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Marketing · head to head

Optimove vs Paperform

Optimove logo

Optimove

Marketing

Retention marketing platform that forces control groups and reports uplift per customer

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Paperform logo

Paperform

Surveys

Forms that feel like you

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Paperform has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Optimove it requires a customer-level data feed with transactions before it does anything useful, and mapping that feed typically takes weeks of joint work rather than days.; Paperform free plan limited to 30 submissions per month
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Optimove and Paperform actually diverge.

Attributes where Optimove and Paperform differ
AttributeOptimovePaperform
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, REST APIWeb
CategoryMarketingSurveys

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Optimove

  • Customer modelling
  • Mandatory control groups
  • Optibot
  • Multichannel orchestration
  • Self-optimising campaigns
  • Realtime triggers

Only in Paperform

Nothing recorded that Optimove does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Optimove

  • An operator that has to prove incremental revenue from retention marketing to a finance committeenot Paperform
  • Segmenting a customer base by predicted value and lifecycle stage rather than by campaign list membershipnot Paperform
  • Running hundreds of small always-on campaigns where per-campaign uplift decides which survivenot Paperform
  • Coordinating retention messaging with paid audience suppression so lapsed customers are not paid for twicenot Paperform

Paperform

  • Creating multi-step application forms with conditional field displaynot Optimove
  • Building payment collection forms for online invoicingnot Optimove
  • Setting up appointment scheduling with calendar integrationnot Optimove
  • Collecting customer signatures on contracts and agreementsnot Optimove

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Optimove

  • It requires a customer-level data feed with transactions before it does anything useful, and mapping that feed typically takes weeks of joint work rather than days.
  • Pricing is based on tracked customers, so an inflated database of accounts that will never return costs money exactly like an unpruned email list does.
  • The modelling layer is largely opaque, so when a lifecycle stage assignment looks wrong there is limited ability to inspect why beyond vendor support.
  • The interface is dense and built for daily operators, and occasional users typically never become independent in it.
  • Email delivery is through bundled or third-party sending infrastructure rather than an in-house ESP, which adds a party to any deliverability investigation.

Paperform

  • Free plan limited to 30 submissions per month
  • Additional submissions beyond plan limits incur overage fees
  • Custom domains require additional $20 per month fee on Pro plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Optimove

On request
  • Optimove$undefined/year
    • Priced by number of tracked customers
    • Channel modules and Kumulos-derived mobile messaging licensed separately
    • Annual contract including onboarding services

Paperform

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 user
    • 30 submissions per month
    • 5 payment submissions per month
  • Essentials$24/month
    • 1 user
    • 1,200 submissions per year
    • 240 payment submissions per year
  • Pro$49/month
    • 3 users
    • 12,000 submissions per year
    • 3,000 payment submissions per year
  • Business$99/month
    • 5 users plus $9 per additional user (up to 25)
    • 120,000 submissions per year
    • 30,000 payment submissions per year

Which should you pick?

Choose Optimove if

  • You need customer modelling.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, REST API.
  • You also want mandatory control groups.
Optimove review

Choose Paperform if

  • You want to start without paying.
Paperform review

Questions people ask

Is Optimove or Paperform better?
Neither clearly leads. Optimove starts at On request and Paperform at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Optimove or Paperform?
Paperform has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Optimove and Free for Paperform.
Does Optimove or Paperform run on more platforms?
Optimove runs on Web, iOS, Android, REST API. Paperform runs on Web.
Can I use Paperform for free?
Yes. Paperform has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Optimove starts at On request.
What is Optimove best used for?
Optimove is most often used for an operator that has to prove incremental revenue from retention marketing to a finance committee, segmenting a customer base by predicted value and lifecycle stage rather than by campaign list membership, running hundreds of small always-on campaigns where per-campaign uplift decides which survive, coordinating retention messaging with paid audience suppression so lapsed customers are not paid for twice. Of those, an operator that has to prove incremental revenue from retention marketing to a finance committee and segmenting a customer base by predicted value and lifecycle stage rather than by campaign list membership are not what Paperform is typically brought in for.
What can Optimove do that Paperform cannot?
Optimove covers Customer modelling, Mandatory control groups, Optibot, Multichannel orchestration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Optimove: Why does it insist on control groups?

Because uplift is the reported metric. Without a holdout the platform cannot attribute revenue, and the reporting that justifies the licence stops working.

Paperform: Is there a free version of Paperform?

Yes, Paperform offers a free plan with 1 user, 30 submissions per month, and 100 MB storage at no cost.

Source
Optimove: Is it only for iGaming?

No, but that is where its density of customers and its default lifecycle models are strongest. Subscription retail and financial services are the other common verticals.

Paperform: Does Paperform offer a free trial for paid plans?

Paperform offers a 7-day unrestricted trial for all paid plans without requiring a credit card.

Source
Optimove: Can it send email itself?

It orchestrates and personalises, then sends through connected delivery infrastructure. Deliverability remains a shared responsibility with that provider.

Paperform: What payment processing options does Paperform support?

All Paperform plans include payment processing via Stripe, Square, Braintree, or PayPal.

Source
Paperform: When does Paperform charge for custom domains?

Custom domains are available on the Pro and Business plans, with an additional $20 per month fee for this feature.

Source
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