European Survey Software compared
Organisations use survey software to collect structured feedback from employees, customers or the public, then analyse it for decisions on products, services or policies. The tools differ mainly in scope: some focus on simple polls, others on long questionnaires with advanced logic, while a few target specific use cases like classroom feedback or enterprise-wide insights. European vendors in this space are often smaller, more focused and better at niche requirements than the American defaults; they typically offer deeper customisation, clearer pricing and stronger data control without the bloat of all-in-one suites.
In short
- LimeSurvey suits teams needing open-source flexibility with 30+ question types and advanced logic, though its interface demands technical comfort
- QuestionStar balances ease of use with research-grade features like conditional logic and professional exports, ideal for healthcare and education workflows
- Typeform excels in respondent engagement with its conversational, one-question-at-a-time format and modern design, but lacks depth in analytics for complex needs
- Edkimo focuses on anonymous classroom feedback for schools, with mobile-friendly design and real-time analytics to track student engagement
Providers
All providers at a glance
| Provider | HQ | From | Rating | Free plan | EU hosting | Open source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| easyfeedback🇩🇪 DE | 🇩🇪 DE | From €39/mo | · 4.9 / 5 · 16 reviews | Free planEU hosting | |||
| LamaPoll🇩🇪 DE | 🇩🇪 DE | From €49/mo | · 4.6 / 5 · 4 reviews | Free planEU hostingOpen source | |||
| LimeSurvey🇩🇪 DE | 🇩🇪 DE | From €29/mo | · 4.7 / 5 · 2043 reviews | Free planEU hostingOpen source | |||
| AidaForm🇩🇪 DE | 🇩🇪 DE | From $12/mo | · 4.6 / 5 · 347 reviews | Free planEU hosting | |||
| Crowdtech🇳🇱 NL | 🇳🇱 NL | Price on requestOn request | · 4.5 / 5 · 10 reviews | EU hosting | |||
| QuestionStar🇩🇪 DE | 🇩🇪 DE | From €295/yr | · 4.6 / 5 · 108 reviews | Free planEU hosting | |||
| Survio🇨🇿 CZ | 🇨🇿 CZ | Price on requestOn request | · 4.4 / 5 · 2034 reviews | Free planEU hosting | |||
| Edkimo🇩🇪 DE | 🇩🇪 DE | From €19.98/mo | · 4.5 / 5 · 2 reviews | EU hosting | |||
| empirio🇩🇪 DE | 🇩🇪 DE | From 19€/mo | · 5.0 / 5 · 1 reviews | Free planEU hosting | |||
| UmfrageOnline🇨🇭 CH | 🇨🇭 CH | From €25/mo | · 4.6 / 5 · 2005 reviews | Free planEU hosting | |||
| Typeform🇪🇸 ES | 🇪🇸 ES | From $28/user/mo | · 3.8 / 5 · 2539 reviews | Free planEU hosting |
What users care about in survey software
Recurring themes across the user reviews we collected for the tools on this page.
Ease of use for non-technical teams
Users consistently praise tools with drag-and-drop builders and minimal onboarding, but criticise steep learning curves or unintuitive interfaces. Quick setup without training is a recurring demand.
Praised for this:UmfrageOnlineLamaPollEdkimoAidaFormeasyfeedback
Advanced logic and customization
Teams needing complex surveys value skip logic, branching, and validation, but some tools lack depth here. Users praise rich feature sets but note gaps in highly specialized use cases.
Praised for this:LimeSurveyQuestionStarLamaPollAidaForm
Responsive support and onboarding
Quick, helpful support and clear guidance are frequently praised, especially by smaller teams. Slow responses or unclear pricing structures draw criticism.
Praised for this:QuestionStarLamaPollSurvioAidaFormCrowdtech
Pricing transparency and value
Users appreciate clear pricing tiers and free plans, but criticise hidden costs, steep jumps between tiers, or essential features locked behind higher plans.
Analytics and reporting depth
Strong visualization and export options are praised, but users often find built-in analytics limited, requiring external tools for deeper insights.
Praised for this:QuestionStarLamaPollSurvioTypeform
Design and branding flexibility
Users value tools that allow full corporate branding and design customization, but some platforms restrict control over fonts, colors, or layouts.
Praised for this:LamaPollAidaFormeasyfeedbackTypeform
What to look for
Question types and logic
Check if the tool supports the question formats you need, from multiple choice to open text, and whether it allows skip logic or branching based on answers.
Analytics and reporting
Look for built-in analysis tools, export options and the ability to generate reports that fit your workflow, such as white-label outputs for client presentations.
Integration options
Ensure the tool connects with your existing stack, whether through native integrations, APIs or webhooks, to avoid manual data transfers.
Data residency and compliance
Confirm where the data is hosted and whether the vendor meets regional requirements like GDPR, especially if you handle sensitive information.
Frequently asked questions
What is survey software used for?
Survey software is used to create, distribute and analyse forms or questionnaires to gather feedback from employees, customers or the public. European tools like LimeSurvey, QuestionStar or Survio are often chosen for their focus on data control and regional compliance.
Which survey tools offer a free plan?
Several European tools provide a free plan, including LimeSurvey, QuestionStar, Survio, empirio, easyfeedback, LamaPoll, AidaForm and UmfrageOnline. Each has different limits on responses or features.
Can I self-host survey software?
Among the listed tools, only QuestionStar offers a self-hosted or on-premise option. Others like LimeSurvey and LamaPoll are open-source but require external hosting unless you deploy them yourself.
Which survey tools integrate with analytics platforms like Power BI or Tableau?
QuestionStar integrates with Google Data Studio, Tableau and Microsoft Power BI. LamaPoll supports Power BI as well. For other tools, check their API or webhook options for custom connections.
Are there European alternatives to SurveyMonkey?
Yes. LimeSurvey, Survio and easyfeedback are European alternatives with strong feature sets for feedback collection. QuestionStar and empirio offer advanced analytics, while Crowdtech targets enterprise needs with interactive question types.
Which survey tools are suitable for schools and universities?
Edkimo specialises in anonymous classroom feedback for educational institutions and is hosted in Germany. Other tools like LimeSurvey or Survio can also be adapted for academic use with their customisation options.
Do any European survey tools offer ISO 27001 certification?
Yes. Survio, LamaPoll and AidaForm are ISO 27001 certified. easyfeedback holds TISAX certification, which is specific to the automotive industry.
Which survey tools support white-label reports?
QuestionStar, easyfeedback, LamaPoll and UmfrageOnline offer white-label reports as part of their enterprise features. LimeSurvey also supports this in its enterprise plan.
How do European survey tools compare to Google Forms?
European tools like LimeSurvey, QuestionStar or Survio offer more advanced features such as conditional logic, deeper analytics and better data control. Google Forms is simpler and free but lacks regional hosting and compliance guarantees.