# Google Docs vs Forms for Google Docs

The clearest difference is ads: Google Docs at none against Forms for Google Docs's shown. Google Docs also leads on ratings volume (3.2M vs 60K) and review sentiment (70% vs 60%). Forms for Google Docs's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Docs sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $199.99 per year and Forms for Google Docs sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Google Docs against 4.7 for Forms for Google Docs. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Docs has 3.2M ratings behind it against 60K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Google Docs's written reviews are positive against 60% of Forms for Google Docs's.

Google Docs ships an update weekly, Forms for Google Docs every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Docs | Forms for Google Docs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640/reviews)** | [4.7 (60K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forms-for-google-docs/id1619382448/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2M** | 60K |
| Positive reviews | **69.8% of reviews** | 60.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#9** | #55 |
| Size | 348 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Aurora Innovation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1617956179) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Docs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Productivity, #56 Top Free (US App Store)

Create, edit, and collaborate on documents online in real time. Work together seamlessly with your team, even offline, and access a variety of file types. AI-powered features can help draft and refine content.

**Highlights:** Real-time collaboration, Offline editing, Template library, Multiple file type support, AI-powered drafting, Commenting and action items

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and accessible
- 👍 Seamless collaboration
- 🔒 Automatic saving
- 💡 Offline functionality
- 👍 Versatile for various uses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Laggy performance and input delays
- 👎 Limited formatting and customization options
- 🔍 Difficult to organize and navigate documents
- 👎 Compatibility issues with other platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected crashes and document loss
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Issues with image insertion and manipulation

**Requested features**

- Improved document organization with folders
- Expanded font and formatting options
- Better integration with Microsoft Office
- Smoother scrolling and navigation


### Forms for Google Docs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forms-for-google-docs/id1619382448)

**Currently charting:** #55 Top Grossing · Productivity, #61 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Easily create and manage online forms, surveys, and quizzes directly from your mobile device. Analyze responses in real-time with automatic summaries and graphs. Share forms via various platforms and collaborate with others.

**Highlights:** Create online forms and surveys, Multiple question types, Real-time response analysis, Customizable themes, Quiz creation with scoring, AI-powered question generation, Response notifications and limits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium, 3 days free | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Forms Pro Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Pro Free-trial | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Year Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Year Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Year Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Year Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Year Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $59.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient for business needs
- 💡 Helpful for surveys and quizzes
- 👍 Convenient mobile access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable, inconsistent performance
- 💰 Excessive paywalled features
- 📢 Intrusive and frequent advertisements
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and security

**Reported bugs**

- Responses not syncing correctly
- Forms not publishing or accepting responses as expected
- Inability to refresh or update forms in a timely manner

**Requested features**

- Add signature option
- Improve export and data management features
- Reduce paywalled functionality in free version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Docs free?

Google Docs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Forms for Google Docs free?

Forms for Google Docs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Google Docs or Forms for Google Docs?

Google Docs is rated higher. Google Docs averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2M ratings, while Forms for Google Docs averages 4.7 from 60K ratings.

### Do Google Docs or Forms for Google Docs have ads?

Forms for Google Docs shows ads; Google Docs does not.

### Which is updated more often, Google Docs or Forms for Google Docs?

Google Docs ships an update weekly, and Forms for Google Docs every 2 weeks. Most recently, Google Docs was updated on September 24, 2026 and Forms for Google Docs on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Google Docs or Forms for Google Docs?

Google Docs currently peaks at #9 in the App Store charts, and Forms for Google Docs at #55. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*