Epicollect5
Epicollect5 is a free mobile and web application for creating forms and collecting data.
What Epicollect5 is
Epicollect5 is a free mobile and web application for creating forms and collecting data. Its web form builder uses drag-and-drop controls and supports surveys with up to five hierarchical forms. Forms can collect GPS locations, photos, video, audio, and barcodes; mobile users can work offline and upload their data once online. Results can be reviewed in tables and maps, then exported as JSON or CSV. Projects may be public or private, with authentication for private projects and support for user roles. Custom data mappings help prepare exports for other systems, and a read-only API provides data over HTTPS GET requests. API limits include five requests per minute for projects and entries, ten per minute for media, and 500 entries per request. Project managers retain ownership of project data. The service uses HTTPS and daily backups, but mobile data is not encrypted by default, and data in public projects is visible to anyone on the internet. Use is subject to a fair usage policy.
Good
- Free to use, subject to fair usage
- Mobile data collection works offline
- Captures GPS, photos, video, audio, and barcodes
- Exports data as JSON or CSV
Watch out
- Mobile app data is not encrypted by default
- Public project data is visible online
- API request and entry limits apply
Who it suits
Epicollect5 may suit teams collecting field data through mobile devices or web forms. It supports offline capture, several media types, and table or map review.
Verdict
Epicollect5 provides free form building and mobile data collection, including offline capture and multiple export options. Consider its API limits and privacy distinctions between public projects and device-stored data before choosing it.
Plans and prices
From Epicollect5's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Epicollect5 | Free | As many projects and entries as you wish · fair usage policy applies · Free to use |
The facts
Each one read from Epicollect5's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access controls
- Projects can be public or private, with authentication required for private projects, and the platform supports user roles.checked 5 Oct 2026
- API limits
- The API documentation states limits of five requests per minute for projects and entries, ten per minute for media, and 500 entries per request.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Data capture
- Forms can capture GPS locations, photos, video, audio and barcodes.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Form builder
- The web application includes a drag-and-drop form builder and supports surveys with up to five hierarchical forms.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Custom data mappings support fitting exports to third-party systems, and a read-only API provides data through GET requests over HTTPS.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Mobile data protection
- The policy says mobile app data is stored in the device's private application folder and is not encrypted by default.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Offline collection
- Users can collect data offline on mobile devices and upload it to the server when they are online again.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The privacy policy says project managers retain ownership of project data and CGPS will not access or share it without permission, except to provide technical assistance.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Public project visibility
- The privacy policy warns that all collected data in a public project is visible to anyone on the internet.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Epicollect5 is a mobile and web application for creating forms and collecting data.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Review and export
- Collected data can be viewed in tables and maps, and exported as JSON or CSV.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Security and hosting
- The policy says the service is hosted in DigitalOcean's UK data centre and uses HTTPS, security practices including authentication and authorization, and daily server backups.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Service limitations
- The service is provided as-is without guarantees, and its fair usage policy notes that system resources are finite.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The Epicollect5 Community is the primary contact point for support and platform questions.checked 5 Oct 2026
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