The AttendPad alternative to Google Forms for attendance
Google Forms works for one-off surveys. AttendPad is purpose-built for sign-in: QR check-in, kiosk mode, live dashboards, signatures, and exports designed for attendance — not generic responses.
Feature comparison
| Feature | AttendPad | Google Forms |
|---|---|---|
| QR code check-in (no app required) | Yes | No |
| Kiosk mode | Yes | No |
| Real-time live dashboard | Yes | No |
| Late-arrival tracking | Yes | No |
| Digital signatures | Yes | No |
| Photo verification (Pro) | Yes | No |
| Custom branding (logo, colors) | Yes | No |
| Field-level encryption (AES-256) | Yes | No |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-question form builder | No | Yes |
| Built-in Google Workspace integration | No | Yes |
Where Google Forms is the right tool
Google Forms is great for general surveys, registrations, and one-off data collection. If you're embedded in Google Workspace, need a multi-question quiz, or want responses flowing directly into a Sheet for further analysis — stick with Google Forms. We use it ourselves for non-attendance forms.
Where it falls short for attendance
- No QR code generated. You can paste a link, but you have to build the QR yourself with a third-party tool.
- No kiosk mode. A shared device requires the attendee to refresh the form after each submission — and someone has to police that.
- No live view. You see a Sheet that fills up. You don't see who's checked in until you go look.
- No signatures. Forms can't capture digital signatures.
- No late tracking, no photo verification, no audit log. Built for surveys, not for compliance-grade attendance.
Migrating from Google Forms
The switch is straightforward. You don't have to delete your Forms — run both in parallel during the transition if you want.
- Export your existing responses. Open the Google Sheet for your form and download it as CSV.
- Create an AttendPad sheet. Sign up for free and create a new sheet. Match the fields from your Google Form.
- Import your roster if you have one. Upload the CSV. If you're collecting walk-ups instead, skip this.
- Activate and share. AttendPad gives you a QR code, a check-in URL, and a live dashboard. Share the same way you shared the old form link — plus the new QR code at the venue.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really use Google Forms to take attendance?
Yes, Google Forms works as a basic attendance form. It captures responses and saves them to a Google Sheet. For occasional, simple use cases it's a reasonable choice. For ongoing attendance, it lacks check-in-specific features like QR codes, kiosk mode, late-arrival tracking, and signatures.
What's the main reason teams switch from Google Forms to AttendPad?
Two things: the check-in experience (one-tap QR scan vs. a multi-field form), and the dashboard. AttendPad shows live check-ins, duplicate detection, late flagging, and export-ready records. Google Forms gives you a Sheet you have to sort and clean manually.
Does AttendPad have a free tier like Google Forms?
Yes. The free tier covers 3 active sheets with unlimited check-ins, QR codes, CSV export, and the full dashboard. No credit card required.
How do I migrate my existing Google Forms attendance to AttendPad?
Export your Google Sheet to CSV, create an AttendPad sheet with matching fields, and import. The migration steps below cover the details.
Will my old Google Forms still work after I switch?
Yes. Migrating to AttendPad doesn't affect your existing Google Forms or Sheets. Run both in parallel if you want to compare.
What about signatures and photo verification?
Google Forms can't capture signatures or photos for verification. AttendPad supports digital signatures on every tier and photo verification on Pro.
Ready for an attendance tool that's actually built for attendance?
Three free active sheets, unlimited check-ins, no credit card. Migrate from Google Forms in under five minutes.