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Convert Google Forms to Tally.so — Free, Under 2 Minutes

· 8 min read

TL;DR

Google Forms is free and simple — but it can't collect payments, has no hidden fields, no calculators, and every form looks the same. Tally.so gives you all of that for free, with unlimited responses and a Notion-style editor. You can convert your Google Form to Tally in under 90 seconds with Form Mate — all field types, options, and settings preserved.

Over 590,000 companies use Google Forms (6sense, 2026). It's free, it's simple, and it works. But the moment you need your form to look professional on a website, collect a payment, or track hidden UTM parameters — you hit the wall. Google Forms wasn't built for that.

Tally.so is. It's free with unlimited responses, includes conditional logic, hidden fields, calculators, and Stripe payments on the free tier (Tally pricing, 2026). And unlike Google Forms, Tally forms embed on your website without looking like a Google product.

We converted 8 Google Forms to Tally while putting this guide together. The average transfer took 74 seconds. Here's exactly how the process works, what carries over, and what you need to know before switching.

Why Would You Switch from Google Forms to Tally?

Google Forms covers the basics well — but "basics" is the operative word. If you've outgrown what Google Forms can do, Tally.so is the closest free alternative that doesn't compromise on features. Here's what you gain:

FeatureGoogle FormsTally.so (Free)
ResponsesUnlimitedUnlimited
FormsUnlimitedUnlimited
Conditional logicSection-level onlyField-level (free)
Hidden fieldsNoYes (free)
Calculators / formulasNoYes (free)
Payment collectionNoStripe (free)
SignaturesNoYes (free)
Design customizationHeader image + accent colorFull control (fonts, colors, backgrounds)
Website embedsBasic iframeClean, branded embeds
Notion integrationNo (Zapier only)Native (built-in)
WebhooksVia add-onsYes (free)
File uploadsYes (Drive storage)Pro only ($24/mo)
Quiz modeYes (auto-scoring)No

Sources: Google Forms, Tally pricing, Tally Pro features (as of April 2026).

The trade-off: Google Forms has free file uploads (using Drive storage) and a built-in quiz mode with auto-scoring — two things Tally doesn't offer for free. If those are your primary use cases, Google Forms is still the better choice. For everything else — design, payments, logic, embeds — Tally wins.

Which Google Forms Fields Convert to Tally?

Every standard Google Forms field type has a direct equivalent in Tally. When we tested the conversion across 8 forms — from simple 5-question feedback surveys to 25-field job applications — all core field types transferred cleanly. Here's the full mapping:

Google Forms FieldTally EquivalentStatus
Short answerInput fieldTransferred
ParagraphTextareaTransferred
Multiple choiceMultiple choiceTransferred
CheckboxesCheckboxesTransferred
DropdownDropdownTransferred
Linear scaleRating / Linear scaleTransferred
DateDateTransferred
TimeInput fieldTransferred (as text)
File uploadFile upload (Pro)Transferred
Section headerText block / Page breakTransferred
Multiple choice grid—Warning issued
Checkbox grid—Warning issued

Field mapping based on Google Forms API and Tally REST API (April 2026).

What about grid questions?

Google Forms' multiple choice grid and checkbox grid fields don't have a direct equivalent in Tally. Form Mate flags these with a warning during the conversion preview. The workaround: after conversion, recreate grid questions as separate multiple choice or dropdown fields in Tally — one per row. It takes a few extra minutes but preserves the data collection intent.

How Do You Convert a Google Form to Tally?

The conversion takes 5 steps. We've timed this across 8 forms — the average is about 74 seconds from start to finish. The longest form (25 fields with sections) took 96 seconds.

  1. Go to formmate.app/convert and select Google Forms → Tally.so
  2. Connect your Google account — standard OAuth. Form Mate only requests permission to read your forms. It can't access your Drive, email, or anything else.
  3. Pick the form you want to transfer. Form Mate lists all forms in your Google account — select the one you want to move.
  4. Enter your Tally API key — find it in Tally → Settings → Integrations → API. The key starts with tly-. Used once, never stored.
  5. Review and convert. Preview the mapped fields, check any warnings (grid questions, quiz scoring), and hit export. Your form is live on Tally.

What if the conversion shows warnings?

Warnings mean certain Google Forms features don't have a direct Tally equivalent. The most common ones:

  • Grid questions — multiple choice grid and checkbox grid don't exist in Tally. Recreate as individual questions after conversion.
  • Quiz scoring — Google Forms' quiz mode with correct answers and point values doesn't transfer. Tally doesn't have a quiz feature. If quizzes are your primary use case, stay on Google Forms.
  • File uploads — the field transfers, but file uploads require Tally Pro ($24/mo). On Google Forms, file uploads are free (counting against your Drive storage).
  • Section-based branching — Google Forms' "Go to section based on answer" logic is flagged as a warning. Tally supports conditional logic natively, but the rules need to be recreated after the transfer.

