When evaluating online form builders for your online store, it's essential to consider tools that not only facilitate data collection but also integrate seamlessly with your e-commerce platform. Cognito Forms and Formstack are two prominent options, each offering unique features tailored to different business needs.
Cognito Forms
Cognito Forms is an online form builder that emphasizes payment processing and conditional logic, making it suitable for businesses that require customized forms with integrated payment capabilities.
Features
- Payment Processing: Supports secure online transactions through integrations with payment partners.
- Conditional Logic: Allows for dynamic form behavior based on user input, enhancing user experience.
- Data Management: Offers tools for organizing, configuring, and transferring data, as well as creating reports and documents.
- Security & Compliance: Ensures compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations.
Pricing Model
Cognito Forms offers tiered pricing based on user needs:
- Individual: Free plan with 1 user, unlimited forms, 100 entries per month, and 100 MB of storage.
- Pro: $19 per month for 2 users, unlimited forms, 2,000 entries per month, and 1 GB of storage.
- Team: $39 per month for 5 users, unlimited forms, 10,000 entries per month, and 10 GB of storage.
- Enterprise: $129 per month for 20 users, unlimited forms, unlimited entries, and 100 GB of storage.
Pros
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design that simplifies form creation.
- Advanced Features: Offers robust features even in the free plan.
- Flexible Payment Options: Supports various payment processors, providing flexibility.
Cons
- Limited Integrations: May not integrate as extensively with third-party applications compared to competitors.
- Scalability Concerns: Higher-tier plans may be cost-prohibitive for small businesses.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that require customizable forms with integrated payment processing and conditional logic but do not need extensive third-party integrations.
Formstack
Formstack is an enterprise-level form builder and workflow automation tool designed for comprehensive data collection and process automation.
Features
- Form Building: No-code, drag-and-drop builder for creating secure forms.
- Document Automation: Automates document generation and delivery by integrating with existing systems.
- eSignature Collection: Facilitates secure digital signature collection.
- Workflow Automation: Streamlines processes with tools for data collection, management, and integration.
- Salesforce Integration: Offers native forms and document generation within Salesforce.
Pricing Model
Formstack provides several pricing tiers:
- Forms: Starting at $83 per month for 1 builder user, 25 forms, 1,000 submissions per form, and 2 GB of storage.
- Suite: Starting at $250 per month for 3 builder users, 100 forms, 5,000 submissions per form, and 10 GB of storage.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing tailored to business needs, including dedicated customer success managers and advanced security features.
Pros
- Comprehensive Toolset: Combines form building, document automation, and eSignature collection.
- Salesforce Integration: Seamless integration with Salesforce for users within that ecosystem.
- Scalability: Suitable for large organizations with complex workflow needs.
Cons
- Cost: Higher pricing may be a barrier for small businesses.
- Complexity: The extensive feature set may require a learning curve.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
Ideal for medium to large enterprises seeking a comprehensive solution for form building, document automation, and workflow management, especially those already using Salesforce.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Cognito Forms | Formstack |
|---|---|---|
| Form Building | No-code, drag-and-drop builder | No-code, drag-and-drop builder |
| Payment Processing | Supports various payment processors | PCI-certified payment integrations with PayPal and Stripe |
| Conditional Logic | Advanced conditional logic capabilities | Step Logic, Dynamic Task Assignment, and Form to Form Prefill |
| Document Automation | Limited document generation capabilities | Automates document generation and delivery; 50 document merges per month in Suite plan |
| eSignature Collection | Not specified | Unlimited eSignatures in Suite plan; Signature Audit Trail and In-Person Signing available |
| Integrations | Limited third-party integrations | Over 300 integrations; native Salesforce integration |
| Pricing | Free plan; Paid plans start at $19/month | Paid plans start at $83/month; Suite plan at $250/month |
| Storage | 100 MB (Individual), 1 GB (Pro), 10 GB (Team), 100 GB (Enterprise) | 2 GB (Forms), 10 GB (Suite), 10 GB (Enterprise) |
| User Access | 1 user (Individual), 2 users (Pro), 5 users (Team), 20 users (Enterprise) | 1 builder user (Forms), 3 builder users (Suite), custom for Enterprise |
| Best-Fit Customer | Small to medium-sized businesses needing customizable forms with payment processing | Medium to large enterprises requiring comprehensive form building and workflow automation |
Which to Choose
When deciding between Cognito Forms and Formstack for your online store,
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
If you're evaluating options for online form builders, Zigpoll is also worth a look. Zigpoll is a Shopify survey app offering post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys, with zero-party data collection and a clean, Shopify-native setup. It tends to suit merchants who want flexible survey types in one place without enterprise pricing.
