Formbricks vs Tally (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, licensing, and self-hosting.
Formbricks vs Tally
Short answer: choose Formbricks if you need in-product surveys, self-hosting, and full data ownership; choose Tally if you want the most capable free hosted form builder available.
Formbricks is built around the idea that the most valuable survey data comes from catching users at meaningful moments inside your product. Its JavaScript SDK embeds event-triggered surveys directly into web applications — show an NPS prompt after a user completes their third task, or a churn reason question when they hit the cancellation flow. It is AGPL-licensed, self-hostable via Docker, and runs with no response caps on self-hosted deployments. That combination makes it the natural choice for SaaS teams with GDPR obligations or strict data residency requirements.
Tally takes the opposite approach: a polished, hosted builder with an unusually generous free tier. Unlimited forms and unlimited responses at no cost is rare in this category, and the Notion-style block editor makes building complex branching forms fast. Tally operates as a managed cloud service — there is no self-hosting path — so all data flows through Tally's infrastructure.
The decision is mostly architectural. If your team is shipping a web app and wants contextual in-product feedback with full data control, Formbricks is the better fit. If you need standalone link surveys, contact forms, or intake forms and want to avoid a monthly bill, Tally's free plan is hard to beat.
Formbricks
Open-source experience-management platform for targeted in-app and link surveys.
Pros
- AGPL core is free with unlimited responses on self-hosted deployments
- Event-based targeting lets you survey specific user cohorts at precise moments
- Full data ownership — responses never touch a third-party server when self-hosted
Cons
- AGPL license requires open-sourcing modifications if distributed commercially
- Smaller template library and integration ecosystem than mature SaaS competitors
Tally
Notion-like form builder with unlimited free forms and responses on the free plan.
Pros
- Genuinely unlimited forms and responses at no cost — rare in the category
- Block editor makes complex form layouts fast to build without a learning curve
- Clean embed options integrate seamlessly into existing sites and Notion pages
Cons
- Tally branding appears on free-plan forms and cannot be removed without upgrading
- No self-hosting option — data is stored on Tally's servers
Formbricks vs Tally: spec comparison
| Spec | Formbricks | Tally |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Starting price | Free / self-host | from $29/mo |
| Pricing model | open-core | freemium |
| Language | TypeScript | — |
| Platforms | web, self-hosted, docker | web |
| Founded | 2022 | 2020 |
| GitHub stars | 9,200 | — |
FAQ
Formbricks vs Tally: which is better?
Neither is universally better. Formbricks (Free / self-host) suits Privacy-conscious SaaS teams that need targeted in-product surveys and want to keep response data on their own infrastructure.; Tally (from $29/mo) suits Indie makers, freelancers, and small teams that need a polished form builder with a genuinely useful free tier.. The spec table above breaks down the differences.
Is Formbricks or Tally cheaper?
Formbricks starts lower at Free / self-host vs from $29/mo.