Quick answer
FormKeep - FormKeep wins for most builders because its free tier is more usable as a form backend, with unlimited forms, a form designer, email notifications, and no card required, while SmartForms is better mainly if bandwidth limits or Telegram-centric delivery matter more than form management.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers look similar on paper because both stop at 50 submissions per month and both cover the basics for hosted form handling without a backend. The difference is in what surrounds that cap. FormKeep feels more like a complete form backend: it gives you a form designer, branded thank-you page, daily notifications, spam protection, and unlimited forms. SmartForms is narrower but adds a bandwidth limit, a customizable response page, Telegram and Slack bot delivery, custom redirect behavior, and file processing. That makes SmartForms more appealing for lightweight landing pages or simple notification workflows, especially if you care about response-page control or bandwidth. FormKeep is the better default for builders who want a more complete form stack and a clearer upgrade path into richer form management features.
FormKeep vs SmartForms free tier, side by side
| FormKeepFTV 50 | SmartFormsFTV 47 | |
|---|---|---|
| Submissions per monthBoth free tiers cap submissions at the same level. | 50 | 50 |
| Forms includedFormKeep explicitly includes unlimited forms on free; SmartForms does not state a forms quota. | Unlimited | Not stated |
| Bandwidth per monthSmartForms adds a bandwidth cap on free; FormKeep does not list one. | Not stated | 250 MB |
| RetentionFormKeep states one month of submission retention on free. | 1 month | Not stated |
| Credit card requiredBoth inputs explicitly say no card is required. | No | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat monthly pricing for their first paid tiers, so the cost gap is straightforward at low and mid usage. FormKeep starts at $4.99/month for 1k submissions, while SmartForms starts at $6/month for 1k submissions and adds 2GB bandwidth. As usage rises, FormKeep’s next steps are $19.50/month for 10k submissions and $59/month for 100k, while SmartForms is $14/month for 10k submissions. For builders who just need a small paid upgrade, SmartForms is cheaper at the 10k level; FormKeep is cheaper at the entry paid tier.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | FormKeep | SmartForms |
|---|---|---|
| 1k submissions/moBoth first paid tiers cover this level. | $4.99/mo | $6/mo |
| 10k submissions/moSmartForms is cheaper at this tier. | $19.50/mo | $14/mo |
| 100k submissions/moSmartForms does not provide a listed 100k plan in the input. | $59/mo | contact sales / varies by usage |
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 need unlimited forms on the free tier for multiple landing pages or small site experiments.
- You want a built-in form designer instead of only an endpoint and response handling.
- You care about daily email notifications and a branded thank-you page out of the box.
- You want the clearer path to richer form features like webhooks, file attachments, and retention upgrades.
- You are building a simple hosted form backend and want the more complete free package with no card required.
Pick SmartForms when…
- You are sending lightweight forms and want to watch bandwidth as well as submission count.
- You want Telegram and Slack bot delivery on the free tier.
- You need a customizable response page and custom redirect behavior for a landing page flow.
- You expect to rely on file processing and simple post-submit handling rather than form design tools.
- You prefer a free tier that is simple and centered on form submission forwarding rather than form management.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, FormKeep is the better free-tier pick because it gives you more of the form workflow without paying: unlimited forms, a designer, notifications, and no card requirement. SmartForms is the better choice if your priority is simple submission forwarding with bandwidth awareness, custom redirects, and Telegram or Slack delivery. If you expect to grow, SmartForms is cheaper at the 10k paid tier, but FormKeep is the stronger default for starting out.
Read the full listings: FormKeep and SmartForms. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.