Survey123 vs Zerion (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Zerion grades higher than Survey123: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Survey123 grades higher on the free plan. Zerion grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Survey123
ArcGIS smart forms for field data collection and survey analysis
Free trial
Zerion
iFormBuilder, offline mobile data collection for field teams
Paid
Which one is for you
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
Pick Zerion if
- Fits if you run inspections or audits with 10 or more field users
- Works for teams that want a white-label app
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a price on the page, as none is published
- Not for you if you have fewer than 10 users, because of the 10-user minimum
- Watch out: the white-label app and services cost extra, and there is no standard nonprofit or academic discount
- Watch out: the MCP server for AI assistants is listed as coming soon
How we grade them
| 1.8GPASurvey123Weak | 2.0GPAZerionFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published: it is included with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise, so the cost depends on the ArcGIS user types an organisation buys. | CNo prices are published. Licensing is per user, yearly, with a 10-user minimum, quoted on request. |
| Free plan and trial | DA free trial is offered, but the overview page doesn't say how long it lasts or whether a card is needed, and there is no free plan. | FNo free plan or trial is described. The page recommends a demo first. |
| Features | CTwo builders (web designer and XLSForm), offline collection, photos, audio, signatures, barcodes and GPS. The listing's own gaps: authoring and field apps are separate downloads and the next-generation apps were still in beta. | BMore than 35 element types, JavaScript logic, offline collection, a document builder, an enterprise API and multiple teams. The listing names no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You build the form yourself, in a web designer or an XLSForm file, and connect it to an ArcGIS account, so there is a learning curve. | CNo store rating on record. You build each form and its logic, and the vendor offers professional services. |
| Platforms and integrations | COnly web is listed as a platform, because the pages don't say which systems the Mobile, Studio and Connect apps run on. It connects to ArcGIS Online and Enterprise only. | BWeb plus iOS and Android apps and an API. No desktop app is listed. |
| Best for | field data collection that feeds ArcGIS maps | inspection and audit forms with iFormBuilder |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Survey123 and Zerion. How we grade
Where they differ
- Survey123 also covers templates, surveys and reports.
- Zerion also covers workflow automation.
In commonWebWorks offlineAI featuresForms
At a glance
| Survey123 | Zerion | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | Esri offers a free trial; its length is not stated on the overview page | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Esri | Zerion Software |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Zerion
- No prices are published: licensing is per user on an annual subscription with a 10-user minimum, quoted on request.
- The pricing page recommends a demo as the first step and does not describe a free trial or a free plan.
- The white-label app and professional services are paid add-ons, and the vendor says it offers no standard nonprofit, government or academic discount.
- The MCP server for AI assistants is described as coming soon.
Key features
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.
Zerion
- Form builder
- More than 35 element types, conditional logic, lookup tables and validation, with JavaScript available for formulas and skip logic.
- Offline collection
- Forms are downloaded to the device and filled in without coverage; photos, signatures, GPS and barcodes sync when a connection returns.
- Document builder
- Turns submissions into branded PDFs from templates built visually or started from Word, one at a time or in bulk.
- Enterprise API
- An API for connecting iFormBuilder to a CRM, ERP or database and for managing the account automatically.
- AI assistant connection
- An MCP server, listed as coming soon, will let assistants such as Copilot, ChatGPT and Claude build forms and answer questions about records.
- Multiple teams and branding
- Profiles separate projects, departments or regions, and forms can carry custom branding; a white-label app is a paid add-on.
Plans
Survey123
Pricing could not be confirmed. See survey123.arcgis.com.
Zerion
Pricing could not be confirmed. See zerionsoftware.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Survey123 or Zerion?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Survey123 has no price we could confirm, and Zerion has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Survey123 or Zerion?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Survey123 nor Zerion has a free plan. Survey123 has a free trial.
Which platforms do Survey123 and Zerion run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Zerion lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.