Fulcrum vs Survey123 (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Fulcrum if

• Fits if you run a field crew of 5 or more and need map-based forms
• Works for teams already on ArcGIS or Power Automate

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you are small: 5 users at $43 each is the floor, $2,580 a year
• Skip it if you want a free plan, as there is none
• Watch out: APIs, webhooks, SSO and the AI features need Elite at $55 a user
• Watch out: the trial's length isn't stated, and annual billing is required

Pick Survey123 if

• Fits if your organisation already runs ArcGIS and wants survey answers to land on its maps
• Works for field inspections and reports that must be filled in with no signal

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you are not on ArcGIS, since the product is sold as part of it, not on its own
• Not for you if you want a price before you talk to anyone: no dollar figure is shown
• Watch out: the trial length isn't stated, and the free trial is the only free way in
• Watch out: the form builder, the field app and the desktop builder are separate downloads, and the new versions were still in beta

Fulcrum

• All plans require an annual subscription and a minimum of five users, so the lowest cost is about $2,580 a year.
• APIs, webhooks, SSO, SCIM, audit logging and the AI-based Audio FastFill and Insights features are on Elite or above.
• The pricing page does not state the length of the free trial, and there is no free plan.
• The pages read do not name the operating systems the mobile apps run on, so only web is listed as a platform.

Survey123

• Survey123 is included with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise, so cost depends on the ArcGIS user types an organization buys; the pages read show no dollar prices.
• Authoring and field apps are separate downloads (Survey123 Mobile, the field app, Studio and Connect) alongside the website.
• The pages read do not list which operating systems each app supports, so only web is listed as a platform.
• A next-generation Survey123 Mobile and Studio were in beta at the time of the vendor's latest update post.

Fulcrum

Offline data capture

Records are saved on the device without a connection and sync when it reconnects, according to the vendor's FAQ.

Form builder with logic

A drag-and-drop builder with calculated fields, required and visibility rules, repeatable parent-child records and linked records.

Media and scanning

Fields for photos with timestamps, audio, video, barcodes, QR codes and signatures, plus AI-powered face blurring on the Professional plan.

Geospatial capture

Automatic geotagging, line and polygon capture, offline basemaps and layers, and integration with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise.

AI form builder

Turns a plain-language description into a form with its logic, automation and reports; the vendor also lists a Fulcrum MCP server and AI toolkit.

Dispatch and administration

Record assignment and dispatch, projects, custom security roles, full record history and an activity feed.

Survey123

Two ways to build

A drag-and-drop web designer, or a desktop XLSForm builder for more complex forms, with built-in rules, calculations and required fields.

Offline field collection

Surveys can be filled in with no connection and sync automatically when connectivity returns.

Rich capture

Photos, audio, signatures and barcodes, with location from the device GPS or external GNSS hardware.

ArcGIS integration

Results sync in near real time to the ArcGIS platform, where they can feed web maps, apps, dashboards and reports.

Templates and AI-assisted creation

Reusable templates and AI-powered form creation, plus a Survey123 assistant and beta AI text and audio analysis listed in recent updates.

Esri support and training

Technical support, training courses and an Esri Community forum are part of the offer.

Fulcrum

• Professional$43

  per user license / month, billed annually (minimum five users)

  Offline capture, drag-and-drop builder, logic, repeatables, geospatial tools, data import/export and reports, with 100 GB storage and 10 data shares.

• Elite$55

  per user license / month, billed annually (minimum five users)

  Adds AI Audio FastFill and Insights, ArcGIS Enterprise link, APIs, webhooks, audit logging, SSO and SCIM, with 500 GB storage and 50 data shares.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Everything in Elite under a tailored enterprise license agreement, with unlimited users and data shares, storage as needed and a customer success manager.

Survey123

Pricing could not be confirmed. See survey123.arcgis.com.