Struggling to choose the right form builder for your business, school, or team? Whether you need customer surveys, registration forms, or workflow approvals, having the right tool makes all the difference.
In 2025, Google Forms remains a popular choice for its simplicity and free access. But what if you need more than just the basics? If you’re looking for advanced features, deeper customization, and greater flexibility, PlatoForms offers a powerful alternative.
This article breaks down the key differences between Google Forms and PlatoForms, comparing pricing, features, customization, and integrations. Whether you’re building simple surveys or complex workflows, we’ll help you find the best platform for your needs.
1. Pricing: free vs. feature-packed plans
Google Forms: 100% free, but limited
Google Forms offers unlimited form creation with a Google account, but comes with restrictions:
- Storage limit (15GB, including file uploads)
- No advanced branding, PDF generation, or workflow automation
- Limited integrations (only Google services, third-party tools require Zapier)
- No payment collection
For more features, Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) offers enhanced collaboration, security, and branding options — but at a cost.
PlatoForms: Free plan + advanced features
If you need more control, branding, and automation, PlatoForms offers:
- Free plan available
- AI-powered PDF to online form conversion (precise field detection for contracts, applications, and official documents)
- Custom branding, team collaboration, and workflow automation
- Seamless third-party integrations (Zapier, Make, Integrately)
- Secure, HIPAA-compliant data handling
Read more: How to Create HIPAA-Compliant Forms
| Feature | Google Forms | PlatoForms |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Paid plans | ❌ No | ✔ Yes |
| AI-powered PDF conversion | ❌ No | ✔ Yes |
| Advanced branding & workflow automation | ❌ No | ✔ Yes |
💡 Which is better?
- For basic, free forms → Google Forms is a simple choice.
- For professional forms with branding, automation, and AI-powered PDF conversion → PlatoForms is the way to go.
2. Features: basic vs. advanced functionality
Google Forms is ideal for simple surveys and quizzes, but it lacks advanced capabilities like workflow automation, approvals, and PDF-to-web form conversion.
PlatoForms: more power, more flexibility
- PDF to web forms - Convert PDFs into fillable online forms with AI-powered field detection.
- Pre-filled forms - Send partially completed forms to users for faster submissions.
- Workflow automation - Automate approvals and form submissions with ease.
- Multi-language support - Create forms in multiple languages for a global audience.
- Conditional logic - Show or hide fields based on user responses.
Studies show that businesses using automated form workflows experience a 30% increase in efficiency compared to manual data entry. (Source)
💡 Which is better?
A business collecting signed applications can use PlatoForms to convert a PDF into an online form, automate approvals, and generate a completed PDF — while Google Forms would require manual data entry and additional tools.
3. Customization: standard vs. personalized branding
Google Forms allows basic customization—color themes and simple templates—but lacks deeper branding options.
PlatoForms gives you full control with:
- Custom logos, colors, and themes
- Flexible form layouts
- Save as Shared Form Theme for team consistency
- CSS & JavaScript customization for advanced styling and logic
💡 Which is better?
For a marketing agency, Google Forms offers basic customization but lacks the ability to fully align forms with a client’s brand identity. In contrast, PlatoForms provides complete control over logos, colors, themes, layouts, and advanced styling — ensuring that every client-facing form matches the brand’s look and feel perfectly.
4. Integrations: limited vs. extensive
Google Forms integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace (Drive, Sheets) but has limited direct connections with other platforms.
PlatoForms, on the other hand, offers extensive third-party integrations to streamline your workflows:
- Slack - Get real-time form submission notifications.
- Zapier & Make - Automate workflows with thousands of apps.
- Google Drive & Dropbox - Store form submissions effortlessly.
- Stripe - Accept payments directly through your forms.
- Pabbly - Connect PlatoForms to over 2,000 apps with ease.
💡 Which is better?
For a sales team, Google Forms lacks built-in automation and integrations, requiring manual follow-ups. With PlatoForms, the team can automatically send lead data to their CRM and notify their Slack channel as soon as a new lead submits a form, streamlining the entire process and ensuring no lead is missed.
5. Collaboration: basic vs. team-friendly
Google Forms allows basic sharing but lacks structured team collaboration features.
PlatoForms is built for teams, offering:
- Team workspaces - Share and manage forms within your team.
- Role-based permissions - Control who can view, edit, or manage forms.
- Submission tracking - Monitor responses in real time.
- Activity log - Keep track of key form actions for transparency.
💡 Which is better?
For an HR team, Google Forms lacks advanced features like permission controls and activity tracking. With PlatoForms, the team can:
✔ Assign permissions to ensure recruiters access job applications while finance handles payment forms.
✔ Use the Activity Log to track if notification emails were sent to candidates.
✔ Monitor submission records to ensure important data isn’t lost, offering full control and oversight.
PlatoForms makes teamwork smoother, more organized, and fully trackable.
Conclusion: which form builder should your choose?
| Criteria | Google Forms | PlatoForms |
|---|---|---|
| Best for… | Simple online surveys, basic form creation, and event registration | Advanced form creation, workflow automation, and custom branding solutions |
| Customization | Limited customization options (basic themes, colors, templates) | Full customization with branding control (logos, themes, custom CSS & JavaScript) |
| Integrations | Google Workspace integration only | Extensive integrations with Slack, Zapier, CRMs, and other third-party apps |
| Collaboration | Basic form sharing options | Role-based access, shared workspaces, and advanced team collaboration features |
| Pricing | Completely free with basic features | Free plan + Paid plans with advanced features like workflow automation and custom branding |
If you need simple, no-cost forms, Google Forms is a solid choice. But if you require professional-grade features, automation, branding, and integrations, PlatoForms is the better investment.
Read more: PlatoForms Recognized with the 2024 Best Ease Of Use Badge for PDF Category
🚀 Ready to take your online forms to the next level? Try PlatoForms today!
