Microsoft Forms vs Qualtrics: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Microsoft Forms and Qualtrics side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Microsoft Forms
Create surveys and quizzes with Microsoft 365
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Qualtrics
The leading Experience Management (XM) software, amplified with trusted AI to drive business growth.
Best for you if:
- • You want enterprise survey platform
| At a Glance | Microsoft Forms | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan, paid from $420/mo, billed monthly Research Core plan |
Category | Form Builders Survey Tools | Survey Tools Analytics |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.6 799 reviews | 4.4/5 PeerSpot 4.4 16 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | n/a | Overage fees for responses beyond tier limits |
Choose Microsoft Forms or Qualtrics?
Choose Microsoft Forms if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want included with Microsoft 365
- You want easy to use
- You work in form builders, not survey tools
Choose Qualtrics if
- You want enterprise survey platform
- You want experience management
- You work in survey tools, not form builders
In-Depth Analysis
Microsoft Forms
Create surveys and quizzes with Microsoft 365
Microsoft Forms offers an incredibly generous pricing model as it's primarily included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, meaning no direct cost for most users.
Strengths
- Pro: Included with Microsoft 365
- Pro: Easy to use
- Pro: Good for quizzes
- Pro: Teams integration
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited customization
- Con: Basic design
- Con: Microsoft ecosystem required
Key features
Qualtrics
The leading Experience Management (XM) software, amplified with trusted AI to drive business growth.
Qualtrics' pricing is expensive for what you get, especially the Research Core tier at $420/month for only 1,000 responses, which is steep compared to survey-focused alternatives.
Watch out
Overage fees for responses beyond tier limits
Strengths
- Pro: Enterprise survey platform
- Pro: Experience management
- Pro: Good analytics
- Pro: Research tools
- Pro: Compliance
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Complex platform
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Enterprise sales
- Con: Overkill for simple surveys
Key features
Plans and prices: Microsoft Forms vs Qualtrics
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Forms |
| microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/online-survey… read Sep 30, 2026 |
| Qualtrics |
| qualtrics.com/pricing read Oct 5, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Microsoft Forms pricing and Qualtrics pricing.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft Forms
- Choose if you want create surveys and quizzes with Microsoft 365
Qualtrics
- Choose if you want the leading Experience Management (XM) software, amplified with trusted AI to drive business growth
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 799 reviews for Microsoft Forms, 4.4/5 from 16 reviews for Qualtrics; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Qualtrics starts at $420/mo, billed monthly; Microsoft Forms has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Microsoft Forms and Qualtrics compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 799 reviews for Microsoft Forms, 4.4/5 from 16 reviews for Qualtrics; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Qualtrics starts at $420/mo, billed monthly; Microsoft Forms has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Microsoft Forms and Qualtrics used for?
Microsoft Forms: Create surveys and quizzes with Microsoft 365. Qualtrics: The leading Experience Management (XM) software, amplified with trusted AI to drive business growth.
What does Microsoft Forms cost vs Qualtrics?
Microsoft Forms has no public paid-plan price on file. Qualtrics's cheapest paid plan is Research Core at $420/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 5, 2026.
What's the main difference between Microsoft Forms and Qualtrics?
Microsoft Forms's main strength: included with Microsoft 365. Qualtrics's main strength: enterprise survey platform.