How to Duplicate Google Forms Functionality in Microsoft 365

Duplicating Google Forms functionality in Microsoft 365 (Office 365) is completely achievable using built-in Microsoft tools. This guide explains how to replicate form creation, data collection, automation, and scripting workflows — all without leaving your Microsoft environment.

🧩 1. Use Microsoft Forms (the closest Google Forms equivalent)

✅ Features

  • Web-based form builder built into Office 365.
  • Works just like Google Forms — drag-and-drop questions, apply themes, and set required fields.
  • Supports branching logic, response limits, and automatic results storage.
  • Results are stored in Excel (OneDrive or SharePoint).
  • Integrates with Power Automate and Power Apps for scripting or automation.

🔧 How to Create a Form

  1. Visit https://forms.office.com
  2. Click New Form (or New Quiz if you need scoring).
  3. Add questions (Choice, Text, Rating, Date, Likert, etc.).
  4. Under ⋯ > Settings, configure:
    • Response permissions — anyone or organization-only.
    • Edit/resubmit options, start/end dates, and email notifications.
  5. Share your form via:
    • Link
    • QR code
    • Embed HTML for websites or intranets.

📊 Collect and Manage Responses

  • View responses directly in Forms or export them to Excel Online.
  • Use Excel formulas, charts, or pivot tables to analyze results.
  • Sync results to Power BI for dashboard-style reports.

⚙️ 2. Automate Workflows with Power Automate (Flow)

If you previously used Google Apps Script to trigger actions, Power Automate is your Microsoft equivalent.

🪄 Example Use Cases

  • Automatically send a Teams or Outlook notification when a form is submitted.
  • Populate a SharePoint list or an Excel table.
  • Trigger a PowerShell script, Azure Function, or API call.

Sample Flow:

Trigger: When a new response is submitted (Microsoft Forms)
Action: Get response details → Add item to SharePoint → Send Outlook email

You can chain multiple actions, perform conditional checks, and even run approvals or data validation.

🧮 3. Store Results in SharePoint or Excel

Instead of Google Sheets, Microsoft Forms integrates with:

Destination Description
Excel Online Default storage option. Great for analysis and small-scale use.
SharePoint List More secure and scalable. Ideal for team collaboration and version tracking.
Dataverse Advanced option for enterprise-grade form storage in Power Platform.

Benefits of SharePoint Storage

  • Fine-grained permissions for read/write access.
  • Version control and data integrity.
  • Native integration with Power Apps, Power BI, and Power Automate.

🧠 4. Build Custom or Offline Forms with Power Apps

For technician or field environments, Power Apps is ideal.

Highlights

  • Build fully custom form apps with validation, themes, and logic.
  • Work offline — syncs automatically when a connection is restored.
  • Integrate with SharePoint, SQL, Excel, or Dataverse.
  • Publish as a web app or mobile app for Android/iOS.

Example: a Power App can serve as a full-featured data-entry system replacing both Google Forms and Sheets.

🧰 5. Add Scripting and Extensions (Apps Script Alternatives)

Need Microsoft Equivalent
Automate form response handling Power Automate (Flow)
Server-side scripts Azure Functions or PowerShell (Graph API)
Webhooks / API integrations Power Automate connectors
Spreadsheet scripting Office Scripts (Excel Online) or VBA macros

With Power Automate and Graph API, you can fully automate workflows such as:

  • Auto-filing responses.
  • Sending conditional notifications.
  • Creating user accounts or documents dynamically.

🪄 6. Example: Feedback Form with Excel Backend

Step-by-Step

  1. Create your form in Forms.office.com
  2. Click Open in Excel to link a workbook.
  3. In Power Automate, create a new flow:
    • Trigger: When a new response is submitted.
    • Action: Add row to Excel table.
  4. Add optional actions:
    • Send email (via Outlook)
    • Post message (via Teams)
    • Store attachment (via OneDrive or SharePoint)

📁 7. Share and Embed Options

Option Description
Share Link Copy the link and distribute via Teams, Outlook, or website.
Embed Code Paste the iframe snippet into a webpage.
QR Code Download or print for easy access via mobile.
Email Embed Insert link or button into an Outlook message.

🧩 8. Summary Comparison

Feature Google Forms Microsoft Forms
Public anonymous responses ✅ Yes ✅ Yes (if configured)
Integration with Sheets/Excel ✅ Sheets ✅ Excel/SharePoint
Built-in scripting ✅ Apps Script ⚙️ Power Automate
Embedding in websites ✅ ✅
File uploads ✅ ✅ (requires sign-in)
Custom branding ✅ (limited) ✅ (via org theme or Power Apps)
Offline use ❌ ✅ (via Power Apps)

🧩 Recommended Stack

To fully mirror the Google Forms + Sheets + Apps Script workflow in Microsoft 365:

Microsoft Forms  →  Power Automate  →  SharePoint or Excel  →  Power BI / Power Apps
  • Microsoft Forms: Collect responses
  • Power Automate: Process and route data
  • SharePoint or Excel: Store and manage results
  • Power BI: Visualize data
  • Power Apps: Build advanced interactive front ends

💡 Conclusion

You can recreate almost every Google Forms feature inside Microsoft 365 with Forms, Power Automate, and Power Apps.
Whether you’re building a simple survey, a workflow-driven intake form, or a field data tool — Microsoft’s ecosystem provides all the components to automate, analyze, and scale.

For technicians or consultants managing client-side automation, this approach is fully compliant and avoids external dependencies blocked by IT policies.

References