Google Forms can collect file uploads, but there are several limitations that make it awkward for education use.
Google Forms limitations for file collection
- Respondents must have a Google account — this is the biggest problem. Not every student (or their family) uses Google.
- Files use YOUR Google Drive storage — the 15 GB free limit fills up fast with a full class.
- 10-file limit per upload field — students with larger projects can't upload everything at once.
- No progress bar — students don't see upload progress for large files, leading to confusion.
- Overkill for simple file collection — you're building a form when all you need is a file drop zone.
A simpler alternative
getfiles.app does one thing: collect files. No form building, no Google account requirements, no storage counting.
| Feature | Google Forms | getfiles.app |
|---|---|---|
| Needs Google account (student) | Yes | No |
| Setup time | 5-10 minutes | 10 seconds |
| Max files per upload | 10 | 200 |
| File size limit | 10 GB total per form | 500 MB per file |
| Progress bar | No | Yes |
| Download all as ZIP | No (manual) | Yes |
| Mobile experience | Clunky | Clean |
| Additional questions | Yes | Name only |
When to still use Google Forms
If you need to collect files AND additional information (multiple text answers, multiple choice questions, etc.), Google Forms is the better tool. It's a form builder — that's its strength.
But if you just need files, skip the form. Use an upload link.