Formbricks vs LimeSurvey
Self-host pick — both replace SurveyMonkey (Online surveys).
Both Formbricks and LimeSurvey self-host as a replacement for SurveyMonkey (Online surveys). Pick Formbricks if you want the lighter footprint — 20min docker-compose (Next.js + Postgres), $10/mo vps. Pick LimeSurvey if you need academic researchers, government, and orgs that need offline-capable surveys (LimeSurvey supports printed-to-paper surveys with OCR-back-in) — 20min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB) and $5-10/mo vps.
| Formbricksopen-source | LimeSurveyopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Setup time | 20min docker-compose (Next.js + Postgres) | 20min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB) |
| Monthly cost | $10/mo VPS. | $5-10/mo VPS. |
| GitHub | formbricks/formbricks | LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey |
| Replaces | SurveyMonkey + 1 other | SurveyMonkey + 1 other |
Good fit for
Formbricks
SaaS teams running in-app micro-surveys (NPS, feature feedback) where embed quality matters more than 100-question instruments.
Weak at:Long-form research instruments aren't the focus — LimeSurvey covers that better.
LimeSurvey
Academic researchers, government, and orgs that need offline-capable surveys (LimeSurvey supports printed-to-paper surveys with OCR-back-in).
Weak at:UI feels academic-2010; modern competitors look more polished.
Both also replace
- Typeform— Forms / surveys / quizzes
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli surveymonkey prints SurveyMonkey's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Formbricks or LimeSurvey?
Formbricks: 20min docker-compose (Next.js + Postgres). LimeSurvey: 20min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB).
What does each cost to run?
Formbricks: $10/mo VPS.. LimeSurvey: $5-10/mo VPS.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Formbricks and LimeSurvey replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to SurveyMonkey (and 1 other SaaS).