Formstack and Cognito Forms are online form builders designed to streamline data collection for businesses. Formstack offers enterprise-level form building and workflow automation, while Cognito Forms provides online form creation with payment processing and conditional logic.
Formstack
Features
Formstack provides a no-code, drag-and-drop form and workflow builder. It includes unlimited form views, workflows access, dynamic task assignment, form-to-form prefill, workflow dashboard, and custom branding. (formstack.com)
Pricing Model
Formstack's pricing starts at $99 per month when billed monthly, or $83 per month when billed annually. This plan includes one builder user, 25 forms, up to 1,000 submissions per form, and 2GB of storage. (formstack.com)
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive form building and workflow automation.
- Scalable plans suitable for growing businesses.
Cons:
- Higher starting price may be a barrier for small businesses.
- Some advanced features may require additional training.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
Formstack is ideal for small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses that require advanced form building capabilities and workflow automation to manage complex data collection processes.
Cognito Forms
Features
Cognito Forms offers a user-friendly interface for creating forms with payment processing and conditional logic. It supports unlimited forms, accepts payments through Stripe, PayPal, or Square, and provides 100MB of storage. (cognitoforms.com)
Pricing Model
Cognito Forms offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $19 per month for the Pro plan, which includes two users, unlimited forms, up to 2,000 entries per month, and 1GB of storage. (cognitoforms.com)
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable pricing suitable for small businesses.
- Easy-to-use interface with essential features.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features compared to competitors.
- Payment processing fees apply on lower-tier plans.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
Cognito Forms is best suited for small e-commerce businesses seeking an affordable and straightforward solution for basic data collection needs.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Formstack | Cognito Forms |
|---|---|---|
| Form Building | No-code, drag-and-drop builder | User-friendly interface |
| Workflow Automation | Advanced workflow capabilities | Limited workflow features |
| Payment Processing | Not specified | Supports Stripe, PayPal, and Square; fees apply on lower-tier plans (cognitoforms.com) |
| Storage | 2GB (Forms plan) | 100MB (Individual plan) |
| Pricing | Starts at $99/month (monthly billing) or $83/month (annual billing) (formstack.com) | Free plan available; paid plans start at $19/month (cognitoforms.com) |
| Integrations | Not specified | Supports Stripe, PayPal, and Square (cognitoforms.com) |
| Customer Support | Documentation and live support available (formstack.com) | Documentation and support available (cognitoforms.com) |
Which to Choose
For small e-commerce businesses evaluating Formstack vs Cognito Forms for data collection, consider the following:
Formstack is suitable if you require advanced form building and workflow automation capabilities and have the budget to support a higher starting price.
Cognito Forms is appropriate if you need a cost-effective solution for basic data collection with essential features and can manage with limited advanced functionalities.
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
If you're evaluating options for data collection tools, 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.
