Accepting payment on Google Forms

Forms have evolved a lot over the years. In the past, we created forms with checkboxes that required pens and pencils to complete, but now we’re developing complex web pages with a variety of answer options. 

As forms continue to evolve, businesses are considering how they can integrate payments into them. Whether you’re registering people for a special event, collecting information for a group order, or building a confirmation page for your e-commerce site, being able to collect payments within forms is a huge benefit to your business.

Google Forms is a popular form-building tool that integrates with the Google suite of products, but the forms aren’t considered Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant on their own. Because PCI ensures that transactions comply with security standards, you’ll need to get more creative if you want to set up secure payments with Google Forms.

Linking out

One basic way of accepting payment on Google Forms is to provide a link to another site. You can connect to PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or technically any online payment method that your users have an account with. This technique makes things easier for the many different types of customers you interact with (various international markets, for instance).

The downside is that you have to send users away from your form, which is problematic for a number of reasons. First, you’re adding extra layers of unnecessary interaction to a form that should be as short and painless as possible. 

On top of that, making your users bounce out increases the chances they won’t complete the form. The last thing you want is your payment method leading your customers away from your form instead of making it easier to complete.

Here’s how to link out on Google Forms:

1. Set up the link to your payment processor of choice.
2. Once you’ve finalized your Google Form, go to the Presentation tab and update your confirmation message (which appears after the user submits the form).
3. Customize your message and drop in the link for payment.
4. Track the payments in your form’s response sheet.

Using peer-to-peer payment

A peer-to-peer payment platform is a formal and streamlined way to integrate payment, and it has a more seamless design than an outbound link. Whether you’re interested in using Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle, you can leverage these P2P programs using QR codes placed directly into your Google Forms.

This option isn’t as precarious as a link since you can access QR codes through your phone while using a form. Plus, these services typically don’t charge additional fees — a well-known complication for the form builder and the customer.

However, this method still presents some issues. Although it’s cleaner in design and execution, you’re still burdened with the risk of user bounce, and you can still potentially alienate customers who aren’t familiar with these platforms.

Here’s how to use peer-to-peer payment on Google Forms:

1. Generate a QR code to your payment processor of choice.
2. Once you’ve finalized your Google form, simply add an image of the QR code to your form.
3. Track the payments in your form’s response sheet.

Using Google Workspace add-ons

Your best bet for accepting payment on Google Forms is a Google Workspace add-on. These external tools are available in the Google Workspace Marketplace. Some of the options are specific to certain use cases, such as Neartail, a widget that integrates with order forms for restaurants and other businesses and allows them to customize forms with their own branding.

Other options, like Payable, require a bit more tailoring to your forms. This add-on hosts a separate secure checkout that connects to your form directly so you can easily manage the backend data gathered with your form (e.g., through a connected Google Sheet).

When you’re considering all the options, these add-ons are some of the better techniques available if you want to stick with Google Forms as your form builder. Even so, navigating payment will be a bit trickier and require some creativity.

Here’s how to implement a Google Workspace add-on in Google Forms:

1. Install your add-on of choice from the Google Workspace Marketplace.
2. Connect a payment provider.
3. Use “test mode” to make sure your add-on is working properly.
4. Track the payments in your form’s response sheet.

Accepting payments with Jotform

Instead of trying to force a workaround to accept payment on Google Forms, try using a form generator that’s PCI compliant and makes the operation a breeze. Jotform removes the barriers of friction-heavy processes, user bounce-out, and excessive third-party involvement by offering a fully customizable interface.

With Jotform’s nearly 40 different payment processor integrations, you can easily add a payment method to one of Jotform’s customizable forms. These allow you to accept card payments, ACH payments, e-checks — whatever suits your users.

If you’re having trouble deciding which of these options to choose, Jotform even offers a comparison chart to give you a breakdown of what works best for each situation. Choose the purpose of your payment, select a payment gateway, and even specify the country and currency in which someone will make the purchase.

And remember, no matter which method you choose, Jotform will never charge extra transaction fees for accepting payments through these forms.

Here’s how to accept payments with Jotform:

1. In the Form Builder, click the Add Form Element button.
2. Go to the Payments tab.
3. Search for your preferred payment gateway, and select it to drop it in your form.

The Payment Settings menu (see below) will open. There, connect your account to authenticate the integration.

Accepting payment on Google Forms takes some navigating and ingenuity. While there are some rudimentary versions of payment integrations, add-ons provide a better experience. But a robust form builder like Jotform is equipped to handle your customers’ payments without confusing them. With Jotform, you can make your forms blend into your site and make your business more flexible.