Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DEV.to VS Microsoft Forms

Compare DEV.to VS Microsoft Forms and see what are their differences

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DEV.to logo DEV.to

Where software engineers connect, build their resumes, and grow.

Microsoft Forms logo Microsoft Forms

Simplistic surveys by Microsoft.
  • DEV.to Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-13
  • Microsoft Forms Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-27

DEV.to features and specs

  • Community Engagement
    DEV.to offers an active and supportive community of developers where users can share knowledge, seek advice, and collaborate on projects. This fosters a sense of belonging and continuous learning.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform provides a straightforward and user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to publish content, engage with other posts, and navigate through various resources.
  • Content Diversity
    DEV.to features a wide range of topics related to software development, from beginner tutorials to advanced technical articles. This diversity makes it a valuable resource for developers at all skill levels.
  • Open Source and Transparency
    DEV.to is built on open-source software, which promotes transparency and allows users to contribute to the platformโ€™s development. This aligns with the core values of many developers.
  • Cross-Posting Capabilities
    Users can easily cross-post articles from their personal blogs or other platforms, increasing their contentโ€™s reach and visibility without significant additional effort.

Possible disadvantages of DEV.to

  • Content Quality Variation
    Given its open nature, the quality of content on DEV.to can be inconsistent. Users may need to sift through a mix of high-quality and less useful posts to find valuable information.
  • Platform-Specific Features
    Some features and optimizations are tailored specifically for the DEV.to platform, which might not translate well if the content is shared elsewhere.
  • Limited Advanced Customization
    While the platform is user-friendly, it offers limited customization options for articles and personal profiles compared to more robust blogging platforms.
  • Visibility Challenges
    With a large user base, it can be challenging for new users or less popular posts to gain traction and visibility unless they are highly engaging or promoted.
  • Distraction Potential
    The platform's social features, such as discussions and notifications, can sometimes be distracting, potentially impacting productivity for users who are easily sidetracked.

Microsoft Forms features and specs

  • Integration with Microsoft 365
    Microsoft Forms seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft 365 apps such as Excel, SharePoint, and Teams, enhancing collaboration and data management.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies form creation and distribution, making it accessible even to non-technical users.
  • Real-time Collaboration
    Multiple users can collaborate on form creation and data analysis in real-time, fostering teamwork and increasing productivity.
  • Customization Options
    It offers various customization options, including themes, question types, and response validation, allowing users to tailor forms to specific needs.
  • Analytics and Reporting
    Built-in analytics tools provide insights and visualizations directly within Microsoft Forms, aiding in data-driven decision-making.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Forms

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to other specialized survey tools, Microsoft Forms lacks some advanced features such as complex branching, advanced logic, and extensive third-party integrations.
  • Design Flexibility
    The platform has limited design customization options, making it less suitable for users looking to create highly branded or unique forms.
  • Response Limits
    Free and some standard Microsoft 365 plans have response limits, which can be restrictive for organizations conducting large-scale surveys.
  • Export Limitations
    Exporting data to other formats or systems can be cumbersome, especially when dealing with large datasets or requiring specific data formats.
  • Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem
    While integration with Microsoft 365 is a strength, it can also be a limitation for users or organizations that rely on non-Microsoft tools and services.

Analysis of DEV.to

Overall verdict

  • Yes, DEV.to is considered a good platform for developers looking to connect with peers, stay updated with industry trends, and share their knowledge.

Why this product is good

  • DEV.to is a popular online community for software developers where they can share articles, tutorials, and insights related to programming and technology. It's known for its supportive environment, user-friendly interface, and the diversity of content, making it a good resource for learning and networking.

Recommended for

  • Aspiring software developers seeking learning resources and mentorship.
  • Experienced developers looking to share knowledge and contribute to the community.
  • Individuals interested in keeping up with the latest trends and discussions in technology.

Analysis of Microsoft Forms

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Microsoft Forms is generally well-regarded as a user-friendly tool for creating and managing online forms.

Why this product is good

  • Microsoft Forms is considered good due to its ease of use, integration with other Microsoft 365 applications, real-time collaboration features, and robust data analysis capabilities. It provides an intuitive interface for creating surveys, quizzes, and polls and offers automatic data export to Excel for further analysis. Additionally, it ensures data security and privacy, adherent to Microsoft's compliance guidelines.

