5 On Premise Survey Tools to Self Host Actively Maintained in 2024
Johannes
Co-Founder
6 Minutes
September 10, 2024
The sad reality is that most open source projects fade away or are neglected after some time. But for anyone seeking a solid self-hosted survey tool, these open source options have stood the test of time, and remain fully active in 2024.
Are you frustrated with the standard cloud-based survey options that are full of privacy risks and limited integration options? Self-hosted, open-source survey software might be your answer. By using these flexible on-premise survey tools, you'll be given full control over your data. Plus, you'll be able to customize your entire setup to get things just as you need them.
Here, we're exploring the top self-hosted, open-source survey tools that are still actively maintained in 2024. Take a look and see which might make the best feedback collection tool for your purposes.
Why Users are Turning to Open Source Self-Hosted Survey Software
More and more developers and businesses are making the switch to open source, on-premise survey and form tools – and for good reason. A lot of the decision-making comes down to a combination of the following factors:
Privacy and Data Ownership
Self-hosting your own survey tool puts you in full control of your own data. You don’t have to worry about your partner vendor scraping customer information or market insights. Your data stays right on your own server, where another company’s data breach no longer needs to be your concern. Plus, self-hosting makes GDPR and CCPA compliance much simpler.
Customization and Flexibility
Many businesses outgrow survey tools that don’t allow for customization. However, open-source software gives you direct access to the softwares’ code, so nothing is off limits. Want to add a feature unique to your purposes, integrate the survey with your existing systems, or make the UI more appealing? No problem. Plugins, themes, and other enhancements are easy to add.
Cost-Effectiveness
Sure, it requires investment to set up an open-source survey solution – and it might even be slightly more expensive upfront compared to what you’re currently paying. But once the setup is complete, you’re free. No more recurring subscription fees tied to proprietary, cloud-based tools. If surveys are a regular part of your business operations, you’re poised to save a lot of money by skipping the recurring subscriptions going forward.
Now that we've covered the perks, let's take a closer look at some truly impactful self-hosted, open-source survey tools that are still going strong in 2024.
| Open-Source Survey Tool | 👑 Best For | ✅ Standout Feature | 🎁 Free Plan (Self-Hosted ) | 💰 Paid Plan (Self-Hosted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formbricks | Comprehensive surveys | In-app micro surveys | Self-hosting, unlimited surveys, and basic features (free forever) | Starts at 99€/month |
| ngSurvey | Angular integration | Seamless web app embedding | 14-day free trial, but must talk to sales team before trying | 2499 CHF for a license (2673€) with a 1999 CHF yearly renewal fee (2126€) |
| Checkbox | User-friendly surveys | Intuitive interface | 30-day free trial with unlimited surveys and questions | On-premise licenses start at $4900 (4411€) |
| LimeSurvey CE | Complex surveys | Vast question types | Unlimited surveys, limit of 25 responses per month (free forever) | Starts at 23€ per month (billed annually) |
| SurveyJS | Custom survey experiences | Extreme flexibility | Unlimited surveys, unlimited responses, basic features without drag-and-drop survey creator | 499€ license fee with a 199€ yearly renewal fee |
What to Know
- Formbricks: Offers a highly user-friendly interface with powerful features, while maintaining a strong focus on data privacy.
- ngSurvey: A great choice for Angular developers, offering seamless integration capabilities and customization options.
- Checkbox: Balances ease of use with customization, making it a great option whether you’re a developer or non-technical user.
- LimeSurvey: An older, more comprehensive solution that caters to highly complex survey needs, though it has an outdated user interface and requires a steep learning curve.
- SurveyJS: Allows for intricate customization with full flexibility for developers but requires specialty technical knowledge.
When making a decision, remember that which tool is “best” comes down to your company’s needs and requirements. Do your research, read reviews, take the tools for a test drive, and make an informed decision.
Now let’s dive into our list of the best actively maintained open source survey solutions on the market.
Top 5 Self-Hosted Open Source Survey Tools
Each of these survey solutions offer something unique to users. Let's take a closer look.
1. Formbricks - Fastest Growing Survey Platform in 2024
A perfect fit for businesses and developers who want a survey tool that allows for full control over data while remaining completely user-friendly.
Formbricks is an entire suite of open-source experience management tools that allow businesses to collect and analyze the feedback they get from surveys of all types. It’s completely self-hosted even on the free Community Plan, so you can get started right away.
Key considerations:
- 👍 Great versatility in survey types (link surveys, pop-up surveys, in-app micro-surveys)
- 👍 Slick, modern, intuitive survey builder
- 👍 Self-hosting available even for the free Community Edition (and it's free forever cause it's AGPL licensed)
- 👍 Strong focus on data privacy
- 👍 Open API allows for great developer flexibility
- ⚠️ It's a fairly new, rapidly developing software (so there's an outside chance you might run into the odd bug)
Try it out, read more or dive into the code base or comprehensive docs.
