Yes, Google Forms can send a copy of responses to respondents via its built-in confirmation email feature - but it only sends a plain, unformatted copy. You cannot customize the subject line, email body, or branding with Google Forms alone.
Here are your three options to send a copy of responses (or a fully custom confirmation email):
| Method | Custom Email | Free | Setup Time | Branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Google Forms setting | No | Yes | 1 minute | No |
| Add-ons (Form Notifications, Formfacade) | Yes | Limited | 15-30 min | Partial |
| FormNX (alternative form builder) | Yes | Yes | 2 minutes | Full |
This guide walks you through all three methods - starting with the built-in way to send a copy of responses - so you can pick the right one for your use case.
How to Send a Copy of Responses in Google Forms (Built-in Method)
Google Forms has a native setting to send respondents a copy of their form responses. This is the quickest way to send a copy of responses, but it offers zero customization.
Step-by-Step Setup
- Open your Google Form and click the Settings tab (gear icon) at the top.
- Scroll to the Responses section and expand it.
- Under Collect email addresses, select Responder input (or Verified if you want Google-authenticated emails).
- Find Send responders a copy of their response and set it to Always (or When requested, if you want respondents to opt in).
- Save - that's it. Respondents now receive an email with their answers after submission.
What This Email Looks Like
The confirmation email will:
- Come from
[email protected] - Show the form title as subject line
- List all the respondent's answers in plain text
- Include a link to edit the response (if you enabled that)
Limitations of the Built-in Method
- No custom subject line - it always uses the form title.
- No custom email body - you cannot add a thank-you message, next steps, or instructions.
- No branding - no logo, colors, or formatted content.
- No attachments - you cannot attach a PDF receipt, ticket, or certificate.
- No conditional emails - you cannot send different emails based on responses.
- Requires email collection - respondents must provide their email, which adds friction for anonymous forms.
If you only need respondents to have a record of what they submitted, this method works. For anything more, you will need an add-on or an alternative tool.
Send Customized Confirmation Emails with Add-ons
Several Google Workspace add-ons let you send customized confirmation emails from Google Forms. Here are the most popular options:
Popular Add-ons
- Email Notifications for Google Forms by Digital Inspiration - the most established add-on. Supports custom email templates, conditional routing, and PDF attachments. Free tier limited to 20 emails/day.
- Formfacade - customizes the form UI and email notifications. Good for branding. Free tier available.
- Form Notifications - simpler add-on for basic email customization.
How to Set Up (General Steps)
- Open your Google Form.
- Click the three-dot menu (top right) and select Get add-ons.
- Search for your chosen add-on and install it.
- Grant the required permissions (the add-on needs access to your form data and email).
- Open the add-on from the puzzle-piece icon and follow its setup wizard.
- Configure your email template - subject, body, merge fields, and recipients.
- Test with a sample submission.
Common Challenges with Add-ons
Add-ons solve the customization problem but introduce new ones:
- Setup complexity - most add-ons require 15-30 minutes of configuration, especially for conditional emails.
- Permission concerns - add-ons request broad access to your Google account, including form responses and email.
- Email limits - free tiers typically cap at 20-50 emails per day. High-volume forms need paid plans.
- Reliability - add-ons can break after Google updates, leaving you without notifications until the developer patches it.
- Maintenance - if the add-on developer stops supporting it, you lose functionality.
For occasional forms with low volume, add-ons work fine. For professional or high-volume use cases, a purpose-built form builder gives you more control with less hassle.
Send branded confirmation emails without add-ons
FormNX includes customizable auto-response emails, PDF attachments, and custom SMTP on all plans - set up in 2 minutes.
Use a Form Builder with Built-in Confirmation Emails
Instead of patching Google Forms with add-ons, you can use a form builder that has confirmation emails built in. This is the most reliable approach for professional forms.
How to Send Confirmation Emails in FormNX
FormNX includes built-in email notifications and Auto Response Email as native features - no add-ons, no scripts, no extra setup.
Setup takes 2 minutes:
- Open your form in FormNX and go to Email Settings.
- Enable Auto Response Email.
- Customize the subject line and email body - you can use dynamic tags to insert the respondent's name, submission details, or any form field value.
- Optionally attach a PDF document (receipt, certificate, ticket) that auto-generates from responses.
- Save and publish your form.
Every respondent now receives a fully branded, customized confirmation email the moment they submit the form.
What Makes This Different
| Feature | Google Forms (Built-in) | Google Forms + Add-on | FormNX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom subject line | No | Yes | Yes |
| Custom email body | No | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic merge fields | No | Limited | Yes |
| PDF attachment | No | Paid add-ons | Yes (built-in) |
| Conditional emails | No | Some add-ons | Yes |
| Email sending limit | Unlimited | 20-50/day (free) | Unlimited |
| Setup time | 1 minute | 15-30 minutes | 2 minutes |
| Branding (logo, colors) | No | Partial | Full |
| Custom SMTP (send from your email) | No | No | Yes |
FormNX also lets you configure custom SMTP so confirmation emails come from your own email address (e.g., [email protected]) instead of a no-reply address - which improves deliverability and trust.
Bonus: Enable Email Verification (OTP) on your email field to require respondents to verify their email with a 6-digit code before submission. This ensures your confirmation emails reach real, active inboxes - not typos or fake addresses. Available on Pro plans.