Recommended for

  • Educational institutions requiring tools for quizzes and feedback collection
  • Businesses looking for an integrated solution for customer surveys and employee feedback
  • Teams that already use Microsoft 365 and need seamless integration with other applications
  • Users who require real-time data analysis and collaboration on form responses

DEV.to videos

Ben Halpern founder of Dev.To & The Practical Dev

Microsoft Forms videos

Review of Microsoft Forms Pro 2019 โ€ข Office 365 Survey Solution

More videos:

  • Review - Introducing Microsoft Forms Pro
  • Review - Microsoft Forms Pro | Business Applications April 2019 Release

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DEV.to and Microsoft Forms)
CMS
100 100%
0% 0
Form Builder
0 0%
100% 100
Blogging
100 100%
0% 0
Surveys
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using DEV.to and Microsoft Forms. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare DEV.to and Microsoft Forms

DEV.to Reviews

  1. It is a nice mini-blog, it's for free and such but

    As a mini-blog, it is a nice alternative for Medium to publish and share information about programming.

    However, the community and the organization are biased toward social justice (and they are open to it). You can read its Code of Conduct, it is so vague and politically leads (I prefer a term of service because it defines fair rules for everybody). So it alienates developers that we don't care about politics in pro of people that want to talk about any other topic such as sexuality, how women are unprivileged, and such. It even mandates to use inclusive language. Good grief.

    My main complaint is the quality of the community. It is not StackOverflow (so we don't want to ask for an answer here), and most of the top topics are clickbait, such as "how to become a rockstar developer in ... days", "100 tips to become a better programmer" (and it doesn't even talk about programming).

    Technically this "mini blog" site allows us to use markdown, and it is okay. However, the whole experience is really basic. Even the template is ugly.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Medium
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Free
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Social justice|Basic features|Quality of content

Best Forums for Developers to Join in 2025
The 'dev.to' forum is a great place for developers to find answers, share their knowledge, and learn from others. It's a place for people to talk about their projects, ask questions, and get feedback.
Source: www.notchup.com
Top 10 Developer Communities You Should Explore
One of Dev.toโ€™s unique features is its focus on the human side of coding. Developers often share their personal stories, career journeys, and lessons learned, creating a sense of camaraderie within the community. The platform also encourages content creators by providing a clean and user-friendly interface for writing and sharing articles.
Source: www.qodo.ai

Microsoft Forms Reviews

  1. โœ“ Adrian | Mobile Forms - Digital Inspections - Enterprise Checklists - Data collection
    ยท Marketing at Mobile Forms ยท
    My home inspection form software review of microsoft forms builder

    This is my review of microsoft forms builder used as a home inspection software.

    As a home inspector, I was trying to use Microsoft forms builder as a gathering information tool through surveys as it is an essential part of understanding the needs and preferences of customers and employees, as well as property investors and homeowners.

    There is evidence that customer satisfaction surveys increase customer engagement by differentiating your brand and showing that you care about yourself. Similarly, employee surveys are essential to measuring internal engagement within organizations. This underscores the need for robust tools that effectively report survey/survey responses in a measurable way so that results can facilitate decision-making. That's where MS Forms comes in. With an easy-to-use interface, Forms lets you create short surveys or develop surveys for free as part of the Office 365 suite of applications. While there are other third-party alternatives, such as SurveyMonkey, that have survey and query capabilities, Forms is free under the Office 365 subscription.

    The advantage of Forms is that it offers more seamless integration with other Microsoft applications. In the past, Microsoft had InfoPath, which had the same goal but was more complex to design and start.

    One of the features of Forms to note is Dynamic Customer Voice 365. It's a business feedback management application built into Forms that allows easy tracking of customer measurements by introducing real-time survey data into customer records. It comes with project management capabilities that allow you to gather multiple surveys with similar metrics to simplify analysis, so you can understand how customers see your services. Important: You'll need a paid license to access Dynamic 365 Customer Voice, but it's available for a free 30-day trial.

    From a management perspective, Forms enables business leaders to understand the needs and productivity of employees quickly and effectively. For example, ITW's management team used forms to check with employees during the pandemic. It has been invaluable in providing information and measures on productivity, well-being and assessing employees' remote work needs (e.g., need for office equipment and stationery). This form builder allows any device to connect and contribute to a continuous live survey, with results dynamically visible on the backend, so employees can respond to surveys at a company-wide virtual meeting. The management team can then visualize these responses as they arrive and respond live, creating a more conversational feeling, even in a remote environment.

    Engaged employees are 27% more likely to report "excellent" performance. (Source: Gallup) Microsoft Planner Productivity monitoring and task management are an integral part of inter-team organizational alignment; there is evidence that a work environment where employees feel connected when working on projects increases engagement and productivity. Microsoft Planner is a comprehensive task and work management solution that allows teams to stay connected throughout a project, manage their time and organize. The planner allows you to set up due date notifications so that team members receive reminders about the due date, which maintains connectivity and increases responsibility for tasks. In addition, one of the planner's new features allows you to announce tasks in Teams so users can discuss them in the Team channel.

