InfoPath Retirement: Exploring the Best Alternatives for Your Business

With Microsoft’s InfoPath retirement, organizations that have relied on it for electronic forms and workflows must now seek modern solutions. As of July 2023, InfoPath is no longer supported, which means no updates, patches, or technical assistance are available. This is forcing businesses to find alternatives to InfoPath that are more secure, scalable, and compatible with modern platforms. In this blog, we’ll explore the top alternatives to InfoPath and provide guidance on how to choose the solution that best fits your business needs during the transition process.

Why InfoPath Retirement Requires Immediate Action

InfoPath retirement isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it poses serious risks for businesses that continue to use it. Microsoft has stopped providing any support, leaving InfoPath users exposed to potential security vulnerabilities. This is especially critical for industries like healthcare, finance, and government, where compliance and data security are top priorities.

Here’s why InfoPath retirement means you should act now:

1. Security Concerns: Unsupported software is prone to security breaches, and InfoPath forms are no exception. Without regular updates, your system may become a target for hackers.
2. Compliance Risks: Many industries require organizations to use supported software to meet regulatory standards such as HIPAA and GDPR. InfoPath’s end of support puts you at risk of non-compliance.
3. Compatibility Issues: As Microsoft 365 continues to evolve, InfoPath becomes increasingly incompatible with other tools and platforms. Transitioning to a new solution will help you integrate better with modern technology.
4. Outdated Functionality: InfoPath lacks many of the features and capabilities that modern form-building solutions offer. By exploring alternatives to InfoPath, you’ll gain access to more powerful, flexible tools.

Now that InfoPath retirement is upon us, it’s time to explore the best alternatives.

Top Alternatives to InfoPath

There are several excellent alternatives to InfoPath, each offering different features and benefits depending on your business needs. Below are some of the leading options.

1. Microsoft Power Apps

Microsoft Power Apps is a natural successor to InfoPath, especially for businesses already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem. As a low-code platform, it allows users to create custom apps and forms with little to no coding experience. Power Apps integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 tools, such as SharePoint and Teams, making it a top choice for many organizations.

Key Features:

• Low-code and no-code form creation
• Deep integration with Microsoft 365, including SharePoint
• Mobile-friendly apps and forms
• Ability to automate workflows with Power Automate

Why Choose Power Apps? For organizations looking for a highly customizable solution that integrates well with existing Microsoft tools, Power Apps is a leading alternative to InfoPath. It offers greater functionality, scalability, and a user-friendly interface for form-building and workflow automation.

2. Nintex

Another popular alternative to InfoPath is Nintex, which provides advanced workflow automation and form-building capabilities. Nintex integrates well with SharePoint, making it an excellent option for companies familiar with Microsoft platforms. It offers both on-premise and cloud-based solutions, allowing flexibility based on your organization’s needs.

Key Features:

• Robust workflow automation tools
• Pre-built templates for rapid deployment
• Integration with SharePoint and other Microsoft tools
• User-friendly drag-and-drop form builder

Why Choose Nintex? Nintex is ideal for companies seeking a balance between form-building and automation. It’s particularly useful for organizations that need to replace both InfoPath forms and workflows in one integrated platform.

3. Google Forms

For organizations looking for a simpler, cost-effective solution, Google Forms may be a viable option. While it doesn’t offer the advanced capabilities of Power Apps or Nintex, it provides a quick, easy-to-use platform for data collection and basic form creation. Google Forms is part of the Google Workspace suite, allowing for real-time collaboration.

Key Features:

• Simple, easy-to-use form builder
• Free to use and accessible from any device
• Integration with Google Sheets for data collection
• Real-time collaboration features

Why Choose Google Forms? If your business needs are relatively simple—like basic surveys or data collection—Google Forms provides a straightforward, free alternative to InfoPath. It’s ideal for small businesses or teams that need quick access to form-building tools without the complexity.

