# LimeSurvey / Formbricks

Research surveys you host. LimeSurvey is GPL-2.0; Formbricks is AGPL-3.0 — Qualtrics without the experience-management seat.

**Replaces:** Qualtrics

**Tier:** Medium

## Problem

Qualtrics sells experience management as a seat: long questionnaires, quotas, panels, and a research OS. You wanted a survey on a box you run. LimeSurvey is GPL-2.0 (LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey; last push 26 Oct 2026) — the classic self-host questionnaire already in the catalog. Formbricks is AGPL-3.0 if the job is a Typeform-shaped flow rather than a research instrument — /compare/formbricks-vs-limesurvey and /replace/typeform. HeyForm is the other AGPL builder — /compare/limesurvey-vs-heyform. This is not Qualtrics' every XM, panel, or Stats iQ SKU, SurveyMonkey's every paid-response pack (that lander stays on /replace/surveymonkey), or a recruited tester marketplace. A conversational form stays on /replace/typeform. A product-research desk stays on /replace/maze.

## Stack

- [LimeSurvey](https://www.limesurvey.org) — GPL-2.0 research surveys — the published Qualtrics path
- [Formbricks](https://formbricks.com) — AGPL-3.0 Typeform-shaped engine if the job is a flow, not a questionnaire
- [HeyForm](https://heyform.net) — AGPL-3.0 form builder if LimeSurvey is not the shape

## Estimated SaaS cost saved

| You stop paying | Typical / year | Self-host instead |
|---|---:|---|
| Qualtrics (small team) | $2,400 | LimeSurvey or Formbricks |

**About $2,400 / year** on a small team, before you count lock-in.

## Deploy on Railway

Placeholder: LimeSurvey (PHP + MySQL or Postgres) with a volume for uploads. Bind HTTP to 0.0.0.0:$PORT. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway. A Typeform-shaped flow stays on /stacks/formbricks-forms.

[Start on Railway](https://c17.io/go/railway/limesurvey-research?from=%2Fstacks%2Flimesurvey-research.md)

[Formbricks if this is a Typeform flow, not a research questionnaire](https://c17.io/stacks/formbricks-forms)

## AGENT_PROMPT

```
Replace Qualtrics with LimeSurvey (preferred) or Formbricks.

- Official docs. Persist the database. Build one questionnaire. Do not claim Qualtrics XM, panels, or Stats iQ.
- Formbricks if the job is a Typeform-shaped flow — /compare/formbricks-vs-limesurvey. HeyForm if you want that AGPL builder — /compare/limesurvey-vs-heyform.
- Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.
```

## FAQ

### LimeSurvey or Formbricks?

LimeSurvey if you want the published Qualtrics questionnaire. Formbricks if the job is a Typeform-shaped flow — /compare/formbricks-vs-limesurvey.

### Is this SurveyMonkey?

SurveyMonkey stays on /replace/surveymonkey (Formbricks). This page is the research questionnaire.

### Is this Maze?

A product-research desk stays on /replace/maze. You do not get a tester marketplace.

### Are these free?

LimeSurvey is GPL-2.0. Formbricks and HeyForm are AGPL-3.0. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.

Source: https://c17.io/stacks/limesurvey-research