LaunchQ is the best FormSpree alternative for indie makers who want AI spam detection, webhooks, and a real dashboard โ without Typeform's price tag. Free tier included. If you need a drag-and-drop form builder instead of a backend-only tool, Tally is a solid pick.
You're building something. You need a form โ a contact form, a waitlist, a feedback survey. You don't want to spend 3 days setting up a database and email service just to capture a few email addresses.
Here's the frustrating reality: the market is flooded with form tools, but most of them are either overkill (Typeform costs $25+/month and brands everything with their logo) or underpowered (FormSpree's free tier gives you 50 submissions and no spam protection). Netlify Forms only works if you're on Netlify โ and charges $29/month for more than 100 submissions.
This guide cuts through the noise. We tested every major option in 2026 and ranked them specifically for indie makers, solopreneurs, and developers who ship fast.
The Quick Comparison
| Feature | LaunchQ | FormSpree | Typeform | Tally | Netlify Forms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier submissions | 50/mo | 50/mo | 10/mo (! | Unlimited | 100/mo |
| AI spam detection | โ Built-in | Basic only | โ | โ | โ |
| Webhooks | โ Paid | โ Paid | โ Paid | โ Free | โ |
| Submission dashboard | โ Full | โ Basic | โ Full | โ Full | โ |
| Analytics & charts | โ Built-in | โ | โ Paid | Basic | โ |
| CSV export | โ Paid | โ Paid | โ Paid | โ Paid | โ |
| Custom domain | โ Business | โ Pro | โ Business | โ Pro | Netlify domain |
| Waitlist / pre-launch | โ Built-in | โ | Workaround | Workaround | โ |
| GDPR / data retention | โ Config | โ | โ | โ | Partial |
| Starter paid plan | $29/mo | $10/mo | $25/mo | $29/mo | $29/mo |
| Own your HTML forms | โ Always | โ Always | Typeform UI | Tally UI | โ Always |
โก Bottom line: For a developer who wants to own their form HTML and just needs a smart backend, LaunchQ or FormSpree are the right picks. For a no-code builder UI, Tally wins on the free tier. Avoid Typeform unless you need their full survey experience.
Detailed Breakdown: Each Tool
LaunchQ BEST FOR INDIE MAKERS
formbox.gibby-workspace.com
FormBox was built specifically for the indie maker workflow: you're shipping fast, you want your own form HTML, and you need something smarter than a basic SMTP relay. The standout features are AI spam detection (not just honeypots โ actual machine learning scoring) and the full analytics dashboard with charts, trend lines, and quality distribution.
The waitlist feature is underrated: you can use LaunchQ at pre-launch to capture signups, then seamlessly transition to a full form backend when you launch. Most competitors make you switch tools.
- AI spam detection (not just honeypots)
- Full dashboard with analytics charts
- Built-in waitlist โ form workflow
- Email digests (daily/weekly summaries)
- Webhooks + integrations on paid
- Cheapest paid tier at $29/mo
- Privacy-first, GDPR configurable
โ Pros
- Newer product (less ecosystem than FormSpree)
- No drag-and-drop builder
- Free tier is 50 subs/mo (same as FormSpree)
โ Cons
Best for: Developers and indie makers who own their form HTML and want a smarter backend with real analytics and AI spam protection.
FormSpree SOLID CLASSIC
formspree.io
FormSpree is the original form backend for developers. It's been around since 2013 and has a massive ecosystem. For simple contact forms, it's reliable and battle-tested. However, it's showing its age: the spam protection is basic (honeypot + reCAPTCHA), there are no analytics, and the dashboard is minimal.
The free tier gives you 50 submissions/month with limited features. Paid starts at $10/month (slightly more than LaunchQ for equivalent features).
- Battle-tested, 10+ year track record
- Large community and integrations
- Good documentation
- Works with any static site
โ Pros
- No AI spam detection
- No analytics or charts
- Dated UI on the dashboard
- Slightly more expensive than LaunchQ
โ Cons
Best for: Developers who need a proven, stable backend and don't need advanced spam detection or analytics.
Typeform OVERKILL FOR MOST
typeform.com
Typeform is a form builder, not just a backend. It's beautiful and has excellent UX for multi-step surveys and research. But for indie makers, it's too expensive ($25-$83/month) and you lose control of your form UI โ you're using Typeform's hosted forms, not your own HTML.
The free tier is almost unusable: 10 responses per month with their branding on everything. If you're doing enterprise research, Typeform is great. If you're shipping a product, it's the wrong tool.
- Best-in-class form UX
- Powerful conditional logic
- Strong integrations (Zapier, etc.)
- Analytics and reporting
โ Pros
- Expensive ($25+/mo to start)
- Free tier: only 10 responses/mo
- You use their UI, not your own
- Heavy branding on free tier
- Overkill for simple form backends
โ Cons
Best for: Enterprise surveys and research. Not for indie makers building products.
Tally BEST FREE NO-CODE
tally.so
Tally is a Notion-like form builder with a generous free tier: unlimited submissions, unlimited forms, and no branding. If you want a drag-and-drop interface and don't need custom HTML, Tally is excellent and probably free forever for basic use.
The limitation: you're building on Tally's domain and UI. Custom domains require the Growth plan ($29/month). No AI spam detection. And like Typeform, you don't own the form HTML.
- Unlimited free submissions (huge)
- No-code, Notion-style builder
- No branding on free tier
- Webhooks on free tier
โ Pros
- You don't own the form HTML
- Custom domains cost $29/mo
- No AI spam detection
- Limited analytics
โ Cons
Best for: Non-developers who want unlimited free form submissions without touching code.
Netlify Forms NETLIFY-ONLY
netlify.com/products/forms
Netlify Forms is convenient if you're already on Netlify โ just add a netlify attribute to your form tag and you're done. But it's locked to the Netlify ecosystem, has no dashboard, and costs $29/month for more than 100 submissions. No analytics, no AI spam detection, no email digests.
- Zero setup if on Netlify
- 100 free submissions/mo
โ Pros
- Netlify-only (can't move)
- No dashboard or analytics
- $29/mo for more than 100 subs
- No AI spam detection
โ Cons
Best for: Simple Netlify projects that don't need a dashboard or analytics.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose LaunchQ if:
- You're an indie maker building a real product
- You own your form HTML and want a smart backend
- You need actual AI spam detection (not just honeypots)
- You want analytics to see submission trends
- You're pre-launch and want a waitlist that converts into a form backend
- You want the cheapest paid tier ($29/month)
Choose FormSpree if:
- You need a proven, battle-tested solution
- You have existing FormSpree integrations
- You don't need analytics or AI spam detection
Choose Tally if:
- You want no-code form building
- You need unlimited free submissions
- You don't need custom HTML or a form backend
Avoid Typeform if:
- You're budget-conscious (it's 3-8x more expensive)
- You want to own your form HTML
- You're building a product (not doing enterprise research)
The Verdict
For indie makers building products in 2026, the choice is pretty clear: LaunchQ if you want the smartest backend at the best price, Tally if you want no-code and a generous free tier, and FormSpree if you need proven stability over new features.
Typeform and Netlify Forms are niche tools โ great in their lane, but not the right choice for most product builders.
๐ก Pro tip: Whatever you pick, make sure spam protection isn't an afterthought. Unprotected forms get hit by bots within days. LaunchQ uses AI to score every submission, FormSpree uses honeypots + reCAPTCHA, and Tally relies on CAPTCHA. Only LaunchQ gives you per-submission quality scores in your dashboard.
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