    Other apps I have reviewed like Monday.com or Smartsheet</a" may provide similar features, but being part of the Microsoft 365 suite, Planner can easily be integrated with other applications on the platform. And of course, the value you get from a free app in Planner far exceeds the cost of payment for any third-party application.

    All in all, personally, I think I have wasted enough time on non specialized form builders until I stumbled upon nSpek. It truly changes the game of home inspections for a... home inspector :D

    You can check out more reviews of inspection software I was able to find, so that you can dive much deeper into the whole software comparison as a property manager.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: nSpek, ProntoForms, Google Forms

27 Best Typeform Alternatives In 2022 (Free & Paid)
When it comes to choosing a Typeform alternative, you might be looking for the one that can be easily integrated with Excel. Microsoft Forms can do this, and itโ€™s a tremendous online form tool too.
The 11 Best Online Form Builder Apps in 2019
Adding questions to Microsoft Forms is fast and simple: add a question, choose the answer format, and type in your questions and response options. And while Microsoft Forms doesn't offer some of the response types you'll find in Google Formsโ€”it doesn't allow respondents to upload files, for exampleโ€”it does have response types you won't find in Google Forms, like Net Promoter...
Source: zapier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DEV.to seems to be a lot more popular than Microsoft Forms. While we know about 657 links to DEV.to, we've tracked only 16 mentions of Microsoft Forms. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DEV.to mentions (657)

  • What Is AI Agent Tool Calling? MCP, Function Calling, and A2A Explained (2026)
    That is the gap Arcade.dev is purpose-built to close. Unlike a routing gateway that simply proxies requests, Arcade is a full action runtime. It's a secure execution environment for production agents with per-user authorization, vaulted credentials, structured audit logs, and hosted tool execution. It delivers a hosted catalog of over 8,000 pre-built agent-optimized MCP tools, designed for agent intent rather than... - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • Active players looked real until we asked which sessions counted
    Outside PostHog, the acquisition picture did not match. Real arrivals were mostly organic Google Search. In Search Console, we had not yet hit the first โ€œ30 clicks from Google Search in the past 28 daysโ€ milestone. We had only just started posting on dev.to, so that channel was not a material source either. - Source: dev.to / 4 days ago
  • How to let AI agents verify email signups
    ZeroDrop ships an MCP server that exposes exactly those three tools. Install it into any MCP-capable client:. - Source: dev.to / 4 days ago
  • ๐Ÿ˜ Like... TypeScript for PHP? Yes. And it's not what you think
    In the previous parts of this series, we explored how PureScript acts as a quiet rewrite of the Web, offering a sanctuary of mathematical precision above JavaScript, and how its universal polymorphism allows it to target wildly different runtimes like Node.js, Erlang's BEAM, Chez Scheme, etc. - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • My Blog Had 20 Unanswered Comments Across 35 Posts. Nothing Ever Told Me.
    Def pending(): drafted = open(DRAFTS, encoding="utf-8").read() out = [] for a in api(f"/articles?username={ME}&per_page=100"): if not a["comments_count"]: continue for c in api(f"/comments?a_id={a['id']}"): if c["user"]["username"] == ME or replied_by_me(c): continue if c["id_code"] in drafted: continue ... - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
View more

Microsoft Forms mentions (16)

  • MS Forms: Employee to send form and recieve results on his email depending on which employee emails the form (dynamic)
    When you use the word โ€˜formโ€™ in a Microsoft context, readers including myself may assume you are talking about Microsoft forms on https://forms.office.com. Source: about 3 years ago
  • How does your company do its IT Onboarding?
    Make a Microsoft Forms that they have to fill out. Set it to email you when it's completed. Tell people that they have to fill it out properly or they can't have access to anything. The last thing they had before I got here was on PAPER... ISYN. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Microsoft Forms are constantly refreshing and logging out
    You can get to forms.office.com but when you open any form to edit it just constantly refreshes and then kicks you back to a login screen. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How To Create A Fillable Form In Sharepoint Office 365?
    Or just use Microsoft Forms, available at https://forms.office.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Easiest Way to Collect Data from Many People at an Organization
    Could you send out a forms link and then collate the data? Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DEV.to and Microsoft Forms, you can also consider the following products

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

Typeform - Create beautiful, next-generation online forms with Typeform, the form & survey builder that makes asking questions easy & human on any device. Try it FREE!

Medium - Welcome to Medium, a place to read, write, and interact with the stories that matter most to you.

Google Forms - Simple web forms from Google.

Hashnode - A friendly and inclusive Q&A network for coders

Survey Monkey - Create and publish online surveys in minutes, and view results graphically and in real time. SurveyMonkey provides free online questionnaire and survey software.