KoboToolbox vs LimeSurvey
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted office suites options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
KoboToolbox
Field data collection for surveys and research
VS
LimeSurvey
Professional open-source survey software
| Feature | KoboToolbox | LimeSurvey |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Office Suites | Office Suites |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 178 | ★ 3,688 |
| First released | 2014 | 2003 |
| Replaces | SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics | SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics |
Why pick each one
Choose KoboToolbox if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Choose LimeSurvey if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.7k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is KoboToolbox or LimeSurvey better?
LimeSurvey is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider KoboToolbox if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KoboToolbox and LimeSurvey free and open-source?
Yes. KoboToolbox is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and LimeSurvey under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KoboToolbox and LimeSurvey with Docker?
KoboToolbox: yes. LimeSurvey: yes.