LimeSurvey vs SurveyMonkey
Self-host swap-in for SurveyMonkey. · Self-host SurveyMonkey · LimeSurvey on os-alt
LimeSurvey is one of the open-source self-host replacements for SurveyMonkey — license GPL-2.0, 20min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB) to stand up, and $5-10/mo vps. Compare against SurveyMonkey's Team Advantage $25/user/mo; Premier $75/user/mo; Enterprise custom (annual) below.
| LimeSurveyopen-source | SurveyMonkeypaid SaaS | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Online surveys | Online surveys |
| License / pricing | GPL-2.0 | Team Advantage $25/user/mo; Premier $75/user/mo; Enterprise custom (annual) |
| Starting price | $0 self-host | $25/user/mo |
| GitHub | LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey | closed source |
| Setup time | 20min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB) | SaaS — sign up + bill |
| Monthly cost | $5-10/mo VPS. | from $25/user/mo (Team Advantage $25/user/mo; Premier $75/user/mo; Enterprise custom (annual)) |
Switching from SurveyMonkey to LimeSurvey
Pull `martialblog/limesurvey` and a MariaDB instance. SurveyMonkey survey export (Settings → Export survey design → PDF or DOC) is human-readable, not machine-importable — recreate the questionnaire in LimeSurvey's structure (Survey → Add question groups → Add questions). For responses, SurveyMonkey export → CSV → LimeSurvey's response import (import .vvexport file format after column rename).
- Good fit for
- 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.
- License note
- Community Edition is GPL-2.0; Professional / Enterprise add hosted features under commercial terms.
Other open-source self-host alternatives to SurveyMonkey
LimeSurvey also replaces
- Typeform— Forms / surveys / quizzes
In a terminal? npx os-alt surveymonkey prints SurveyMonkey's self-host options —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Is LimeSurvey a free alternative to SurveyMonkey?
Yes — LimeSurvey is open source under GPL-2.0. Self-host cost: $5-10/mo VPS.. SurveyMonkey starts at $25/user/mo (Team Advantage $25/user/mo; Premier $75/user/mo; Enterprise custom (annual)).
How long does LimeSurvey take to set up vs SurveyMonkey?
Self-hosting LimeSurvey: 20min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB). SurveyMonkey is a hosted SaaS — sign up and you're in.
What is LimeSurvey good at, and what is it weak at?
Good fit for: 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..