QuestionStar vs Google Forms
Last updated October 2026
Looking for a European alternative to Google Forms? Here's how QuestionStar compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.
Our pick for a European buyer: QuestionStar. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.
What it is
German survey and analytics platform with EU-only data processing and 106-language support
Create and share online forms and surveys with real-time response collection.
Headquarters
🇩🇪 DE
🇺🇸 US · 1998
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
Available on some plansEU data residency available for Google Workspace Enterprise customers on request.
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
Yes
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018
Price from
€295/yr
$6/user/mo
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Open Source
No
No
Ratings
Integrations
Google Data Studio, Tableau (soon), Microsoft Power BI (soon), Slack, Zendesk +7
Google Sheets, Google Drive, Google Docs, Zapier, Slack +2
Where each one wins
QuestionStar
Strengths
- +Intuitive interface and clean design enable quick survey creation without prior training
- +Comprehensive feature set including customizable templates, conditional logic, branching, and skip logic
- +Professional exports to Word, Excel, and PDF with advanced analytics capabilities
- +Supports multiple distribution channels: email, web links, and QR codes
- +Reliable performance for patient follow-ups, health surveys, and educational feedback forms
- +Effective Undo/Redo functionality during survey creation
- +Balances ease of use with research-grade survey capabilities and advanced statistics
- +Responsive vendor support that acknowledges user feedback and follows up on issues
Limitations
- −Occasional long loading or refreshing times during survey creation, including delays with Undo/Redo buttons
- −No API available, limiting integration options compared to competitors
- −Pricing structure lacks transparency; requires personalized consultation for quotes
Google Forms
Strengths
- +Intuitive and easy to use for non-technical users
- +Seamless integration with Google Workspace
- +Real-time collaboration features
- +Free tier is highly functional
Limitations
- −Limited customization in free tier
- −No advanced conditional logic in basic plans
- −Data residency requires Enterprise plan
- −Export formats are basic
Data residency & compliance
QuestionStar
Google Forms
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
Available on some plansEU data residency available for Google Workspace Enterprise customers on request.
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
Standard Contractual Clauses
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018
Pricing
QuestionStar
- Free €0 foreverAll features included · Limited number of active surveys · No monthly emails included
- Monthly €59 per monthAll features included · Monthly cancellable · Higher limits for active surveys and emails
- Standard (Business) €395 per yearAll features included · Annual billing · Extended limits for active surveys and users
- Professional (Business) €995 per yearAll features included · Highest limits for active surveys and users · Priority support
- Student (Academic) €29 per monthAll features included · Monthly cancellable · For individual students
- Researcher (Academic) €295 per yearAll features included · Annual billing · For academic researchers
- Chair (Academic) €895 per yearAll features included · Highest academic limits · For university chairs and institutes
All plans include the same features; differences lie only in the number of simultaneously active surveys, monthly emails, and users. Prices include German VAT.
Google Forms
- Free Free UnlimitedUnlimited forms · Unlimited responses · Basic editing tools
- Google Workspace Business Starter $6 per user/monthBusiness email through Gmail · 100 participant video meetings · 30 GB cloud storage per user
Enterprise plans with EU data residency available on request. Pricing varies by region and plan.
Features
QuestionStar
- Questionnaire Design
- Over 30 question types with fine-grained customization, Nearly WYSIWYG editor without additional forms, Rich text editor for tables, images, and videos, Drag & drop for moving survey elements
- Branding & Customization
- White-label surveys, Logo embedding, Flexible layout design adaptation, Progress bar and optional back button
- Survey Distribution
- Direct links and individual links per respondent, Embedding in websites and social media, QR code generation, Email invitations and reminders with opt-in/opt-out
- Data Collection & Security
- Responsive design for desktop and mobile devices, Open and closed surveys, Prevention of multiple entries, Save and continue later functionality
- Data Analysis & Export
- Export to CSV, XLSX, and SAV formats, Statistical tests (t-test, correlation, regression), Text analysis with word clouds and frequency lists, Filtering and breakdowns for comparisons
Google Forms
- Form Creation
- Drag-and-drop form builder, Custom themes and branding, Conditional logic for questions, File upload support
- Data Collection & Management
- Real-time response tracking, Automated email notifications, Response validation rules, Data export to Sheets
- Integration & Automation
- Google Workspace integration, Third-party app integrations (Zapier, etc.), API access for custom workflows, Pre-built templates