How to see responses on Google Forms

You’ve built the perfect survey in Google Forms, and you’re excited to see that responses are pouring in. But where is all that data going?

If you’re new to Google Forms, finding and analyzing the incoming responses can seem a little confusing. Rest assured, it’s easy to access your data. In this article, we’ll explain, step by step, how to see responses in Google Forms. We’ll also show you how to export your responses from Google Forms to Google Sheets so that you can analyze the information and create reports.

And if you feel limited by Google Forms’ insights, we’ll introduce you to another form builder that offers several sophisticated ways to understand your respondents’ data: Jotform.

1. Open your form editor and locate the Responses tab

In order to see the responses for your Google Form, you have to log into the Google account that you used to create the form.

Navigate to the form and click on the Responses tab located at the top of the form editor. If you’ve received responses, Google Forms will show the total number of responses here. Google will automatically update this number as more come in.

2. Choose your viewing style

Once you click on the Responses tab, Google will display your responses in three different ways: the Summary view, the Question view, and the Individual view. Each enables you to gather different types of insights.

The Summary view

One way to see your Google Forms data is through the Summary view. This is the default view and will be the first thing you see when you click on the Responses tab.

The Summary view gives a full overview of the responses so that you can spot trends and patterns at a macro level. In this view, Google automatically creates charts and graphs of the data where applicable, so you can visually analyze the responses.

The Google Forms Summary view is helpful in a number of use cases, such as analyzing overall feedback or customer sentiment, or quantifying certain types of information.

The Question view

The Question view shows every response to each question, which makes it a good option for analyzing one question at a time. You can use it for comparing responses, identifying common elements in responses, and interpreting respondent sentiments for a given topic.

Use the dropdown at the top of the tab to navigate to individual questions.

The Individual view

The Individual view shows all responses from each respondent. This allows you to review each person’s submission on its own. The Individual view comes in handy for use cases such as job applications, service requests, or quizzes.

You can navigate to each individual’s responses by using the arrows at the top of the tab.

3. Export your data to Google Sheets or as a CSV file (optional)

The Summary, Question, and Individual views are useful for analyzing small amounts of data. However, if you have dozens or hundreds of responses, the built-in options can feel restrictive. In this case, you can export your data from Google Forms to Google Sheets or to a CSV file.

Google Sheets exports

If you want to take your Google Forms analytics to the next level, exporting responses into Google Sheets is a good choice. It enables you to sort, filter, and organize your data, and create Google Forms reports.

A major benefit of using Google Sheets to analyze your Google Forms data is that the Google Sheet is live. This means it’s connected to your Google Forms and  automatically updates in real time as new responses come in — no need to re-export responses or reconnect the Sheet.

Here’s how to export Google Forms to Sheets:

1. Open the Google Form you want to export to Google Sheets.

2. Click the Responses tab.

3. Click Link to Sheets. 

4. Google Forms will provide you with two options: Create a new spreadsheet or Select existing spreadsheet. Choose the option that works for your needs and click Create. Google Forms will export your responses to Google Sheets.

CSV exports

Wondering how to see your Google Form answers in a different way? You can also export them into a CSV file, which you can then use to analyze your data in a program like Microsoft Excel. You can also send the raw text file to another spreadsheet platform.

Follow these instructions to export your Google Forms data to a CSV file:

1. Open the Google Form you want to export to a CSV file.

2. Click the Responses tab.

3. Click the vertical three dots (More options) icon and select Download responses (.csv). Google Forms will export your responses into a CSV file.

Google Forms offers a couple of options for analyzing your responses, but sometimes you need more than just the basics. If you’re looking for a better way to analyze form response data, check out Jotform.

Ready to move your forms to Jotform?

Migrate Forms to Jotform

Ready for better insights? Upgrade to Jotform

Google Forms is a good entry-level form builder; it works well for simple forms that don’t require complex features or in-depth data analysis. But Google Forms’ native capabilities and basic exports don’t hold up for growing businesses, educators, or researchers who want to better understand their data and present it visually.

Jotform, one of the best Google Forms alternatives, offers sophisticated form features along with advanced built-in data analysis tools, so you can gather detailed data from your target audience and analyze it in multiple ways.

Here are a few reasons why users choose Jotform over Google Forms:

• Powerful workspace for managing form data: Jotform Tables is a spreadsheet-database hybrid that you can use to track, sort, filter, and collaborate on submission data. Use it to view your data as tables, cards, and more.
• Advanced visual reporting for professional presentations: With Jotform Report Builder, you can go beyond basic pie charts. Use it to create stunning custom reports that showcase important insights from your data. Each report updates in real time, so you don’t have to do any manual work to see new responses.
• Sophisticated form features: Jotform offers form features like granular conditional logic, native integrations with dozens of payment processors, and access to hundreds of widgets to expand form functionality.
• Multistep workflow automation: What happens after a respondent submits a form? Create automated workflows for approvals, notifications, and follow-ups based on form responses to make sure no tasks slip through the cracks.
• Easy access to forms: Respondents can fill and submit Jotform forms without signing into a Google account. They can also upload files without having to log in — something that’s not possible with Google Forms.

If the basic functionality of Google Forms isn’t enough for your needs, switch to Jotform today so you can take advantage of its more sophisticated form features and data analysis tools. Plus, you can migrate your Google Forms to Jotform with a single click — no manual work required. Our migration tool transfers your form questions and structure to Jotform automatically.