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RackForms Review 2024 – Cheap, but What’s the True Price?

Barbara Harris Written by: Barbara Harris

RackForms is recommended for developers just starting out who are looking for a professional tool they can grow into. It offers high-end form building for everyone: beginners get access to a simpler version of the product at less than half the cost, while advanced users also have more complex form-building capabilities For a one-time fee, you get access to numerous features and templates. However, the price does increase considerably if you’re adding more than one site.

Overview

rackforms-overview1

Advanced Users, You Have Found a Form Builder

Form Builders tend to focus on either seasoned users or raw beginners. Either they offer form builders, styled and built for beginners, or focus on more advanced users who demand features and tools at their fingertips, so they can build detailed and comprehensive forms. In order to benefit form RackForms full version, make sure you are able to install the software on your own server.

The plan comes with a one-time fee as opposed to a monthly plan, and the price for the full plan is fairly affordable for 1 site, but does increase considerably when more sites are added. For beginners there is a simple version of the product at less than half the cost.

Why Choose RackForms?

  • Advanced tools
  • No monthly fee
4.0

Templates

Lots of Templates For Those In The Know

RackForm bursts with templates for pro users in XML, AJAX and PHP.

Template Selection: There are innumerable templates to use for seasoned and experienced builders, who can utilize them to a maximum.

Customization: There is almost too much customization, allowing you to tweak, even the background color of the fields. A beginner might get lost.

4.5

Features

rackforms-features2RackFroms’s Cloud version includes a variety of excellent features for its price.

RackForms offers a large variety of features and is characterized by constant innovation and improvement.

4.0

Ease of use

rackforms-ease-of-use

Comprehensive Features Mean It Will Take Time to Learn

This is not the easiest platform to jump into and start building your forms. The program focuses mainly on advanced users, with many features and tools on offer, so it may take a little time to learn and get familiarized with the process.

Generally, the installation process is not complicated. But as a beginner, you might find yourself getting caught up on some of the steps. Overall, it can take about one hour to install the software and get ready to go.

Luckily, you only need to do this once!

The editor itself is very cold and technical and not that intuitive (clicking on the red +s gives you a (sortable) page. It does have some extra features not usually found in others, like digital signature and multi-file upload field. Bottom line is you are going to have to want to take time to learn this software if it’s going to be any use to you.

4.5

Support

Lots Of Docs, Videos, and Examples

RackForms understands that newcomers might feel slightly disoriented. Therefore, they offer a wide array of videos and even a tutorial that guides users through the editor. Furthermore, they provide an abundance of samples, documentation, and operational demos. When you make a purchase, you gain access to an active support forum as well as email support.

  • Video Tutorials
  • Email Support
  • Forum
  • Support Center
  • SEO Help
  • Blog
  • Phone Support
  • Live Chat
4.5

Pricing

Express Version Reasonably Priced

RackForm does not offer a free trial period, although it does offer an Express version at half the price of its rivals in the market. This version is satisfactory for intermediate users, as well as powerful enough for pros. The outstanding self-hosting option is that you own it outright. However, you have to be able to integrate it with your own server. The full version also includes a Builder Toolset, and a PHP application builder used to create database result sets.

Comparison

How does RackForms match up to the competition?

1JotformCompareOur Score4.9Compare
1Cognito FormsCompareOur Score4.8Compare
1RackFormsCompareOur Score4.3Compare
1EmailMeFormCompareOur Score2.5Compare

RackForms REVIEW: BOTTOM LINE

RackForms is a powerful tool for experienced form users, but much less so for beginners. It gains points for its profitable, low cost price, as long as you can install it on your own website. If you thrive on the power to tweak and create all kinds of complex forms and surveys, RackForms is for you. Non-techies, however, should seek other platforms addressing beginners.

PRO’S

  • Powerful application
  • Use with your own servers
  • One-time payment

CON’S

  • Very complex for beginners
  • No e-commerce integration with Express
Barbara Harris Barbara Harris
Barbara is an expert in Performance Marketing. She leads WebsitePlanet PPC and SEO teams, and she mentors SMBs on the use of Search Advertising as well as Social Marketing.
4.2
User reviews
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Amazing Offering w HIGH VALUE

I have worked with the developer about 10 years ago and it was an amazing experience how he would quickly respond to tech glitches and make sure people vested in his app get the best service. I hope, if Matt sees, he is well. He certainly made me look good in the eyes of execs. Thanks Matt. I won't forget you. If you don't like Rackforms maybe you have the budget necessary for K2. We didn't.

1 avatar
Michael Contois, USA
June 20, 2024
5
Professional and helpful support

We decided to move our form from another site to Rackforms. RackForms support helped us creating a similar form and even added a few more functionalities in their system upon our requirements. I would highly recommend using RackForms. I would recommend all the professionals to work in the RackForms and use their services. I believe you'll love this site.

1 avatar
Johny, Pakistan
July 28, 2020
5
Amazing Solution For Easy Forms and DB Combination

We are a professional team of programmers and we have checked almost everything on the market from form.io to formsite and EVERYTHING. Racksforms is the most comprehensive solution. Matt's support is excellent but not immediate enough and I hope it will change. Regardless, Racksforms is the best out there.

avatar
Pro Prog, USA
July 28, 2020
5
decent, but horrid support

I was using form engine when it used to be formboss. Their support was less than ideal. I was trying to procure a copy since I had lost mine and the owner was acting like it was some NSA type of software. Even though I more than sufficiently proved that I was a previous customer, because I didn't meet his crazy criteria for 'security confirmation' he wouldn't help me out. He might be a great product maker, just a horrible business person. If you can get past that, it is a good product ( Hence why they switched it to a subscription based platform. ). It's essentially an app building engine that spits out code for you and can be as simple or sophisticated as you need it. Sometimes I run into hitches here and there and in that context the support was very excellent. Just lacking in other areas.

1 avatar
Jason, USA
March 16, 2018
2
RackForms Review

Looked at many web form creators -- this is the only one that gives both the option for self-hosting and customization. Much more sophisticated than JotForm

1 avatar
Sgallagher, USA
October 11, 2017
4
RackForms Review

I own this own this software and I really like it. If you want to create complex forms or even web apps, this software is for you.

1 avatar
Guy, USA
March 31, 2016
4
Family sharingMulti User SharingExpert SupportBackupSmart syncPersonal SolutionBusiness SolutionTeams optionsOffline foldersFile history and recovery
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