Is Fieldbase a Forsta alternative?

Yes — Fieldbase targets the research-platform surface that Forsta Plus covers: CBC, MaxDiff, interlocking quotas, SPSS/ASCII export, multi-language fielding. Fieldbase adds a modern YAML DSL for code-first authoring, AI that drafts surveys from a Word/PDF spec, and a pre-fielding Design Test for CBC/MaxDiff (D-efficiency, implied-N). If you need the full HX / CX / EX suite Forsta ships, we don’t replace that — but for research use cases, we’re a modern alternative.

How is Fieldbase different from the Decipher product inside Forsta?

Decipher pioneered programmer-first survey authoring with XML and script tags; it’s mature but shows its age. Fieldbase replaces XML with YAML, Python-like scripts replace script tags, and AI drafts the survey from a questionnaire spec. See the dedicated Decipher comparison for the full side-by-side.

Does Fieldbase have the same enterprise features as Forsta Plus?

Fieldbase covers the research-platform core (surveys, quotas, CBC/MaxDiff, SPSS-grade export, reports). Forsta Plus has a broader portfolio around that core — CX programs, employee experience, visualisation (Dapresy heritage). If your use case is survey research with analysis-grade output, Fieldbase matches that scope with less surface and transparent pricing.

Is Fieldbase independent, or is it owned by a bigger company?

Fieldbase is built by Inginit Pte. Ltd., independent. Forsta is a portfolio formed from the 2021 merger of Confirmit, FocusVision (Decipher), and Dapresy, under private equity (Thoma Bravo). For teams who’ve been through roadmap stalls after their platform got acquired, vendor independence can be a real factor.

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A modern alternative
to Forsta Plus.

Forsta brought Confirmit, Decipher, and Dapresy under one roof. Fieldbase does the research-platform core — CBC, MaxDiff, quotas, SPSS export — with a modern YAML DSL, AI that drafts surveys from a spec, and the independence of a single-product vendor.

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What Forsta Plus does well

A broad, mature portfolio. The merged capabilities of Confirmit (enterprise CX + market research), FocusVision (qualitative + the Decipher survey platform), and Dapresy (data visualisation) give Forsta an unusually wide footprint — HX programs, employee experience, qual + quant, visualisation. For enterprises that want one vendor across many research disciplines, that’s a real moat.

Where Fieldbase differs

Modern DSL + in-platform code editor. YAML surveys with Python-like - script blocks for logic. Edit in a browser-based editor; no XML, no script tags, no 2010-era chrome. See scripting →
AI drafts the survey from a questionnaire spec. Upload a Word or PDF spec; AI writes the YAML; you review and ship. Compresses days of manual translation into hours.
AI chat for live edits in any language. Ask for changes conversationally — "make Q7 required if S2 is Male" — AI proposes the diff, you accept. Works in whatever language your team speaks.
Pre-field Design Test for CBC/MaxDiff. Design Health (level exposure, prohibition flags) + Precision (D-efficiency, implied-N) scorecards sit next to the design in the editor. Catch an under-powered CBC before you buy sample. See choice modeling →
Independent vendor. Built by Inginit Pte. Ltd. as a single product. No portfolio-churn risk, no roadmap dilution across a suite of acquired brands.
Transparent pricing. Free in early access. No multi-year enterprise contract required to start.

Side-by-side

	Fieldbase	Forsta Plus
Authoring
Authoring surface	YAML DSL + Python-like scripts in a browser editor	Drag-and-drop builder; scripting via underlying Confirmit / Decipher engine
AI drafts the survey from a spec document	Yes — upload Word/PDF, AI writes the survey	Limited AI-assist, not spec-to-survey
AI chat for live edits (any language)	Yes	No
Modern browser UI	Current-gen editor, chat, data hub, report module	Multiple inherited UIs from the merged brands
Advanced research methods
CBC (choice/rating/ranking)	First-class, three response modes	First-class; deep tooling from Decipher heritage
MaxDiff + TURF	First-class; TURF in-app	First-class
Pre-field Design Test (D-efficiency, implied-N)	Yes — Design Health + Precision scorecards in-editor	Design validation available; separate workflow
In-app CBC utilities + share simulator	Aggregate MNL part-worths + live share-of-preference	Available via visualisation layer / external estimation
Card sort	Open/closed/hybrid, first-class	Supported
Qualitative annotation (heatmap, text intensity, video dial)	First-class with in-app viewer	Image heatmap + qualitative tooling from FocusVision heritage
Fieldwork
Quota precision under concurrent load	Row-level locks per completion — exact	Mature quota engine
Real-respondent survey simulator (parallel completes)	Yes — fires through the production path	Test-respondent flows; limited concurrency simulation
Per-language fielding (launch one language at a time)	Yes — Test/Live/Paused/Closed per language	Supported via project configuration
Data + export
SPSS export	.sav + .dat/.sps syntax pair, PSPP-verified	.sav + .dat/.sps
Fixed-width ASCII export	Yes — datamap-driven	Yes
CBC / MaxDiff long-form companion CSVs	Yes — `cbc_long`, `maxdiff_long`, design file in one pack	Long form via scripting / custom export
Datamap Designer with templates	Grid + text editor, per-tracker templates	Datamap configuration via platform tools
Partial exports (date / row / variable filter stackable)	Filters run at export time, no new variable needed	Scriptable filters
Mid-field data import	Yes — by `respondentId`, column-scoped	Supported
Scope + vendor
Platform scope	Research platform (surveys, quotas, CBC/MaxDiff, exports, reports)	HX / CX / EX portfolio across merged brands
Vendor	Inginit Pte. Ltd. (independent, single product)	Forsta (Thoma Bravo portfolio, post Confirmit + FocusVision + Dapresy merger)
Pricing model	Free in early access	Enterprise contracts
Procurement	Lightweight — direct contact	Enterprise sales cycle
Best fit	Research teams who want modern DSL + AI drafting + a focused product	Enterprises that need the full HX/CX/EX portfolio across one vendor

When Forsta is still the right call

You need the full HX / CX / EX portfolio across one vendor and one procurement contract.
Dapresy-style visualisation is part of your core deliverable and switching would cost more than it saves.
You’re on Confirmit or Decipher today with workflows deeply tied to those platforms, and consolidation inside Forsta Plus is cheaper than migrating out.

What about Decipher specifically?

Decipher still exists as a distinct product inside the Forsta portfolio. If you’re evaluating Decipher specifically (not Forsta Plus), the Fieldbase vs Decipher comparison is the more direct read — it covers the XML → YAML, script-tag → Python-like migration path and the programmer-first workflow differences.

FAQ

Is Fieldbase trying to replace all of Forsta?

No. We focus on the research-platform core — surveys, quotas, CBC/MaxDiff, SPSS-grade export, reports. We don’t replace enterprise CX programs or employee experience suites.

Can we migrate from Forsta Plus?

For the research-platform surface, yes — the question-type coverage overlaps closely and the export surfaces match. Email [email protected] with a sample survey (or just a datamap) and we’ll walk you through what the port looks like.

What happens if Fieldbase gets acquired?

Fair question given the Forsta history. Fieldbase is built by Inginit Pte. Ltd. with no outside acquisition on the horizon. If that ever changes, the YAML surveys you author are files, so your work is portable in a way that proprietary platform state isn’t.