The Epicollect5 Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Epicollect5 in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Epicollect5
The Insider’s Guide
Free mobile and web data collection from Oxford University
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among form and survey tools, read from Epicollect5’s own pages.
Made by Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Epicollect5’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Epicollect5’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 142 of the 148 other form and survey tools we grade
Epicollect5 is a free mobile and web platform for collecting data, developed by a team at the Oxford University Big Data Institute. Projects are built in a web form builder and filled in through Android and iOS apps, with GPS and media capture. Data can be viewed on a central server and exported as CSV or JSON.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Epicollect5, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Its own docs suggest other tools for mission-critical projects.
- 1
Best for free field data collection from a university team
It has no limits beyond a fair usage policy, but the team says it is not a commercial company and gives no guarantees.
- 2
It is free
Epicollect5 has no paid plan at all. Free to use without limits, subject to a fair usage policy; as many projects and entries as you want.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, Android and iOS.
- 4
Form builder
Create projects and multi-form questionnaires in the web app, then download them to a device.
- 5
Mobile collection
The app runs on Android 10+ and iOS 15.6+, collecting GPS locations and media.
- 6
Central views
Entries can be viewed on a map, in tables and in charts on the project site.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 142 of 148
That is against the other form and survey tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Epicollect5 is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Epicollect5 at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance
- Category
- Forms & Surveys
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free field data collection from a university team
Epicollect5 is free, from a team at the Oxford University Big Data Institute, with web and Android and iOS apps. It has no limits beyond a fair usage policy, but the team says it is not a commercial company and gives no guarantees. Its own docs suggest other tools for mission-critical projects.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free with as many projects and entries as you want, under a fair usage policy. Nothing in forms tools costs less, and you need no server. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no cap a normal project would reach. |
| Features | C | Form builder, mobile collection, exports, an API and logic. The docs point to KoboToolbox, ODK or Google Forms for mission-critical work. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You design each project in the form builder. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web plus Android and iOS apps with GPS and media capture, an export API and Google Maps and Earth links. No desktop app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Epicollect5 is for
- Fits if you need a free tool for a research or survey project
- Works for field teams with phones and GPS
Who it is not for
- Not for you if the work is mission-critical, as the team says it is provided as-is with no guarantees
- Watch out: a fair usage policy applies, and it is not designed for free media storage
- Too light for case management or in-depth reporting
- Skip it if you need support or a service agreement, as it is not a commercial company
Good to know
Good for
- Researchers, students and citizen science projects on a zero budget
- Small teams collecting GPS-tagged data in the field
Worth knowing
- The team says it is not a commercial company and provides the service as-is, with no guarantees.
- For mission-critical projects the docs suggest alternatives such as KoboToolbox, ODK or Google Forms.
- A fair usage policy applies, and Epicollect5 is not designed as free media storage.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Epicollect5 is free to use.
Free with as many projects and entries as you want, under a fair usage policy.
Free
$0
100% free service with unlimited projects and entries, provided as-is under a fair usage policy.
The free plan
Free to use without limits, subject to a fair usage policy; as many projects and entries as you want.
Read from docs.epicollect.net on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
Free mobile and web data collection from Oxford University. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, public API, forms, surveys.
Form builder, mobile collection, exports, an API and logic.
- Form builder
- Create projects and multi-form questionnaires in the web app, then download them to a device.
- Mobile collection
- The app runs on Android 10+ and iOS 15.6+, collecting GPS locations and media.
- Central views
- Entries can be viewed on a map, in tables and in charts on the project site.
- Export and API
- Data exports as CSV and JSON, and a developer API is documented.
- Logic
- Jumps, branches, groups and double-entry verification are documented in the form builder.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Google Maps
- Google Earth
- Microreact
Epicollect5 is made by Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
142/148
Other form and survey tools it is graded above
Epicollect5's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 142 of the 148 other form and survey tools we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 139 of 148) and worst on features (C, above 5).
Epicollect5 has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 149 form and survey tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Epicollect5’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 131 of 148
- AFree plan and trialAbove 139 of 148
- CFeaturesAbove 5 of 148
- CEase of useAbove 7 of 148
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 46 of 148
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 121 form and survey tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Epicollect5 is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Epicollect5 is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 142 of the 148 other form and survey tools we grade.
What you could make
- Forms and surveys: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Google Maps, Google Earth and Microreact among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Epicollect5’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
KoboToolbox, Open Data Kit, Enketo, Ona and Google Forms
The 5 tools Epicollect5 is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
KoboToolbox
Free plan · from $21/mo
Open-source data collection for field surveys, online or offline.
- Only Epicollect5 lists an iOS app.
- KoboToolbox is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- KoboToolbox also covers reports.
- 2.0GPA
Open Data Kit
Free plan · from $199/mo
Open-source mobile and web data collection.
- Only Epicollect5 lists an iOS app.
- Open Data Kit is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 1.8GPA
Enketo
Free
Open-source web forms that work offline.
- Only Epicollect5 lists Android and iOS apps.
- Enketo is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Ona
Free plan · from $199/mo
Mobile data collection with forms, maps and charts.
- Only Epicollect5 lists Android and iOS apps.
- Ona also covers dashboards.
- 3.2GPA
Google Forms
Free plan · from $7/mo
Form, survey and quiz builder that comes with a Google Account.
- Only Epicollect5 lists Android and iOS apps.
- Google Forms also covers templates and reports.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Epicollect5 free?
Yes. Epicollect5 is free to use.
How much does Epicollect5 cost?
Epicollect5 lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Epicollect5 work on?
Epicollect5 is available on Web, Android and iOS.
Does Epicollect5 have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Epicollect5 is listed for Web, Android and iOS.
Does Epicollect5 have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Epicollect5 is listed for Web, Android and iOS.
Is Epicollect5 open source?
Epicollect5 is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Epicollect5 work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does Epicollect5 have an API?
Yes. Epicollect5 offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Epicollect5 integrate with?
Epicollect5's listing names Google Maps, Google Earth and Microreact. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Epicollect5?
Epicollect5 is made by Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance.
What are the alternatives to Epicollect5?
The closest alternatives to Epicollect5 in our directory are KoboToolbox, Open Data Kit, Enketo, Ona and Google Forms.
How does Epicollect5 compare with other form and survey tools?
Epicollect5's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 142 of the 148 other form and survey tools we grade, and level with 3.
Is Epicollect5 good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Epicollect5 A for value for money. Epicollect5 has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Epicollect5?
Epicollect5 is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 142 of the 148 other form and survey tools we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Epicollect5’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Epicollect5's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance. Prices change, so check five.epicollect.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Epicollect5, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/epicollect5
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Epicollect5: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/epicollect5
Know someone choosing between form and survey tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/epicollect5/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded form and survey tools after Epicollect5, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Forms & Surveys Insider's GuideEvery one of the 149 form and survey tools we grade, compared
- Formester Insider's GuideForm builder with unlimited forms and responses on the free plan3.2 GPA
- Formgrid Insider's GuideForm builder with unlimited forms and responses on the free plan3.2 GPA
- Google Forms Insider's GuideForm, survey and quiz builder that comes with a Google Account3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Epicollect5’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Epicollect5 is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance. Prices and plans change: check five.epicollect.net before you buy.