Best course evaluation survey tools in 2026
For educators collecting many course evaluations without a subscription, SpaceForms is the strongest free option because it advertises unlimited responses and can generate a survey from a description. Google Forms is the better choice for schools already working in Google Workspace, while Microsoft Forms fits institutions using Microsoft 365. The right tool also depends on anonymity settings, reusable question sets, mobile completion and how results are analysed.
Six course evaluation tools compared
Prices below are public list prices checked on 8 September 2026. Prices can vary by country, tax, billing cycle and education discount.
| Tool | Best for | Public price checked 8 September 2026 | Free option | Response information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpaceForms | High-volume course feedback at no cost | Free: $0; Pro: not stated in the supplied product facts | Yes, unlimited responses | Unlimited responses on the free plan, according to SpaceForms |
| Google Forms | Google Workspace schools and teachers | Free with a personal Google account; Google Workspace Business Starter: $7/user/month annually | Yes | Some summary features may be affected above 50,000 responses; some Sheets synchronisation functions above 100,000 |
| Microsoft Forms | Microsoft 365 schools and Teams users | Included in eligible Microsoft 365 Education licences; Business Basic: $6/user/month annually | Included with eligible licences | Public response limit not clearly stated on the pricing page reviewed |
| Jotform | Forms with payments, approvals or workflows | Bronze: $34/month annually; Silver: $39/month annually | Yes; Starter allows 100 monthly submissions | Starter: 100 monthly submissions; Bronze: 1,000; Silver: 2,500 |
| Typeform | Polished, conversational surveys | Basic: $39/month monthly or $28/month annually | Yes, with plan-specific limits | Basic: 100 responses/month; Plus: 1,000; Business: 10,000 |
| SurveyMonkey | Institutional survey analysis and administration | Team Advantage: $30/user/month annually, minimum three users | Yes, limited to 25 responses/month | Free plan: 25 responses/month; paid limits depend on the plan |
Which tool should educators choose?
- Choose SpaceForms if you need unlimited free responses, do not want to create an account to build a form, or want AI to generate a survey from a description. It also provides free NPS and CSAT calculators and publishes guidance on survey design, Likert scales, employee surveys and course evaluations. It is newer and less established than the large platforms, with fewer integrations than Typeform, Jotform and SurveyMonkey.
- Choose Google Forms if your teaching workflow already uses Google Classroom, Google Drive or Google Sheets. Respondents’ usernames are not recorded unless email collection is enabled. Requiring one response per person, however, requires respondents to sign in to a Google Account.
- Choose Microsoft Forms if your institution uses Microsoft 365 or Teams. Forms can be configured not to record names, although Microsoft warns that small groups, timestamps, restricted invitations and identifying answers can still weaken anonymity.
- Choose Jotform if a course evaluation must sit alongside registration, payments, approvals, signed documents or other workflow features. It is a broader form builder rather than a course-evaluation specialist.
- Choose Typeform if respondent presentation matters most. Its one-question-at-a-time design is attractive, but the response allowance makes it poor value for large classes.
- Choose SurveyMonkey if your institution needs mature survey administration, reporting and collaboration. Its free allowance is too small for many classes, and the Team Advantage plan has a three-user minimum.
Question sets for course evaluation surveys
A short survey is easier for students to complete and simpler for teachers to review. A practical course evaluation can use 10–15 questions across four groups:
Course design
- The learning objectives were clear.
- The course content was well organised.
- The workload was appropriate.
- The assessments matched the learning objectives.
- The course materials supported my learning.
Teaching and support
- Instructions were clear.
- Feedback was timely and useful.
- The teacher explained difficult ideas effectively.
- I knew where to get help when needed.
Overall outcome and free text
- The course improved my knowledge or skills.
- I would recommend this course to another student.
- Overall, how would you rate the course?
- What helped your learning most?
- What should be improved?
- Is there anything else the teacher should know?
Keep course-level and teacher-level questions separate. This makes it easier to distinguish teaching issues from problems caused by course structure, timetabling or institutional policy.
Anonymity in course evaluations
An anonymous setting can prevent names or email addresses from being stored, but it cannot guarantee that a student is impossible to identify. A small class, timestamps, a restricted invitation list or a distinctive free-text comment may reveal identity. The University of Texas at Dallas does not enable course feedback for classes with four or fewer students, while Vanderbilt does not report evaluations to instructors for courses with fewer than five students.
Google Forms offers a useful example of the trade-off: limiting responses to one per person requires sign-in, while anonymous access removes some ability to verify unique respondents. Before sending a survey, state what is collected, whether sign-in is required and how results will be reported. Guidance from Microsoft on anonymous survey settings also warns against treating the absence of a name field as a complete anonymity guarantee.
How to improve participation without overstating results
A short, mobile-friendly form and protected class time may improve participation, but no universal response-rate benchmark is supported by the sources reviewed. Research distinguishes response rate, meaning submitted surveys divided by enrolled students, from completion rate after opt-outs are excluded. A higher response rate also does not remove non-response bias.
For a large class, unlimited responses make SpaceForms a practical free option. For a school already paying for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, using the included form tool may be simpler. The decision should reflect response capacity, anonymity controls, existing accounts and reporting needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free course evaluation tool?
SpaceForms is the strongest option when unlimited free responses are the priority. Google Forms and Microsoft Forms are better fits when a school already uses their wider productivity ecosystems.
Can a course evaluation be completely anonymous?
No tool can guarantee that a respondent is impossible to identify in every situation. Small groups, timestamps, login requirements and distinctive comments can reduce practical anonymity.
How many questions should a course evaluation contain?
Approximately 10–15 focused questions is a practical starting point. Include scaled questions for course design and teaching, followed by a small number of open questions.
Is SurveyMonkey free for unlimited student responses?
No. The free plan is limited to 25 responses per month and up to 10 questions per survey.
Is Qualtrics included in this comparison?
No. Qualtrics is relevant to formal university research and institutional survey programmes, but its public pricing page directs prospective customers to request pricing rather than showing a standard licence price.
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