Quick answer
Formspark - Formspark wins for most builders because its free tier is much larger, keeps unlimited team members, and its one-time upgrade is easier to live with than a recurring plan.
How the free tiers compare
These two products solve the same basic problem, but the free tiers are shaped differently. FormKeep is the more traditional hosted form backend: the free plan is tiny, with 50 submissions per month, one month of retention, and no paid-team features until you move up to a recurring plan. Formspark gives you a much roomier starter tier at 250 submissions, 10 forms, and unlimited team members, which makes it better for small sites, client work, and collaborative setups. FormKeep’s advantage is clearer progression if you want a familiar monthly subscription ladder with more granular feature jumps, including webhooks, file attachments, and higher retention. Formspark’s paid path is simpler: one upfront bundle for 50,000 submissions, which suits builders who dislike ongoing billing.
FormKeep vs Formspark free tier, side by side
| FormKeepFTV 50 | FormsparkFTV 56 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free submissions per monthFormspark’s free allowance is 5x larger. | 50 | 250 |
| Free formsFormKeep is better if you need many separate forms on the free tier. | Unlimited forms | 10 |
| Free team membersFormspark explicitly includes unlimited team members on free. | Not listed | Unlimited |
| Free retentionFormKeep states retention; Formspark’s free-tier retention was not provided. | 1 month | Not listed |
| Free credit card requirementThis is explicit in the provided data for both products. | No credit card required | No credit card required |
| First paid submissionsFormKeep’s first paid tier is monthly recurring; Formspark’s upgrade is a one-time bundle. | 1,000 submissions/month | 50,000 submissions |
After you outgrow the free tier
FormKeep uses a normal tiered monthly model: $4.99, $19.50, $59, then $99 contact sales for enterprise. Formspark’s first paid step is a one-time $25 upgrade bundle with no recurring payments and no expiry on the data bundle. That makes Formspark cheaper to start and easier for low-maintenance projects, while FormKeep becomes more predictable if you want ongoing monthly service with clearer capacity steps. For sustained high-volume use, FormKeep’s monthly plans are easier to compare, but the provided data does not include any recurring Formspark rates beyond the one-time bundle.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | FormKeep | Formspark |
|---|---|---|
| 250 submissions/monthFormKeep free tier caps at 50 submissions/month. | Free (over limit) | Free (within tier) |
| 1,000 submissions/monthFormKeep’s Essential tier matches this volume; Formspark free tier does not. | $4.99/mo | Free (within tier) |
| 10,000 submissions/monthFormspark’s provided paid option is a one-time bundle for 50,000 submissions, so this is still covered by that purchase. | $19.50/mo | $25 one-time payment |
| 50,000 submissions totalFormspark’s upgrade explicitly includes 50,000 submissions and does not expire. The supplied FormKeep data does not include a per-submission or equivalent lifetime bundle. | Not enough pricing data to estimate a comparable paid total | $25 one-time payment |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick FormKeep when…
- You only need a very small, low-traffic form and want a classic hosted form backend.
- You want features like dynamic field rules, webhooks, file attachments, or autoresponses on a monthly plan.
- You expect to grow through a predictable monthly subscription ladder from 50 submissions to 1k, 10k, then 100k.
- You need longer retention options, including permanent or forever retention on higher plans.
Pick Formspark when…
- You want the bigger free tier for a small site, landing page, or MVP.
- You need unlimited team members on the free plan for client or internal collaboration.
- You prefer a one-time upgrade instead of recurring monthly billing.
- You want a simpler setup for static sites that post directly to a form endpoint without running your own backend.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, Formspark is the better free-tier pick because it gives you more headroom, unlimited collaborators, and a straightforward upgrade path without recurring billing. FormKeep is the better choice only if you specifically want a more traditional monthly form backend, care about features like file attachments or dynamic field rules, or expect to move into a tiered subscription as usage grows. For simple sites and early projects, Formspark is easier to start with.
Read the full listings: FormKeep and Formspark. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.