Jul 26, 2024 
Summary:
- Is Tally.so really the new alternative to Typeform? Today, we dive into the realities and implications of this potential shift.
- Typeform is very user-friendly and good for simple forms, but lacks customization, advanced features like conditional logic, and data handling has raised concerns.
- Tally.so offers a free plan with unlimited forms and submissions, but faces performance slowdowns with large forms, limited advanced features in the free plan, and has an unexpected fair use policy.
- The best form builder depends on your needs. Consider factors like data collection complexity, user experience, security, integrations, and budget when choosing a platform.
In today’s data-driven world, online forms are like digital minions for businesses, making it easy to collect information, organize information, plug in information into other business functions, while improving customer experience. But for enterprises, choosing the right form builder goes way beyond just looks and functionality. Features like security, scalability, advanced features are taking centre stage.
Typeform has been a popular choice because it’s user-friendly and the forms look great. However, it might not be the best fit for complex needs, and people are starting to realize that. Although there are many high quality form builders that exist, ticking off many boxes, Tally.so has been standing out from the crowd and gaining traction, with it’s focus on it’s ‘free and unlimited plan’.
Let’s delve into the pros and cons of both options to see if Tally.so reality is the free alternative enterprises have been waiting for.
Typeform: A User-Friendly Favorite, But Does it Meet Enterprise Needs?
Typeform is known for its user-friendly interface. This makes building forms feel easy, even for people not familiar with tech. The interface is sleek and modern, making your forms visually appealing. This is perfect for simple surveys or internal forms where a positive user experience is important.
Typeform offers a variety of question types to fit your data collection needs. From multiple choice to open-ended responses and even file uploads, it’s got you covered. Plus, it integrates with a few popular tools like Google Sheets and Slack, making data management a bit easier.
However, for enterprises with complex data collection requirements and a need for advanced control, Typeform falls short majorly.
Limited Customization:
While Typeform’s user-friendly design and attractive forms are a plus, companies with specific branding needs might find its customization options limiting. You can’t customize the look and feel of your forms as much as you might like. The number of templates available are also not that exhaustive, which means more often than not you might find yourself needing to create a custom form from scratch.
Let’s take a tech startup with a unique brand identity needing a customer feedback survey. They use Typeform, but can’t fully match their brand’s colours and fonts, they also don’t find the right template. Now not only does the form look inconsistent with their website, they also need to spend way more time creating a brand new form template for their use. This causes extra manual work and disjointed experience for the customers that can undermine a company’s professional image.
Lack of Advanced Features:
Typeform might not have the strongest security features on lower plans, which could be a concern for companies collecting sensitive information. There have been concerns about data ownership and security with Typeform, especially for sensitive information.
Pricing Limitations
While Typeform offers a free plan, it has limitations. You can only create a few forms and collect a small number of responses. This isn’t ideal for large companies that need to collect a lot of data. Upgrading to a paid plan gives you more features, but the cost can add up quickly, especially if you have many departments and users who need access.
Does Tally.so bridge this gap?
Tally positions itself as a game-changer for enterprises. It promises a user-friendly platform that can handle the needs of large organizations, but is it the perfect fit?
Let’s see what Tally offers:
- Ease of Use: Tally does have a user-friendly interface that makes form creation simple
- Unlimited Forms and Submissions: It offers unlimited forms and submissions for free without extra costs.
- Customization and Integration: It also allows branding customization and integrates with tools like Zapier, Google Sheets, and Airtable for data management.
Considerations:
- Performance Issues: Users report slowdowns with large or complex forms, though Tally is prioritizing improvements in this area.
- Limited Free Plan Features: Advanced features like detailed analytics and custom CSS require a Tally Pro subscription, which seems like an unexpected surprise, considering their main marketing pitch.
- Fair Use Policy and Layout Options: Unlimited forms and submissions are subject to a fair use policy, and Tally offers fewer layout options compared to competitors, relying on third-party integrations for some functionalities.