What Do You Gain by Moving to Tally?

Both platforms are free with unlimited responses — so this isn't about saving money like a Typeform-to-Tally switch. It's about getting features Google Forms doesn't have:

  • Design that matches your brand — when we embedded a Tally form on a client's marketing site, visitors couldn't tell it was a third-party tool. The same form on Google Forms stuck out like a banner ad.
  • Payment collection — Stripe integration on Tally's free tier. Google Forms can't collect payments at any price. If you need to sell tickets, collect deposits, or charge for services through a form, Tally handles it.
  • Field-level conditional logic — show or hide individual questions based on answers. Google Forms only supports section-level branching, which requires restructuring your entire form into sections.
  • Hidden fields and UTM tracking — pass URL parameters into form submissions for lead attribution. Essential for marketing teams. Google Forms has no hidden field support.
  • Notion integration — responses sync directly to a Notion database without Zapier (Tally Notion docs). Google Forms only integrates with Notion through third-party connectors.
  • Calculators and formulas — build pricing calculators, ROI tools, or scored assessments directly in your form. Google Forms has no calculator functionality.

What Do You Lose by Leaving Google Forms?

Google Forms has a few things Tally doesn't. Before switching, make sure these aren't dealbreakers for your use case:

  • Free file uploads — Google Forms lets respondents upload files for free, stored in your Google Drive. Tally locks file uploads behind Pro ($24/mo). If you collect resumes, documents, or images through forms, this matters.
  • Quiz mode — auto-scoring, correct answer feedback, point assignments, and grade reporting. Tally has no quiz feature. For teachers, trainers, or anyone building scored assessments, Google Forms is still the better tool.
  • Native Sheets sync — Google Forms responses auto-populate a Google Sheet with zero setup. Tally integrates with Google Sheets too, but it requires connecting the integration manually.
  • Unlimited collaborators on free — Google Forms lets you invite unlimited editors for free. Tally's free tier supports workspace collaboration, but form-level permissions require Pro.
  • Existing responses — the conversion transfers form structure, not historical submissions. Export your Google Forms responses to Sheets or CSV before converting.

When Does Switching to Tally Make Sense?

Move to Tally if:

  • Your form is public-facing — embedded on a website, shared with customers, used for lead gen. Design and brand consistency matter here, and Google Forms can't deliver.
  • You need payment collection — event tickets, service deposits, product orders. Tally includes Stripe for free.
  • You need advanced logic — field-level conditional visibility, not just section routing. Dynamic forms that adapt to each respondent.
  • You use Notion — native integration, no Zapier needed, responses land directly in your database.
  • You need UTM tracking — hidden fields for lead attribution. Essential for marketing teams running paid campaigns.

Stay on Google Forms if:

  • You need quiz mode — scored assessments, auto-grading, and answer feedback. Tally can't do this.
  • You need free file uploads — resumes, documents, images. Tally charges $24/mo for this.
  • The form is internal — team surveys, HR intake, feedback. Design doesn't matter, and Google Sheets sync is more convenient.
  • Your team is deep in Google Workspace — sharing, collaboration, and storage all flow through the same ecosystem.

If you're exploring options beyond Google Forms and Tally, Form Mate supports all six conversion directions between Google Forms, Tally.so, and Typeform:

Ready to Convert?

Convert your Google Form to Tally.so — free, no signup, takes about 90 seconds. Same questions, better form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does converting my Google Form to Tally transfer my responses?

No. The conversion transfers your form structure — questions, field types, options, and required settings. Existing responses stay in your Google account. Export your Google Forms responses to Google Sheets or download as CSV before converting if you need the historical data.

Is Tally.so really free?

Yes. Tally's free tier includes unlimited forms, unlimited responses, conditional logic, hidden fields, calculators, webhooks, and Stripe payment collection (Tally pricing). Pro ($24/mo) adds custom branding, custom domains, file uploads, and partial submissions.

What happens to grid questions from Google Forms?

Multiple choice grid and checkbox grid fields don't have a direct equivalent in Tally. Form Mate flags these with a warning during conversion. After the transfer, recreate them as individual multiple choice or dropdown questions in Tally — one per row of the original grid.

Can I convert back to Google Forms if Tally doesn't work out?

Yes. Form Mate supports all six conversion directions between Google Forms, Tally.so, and Typeform. If Tally doesn't fit your needs, convert back to Google Forms or try Typeform — same 90-second process.

Will my Google Forms section branching work on Tally?

Not automatically. Google Forms uses section-based branching ("go to section based on answer"). Tally uses field-level conditional logic, which is more flexible but structured differently. After conversion, recreate your branching rules using Tally's conditional logic UI — it's simpler and takes about 5 minutes for a form with 3-4 branching rules.

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Written by Akash
Form Mate