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Objective The approval of budesonide orodispersible tablets and dupilumab has introduced new therapeutic options for the treatment of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). However, there is a shortage of data on perspectives of the affected patients regarding therapeutic interventions. We aimed to assess the beliefs, restrictions and preferences of patients with EoE with respect to medical and dietary treatment options.Design/method We conducted a web-based survey consisting of 34 questions addressing treatment preferences, including currently available and potentially emerging options, using SurveyMonkey among patients with confirmed diagnosis of EoE in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.Results 150 patients (64% male; 70.7% with concomitant atopic diseases; 44% previously dilated; 22% with ≥3 sessions) responded. With regard to the routes of administration, one to two times daily swallowed topical corticosteroid (STC) was ranked the highest (89.3% generally preferred STC, and 52.7% preferred STC as single most preferred route within the scenario, including every potentially imaginable route of administration and assuming all options would be equally effective), followed by subcutaneous administration every 4 weeks (62.7%, 22%), peroral systemic steroids (46.7%, 18.7%) and weekly subcutaneous administration (38.7%, 0%). Although one-third did not have reservations against long-term medical therapy, 42% were sceptical about long-term treatment and 65% were afraid of adverse events. Patients with fear of drug-related side events were significantly younger (p=0.001), less often dilated (ever) (p=0.03) and had more often experienced adverse events of any prior therapy (p=0.03).Conclusion Patients with EoE prefer topical agents over other available routes of administration. Patient education is crucial to address concerns regarding long-term treatment.