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Akvo Flow
Amsterdam, Netherlands
What it is
Akvo Flow is a data collection tool for organisations that use data to drive change. Its online workspace lets teams create, edit, copy and store surveys, then connect enumerators’ devices and assign survey groups for a specified period. Forms can gather qualitative and quantitative responses, water test results, GPS data, images, geographic shapes, barcodes and QR codes. Monitoring forms can track selected data points over time. The Android app supports offline collection and can upload data automatically when network coverage returns or manually through USB. Flow exports data and form codebooks, and its Comprehensive report summarizes a dataset with basic statistics and charts. The open source platform can connect to other systems through its API. Roles and permissions help manage access, while Akvo says users retain control over what they keep private or share openly. Data transmitted between system components uses SSL encryption. Akvo describes Flow as serving development organisations, including NGOs, governments, knowledge institutions and private sector organisations. Flow Basic is free for new clients but limited to 300 submissions, one export format and one user; Pro pricing is custom.
For and against
For
- Collects GPS data, images and QR codes
- Android app supports offline data collection
- Assignments can be set for a specified timeframe
- Exports data and form codebooks
- Roles and permissions manage team access
Against
- Flow Basic is only for new clients
- Basic is limited to 300 data point submissions
- Basic allows one user and one export format
- Pro pricing is custom
The verdict
Akvo Flow combines survey design, field assignments and offline Android collection with reporting and access controls. Its free Basic plan has tight user and submission limits, while Pro pricing depends on the organisation’s needs.
Who it suits
Akvo Flow is suited to organisations that need to design surveys and collect field data, including when Android devices are offline. Its stated audience includes NGOs, governments, knowledge institutions and private sector organisations.
Plans and prices
Flow Basic
only for new clients · 300 data-point submissions · 1 export format · 1 user
Read 15 Oct 2026 · akvoflow.org
Flow Pro +
submissions based on organisation needs · 4 export formats · unlimited users · configuration service
Read 15 Oct 2026 · akvoflow.org
On the record
- Access controls
- Flow provides roles and permissions for managing team members’ data access.akvo.org · read 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 · read 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 · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- Assignments
- Managers can connect enumerator devices and create survey groups and time-limited assignments.akvoflow.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company founded
- Akvo says it was founded in 2006 by an open-source pioneer and a hydrologist.akvo.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company LinkedIn facts
- LinkedIn lists Akvo as founded in 2008, headquartered in Amsterdam and employing 51–200 people.linkedin.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company type
- Akvo describes itself as a nonprofit headquartered in the Netherlands with offices across four continents.akvo.org · read 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 · read 9 Oct 2026
- Data exports
- Flow exports collected data in multiple formats for cleaning, analysis, geoshape work and viewing.akvoflow.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Data location
- The privacy policy says survey data is hosted and processed on servers in the European Union.akvo.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Data ownership
- Akvo states that users retain ownership of survey content and that private survey data is not sold.akvo.org · read 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 · read 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 · read 9 Oct 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 · read 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 · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The Flow app is distributed outside Google Play and requires enabling installation from unknown sources.akvo.freshdesk.com · read 15 Oct 2026
