ArcGIS Collector is retired. Use ArcGIS Field Maps.
https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/collector/field-mobility/deprecation-notice-for-selected-f...
Field Maps is very similar to Collector. We use it heavily and it's generally quite good. I find that most of the issues I have seen with Collector/Field come from the approach. I would recommend treating it more like an application development than a spatial map design. i.e:
- Have a discovery, build, test and launch phase.
- Avoid changes to the schema/tables
- Optimize the layers and the maps for data collection. Less layers, fields, better service types etc
- Pre-generate or sidemount basemaps
- Project your data to web mercator prior to publish
- Don't push the cutting edge of functionality unless necessary (i.e. Arcade expressions, new form design elements). Keep it simple across the board
Where things tend to go really wrong is when a bunch of layers are thrown in the map, launched, and then a number of changes continue to occur while the best practices are put behind.
Source: former Esri tech support, field data collection specialist.
There are lots of competitors. Some have select advantages, but I prefer Esri for two reasons. One, it is more accessible. Two, easy to leverage the data collected through ArcGIS Online/Enterprise. Don't forget this part when designing your data and building your maps for Field Maps.