The Bottom Line:
Tally does empower enterprises to collect data efficiently, while maintaining a consistent brand image. It’s easy to use, but complex forms might require some initial training. The free plan offers a starting point, with upgrades available for advanced features.
But is it a Typeform alternative? Well it comes close but misses.
While Typeform has its pros and cons, Tally too has its pros and cons, and it may not be a one-size-fits-all, depending on the industry you belong to. We suggest you carefully consider your data collection needs to determine if Tally can revolutionize your enterprise’s approach.
Selecting the Right Alternative to Typeform for Your Enterprise
Selecting the perfect form builder for your business hinges on several key factors. Here’s a checklist to help you navigate the options:
1. Data Collection Needs and Form Complexity:
- What type of data do you need to collect (text, numbers, file uploads)?
- Do you require complex forms with conditional branching (questions change based on previous answers) or logic jumps?
- Do you need advanced question types beyond multiple choice and open ended?
2. User Experience and Interface Preferences:
- How important is a user-friendly interface for both form creators and respondents?
- Do you need extensive customization options, or is a simpler, pre-designed approach sufficient?
- Are there technical users who might prefer a more customizable interface?
3. Security and Compliance Requirements:
- Are you collecting sensitive data?
- Does the platform offer robust security features like advanced encryption and Single Sign-On (SSO)?
- Do you need to comply with specific regulations like HIPAA (healthcare data privacy), PIPEDA, GDPR, Province or State-wise regulations in different countries?
4. Integration Needs with Existing Systems:
- Does the form builder integrate seamlessly with your CRM, HR software, or marketing automation tools?
- Smooth integration can streamline data flow and reduce manual work.
5. Budget and Pricing Structure:
- Compare pricing models offered by different form builders and their corresponding features.
- Don’t focus solely on the base price. Consider per-user costs and scalability as your needs grow.
- Some platforms offer free plans with limited features, which can be ideal for testing purposes.
By carefully considering these factors, you can choose a form builder that aligns with your business’s specific requirements.
Beyond Typeform and Tally: Other Enterprise Form Builder Options
Let’s be real, while our search results may be dominated by Typeform and Tally battling for supremacy, there are numerous other enterprise form builders out there that offer all these features and THEN SOME, often at a great price. Let’s explore some of the top alternative to Typeform that might be the perfect fit for your needs.
- JotForm: Template King. JotForm has a massive library of templates, making it ideal for enterprises that need a variety of forms to make quickly with little customization.
- Feathery: Feathery has advanced logic capabilities that allow you to create complicated forms, and flows for app connections. Though it has a steep learning curve, its features enable building complex workflows, integrating with databases, and more.
- MakeForms: Secure & Powerful. MakeForms offers a user-friendly drag and drop interface with a huge library of templates, advanced features like conditional logic and integrations, and also has the highest industry-leading security compliances like GDPR, HIPAA, PIPEDA, CCPA, and Australia DPA-compliant. It caters well to regulated industries like healthcare, finance, or businesses that collect sensitive data.
Where does this leave you and your form-builder requirement?
Remember, the best form builder ultimately depends on your specific needs. Carefully consider the factors mentioned in the previous checklist to make an informed decision.
We recommend taking advantage of free trials, demos, case studies, and customer reviews offered by each platform. Utilize these resources to assess which form builder best aligns with your specific enterprise requirements and budget.
FAQs
Typeform is user-friendly for simple forms but lacks customization and advanced features, while Tally.so offers unlimited forms for free but struggles with large forms, limited features, and has a fair use policy.
Consider the complexity of your forms, user experience needs, security requirements, integration options with existing software, and your budget.
Yes, Tally has a free plan with unlimited forms and submissions, ideal for enterprises to test its features.
Yes, ofcourse! Use JotForm for quick, templated forms; Feathery for advanced logic and complex workflows; and MakeForms for secure, powerful form building in regulated industries like healthcare and finance.
Carefully evaluate your needs based on the factors mentioned above. Utilize free trials, demos, and customer reviews to pick the platform that best fits your requirements and budget.
