 active forms, 100 monthly submissions, and 100 MB of storage. Jotform branding remains on forms in the free tier.

Source
LimeSurvey: 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.

Jotform: How much does Jotform Bronze cost?

The Bronze plan costs $39 per month when billed monthly, or $408 per year ($34 per month effective). It includes 25 active forms, 1,000 monthly submissions, 1 GB storage, and removable branding.

Source
LimeSurvey: Where is cloud data stored?

On servers in Germany, which is why public sector and academic buyers choose it over United States hosted competitors.

Jotform: What is included in Jotform's Gold tier?

The Gold plan costs $129 per month billed monthly or $1,188 per year ($99 per month effective). It provides 100 active forms, 10,000 monthly submissions, 100 GB storage, HIPAA-friendly capabilities, and 100 active AI Agents.

Source
LimeSurvey: Can it handle complex research designs?

Yes. Quotas, randomisation, piping and matrix question types are core features rather than enterprise add-ons.

Jotform: Does Jotform offer discounts for nonprofits or education?

Yes, educational institutions and nonprofits receive 50% off Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers, plus 30% off the Enterprise plan.

Source
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