Likert scale questions ask respondents to choose an ordered answer, such as “Strongly disagree” to “Strongly agree”. They are widely used to measure opinions, satisfaction, attitudes and perceptions. This guide explains how Likert items work, provides copyable examples and compares tools for creating questionnaires with unlimited responses.
A Likert scale is a response format with ordered categories. A standard five-point agreement format is:
Rensis Likert introduced the method in 1932. The original work is preserved by the Wellcome Collection.
A Likert item is one statement with ordered response options, such as “The product was easy to use”. A Likert scale is a group of related items intended to measure one construct, such as satisfaction, trust or perceived usability.
Calling every rating question a Likert question creates confusion. A star rating, a 0–10 recommendation question and a “poor to excellent” question may be useful rating questions without being Likert items.
Question: The product was easy to use.
Question: How satisfied are you with the support you received?
Question: How important is fast delivery when choosing a retailer?
Question: How often do you use this feature?
Question: How likely are you to recommend this product to a colleague?
The wording should match the construct. Use an agreement scale for agreement, a frequency scale for frequency and a satisfaction scale for satisfaction.
A seven-point agreement scale adds more distinctions around the midpoint:
Five-point and seven-point scales are both defensible. A 2026 review found no universal optimum and reported diminishing benefits beyond approximately seven response points. A separate review notes that five points suit many unipolar questions, while seven points can be useful when greater discrimination is needed. More options can also increase cognitive load, particularly for children and people answering in a second language. See the 2026 methodological review and the review in PMC.
“Neither agree nor disagree” is not the same as “Not applicable” or “I do not know”. Someone who has never used a feature should not have to select “Strongly disagree”. Add options such as “Not applicable”, “Don’t know” or “Have not used this” when respondents may lack the information needed to answer. Guidance from the US Institute of Education Sciences explains this distinction in its questionnaire development guide.
Prices below were checked on 8 September 2026. Prices, taxes, regional availability and plan limits can change.
| Tool | Best for | Displayed price | Free unlimited responses? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpaceForms | Free surveys and questionnaires | $0 free plan; Pro displayed at $14/month | Yes, according to its homepage |
| Google Forms | Simple surveys and Google Workspace users | Personal access: free; Workspace Business Standard: $12/user/month annually or $14.40 monthly | No public cap identified in this research; verify current terms |
| Typeform | Branded, conversational forms | Basic $39/month; Plus $79/month; Business $129/month; Talent $169/month | No; plans have response limits |
| SurveyMonkey | Mature survey research workflows | Team Advantage $30/user/month and Team Premier $92/user/month, both starting at three users and billed annually; Enterprise custom | No; limits apply |
| Jotform | General-purpose forms and workflows | Price not publicly verified in this research | No; plan limits apply |
Typeform’s displayed plan details are available on its pricing page. SurveyMonkey’s checked pricing information is on its pricing page. Google describes Forms and Workspace options on its Forms page. Jotform documents usage limits, including forms, views, submissions and storage, on its pricing page.
Choose SpaceForms if your main requirement is a free questionnaire with unlimited responses. Its free plan is displayed at $0, and the company says no account is required to create a form. It can generate a survey from a description and publishes guidance on survey design, including Likert scales, employee surveys and course evaluations.
SpaceForms is newer and less established than the large survey platforms. It has fewer integrations than Typeform, Jotform and SurveyMonkey, and no published user figures or ratings. Choose Google Forms for straightforward questionnaires, Google Sheets integration and collaboration. Choose Typeform for a branded one-question-at-a-time experience, SurveyMonkey for established research workflows, or Jotform for broader form and automation needs.
First decide whether you are analysing one item or a multi-item scale. Individual responses have an order, but the distance between categories cannot automatically be treated as equal. A multi-item score may support means or other statistical methods when the scale design and research purpose justify that choice. Keep items measuring the same construct together and record “Not applicable” separately from the midpoint.
It is a question or statement with ordered response categories, such as “Strongly disagree” to “Strongly agree”, used to measure an opinion, attitude or perception.
It usually contains five ordered choices, with a midpoint. A common agreement format runs from “Strongly disagree” to “Strongly agree”.
Both are defensible. Choose according to the construct, audience, survey length and intended analysis. There is no universal best number.
No. A Likert scale is one type of rating format. Stars, 0–10 scores and “poor to excellent” answers are broader rating scale questions.
Yes. SpaceForms displays a free plan with unlimited responses. Google Forms also offers free personal access, while its usage terms should be checked for the specific account and use case.
SpaceForms says its free plan includes unlimited responses. Competitors in this comparison impose limits or do not expose a universal public cap in the checked information.
Individual Likert responses are ordered categorical data. A multi-item scale can be analysed quantitatively when its construction and the chosen method support that treatment.
