Comparison
Both platforms are affordable, but BuoyForms pairs that value with AI generation, stronger design language, and the enterprise hooks Cognito never really grew into.
Choose BuoyForms if
You want AI form generation, a modern UI with rich theming, built-in analytics dashboards, OAuth-based Salesforce integration, or SSO for your team.
Choose Cognito Forms if
You prioritize the lowest possible price, need payment calculations (Cognito excels here), or prefer a mature platform with a long track record.
Features
See how BuoyForms stacks up against Cognito Forms on the capabilities that matter most.
| Feature | BuoyForms | Cognito Forms |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ||
| Unlimited forms (free) | ||
| Drag-and-drop builder | ||
| AI form generation | ||
| Built-in analytics dashboard | ||
| Conditional logic | ||
| Multi-page forms | ||
| Custom branding / themes | Pro $15/mo | |
| Modern UI / design system | ||
| File uploads | ||
| Payment collection | ||
| Calculation fields | ||
| Webhooks | Pro $15/mo | |
| Team collaboration | Team $35/mo | |
| Salesforce integration | OAuth-based, Salesforce Integration Suite | |
| SSO / SAML | Enterprise | |
| API access | ||
| Embeddable forms | ||
| Email notifications | ||
| Data retention controls | Enterprise | Enterprise $99/mo |
Detail
This is BuoyForms' biggest differentiator. On the Business plan and above, you can describe a form in plain English -- "create a customer satisfaction survey with NPS and open-ended feedback" -- and AI generates a complete, ready-to-use form with the right fields, validation, and layout in seconds.
Cognito Forms does not offer AI form generation. Every form must be built manually using the drag-and-drop builder or adapted from a template. For teams that create forms frequently, AI generation saves meaningful time and ensures consistency.
Detail
BuoyForms is built on a modern React-based stack with a full theming engine. You get custom colors, fonts, logos, backgrounds, and professionally designed themes that make your forms look polished and on-brand. The builder itself uses a clean, contemporary interface.
Cognito Forms offers functional customization options -- custom CSS, branding on paid plans, and configurable layouts -- but the overall design aesthetic feels more utilitarian. If brand experience and visual polish matter to your organization, BuoyForms delivers a more modern look and feel.
Detail
BuoyForms includes a dedicated analytics dashboard on the Business plan with real-time submission tracking, field-level drop-off analysis, completion time metrics, and conversion funnels. You can identify exactly where respondents abandon your forms and optimize accordingly.
Cognito Forms provides basic entry management and some reporting capabilities, but lacks a purpose-built analytics dashboard. There is no drop-off analysis or completion funnel tracking. If data-driven form optimization is important to your workflow, BuoyForms has the advantage.
Detail
Cognito Forms is genuinely affordable. The free plan includes unlimited forms and 500 entries per month, and paid plans start at just $15/month. On raw price, Cognito is hard to beat.
BuoyForms' Starter plan is smaller (5 forms, 100 submissions), while the Professional plan at $29/month includes unlimited forms, custom branding, webhooks, and file uploads. The Business plan at $79/month adds AI generation, analytics, conditional logic, and team collaboration -- features Cognito does not offer. Salesforce-connected workflows are scoped through the Salesforce Integration Suite, while Cognito Enterprise ($99/month) focuses on higher entry limits and storage.
The value equation depends on what you need: if you need maximum entries at minimum cost, Cognito wins. If you need AI, analytics, and enterprise integrations, BuoyForms delivers more value per dollar.
Detail
Cognito Forms has a genuine strength in calculation and payment fields. Their calculation engine lets you build complex pricing forms, order forms with quantity-based totals, and dynamic cost estimators directly within the form builder. This is a mature, well-refined feature.
BuoyForms supports payment collection and basic field logic, but does not yet match Cognito's depth in calculation fields. If your primary use case involves complex order forms or dynamic pricing calculations, Cognito has the edge in this specific area.
Pricing
Both platforms publish pricing. BuoyForms just gives you a more intentional product and stronger advanced capabilities as your team grows.
| Tier | BuoyForms | Cognito Forms | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Entries | Storage | Price | Entries | Storage | |
| Starter | $0 | 100/mo | Included | $0 | 500/mo | 100 MB |
| Entry | $29/mo | 1,000/mo | Included | $15/mo | 2,000/mo | 1 GB |
| Mid-tier | $79/mo | 10,000/mo | Included | $35/mo | 5,000/mo | 10 GB |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Unlimited | Included | $99/mo | 25,000/mo | 100 GB |
FAQ
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