Surveys · head to head
Cognito Forms vs Tally
Tally
Surveys
Form builder with unlimited forms and responses on the free plan, edited like a text document
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Cognito Forms individual free plan caps at 100 entries per month and 1 user; Tally built-in analysis is limited to basic summaries, so any real analysis means exporting responses to a spreadsheet or database.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cognito Forms and Tally actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cognito Forms | Tally |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | Free tier, paid for branding and team features |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Surveys).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Cognito Forms
Nothing recorded that Tally does not also cover.
Only in Tally
- Document-style editor
- Unlimited free responses
- Conditional logic and calculations
- Payment collection
- Notion and Airtable sync
- Custom domains
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cognito Forms
- Building HIPAA-compliant data collection forms without codingnot Tally
- Creating multi-step approval workflows for contract signingnot Tally
- Collecting payments inline within customer intake formsnot Tally
- Routing applications automatically based on responsesnot Tally
Tally
- A startup collecting waitlist or beta signups that will grow well past a free response cap elsewherenot Cognito Forms
- A small team that wants form submissions landing directly in Notion or Airtablenot Cognito Forms
- A charity or community group running a public consultation with no software budgetnot Cognito Forms
- A quick internal request or intake form that needs to exist within the hournot Cognito Forms
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cognito Forms
- Individual free plan caps at 100 entries per month and 1 user
- Pro plan ($24/mo monthly, $19/mo billed annually) still limits to 2 users and 2,000 entries per month
- HIPAA compliance and single sign-on are restricted to the Enterprise tier ($174/mo monthly, $129/mo annual)
Tally
- Built-in analysis is limited to basic summaries, so any real analysis means exporting responses to a spreadsheet or database.
- There is no offline data collection, which rules it out for field research or events without reliable connectivity.
- The company is very small and bootstrapped, so support is email and documentation with no account management, and some procurement processes will reject that.
- Advanced research features such as quotas, randomisation and panel integration are absent, so it is a form builder rather than a research instrument.
- Design control is deliberately narrow, so brands that need pixel-level form styling will find the theming options constraining even on the paid tier.
Pricing, plan by plan
Cognito Forms
Free- IndividualFree
- 100 entries per month
- 1 user
- Cognito Forms branding included
- Pro$24/month
- 2000 entries per month
- 2 users
- Electronic signatures
- Team$49/month
- 10000 entries per month
- 5 users
- 5 guest access
- Enterprise$174/month
- Unlimited entries
- 20 users
- 20 guest access
Tally
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited forms, questions and responses
- Conditional logic, calculations and file uploads
- Integrations including Notion, Google Sheets and webhooks
- Tally Pro$29/month
- Remove Tally branding
- Custom domains and form redirects
- Team workspaces and collaboration
Which should you pick?
Choose Tally if
- You need document-style editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want unlimited free responses.
Questions people ask
- Is Cognito Forms or Tally better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cognito Forms starts at Free and Tally at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cognito Forms or Tally?
- Cognito Forms starts at Free and Tally at Free.
- Does Cognito Forms or Tally run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Cognito Forms for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Cognito Forms best used for?
- Cognito Forms is most often used for building hipaa-compliant data collection forms without coding, creating multi-step approval workflows for contract signing, collecting payments inline within customer intake forms, routing applications automatically based on responses. Of those, building hipaa-compliant data collection forms without coding and creating multi-step approval workflows for contract signing are not what Tally is typically brought in for.
- What can Cognito Forms do that Tally cannot?
- Tally covers Document-style editor, Unlimited free responses, Conditional logic and calculations, Payment collection.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Cognito Forms: How much does Cognito Forms cost?
Cognito Forms offers a free Individual plan with 100 entries per month. Paid plans start at $24/month for the Pro plan, $49/month for the Team plan, and $174/month for the Enterprise plan. Annual prepayment provides up to 20% discount off monthly rates.
SourceTally: Is the free plan really unlimited?
Yes for forms, questions and responses. The paid tier sells branding removal, custom domains and team features rather than volume.
Cognito Forms: What is the difference between Cognito Forms plans?
The Individual plan (free) includes 100 entries/month and 1 user. Pro adds electronic signatures and accommodates 2000 entries/month with 2 users. Team plan (Best Value) supports 10000 entries/month with 5 users and includes client portal and approvals. Enterprise provides unlimited entries, 20 users, and HIPAA compliance.
SourceTally: Is Tally suitable for research surveys?
Only simple ones. It has logic and calculations but no quotas, randomisation or panel management.
Cognito Forms: Does Cognito Forms have a free version?
Yes, Cognito Forms offers a free Individual plan that includes 100 entries per month, 1 user, unlimited forms, and payment processing capabilities. Higher-tier plans are available for increased capacity and features.
SourceTally: Is it GDPR compliant?
Tally is a European company operating under GDPR, and buyers with strict requirements should request the data processing agreement before rollout.
Related pages
More on Cognito Forms
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