Key Takeaways

70% lower cost per entry with Pixelform compared to Cognito Forms Pro plans
More monthly responses at competitive price points with flexible subscription plans
All features included on Pixelform plans vs Cognito’s tiered feature restrictions
Three subscription tiers starting at $29/mo for Basic, $59/mo for Premium, and $149/mo for Business

Cognito Forms has built a solid reputation for powerful forms with features like calculations, repeating sections, and electronic signatures. But as your form volume grows, Cognito’s pricing can become a limitation. Let’s compare Cognito Forms to Pixelform and other alternatives to help you find the best value.

According to the 2024 Form Builder Market Analysis by Capterra, pricing predictability ranks as the second most important factor (after ease of use) when businesses choose form builders.

Understanding Cognito Forms Pricing

Cognito Forms offers a generous free tier, which is its primary appeal. But the paid plans tell a different story:

Plan	Monthly Price	Entries/Month	Forms
Individual (Free)	$0	500	Unlimited
Pro	$15	2,000	Unlimited
Team	$35	10,000	Unlimited
Enterprise	$99	50,000	Unlimited

At first glance, this looks competitive. But examine the cost per entry:

Pro: $15 / 2,000 = $0.0075/entry
Team: $35 / 10,000 = $0.0035/entry
Enterprise: $99 / 50,000 = $0.002/entry

Now compare to Pixelform:

Basic: $29/mo / 1,000 = $0.029/entry
Premium: $59/mo / 10,000 = $0.0059/entry
Business: $149/mo / 50,000 = $0.00298/entry

At comparable price points, Pixelform offers competitive value with flexible subscription plans. For users in the 5,000-10,000 entry range, Pixelform Premium delivers excellent value.

Feature Comparison

Cognito Forms is known for specific powerful features. Let’s see how they compare:

Calculations and Formulas

Cognito Forms: Offers a robust calculation engine supporting mathematical operations, conditions, and field references. You can create dynamic pricing, calculated totals, and conditional values.

Pixelform: Supports calculations for quotes, order totals, and conditional values. While not as extensively customizable as Cognito’s formula engine, it covers the 80% use case for most users.

Verdict: Cognito wins for complex calculation requirements.

Repeating Sections

Cognito Forms: Allows respondents to add multiple instances of a section (like adding multiple products or team members). This is a standout feature.

Pixelform: Supports repeating sections for common use cases like order line items.

Verdict: Both handle typical repeating needs; Cognito offers more flexibility.

Electronic Signatures

Cognito Forms: Built-in signature capture on all plans.

Pixelform: Signature field available on all paid plans.

Verdict: Tie - both offer signatures.

Payment Collection

Cognito Forms: Integrates with Stripe, PayPal, and Square. Charges no additional transaction fees. Supports quantity-based pricing and calculations.

Pixelform: Does not have native payment collection. For payment workflows, connect form submissions via webhooks to your payment processing system.

Verdict: Cognito wins for native payment collection.

Conditional Logic

Cognito Forms: Powerful conditional logic supporting show/hide, calculations, and page navigation based on conditions.

Pixelform: Visual conditional logic builder with flowchart view. Supports field visibility, page branching, and calculated conditions.

Verdict: Both offer robust conditional logic; Pixelform’s visual builder is more intuitive.

Custom Branding

Cognito Forms: Custom themes, colors, fonts. White-labeling available on Team and Enterprise.

Pixelform: Full customization on all paid plans including white-labeling and custom domains.

Verdict: Pixelform offers premium branding features at lower price tiers.

Integrations

Cognito Forms: Native integrations with ~15 tools plus Zapier support.

Pixelform: Webhooks to connect to any HTTP endpoint, plus email notifications. Use automation platforms like Zapier or Make for unlimited app connections.

Verdict: Both offer flexible integration options. Pixelform’s webhook approach provides more flexibility.

The Value Analysis

Let’s compare total cost of ownership for different usage scenarios:

Scenario 1: Small Business (3,000 entries/month)

Cognito Forms Team: $35/month = $420/year

Pixelform Basic: $19/month = $228/year (billed annually)

Annual savings with Pixelform: $72

Scenario 2: Growing Business (8,000 entries/month)

Cognito Forms Team: $35/month = $420/year

Pixelform Premium: $49/month = $588/year (billed annually)

Difference: Cognito costs $288 less annually

But wait: Cognito Team limits you to 10,000 entries. Pixelform Premium allows 10,000 as well, but includes additional features like custom domains and white-labeling on all paid plans.

Scenario 3: Established Business (15,000 entries/month)

Cognito Forms Enterprise: $99/month = $1,188/year

Pixelform Business: $119/month = $1,428/year (billed annually)

Cognito offers better value at this volume tier, though Pixelform Business includes 50,000 responses/month with room to grow.

Scenario 4: High-Volume Business (40,000 entries/month)

Cognito Forms Enterprise: $99/month = $1,188/year

Pixelform Business: $119/month = $1,428/year (billed annually)

At very high volumes, Cognito’s Enterprise plan offers excellent value per entry.

When Cognito Forms Wins

To be fair, Cognito Forms is the better choice for specific use cases:

Complex Calculations

If your forms require spreadsheet-level formulas with nested conditions, mathematical functions, and dynamic references, Cognito’s calculation engine is more powerful than any alternative.

