KoBoToolbox
Data collection for all.
Overview
KoBoToolbox is a suite of tools for building forms, collecting data, and analyzing it. Developed by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, it is designed to work in challenging environments, with robust offline capabilities. While not exclusively for citizen science, its powerful, free, and open-source nature makes it an excellent choice for NGOs, researchers, and organizations conducting structured environmental surveys, especially in areas with limited connectivity.
✨ Key Features
- Intuitive form builder with over 20 question types
- XLSForm support for complex forms
- Offline data collection on Android devices and web browsers
- Free, unlimited use for humanitarian organizations
- Data visualization and reporting tools
- Team management and row-level permissions
- Open-source and self-hostable
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Completely free for humanitarian use with high limits
- Easy-to-use form builder
- Strong community support
Unique Value: Provides a powerful, reliable, and easy-to-use data collection platform for free, specifically serving the needs of humanitarian and research organizations.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Humanitarian needs assessments
- Public health surveys
- Post-disaster damage assessments
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Unstructured biodiversity photo collection
- Projects requiring a public-facing portal for volunteers to browse all data
- Online data classification tasks
🏆 Alternatives
It is easier to use for beginners than ODK and offers a hosted free service, which ODK does not. It is less focused on complex case management than CommCare but is significantly more accessible due to its free pricing model.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Custom Installation tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Two free servers are available: one for humanitarian organizations (unlimited use) and one for everyone else (up to 10,000 submissions/month and 5 GB data storage).
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