Quick answer
Fillout - Fillout wins for most builders who want a richer free form builder, while Formlets only makes more sense if you need unlimited responses on one form and no credit card.
How the free tiers compare
The main difference is not just quota shape, but what each free tier lets you do before you pay. Fillout’s free plan is broader: unlimited forms, unlimited seats, REST API access, workflows, scheduling, payments, PDF generation, file uploads, and many core form features, but it caps you at 1,000 responses per month. Formlets takes the opposite approach: one published form, but unlimited responses, plus multi-page and multi-column layouts and access to 2,000+ integrations, with no credit card required. If you are experimenting across multiple forms, internal workflows, or embedded intake, Fillout is easier to grow into. If you only need one public form that can handle ongoing volume, Formlets is the simpler free option. Paid pricing also diverges: Fillout is flat monthly; Formlets is annual, plan-based, and tied to how many forms and team accounts you need.
Fillout vs Formlets free tier, side by side
| Fillout FTV 42 | Formlets FTV 53 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free forms Fillout is much looser on number of forms; Formlets limits the free plan to one published form. | Unlimited | 1 published form |
| Free responses This is the biggest tradeoff: Fillout caps responses, Formlets caps forms. | 1,000 per month | Unlimited |
| Free seats / team accounts Fillout explicitly includes unlimited seats. | Unlimited seats | Not stated on free plan |
| Free integrations Formlets states the same integration count as paid plans. | Most integrations included | 2,000+ software integrations |
| Free API access Only Fillout explicitly lists API access on the free tier. | REST API access included | Not stated |
| Free file uploads Fillout includes file uploads; Formlets free items do not mention uploads. | Unlimited file uploads included | Not stated |
After you outgrow the free tier
Fillout uses flat monthly pricing: Starter at $15/month, Pro at $40/month, and Business at $75/month, with response caps stepping up until Business becomes unlimited. Formlets is plan-based and billed annually, with per-unit style plans starting around $15/month equivalent and rising to $216.67/month equivalent as you add forms, storage, and team accounts. For a small team, Fillout is usually cheaper and simpler to predict. Formlets costs diverge mainly when you need more than one form or a larger plan with more forms and accounts, and the annual billing makes the cash outlay less flexible.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Fillout | Formlets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 form, unlimited responses Formlets free plan allows 1 published form with unlimited responses. | $15/mo | Free (within tier) |
| 5 forms, up to 1,000 responses/mo Fillout free allows unlimited forms; Formlets needs a paid plan once you need more than 1 form. | Free (within tier) | ~$15/mo billed annually |
| 10 forms, unlimited responses Formlets OLD Small Business and Small Business both list 10 forms at this price point. | $15/mo | ~$15/mo billed annually |
| 50 forms, unlimited responses Fillout Business is unlimited responses; Formlets Professional lists 50 forms at this price point. | $75/mo | $40/mo billed annually |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Fillout when…
- You need several forms, not just one, and want to stay free while testing different use cases.
- You want built-in workflow features like scheduling, workflows, resume-in-progress, PDF generation, or payments without paying yet.
- You need unlimited seats on the free plan for a small team.
- You expect to stay under 1,000 responses per month but want a broad feature set and REST API access.
- You want a path to more customization later, such as custom endings, branding removal, custom domain, or custom code on paid tiers.
Pick Formlets when…
- You only need one published form and care more about unlimited responses than multiple forms.
- You want a free plan with no signup credit card required.
- Your form is mostly a standard contact, order, or survey form and you can live with Formlets branding.
- You care about staying on the same free setup while traffic grows, as long as it is one form.
- You want access to 2,000+ integrations on the free plan and do not need Fillout's workflow extras.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Fillout is the better free tier because it gives you far more room to build, test, and embed forms before you hit a wall. Formlets is the better free choice only if your workflow is centered on a single form and you care most about unlimited responses. Once you pay, Fillout stays simpler with flat monthly plans, while Formlets becomes more plan- and annual-billing-driven.
Read the full listings: Fillout and Formlets. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.