Microsoft Forms vs SurveyMonkey: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Microsoft Forms
8.0(5,400 reviews)
Simple survey and quiz tool bundled with Microsoft 365, with instant Excel integration and Teams distribution.
SurveyMonkey
8.4(23,400 reviews)
Veteran online survey platform with question banks, benchmarks, and analytics used by individuals and large enterprises alike.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Microsoft Forms | SurveyMonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Organisations already running on Microsoft 365 | Teams that run frequent surveys and need benchmark context |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $6/mo | Free |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 8.0/10 | 8.4/10 |
Pros & Cons
Microsoft Forms
Pros
- Included free with every Microsoft 365 business and education plan
- Native Excel integration sends responses straight to a spreadsheet
- Two-click distribution inside Teams channels and meetings
- Power Automate triggers workflows from form submissions
- Quiz mode with automatic grading is excellent for education
Cons
- Minimal design control means every form looks generic
- Logic and branching are basic with no piping or advanced routing
- No sentiment analysis, benchmarking, or A/B testing
- Built for internal use, weak for customer-facing branded surveys
- Limited question types compared to dedicated survey platforms
SurveyMonkey
Pros
- Methodologist-vetted question bank with industry benchmark data
- Scales smoothly from a free account to full enterprise deployments
- Reliable logic, randomization, and quota features that just work
- Strong analytics including sentiment analysis and significance testing
- Huge integration catalog including Salesforce, Slack, and Microsoft Teams
Cons
- Free plan caps surveys at 10 questions and 25 responses
- Per-user pricing gets expensive for research teams of several people
- Advanced features are locked behind the most expensive tiers
- Interface looks dated compared to Typeform and modern competitors
- Annual billing is required to get the advertised lower prices
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Forms | subscription | $6/mo |
| SurveyMonkey | freemium | Free0 |
Our Verdict
Choose Microsoft Forms if...
Organisations already running on Microsoft 365
Choose SurveyMonkey if...
Teams that run frequent surveys and need benchmark context
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.