Best Online Form Builders 2025: Tally vs. Fillout vs. Jotform – In-Depth Review & Comparison

3 Best Online Form Builders Compared (2025): Tally vs Fillout vs Jotform

As someone who processes 100+ forms daily for my cross-border business, I've tested these tools extensively over 2 years. Here's my unbiased comparison focusing on China accessibility, automation capabilities, and getting the most value.

Disclosure: Contains affiliate links (we both get benefits), but all opinions are based on real usage.

1. Tally - The Simplest Form Builder

✔ Best for: Quick surveys, event registrations, basic CRM
✔ China access: Loads instantly without VPN (tested in Shenzhen)
✔ Free plan: Unlimited forms, 1,000 monthly submissions

Automation Power

Zapier supports 58 actions including:
• Auto-add respondents to Google Sheets
• Trigger WeChat/WhatsApp notifications
• Connect to HubSpot (basic CRM sync)

Exclusive Deal: Get 50% off for 3 months via my link (normally $29/month)

2. Fillout - PDF & Approval Flow Master

✔ Best for: Contracts, documents requiring signatures
✔ Key feature: Auto-fill PDFs from form data
✔ Free plan: 1,000 submissions/month (generous!)

Workflow Example

Perfect for:
1. Employee onboarding documents
2. Client contract approvals (3-level sign-off)
3. PDF-based applications

Note: Zapier has 49 actions - fewer than others but covers essentials

Get bonus 500 submissions when signing up through my link

3. Jotform - Enterprise-Grade Solution

✔ Best for: Healthcare, legal, real estate
✔ Compliance: HIPAA, UETA, ESIGN Act certified
✔ Support: 2-hour email response (tested at 3AM!)

Advanced Features

• 217 Zapier actions (most extensive)
• Legally binding e-signatures
• Payment processing with 100+ gateways

Free HIPAA templates worth $99/month via my link

Comparison Table

Feature Tally Fillout Jotform
China Access ✅ Excellent ✅ Good ✅ Good
Zapier Actions 58 49 217
Free Plan Limit 1,000/mo 1,000/mo 100/mo
Best For Simple forms PDF workflows Regulated industries
Quick Decision Guide:
• Need simple & free? → Tally
• Handling PDF contracts? → Fillout
• In healthcare/law? → Jotform

Pro Tip

All three integrate with Make (formerly Integromat) for more advanced automation than Zapier!

Which form builder are you using? Let me know in the comments!

Affiliate links again for convenience:
• Tally 50% off deal
• Fillout bonus submissions
• Jotform free templates