Akvo Flow

Free plan Open source AndroidAPISelf-hostedWeb

What Akvo Flow is

Akvo Flow is a data collection tool for organisations that use information to drive change. Its online workspace lets teams create, edit, copy and store surveys, then organise enumerators’ connected devices into survey groups with assignments for set timeframes. Monitoring forms help track selected data points over time. Forms can collect qualitative and quantitative responses, water test results, GPS data, images, geographical shapes, barcodes and QR codes. The Android app supports offline collection and can upload records automatically when network coverage returns or manually through USB.

Flow can export data and form codebooks, and its Comprehensive report summarises a dataset with basic statistics and charts. Its open source platform can connect to other tools through an API. Roles and permissions help manage team access. Akvo says data transmission between system components uses SSL encryption, and users retain control over what they keep private or share openly. Flow supports Android, web, API and self-hosted use. Akvo is based in Amsterdam and was founded in 2006.

Who it suits

Akvo Flow suits development organisations such as NGOs, governments, knowledge institutions and private sector organisations that collect field data. It is also relevant to teams that need Android offline collection, survey assignments and monitoring over time.

What it does well

Collects data offline on Android, with automatic or USB uploads.
Forms support GPS, images, geographical shapes, barcodes and QR codes.
Survey groups and assignments organise enumerator work by timeframe.
Reports summarise datasets with basic statistics and charts.
Roles and permissions manage team access.

What to know first

Flow Basic is limited to one user.
Flow Basic allows only one data export format.
Flow Basic is capped at 300 data point submissions.

Limits

Flow Basic is free for new clients and allows up to 300 data point submissions, one export format and one user. Pro + bases submissions on organisational needs and includes four export formats, unlimited users and a service package.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Flow Basic	£0/m · only for new clients · 300 data-point submissions · 1 export format · 1 user · EN/FR/ES · self-service configuration	Free
Flow Pro +	Custom · submissions based on organisation needs · 4 export formats · unlimited users · configuration service · support service package	On request

As akvo.org lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Akvo Flow product website.
Choose Flow Basic or contact Akvo about Pro + pricing.
Create surveys in the online workspace.
Connect enumerators’ Android devices and set up survey groups and assignments.
Collect data online or offline, then upload it to the workspace.

Verdict

Choose Akvo Flow if your organisation needs configurable field surveys, offline Android collection and tools for organising enumerator assignments. Flow Basic provides a free way for new clients to start, but its one-user, one-export-format and 300-submission limits may lead larger teams to consider Pro +, whose pricing is custom.

Questions

Is Akvo Flow free?

Flow Basic is listed at £0 per month for new clients. It is limited to 300 data point submissions, one export format and one user.

Is there a free trial?

Yes, Akvo Flow has a free trial.

Which platforms does Flow support?

Flow supports Android, API, self-hosted and web use. Its mobile platform is Android.

Can Flow collect data offline?

Yes. The Android app can collect data without network coverage and upload it automatically when coverage returns or manually via USB.

What does Pro + include?

Pro + includes four data export formats, unlimited users, submissions based on organisational needs and a service package. Its price is custom.

Can Flow connect to other tools?

Akvo says its open source platform can connect with other tools and systems using its API.

Facts from Akvo Flow's own pages

Access controls: Flow provides roles and permissions for managing team members’ data access. · akvo.org, 9 Oct 2026
API: The documented REST API is read-only, accepts GET requests over HTTPS and returns collected Flow data for third-party applications. · github-wiki-see.page, 15 Oct 2026
API and extensibility: The public GitHub repository contains the web platform, backend, dashboard interface, mobile app links and data import/export components. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
App permissions: The app uses location for geolocation and image geotagging, phone state for device assignment and uploads, and storage for forms and media. · akvo.freshdesk.com, 15 Oct 2026
Assignments: Managers can connect enumerator devices and create survey groups and time-limited assignments. · akvoflow.org, 15 Oct 2026
Company founded: Akvo says it was founded in 2006 by an open-source pioneer and a hydrologist. · akvo.org, 15 Oct 2026
Company LinkedIn facts: LinkedIn lists Akvo as founded in 2008, headquartered in Amsterdam and employing 51–200 people. · linkedin.com, 15 Oct 2026
Company type: Akvo describes itself as a nonprofit headquartered in the Netherlands with offices across four continents. · akvo.org, 15 Oct 2026
Data capture: Forms can collect qualitative and quantitative answers, water test results, GPS data, images, geographical shapes, barcodes, and QR codes. · akvo.org, 9 Oct 2026
Data exports: Flow exports collected data in multiple formats for cleaning, analysis, geoshape work and viewing. · akvoflow.org, 15 Oct 2026
Data location: The privacy policy says survey data is hosted and processed on servers in the European Union. · akvo.org, 15 Oct 2026
Data ownership: Akvo states that users retain ownership of survey content and that private survey data is not sold. · akvo.org, 15 Oct 2026
Exports and reports: Flow can export data and form codebooks, and its Comprehensive report summarizes a dataset with basic statistics and charts. · akvo.org, 9 Oct 2026
Field assignments: Users can connect enumerators’ devices to the workspace and create survey groups and assignments for a specified timeframe. · akvoflow.org, 9 Oct 2026
Founded: 2006 · akvo.org, 28 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands · akvo.org, 28 Sept 2026
Independent praise: broad field use: Engineering for Change records use by more than 250 organisations and over four million submitted forms across water, health, education, agriculture, food security and wildlife projects. · engineeringforchange.org, 15 Oct 2026
Independent praise: domain flexibility: Rural Water Supply Network describes Flow as domain agnostic and notes use beyond water, including monitoring illegal trawling, health and food security. · rwsn.blog, 15 Oct 2026
Independent praise: ease and offline maps: CartONG's benchmarking found Flow relatively easy to set up and use, with acceptable documentation and support, and praised offline map display and historical point access. · im-portal.org, 15 Oct 2026
Installation: The Flow app is distributed outside Google Play and requires enabling installation from unknown sources. · akvo.freshdesk.com, 15 Oct 2026
Integrations: Akvo says its open source platform can connect with other tools and systems using its API. · akvo.org, 9 Oct 2026
Intended users: Akvo describes Flow as serving development organisations, including NGOs, governments, knowledge institutions, and private sector organisations. · akvoflow.org, 9 Oct 2026
Languages: The workspace and app are offered in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia and Vietnamese; the app also supports Hindi. · akvo.org, 15 Oct 2026
Licence: The GitHub repository identifies the project as AGPL-3.0 licensed. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026

Where Akvo Flow stands on Freedom251

Mobile Forms Software#1 of 51
Mobile Forms Automation Software#1 of 21