4. JotForm

JotForm is a popular alternative to InfoPath due to its ease of use and wide array of customization options. The platform offers a drag-and-drop form builder, with templates to get you started quickly. JotForm also provides robust integrations with tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, and PayPal.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop form creation with pre-built templates
• Conditional logic for creating advanced forms
• Integration with popular third-party applications
• Strong mobile support for on-the-go form management

Why Choose JotForm? JotForm is a great alternative to InfoPath for businesses that need highly customizable forms with a wide range of third-party integrations. Its ease of use makes it perfect for teams that want to create forms quickly and efficiently.

5. Formstack

Formstack offers a powerful form-building and automation platform, making it another great alternative to InfoPath. Formstack is known for its security and compliance features, which are essential for industries like healthcare and finance. It also integrates with over 260 apps, including Salesforce and Microsoft 365, making it a versatile tool for many businesses.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop form builder
• Workflow automation and data collection
• Secure data storage with compliance features
• Integration with third-party tools and services

Why Choose Formstack? Formstack’s focus on security and compliance makes it a strong choice for organizations in regulated industries. Its no-code form builder and extensive integration options make it a great fit for businesses that need flexibility and security.

6. Cognito Forms

Cognito Forms is a user-friendly, cloud-based form builder that serves as a compelling alternative to InfoPath. It enables users to create sophisticated forms without requiring any coding knowledge. With its robust features and flexibility, Cognito Forms is ideal for businesses looking to streamline data collection processes.

Key Features:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop form builder for easy design
• Conditional logic to create dynamic forms that adapt to user inputs
• Payment integration capabilities for e-commerce needs
• Data encryption and compliance with GDPR and HIPAA for enhanced security

Why Choose Cognito Forms? Cognito Forms stands out for its combination of ease of use and powerful functionality. It allows organizations to create forms that cater to specific business needs while ensuring data security. This makes it an excellent choice for companies seeking a straightforward yet robust solution to replace InfoPath. Whether you need simple surveys or complex applications, Cognito Forms can help streamline your workflows and improve data management.

How i3solutions Can Help You Transition After InfoPath Retirement

InfoPath retirement leaves organizations with the challenge of finding the right alternative to replace their legacy forms. That’s where i3solutions comes in. With over 27 years of experience helping businesses transition to modern solutions, we have the expertise to guide you through this critical process.

Here’s why i3solutions is the partner you need to navigate the alternatives to InfoPath:

• Tailored Solutions for Your Unique Needs: At i3solutions, we understand that every business is different. That’s why we don’t offer cookie-cutter solutions. Instead, we conduct a comprehensive IT systems analysis to assess your current environment, workflows, and specific requirements. From there, we recommend the most suitable alternative to InfoPath—whether that’s Power Apps, Nintex, or another solution entirely.
• Seamless Migration: Migrating from InfoPath can be complex, but i3solutions has the experience to ensure a smooth transition. We specialize in migrating existing forms, workflows, and data to modern platforms without disrupting your operations. Our expertise in tools like Power Apps and Nintex ensures that your new system will be up and running with minimal downtime.
• Scalable Solutions for the Future: InfoPath retirement is an opportunity to future-proof your business with scalable solutions. Whether you choose Power Apps for its integration with Microsoft 365 or a third-party tool like Formstack, i3solutions ensures that your new forms and workflows are built to grow with your business. We prioritize scalability, security, and flexibility to ensure long-term success.
• Ongoing Support and Optimization: Your transition from InfoPath doesn’t end with the migration. i3solutions offers ongoing support to ensure that your new form solution continues to meet your needs. As your business evolves, we help optimize your systems and workflows to ensure that you’re always operating at peak efficiency.

The retirement of InfoPath may seem like a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to modernize your business processes with more powerful, flexible, and secure solutions. Whether you choose Power Apps, Nintex, or another alternative, now is the time to transition to a platform that supports your future growth.

Navigating alternatives to InfoPath can be complex, but i3solutions is here to help. With our deep experience in technology transitions and custom solutions, we’ll ensure that your move away from InfoPath is smooth, secure, and aligned with your business goals.

Ready to explore the best alternatives to InfoPath? Contact i3solutions today to start planning your migration.