Pair OTP with Block Disposable Emails — a one-click toggle that automatically rejects throwaway providers like Mailinator, 10MinuteMail, and Guerrilla Mail. That way your confirmation emails go to real inboxes only, not burner addresses that nobody ever checks. Also Pro plan only.
Sending Email Notifications in Google Forms (Video Guide)
Watch the video below for a visual walkthrough of setting up email notifications in Google Forms and a comparison with an alternative method.
When to Use Each Method
Choose based on your situation:
- Built-in setting - you just need respondents to have a record of their answers. No branding needed. Anonymous forms are not a concern.
- Add-ons - you are committed to Google Forms but need custom email content. Low-volume forms (under 20-50 submissions/day).
- FormNX or alternative builder - you need professional confirmation emails with branding, PDF attachments, conditional logic, or high volume. You want it to work reliably without third-party dependencies.
Use Cases for Confirmation Emails
Here are common scenarios where sending a confirmation email to form respondents is essential:
Registration Confirmation
Send registrants an instant confirmation with event details, date, time, and venue. With FormNX, you can attach a PDF ticket or pass automatically.
Explore Registration Form Templates to get started.
Order and Payment Receipts
After a purchase or donation, send a branded receipt with transaction details. FormNX's Stripe integration combined with auto-response email and PDF generation handles this end-to-end.
Application Acknowledgment
For job applications, scholarship forms, or grant applications - confirm receipt so applicants are not left wondering if their submission went through. The same pattern works for PTO requests, leave applications, and other HR forms - employees get an instant receipt and the manager gets a notification with one-click approval.
Feedback and Survey Thank-You
Thank respondents for their time and optionally share a summary or next steps. Explore Feedback Form Templates.
Booking Confirmation
Send appointment or booking confirmations with date, time, and instructions - no manual follow-up needed.
Troubleshooting: Not Receiving Confirmation Emails
If respondents are not getting confirmation emails from Google Forms, check these common issues:
"Collect email addresses" is not enabled
The built-in confirmation only works when email collection is turned on. Go to Settings > Responses > Collect email addresses and enable it.
Email is landing in spam
Emails from [email protected] sometimes get caught by spam filters - especially in corporate email environments. Ask respondents to check their spam folder and whitelist the sender.
"Send responders a copy" is set to "When requested"
If set to When requested instead of Always, respondents must manually check a box to receive the email. Many miss it. Switch to Always if you want every respondent to receive a copy.
Add-on stopped working
Google Workspace updates can break add-ons. Check if the add-on has pending updates or if permissions need to be re-granted. This is a common issue - and a key reason some teams switch to purpose-built form builders that do not depend on third-party extensions.
Email sending limits reached
Google has daily email sending limits (varies by account type). Add-ons have their own limits too. If you are hitting limits, consider a tool with unlimited email sending like FormNX.
Google Form Confirmation Message vs. Confirmation Email
These are two different things that often get confused:
- Confirmation message - the text shown on-screen after form submission (e.g., "Your response has been recorded"). You can customize this in Google Forms under Settings > Presentation > Confirmation message. FormNX gives you full control over this post-submission experience via welcome and thank-you pages - customize copy, add a CTA, embed video, or redirect to your own URL.
- Confirmation email - an email sent to the respondent's inbox with their response details. This is what this guide covers.
You should use both. The confirmation message (thank-you page) gives instant feedback, while the confirmation email provides a permanent record.
FAQ
Does Google Forms send confirmation emails automatically?
Not by default. You must enable it manually in Settings > Responses > Send responders a copy of their response. Even then, it only sends a plain copy of their answers - no custom content.
How do I send a confirmation email to multiple recipients from a Google Form?
The built-in option only emails the respondent. To notify additional people (like your team), you need an add-on like Email Notifications for Google Forms, or use a form builder like FormNX that supports email notifications to multiple recipients.
Can I customize the confirmation email in Google Forms without add-ons?
No. Google Forms does not allow you to change the subject line, body, or formatting of the confirmation email. You need either an add-on or an alternative form builder for customization.
How do I send different confirmation emails based on form responses?
Google Forms cannot do this natively. Some add-ons support conditional email routing. FormNX supports conditional fields and conditional email templates built in.
Are email notification add-ons for Google Forms free?
Most offer a limited free tier (typically 20-50 emails per day). For higher volumes or advanced features like PDF attachments, you need a paid plan. FormNX offers unlimited auto-response emails on all plans.
Why am I not getting email notifications from Google Forms?
Common reasons: email collection is not enabled, the setting is on "When requested" instead of "Always," emails are going to spam, or your add-on has hit its daily limit. See the troubleshooting section above for fixes.
Trusted by 7,000+ customers, FormNX is a free form builder with built-in confirmation emails, PDF generation, payment collection, and more - no add-ons needed. Try FormNX free.
Read the full Google Forms vs FormNX comparison to see how the two tools stack up — or see the focused FormNX Google Forms alternative landing page for a feature-by-feature side-by-side.
Want to put the form itself inside the email instead of just notifying respondents? See how to embed a Google Form in an email — and why a live form only works for Gmail recipients.
Prefer printed posters, table tents, or in-person sign-ups over email entirely? You can share your form via QR code — our guide walks through 6 free methods to turn any Google Form link into a scannable code.