Question 1

Why choose an open-source self-hosted survey tool over SaaS?

Accepted Answer

Self-hosted survey tools like LimeSurvey eliminate three SaaS pain points: (1) No per-response overage fees (Typeform and SurveyMonkey charge $0.10–€0.10 per extra response, which adds up fast). (2) Your data stays in your region (GDPR compliance, data residency control). (3) No vendor lock-in (open source means you own your setup). The tradeoff is infrastructure management, which Opsily handles for you with managed hosting. You get the benefits of self-hosting without the DevOps burden.

Question 2

How do I migrate surveys from Typeform or SurveyMonkey to LimeSurvey?

Accepted Answer

Typeform and SurveyMonkey both export survey data as CSV. LimeSurvey can import responses and create new surveys based on templates. For bulk migration of survey structures (questions, logic, branding), you'll need manual setup in LimeSurvey, but the process is straightforward: build each survey template once, then copy it as needed. Opsily support can guide you through migration or connect you with partners who specialize in survey migration. Most customers complete migration in 1-2 weeks.

Question 3

How much cheaper is an open-source survey platform vs. SaaS like Typeform?

Accepted Answer

Savings depend on response volume. At low scale (under 1,000 responses/month), Typeform Basic ($29/mo) is cheaper than Opsily (€20/mo ≈ $22/mo). But as you scale: SurveyMonkey charges per extra response; Typeform jumps to $79/mo at 1,000 responses/month. LimeSurvey on Opsily stays €20/mo for unlimited responses. At 10,000+ annual responses, self-hosting saves 40-60% compared to SaaS. Plus you eliminate per-user seat costs: LimeSurvey includes unlimited team members, while Typeform charges per user.

Question 4

Is LimeSurvey GDPR compliant for healthcare and financial services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. LimeSurvey includes GDPR-ready features built in: data residency control (choose Germany, Finland, UK, or other regions), consent workflows, right-to-be-forgotten support, and encryption at rest. Opsily managed hosting adds a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) to every plan, which most compliance auditors require. For regulated industries (healthcare, finance, EU public sector), you also get daily encrypted backups in the same region as your app. We recommend reviewing your specific compliance requirements with Opsily support, but LimeSurvey is the standard choice for GDPR-sensitive surveys.

Question 5

What if I want to add custom features or white-label the survey tool?

Accepted Answer

LimeSurvey supports white-labeling out of the box: custom domain, custom branding (CSS/colors), custom logo, and custom email templates. On Opsily, white-label features are included starting at the Medium plan (€40/mo). If you need custom features beyond the built-in 30+ question types and 900+ templates, LimeSurvey has a REST API and plugin system. You can extend it yourself (open source) or hire developers to build custom integrations with n8n, webhooks, or your CRM. Opsily hosts the infrastructure; the customization is up to you.

Question 6

How are backups handled on Opsily? Can I restore my surveys?

Accepted Answer

Opsily performs daily automated backups of your LimeSurvey app, encrypted at rest and stored in the same region as your deployment. Backups include your survey configurations, responses, and all settings. If disaster strikes (or you accidentally delete something), we can restore your entire app or specific surveys within minutes. Backups are included in every Opsily plan; there's no extra cost. You can also export your data anytime as CSV or other formats, giving you an offline backup to keep locally.

Question 7

What integrations does LimeSurvey support?

Accepted Answer

LimeSurvey integrates with: webhooks (send survey responses to any endpoint), SAML/LDAP (single sign-on), RemoteControl API (programmatic survey management), n8n (workflow automation), Zapier (1000+ app connections), and Excel/SPSS/R exports (analytics). Common workflows: survey response → n8n → email notification + CRM update + Slack message. Opsily can help you set up n8n alongside LimeSurvey on the same infrastructure, so you have a complete self-hosted feedback automation platform without juggling SaaS subscriptions.

Question 8

Can I run LimeSurvey as my own open-source survey tool instead of using managed hosting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, LimeSurvey is open source (GPL v2.0), so you can download and install it on your own server. But you'll manage infrastructure, backups, SSL certificates, security patches, and uptime yourself. Most teams find that Opsily's managed hosting saves time and eliminates infrastructure headaches. For €20-€100/mo, you get GDPR compliance, daily backups, automatic security updates, 99.9% uptime SLA, and expert support. If you're comfortable managing Linux servers, databases, and DevOps, DIY is an option; otherwise, managed hosting is the practical choice.

Self-hosted survey tool that won't charge you per response

Why self-host your survey tool

No per-response overage fees

Your data, your region

GDPR compliance, built in

Built for teams who need reliability

Why teams switch from Typeform and SurveyMonkey

Deploy your self-hosted survey tool in 4 steps

Choose Your App

Choose your data region

Click Deploy

Build surveys from 900+ templates

Analyze and export your data

Simple, transparent pricing

Built for regulated industries

GDPR Compliant

EU Data Sovereignty

Open Source & Community-Driven

Daily Encrypted Backups

Multi-region hosting

Frequently asked questions

Stop paying per response. Start owning your survey data.