Surveys · head to head
Formstack vs Gravity Forms
Formstack
Surveys
Form builder with document generation and e-signature
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Formstack more expensive than form builders that only collect, which is the fair comparison for simple use; Gravity Forms basic license covers only 1 site and renews at $59/year after a discounted $44 first year
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Formstack and Gravity Forms actually diverge.
| Attribute | Formstack | Gravity Forms |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $59/year |
| Pricing model | Tiered monthly subscription published on the vendor site; HIPAA-capable plans priced separately | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Cloud | Web |
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Formstack
- Form builder
- Document generation
- E-signature
- Workflow routing
- Salesforce integration
- Compliance features
Only in Gravity Forms
Nothing recorded that Formstack does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Formstack
- Processes where a submitted form must become a signed documentnot Gravity Forms
- Regulated intake needing HIPAA-capable handlingnot Gravity Forms
- Salesforce shops wanting forms and documents inside the CRMnot Gravity Forms
Gravity Forms
- WordPress form building and lead capturenot Formstack
- E-commerce payment form processingnot Formstack
- Multi-site form managementnot Formstack
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Formstack
- More expensive than form builders that only collect, which is the fair comparison for simple use
- Document generation and signature sit in higher tiers, so the headline price is not the working price
- The interface has accumulated features over a long life and shows it
- Overkill where a form only needs to collect an answer
Gravity Forms
- Basic license covers only 1 site and renews at $59/year after a discounted $44 first year
- Pro license is capped at 3 sites; using it on more requires the Elite tier at $259/year renewal
- Marketing integrations like HubSpot and Mailchimp are Basic-tier only, while payment and workflow add-ons (Stripe, Zapier, Trello) require Pro or above
Pricing, plan by plan
Formstack
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Formstack review.
Gravity Forms
$59/year- Basic$59/year
- 1 site license
- 20+ integrations including HubSpot, Mailchimp, Active Campaign
- Pro$159/year
- 3 site licenses
- Payment processing with Stripe, Square, PayPal
- 15+ Pro-level add-ons
- Elite$259/year
- Unlimited site licenses
- All add-ons included
- Advanced features: User Registration, Conversational Forms, Signature, Survey
Which should you pick?
Choose Formstack if
- You need form builder.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want document generation.
Choose Gravity Forms if
Nothing in the data separates Gravity Forms from Formstack on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Formstack or Gravity Forms better?
- Neither clearly leads. Formstack starts at On request and Gravity Forms at $59/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Formstack or Gravity Forms?
- Formstack starts at On request and Gravity Forms at $59/year.
- Does Formstack or Gravity Forms run on more platforms?
- Formstack runs on Web, Cloud. Gravity Forms runs on Web.
- What is Formstack best used for?
- Formstack is most often used for processes where a submitted form must become a signed document, regulated intake needing hipaa-capable handling, salesforce shops wanting forms and documents inside the crm. Of those, processes where a submitted form must become a signed document and regulated intake needing hipaa-capable handling are not what Gravity Forms is typically brought in for.
- What can Formstack do that Gravity Forms cannot?
- Formstack covers Form builder, Document generation, E-signature, Workflow routing.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Formstack: What does Formstack cost?
It publishes tiered monthly pricing; document generation and e-signature sit in higher tiers, and HIPAA-capable plans are priced separately.
Gravity Forms: What is the cheapest Gravity Forms plan?
The Basic plan is $59/year and includes 1 site license with 20+ integrations. The Elite plan at $259/year offers unlimited sites and all add-ons.
SourceFormstack: What makes it different from a plain form builder?
It generates documents from submissions and collects signatures on them, which is the step that otherwise involves retyping form data into a template.
Gravity Forms: Can I process payments with Gravity Forms?
Yes. Payment processing with Stripe, Square, and PayPal is included in the Pro ($159/year) and Elite ($259/year) plans, but not in the Basic plan.
SourceFormstack: Is it HIPAA compliant?
It offers HIPAA-capable plans for regulated data. That is a plan-level feature, not the default.
Gravity Forms: How many sites can I use Gravity Forms on?
The Basic plan covers 1 site, Pro covers 3 sites, and Elite covers unlimited sites. All pricing is annual subscription.
SourceRelated pages
More on Gravity Forms
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