2. ngSurvey - Seamless Web App Embedding
Ideal for teams and developers who are comfortable with Angular that require embedded surveys in their web apps.
If you're an Angular aficionado, ngSurvey is the way to go. It's an Angular-based open-source survey tool that can integrate directly with web applications with no extra hassle. With a range of question types and support for conditional logic and branching, it's a great way to create natural surveys that fit directly into your brand model.
Key considerations:
- 👍 Seamless integration with Angular apps
- 👍 Variety of question and form types
- 👍 Conditional logic and branching
- 👍 Ability to self-host
- ⚠️ Hefty price tag and requires specialty developer knowledge - 2499CHF (2673€) for a license with a 1999CHF (2126€) yearly renewal fee
3. Checkbox - Intuitive Interface
A good fit for non-technical users who are looking for an on-premise survey solution that’s is not open source.
If flexibility and user accessibility are important to you, Checkbox might be your answer. This source-available survey tool is well-known for its intuitive interface and extensive customization options. It supports a variety of question types, branching logic, and data export formats, so businesses can create surveys of almost any type they can imagine.
Key considerations:
- 👍 User-friendly interface fit for beginners
- 👍 Extensive customization options
- 👍 High variety in terms of question types and branching logic
- 👍 Self-hosting available
- ⚠️ Doesn't do targeted surveys on websites or in apps
- ⚠️ Not open source, simply source available
- ⚠️ Expensive to self-host
4. LimeSurvey CE - Vast Question Types
Ideal for enterprises who have intricate survey requirements and dedicated development resources for survey management.
LimeSurvey is one of the older options on this list – but that’s not a bad thing. This feature-rich open-source survey tool has a large and active community thanks to its long history. With a vast array of question types, advanced survey logic capabilities, and multiple data export options, it can service even the most complex survey needs.
- 👍 Highly mature solution with a long history
- 👍 Vast array of features and question types
- 👍 Advanced survey logic
- 👍 Well suited for scientific research due to feature depth
- ⚠️ Even smaller surveys can be very hard to set up due to poor user experience
- ⚠️ Self-hosting maintenance is not easy
5. SurveyJS - Extreme Flexibility
A good fit for devs who are familiar with JavaScript libraries and require precise control over survey functionality and design.
Peak flexibility is possible with SurveyJS, a JavaScript library for building surveys and forms. Because the system is so powerful in what it can do, it requires some technical knowledge to implement and self-host. SurveJS is meant for companies that want to build form capabilities into their own applications.
Key considerations:
- 👍 Great if you have internal dev resources to build into your own applications
- 👍 Developer-centric approach with active community support
- 👍 Vast range of pre-built and custom survey question options
- ⚠️ Not an out-of-the-box survey solution
- ⚠️ Highly code-focused, may require additional technical resources
How to Select the Right On-Premise Survey Software for Your Needs
Your Team’s Technical Prowess
If you’ve got an entire team of devs at your disposal, SurveyJS or ngSurvey might be right up your alley. They offer extensive customization options, but you’ll need to work to unlock them. For those more in tune with user-friendly interfaces, Formbricks or Checkbox could be a better fit.
Survey Requirements
Evaluate your team’s needs. Extremely complex surveys with large numbers of potential branches might require LimeSurvey's robust feature set. But if your team is more focused on feedback collection or in-app micro-surveys, Formbricks might be your best match. Consider the specific question types, data analysis needs, and reporting capabilities that would benefit your business.
Data Privacy and Security
If data control and privacy are important to you (and they should be), self-hosting is crucial. While all the tools we've discussed offer self-hosting capabilities, Formbricks even provides this option on their free plan. Take a close look at the compliance certifications and security measures of each tool to make sure they meet your team’s minimum requirements.
Factor in Budget Constraints
While open-source tools are generally more affordable than proprietary solutions, remember to factor in potential hosting and maintenance costs when self-hosting. Some tools, like Formbricks, offer generous free plans that can be a great starting point for small businesses or individuals working with limited budgets.
Taking Control of Your Data
In the world of survey tools, self-hosted, open-source options like Formbricks, ngSurvey, LimeSurvey, and SurveyJS top the list. They enable businesses with multifaceted needs and backgrounds to take charge of their data, customize surveys, and save money over the long term.
Remember, your survey data is a valuable asset. By choosing a self-hosted, open-source tool, you keep this irreplaceable asset in your control. You’ll keep your audience happy (and the data protection regulators, too).
Don't just take our word for it! Try these tools out for yourself. Take their free trials for a spin, and find the one that clicks with your unique requirements and preferences.
Try Formbricks now