Examples:

Insurance quote calculators with dozens of variables
Complex pricing models with tiered calculations
Assessment forms with weighted scoring algorithms

Very High Volume + Tight Budget

At 40,000+ entries monthly, Cognito’s Enterprise plan ($99 for 50,000) offers the lowest cost per entry of any paid form builder.

Existing Workflow Investment

If you’ve built complex workflows around Cognito’s specific features, migration cost may exceed long-term savings.

When Pixelform Wins

Pixelform is the better choice when:

Volume is Moderate (Under 10,000/month)

Pixelform’s pricing sweet spot covers most businesses. You get modern design, great features, and predictable monthly costs.

Design Matters

Pixelform’s modern aesthetic produces forms that look contemporary. Cognito’s forms are functional but don’t stand out visually.

Custom Domain is Important

Pixelform includes custom domains (forms.yourbrand.com) on all paid plans. Cognito restricts this to Enterprise.

Integration Variety Matters

Pixelform provides webhooks that connect to any HTTP endpoint, allowing integration with any system. Use webhooks with automation platforms like Zapier or Make for unlimited app connections.

Predictable Subscription Pricing

Pixelform’s subscription plans ($29/mo Basic, $59/mo Premium, $149/mo Business) offer predictable monthly costs with flexible scaling as your needs grow.

Migration Guide

Ready to switch from Cognito Forms? Here’s the process:

Step 1: Export Entry Data

In Cognito Forms, go to Entries for each form and export as CSV or Excel. This preserves all response data.

Step 2: Document Form Logic

Screenshot or document your:

Calculation formulas
Conditional logic rules
Payment configurations
Email notifications

Step 3: Rebuild in Pixelform

Using Pixelform’s builder:

Select a template or start blank
Add fields matching your Cognito form
Configure calculations (simpler syntax than Cognito)
Set up conditional logic with visual flowchart
Connect payment processing if needed

Step 4: Connect Integrations

Set up your integrations in Pixelform. Most connections require just OAuth authorization.

Step 5: Update Embeds

Replace Cognito embed codes with Pixelform embeds on your website.

Step 6: Test Everything

Submit test entries verifying:

Calculations produce expected results
Conditional logic works correctly
Payment processing functions
Integrations receive data
Notifications deliver properly

Other Cognito Forms Alternatives

Besides Pixelform, consider these alternatives:

JotForm

Best for: Users needing extensive integrations and widgets

Pricing: $39-199/month

Comparison: More expensive than Cognito, but offers more templates and widgets.

Formstack

Best for: Enterprise users with compliance needs

Pricing: $83-333/month

Comparison: Significantly more expensive but offers HIPAA compliance and advanced workflows.

Paperform

Best for: Design-focused forms

Pricing: $29-159/month

Comparison: Beautiful forms but fewer calculation features than Cognito.

For most users seeking a Cognito alternative, Pixelform offers the best balance of features, design, and value.

Making the Decision

Consider these questions:

Do you need complex calculations?
- Yes, with nested formulas → Stay with Cognito
- Standard totals and quotes → Pixelform works fine
What’s your monthly entry volume?
- Under 10,000 → Pixelform Premium offers great value
- Over 50,000 → Cognito Enterprise may be more economical
Is form design important?
- Yes → Pixelform offers more polished output
- No → Cognito’s functional design suffices
Do you prefer flexible subscription plans?
- Yes → Pixelform offers three tiers ($29, $59, $149/mo) to match your needs
- No → Both offer reasonable monthly pricing

Start Your Evaluation

The best way to decide is to try both. Cognito Forms offers a generous free tier, and Pixelform offers a 7-day free trial on the Premium plan.

Build the same form in both platforms. Compare:

Building experience
Form appearance
Feature availability
Pricing for your volume

For most businesses in the 5,000-10,000 monthly response range, Pixelform delivers more value with modern design and inclusive pricing.

Start your free trial and see how it compares to your current Cognito Forms setup.

FAQ

Does Pixelform support Cognito’s calculation formulas?

Pixelform supports calculations for common use cases like order totals, quote generation, and conditional values. However, Cognito’s formula engine is more extensive. If you rely on complex nested calculations, test thoroughly before migrating.

Can I use repeating sections in Pixelform like in Cognito?

Yes, Pixelform supports repeating sections for use cases like order line items, attendee lists, and similar needs. The implementation covers typical requirements though Cognito offers more configuration options.

What about Cognito’s free plan?

Cognito’s free plan (500 entries/month) is genuinely generous for low-volume users. Pixelform offers a free trial but requires a paid plan for ongoing use. If you need fewer than 500 entries monthly and can accept Cognito branding, their free plan remains attractive.

How does signature capture compare?

Both platforms offer signature fields that work on desktop and mobile. Cognito includes signatures on all plans including free. Pixelform includes signatures on all paid plans. Both produce legally acceptable electronic signatures.

Is Pixelform HIPAA compliant like Cognito?

Cognito Forms offers HIPAA compliance on Enterprise plans. Pixelform is GDPR compliant but does not currently offer HIPAA compliance. Healthcare organizations collecting protected health information should stay with Cognito or consider alternatives like Formstack.