Best Open-Source Survey Software 2026: 6 Options Compared

Open-source survey software matters when responses are sensitive or when a funder, regulator or ethics board wants the data on infrastructure you control. The options differ more in purpose than in features. LimeSurvey (GPL-2.0 or later) is the classic research tool with advanced logic and quotas. Formbricks (AGPL-3.0 core) focuses on in-product and website feedback and has enterprise features under a separate licence. OpnForm (AGPL core, enterprise directory proprietary) is a no-code form builder with unlimited forms and submissions. HeyForm (AGPL-3.0) is another form builder, with a hosted option that has no free plan. KoboToolbox (AGPL-3.0) is built for field data collection, so check its site for hosted plans. SurveyJS is different: its MIT-licensed Form Library renders surveys in your app but does not host them or store answers, so you build the back end. Self-hosting means you run backups, updates and security, and you handle consent and retention rules for the people who answer. If you need only a few polls, a free hosted tool is simpler. Choose open source when the data location is the requirement, and test an export before inviting respondents.

LimeSurvey

GPL-2.0 or later and self-hostable as Community Edition. The most research-oriented option here; a cloud package also exists with its own limits; check the pricing page.

Price: Free (Free package on LimeSurvey Cloud (see the pricing page for limits); Community Edition is self-hosted); paid from $36 per month, billed annually (Expert; Basic is $39 billed monthly) (LimeSurvey pricing, checked 2026-10-22).

Platforms and license: Web, Self-hosted. GPL-2.0 or later (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 3.8k GitHub stars · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Academic and complex research surveys.

Formbricks

AGPL-3.0 core with enterprise features under a separate licence. Hobby cloud plan gives 250 responses a month if you do not self-host.

Price: Free (Hobby plan: 1 workspace and 250 responses a month); paid from $74 per month (Pro, 3 workspaces and 2,000 responses; annual billing gives 2 months free) (Formbricks pricing, checked 2026-10-22).

Platforms and license: Web, Self-hosted. AGPL-3.0 (core; enterprise features under a separate license) (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 13.2k GitHub stars · latest release 6.1.2 (Oct 27, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Feedback surveys inside products.

OpnForm

AGPL core with an Enterprise directory under a proprietary licence. Self-hosting gives unlimited forms and submissions; the free cloud plan keeps OpnForm branding.

Price: Free (Free cloud plan: unlimited forms and submissions, 1 workspace, OpnForm branding, community support; self-hosting the core is free); paid from $25 per month, Pro plan billed annually (OpnForm pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Web, Self-hosted. AGPL-3.0 or later (core); Enterprise directory under a proprietary license (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 3.9k GitHub stars · latest release v2.7.0 (Oct 27, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: A no-code form builder you host.

HeyForm

AGPL-3.0 form builder with Docker self-hosting. The hosted service shows a 7-day trial and no free plan, so self-hosting is the free route.

Price: Free (Self-hosting the open-source code is free; the hosted service shows a 7-day free trial and no free plan on the pricing page); paid from $15 per month, Basic plan billed annually (HeyForm pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Web, Self-hosted. AGPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 9.1k GitHub stars · latest release v3.0.5 (Oct 24, 2026) · last commit Oct 26, 2026

Best for: Conversational-style forms.

KoboToolbox

AGPL-3.0 platform for data collection. It is built for collecting field data, so look at hosted-server plan limits before relying on it.

Price: Free (Open-source code is free to self-host; check the hosted plans page for server limits) (KoboToolbox pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Web, Self-hosted, Android. AGPL-3.0 (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 187 GitHub stars · latest release 2.026.37c (Oct 20, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Field surveys in the humanitarian and research space.

SurveyJS

The Form Library is MIT, rendering JSON-defined surveys in React, Angular, Vue or JavaScript, but it does not store responses. Other SurveyJS products have unstated licences.

Price: Free (The Form Library is free under MIT; it renders surveys but does not host them or store responses) (SurveyJS pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: JavaScript library (React, Angular, Vue 3, plain JS). MIT (Form Library); Survey Creator and Dashboard licensing not stated on the page (open source) (license source).

Project activity: 4.9k GitHub stars · latest release v3.2.3 (Oct 27, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Developers embedding surveys in their own app.

Which one to pick

• You run academic research with branching logic: LimeSurvey
• You collect feedback inside a product: Formbricks
• You embed forms in your own app: SurveyJS
• You want a simple builder you host: OpnForm