# LimeSurvey

> LimeSurvey (3.8k stars, developed since 2006, active Oct 2026) is a PHP survey platform with unlimited surveys, 30+ question types, skip logic and branching, multilingual surveys, public or invite-only links, response statistics, data analysis, a RemoteControl API and plugins. The Community Edition is GPL-2.0-or-later with no paid tier in the code; LimeSurvey GmbH sells hosting. Runs on any PHP 8.1+ web server with MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL or MSSQL. Built for research-style surveys; it is not a conversational one-question form builder and has no payment fields.

- Repository: https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey
- Official docs: https://www.limesurvey.org/manual/Installation_-_LimeSurvey_CE
- Checked: 2026-10-16

## What it replaces
- Typeform: Form and survey builder, Conditional logic and branching, Response analytics and exports (partial). Strong for surveys and analysis; classic page layout, no payment fields.
- Jotform: Form and survey builder, Conditional logic and branching, Response analytics and exports (partial). Survey-focused; no payment fields, PDF forms or e-signatures.
- SurveyMonkey: Build forms and surveys, Conditional questions and branching, Response analytics (partial). Survey building, branching and response statistics cover core surveys; SurveyMonkey research panels and advanced analysis are not assumed.

## Facts, with sources

| Question | Status | Answer | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on my machine? | Confirmed | Self-hosted on your own PHP web server; hosted SaaS also offered | https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey#readme | 2026-10-16 |
| Code licence | Partial | GPL-2.0-or-later (copyleft); logo and pictures are trademarks | https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey#license | 2026-10-16 |
| Model weights licence | Confirmed | No separate model weights | https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey#readme | 2026-10-16 |
| Commercial use | Partial | Commercial use allowed under GPL copyleft terms | https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey#readme | 2026-10-16 |
| Paid services needed? | Confirmed | None required for the Community Edition; LimeSurvey cloud hosting is optional | https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey#readme | 2026-10-16 |
| Hardware | Confirmed | 250 MB disk minimum plus PHP 8.1.29+ and a supported database; RAM not stated | https://www.limesurvey.org/manual/Installation_-_LimeSurvey_CE | 2026-10-16 |
| Operating systems | Partial | Any PHP web server; manual covers Linux permissions and Windows MSSQL drivers; macOS not mentioned | https://www.limesurvey.org/manual/Installation_-_LimeSurvey_CE | 2026-10-16 |
| Setup effort | Confirmed | Medium; upload the release to a PHP server, create a database and run the web installer | https://www.limesurvey.org/manual/Installation_-_LimeSurvey_CE | 2026-10-16 |

GitHub: 3768 stars, 1123 forks, last push 2026-10-16, archived: no.
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Source: RepoQuarry (https://repoquarry.dev/projects/limesurvey). Data licence: CC BY 4.0. Quotes are from project documentation and belong to their authors.