Comparison

Microsoft Forms collects responses. Settle closes client decisions.

Forms can stop collecting at an end date. What it leaves to you is everything after: deciding whether the result counts, chasing the people who didn't answer, and keeping a record. Settle gives each client a private link with no sign-in, a rule for what counts as agreement, and a timestamped record at the deadline.

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Microsoft Forms is a good survey tool. This page is about the other job.

Last verified: 28 October 2026

Side by side

Feature comparison between Microsoft Forms and Settle for Teams
Capability	Microsoft Forms	Settle for Teams
What it produces	A set of responses you review in Forms or export to Excel.	A decision: a winning option, a decision rule, and a timestamped Settled or Escalated record.
Deadline	Start and end dates: the form stops collecting responses at the date and time you set.	A deadline from one hour to 30 days. At the deadline Settle closes the decision and applies your rule.
One answer per person	Only when responses are limited to your organisation, which requires a work or school sign-in.	Each of up to 30 stakeholders gets a private link, so each person answers once without signing in.
External clients	"Anyone can respond" lets people outside your organisation answer without signing in, but then one-response-per-person is not available.	Clients, partners and board members answer from their private link in any browser, with no account.
Chasing non-responders	Smart notifications can suggest sending a reminder email to people you invited who have not responded.	Settle sends automated reminders to the people who haven't responded.
Declaring a result	You read the responses and decide what they mean.	Majority, unanimity or creator decides, chosen up front and applied at the deadline.
The record afterwards	Responses in Forms or a spreadsheet. What was decided, and when, is not part of the artifact.	A timestamped card with the outcome and response count. Search, filter and export your decision history.

Microsoft Forms behaviour as documented by Microsoft, checked 28 October 2026 (form settings, who can respond, smart notifications). Microsoft Forms is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation; Settle is not affiliated with Microsoft. Features and licensing change, so verify current details with Microsoft before deciding on this table alone.

Use Microsoft Forms when

Surveys and feedback

Many questions, branching, quizzes and analysis. Forms is built for this.

Internal polls in Microsoft 365

Everyone signs in with a work account and you already live in Teams and Outlook.

Data collection

Registrations, requests and intake where the response sheet is the point.

Use Settle when

A client decision with a deadline

You need an answer by Thursday from people outside your organisation.

A rule for what counts

Majority, unanimity or the owner decides, agreed before anyone votes.

A record you can cite later

Scope, creative direction or vendor choice that you may need to show was agreed.

Frequently asked questions

Can Microsoft Forms close automatically at a deadline?

Yes. In the form settings you can set a start and end date and time, and the form stops collecting responses at the end date. It does not turn the responses into a result. Settle closes the decision at your deadline and applies your decision rule.

Can external clients answer a Microsoft Form without signing in?

Yes, if you choose "Anyone can respond". But limiting each person to one response is only available when responses are restricted to your organisation, which requires a work or school sign-in. Settle gives each stakeholder a private link, so each person answers once with no account.

Does Microsoft Forms send reminders?

Smart notifications can email you a status update and let you send a reminder to people you invited who haven't responded. Settle sends automated reminders to non-responders.

Is Settle a replacement for Microsoft Forms?

No. Forms is the better tool for surveys, quizzes and intake. Settle is for one narrower job: closing a decision between a few named options with a named group of people by a fixed time.

How much does Settle for Teams cost?

$199/month with no per-seat fees and unlimited team members, including 25 managed decisions a month and a 7-day free trial.

Send your next client decision as a link

Keep Forms for surveys. Put the next decision that needs an answer by Friday through Settle.