Websites using Limesurvey

Okay, let s break down LimeSurvey.

LimeSurvey: Overview

LimeSurvey is an open-source online survey tool that allows users to create, publish, and collect responses from surveys. It s known for its flexibility, customizability, and self-hosting options, making it appealing to organizations with specific data security or branding requirements.

• Key Features:

  • Survey Creation: Wide array of question types (multiple choice, text input, ranking, Likert scales, etc.), skip logic/conditional branching, quota management.
  • Customization: Highly customizable interface and templates. Users can modify the appearance to match their brand.
  • Distribution: Multiple distribution methods (email invitations, social media sharing, embedding on websites).
  • Data Analysis: Built-in statistical analysis tools, export options (CSV, Excel, SPSS, R).
  • Multilingual Support: Supports many languages, important for international surveys.
  • Open Source: The core software is free and open-source, licensed under the GNU General Public License.

• Target Audience: Businesses, researchers, educators, non-profits, and anyone who needs to collect data through surveys. Its flexibility makes it suitable for both simple and complex surveys.

Revenue and Business Model:

LimeSurvey operates on a freemium model combined with services. Here s how they generate revenue:

• LimeSurvey GmbH (Company Behind LimeSurvey):

  • LimeSurvey Cloud (Hosted Service): They offer hosted versions of LimeSurvey on their servers with different subscription plans, providing convenience and support. This is their primary revenue stream.
  • Expert Services: They offer paid support, consulting, and custom development services. This includes assistance with survey design, installation, customization, and training.
  • LimeStore: A marketplace where developers can sell themes, plugins, and other extensions for LimeSurvey. LimeSurvey likely takes a commission on sales.
  • Enterprise Solutions: Customized, high-availability solutions for large organizations with specific needs.

• Open Source:

  • While the core software is free, some users contribute financially to the project through donations.

Alternatives:

Here are some popular alternatives to LimeSurvey, categorized by their strengths:

• Simpler, More User-Friendly Alternatives:
  • SurveyMonkey: A well-established and very popular choice. Easy to use, with a wide range of templates and integrations. Good for quick and simple surveys.
  • Google Forms: Free, simple, and integrated with the Google ecosystem. Suitable for basic surveys and data collection.
  • Typeform: Known for its conversational and visually appealing survey experience.
  • Qualtrics: A powerful enterprise-level platform with advanced features for research and data analysis.
• More Flexible/Customizable Alternatives:
  • SoGoSurvey: Offers a good balance of features and customization options.
  • Alchemer (formerly SurveyGizmo): A robust platform with advanced logic and customization capabilities.
  • Formstack: Focuses on forms and data collection, with good integrations and workflow automation.
• Open Source Alternatives:
  • Nextcloud Forms: If you are already using Nextcloud, this is a good open-source option.
  • Formspree: Open Source form backend which is great for simple static sites

Pricing:

LimeSurvey s pricing is a bit complex due to the different options:

• Self-Hosted (Open Source): Free. You download and install the software on your own server. You re responsible for server costs, maintenance, and security.

• LimeSurvey Cloud: Subscription-based, with various plans. Pricing generally depends on:

  • Number of Responses: Limits on the number of survey responses you can collect per month or year.
  • Features: Higher-tier plans unlock more advanced features like white labeling, custom themes, advanced reporting, and API access.
  • Storage: The amount of storage space you need for your surveys and data.

• Rough Price Ranges (LimeSurvey Cloud - subject to change):

  • Free: Limited responses and features, good for testing.
  • Entry-Level Plans: Typically in the range of $30-$50 per month (billed annually), with a limited number of responses (e.g., 1,000 responses per year).
  • Higher-Tier Plans: Can range from $80-$200+ per month (billed annually), offering more responses, features, and support.
• Expert Services: Custom pricing based on the scope of the project.

Important Considerations for Pricing:

• Self-Hosting Costs: Don t forget to factor in the costs of server hosting, maintenance, and your own time if you choose the self-hosted option.
• Scalability: Consider your future needs and choose a plan that can scale as your survey requirements grow.
• Free Trial: LimeSurvey usually offers a free trial or a free plan so you can test the platform before committing to a paid subscription.

Customer Care Details:

• Documentation: LimeSurvey has extensive documentation on its website, including user manuals, FAQs, and tutorials. This is a good first place to look for answers.
• Community Forum: A very active community forum where users can ask questions and get help from other users and developers.
• Support Tickets (LimeSurvey Cloud): Paid LimeSurvey Cloud subscribers typically get access to support tickets for technical issues. The level of support often depends on the subscription plan. Higher-tier plans generally offer faster response times.
• Expert Services (Paid Support): You can hire LimeSurvey experts for paid support, consulting, and training.
• Social Media: They are active on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn.

Summary Table

| Feature | Description | | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Overview | Open-source online survey tool, known for flexibility and customization. | | Business Model | Freemium (LimeSurvey Cloud), expert services, LimeStore. | | Alternatives | SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Typeform, Qualtrics (simpler); SoGoSurvey, Alchemer, Formstack (flexible); Nextcloud Forms, Formspree (Open Source). | | Pricing | Self-hosted (free), LimeSurvey Cloud (subscription-based, from free to $200+/month), expert services (custom pricing). Pricing depends on the number of responses and features required. | | Customer Care | Documentation, community forum, support tickets (for paid subscribers), expert services. | | Pros | Highly customizable, self-hosting option, open-source core, wide range of question types, advanced logic, multilingual support. | | Cons | Steeper learning curve than simpler tools, self-hosting requires technical expertise, cloud plans can get expensive depending on the number of responses needed, the open source nature means support isn t always as immediate as with proprietary solutions. |

I hope this gives you a comprehensive overview of LimeSurvey! Remember to carefully evaluate your specific survey needs and budget before choosing a survey platform.