Comparison: Microsoft Forms vs. Qualtrics
Summary
A comparison of features and functionality between Microsoft Forms (recommended for simple surveys and self-graded quizzes) and Qualtrics (recommended for data collection and research projects).
Body
Introduction
- Microsoft Forms is recommended for simple surveys and self-graded quizzes. The platform has essential surveying features, including multilingual support, a range of different question and branching types, and basic analytics.
- Qualtrics is recommended for data collection and research projects. It is a powerful survey platform with a wide variety of question types, email triggers, distribution options and collaboration settings.
|
Feature
|
Microsoft Forms
|
Qualtrics
|
|
Question type: Multiple choice
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Question type: File upload
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Display logic & branching
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Allows for anonymous responses
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Built-in distribution via email
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Built-in distribution via SMS
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Ability to track which individuals have responded
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Automated email reminders
|
Partial
|
Yes
|
|
Other configurable email triggers
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Download raw response data
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Automated accessibility/usability review
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Question Types
|
Microsoft Forms
|
Qualtrics
|
|
Multiple Choice
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Text Entry
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Rank Order
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Matrix Table
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Slider
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Side by Side
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Constant Sum
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Hot Spot
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Graphic Slider
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Drill Down
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Pick Group and Rank
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Heat Map
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Net Promoter Score
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Highlight
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Signature
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Timing
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
File Upload
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Screen Capture
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Captcha Verification
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Likert
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Branching
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Meta Info
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Distribution Option
|
Microsoft Forms
|
Qualtrics
|
|
Via email
|
Yes, using your email client
|
Yes, through Qualtrics directly
|
|
Via link
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Via social media
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Via SMS
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Via QR code
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Allows anonymous submissions
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Ability to track individual recipients
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Set start and end dates for response collection
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Collaborative Option
|
Microsoft Forms
|
Qualtrics
|
|
Allows multiple collaborators
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Allows MSU collaborators
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Allows non-MSU collaborators
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Configure which survey data individual collaborators have access to
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Configure whether an individual collaborator can activate/deactivate a survey
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Configure whether an individual collaborator can copy a survey project
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Configure whether an individual collaborator can distribute a survey
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Reporting Option
|
Microsoft Forms
|
Qualtrics
|
|
Customizable visualizations of results data
|
No, default visualization is not customizable
|
Yes
|
|
Ability to format your reports
|
No, default report is not customizable
|
Yes
|
|
Shareable reports via link
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Download raw survey data
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Details
Details
Article ID:
2140
Created
Fri 3/28/25 11:54 AM
Modified
Sun 3/30/25 2:08 PM