PocketBase vs Split Forms
Pricing
PocketBase: Free and open source
Split Forms: Free (500 submissions in total), Pro $5/mo (5,000/mo), Annual $49/yr (15,000/mo)
Description
PocketBase: Open source backend in a single file
Split Forms: Hosted form backend: point any HTML or framework form at one endpoint and each submission is spam-filtered, saved to a dashboard and emailed to you
Pros
- 100% free
- Single binary deployment
- Auth, DB, storage included
- Works on any site, from plain HTML to Next.js, Astro, Webflow or WordPress, by changing the form's action URL and adding an access key, with no SDK or server code
- Spam filtering on every plan uses a honeypot, a time-trap and per-IP rate limits, shows no CAPTCHA by default and keeps flagged entries in a spam folder you can review
- Pro costs $5 a month for 5,000 submissions and adds signed webhooks, Google Sheets, Notion and Airtable syncs, file uploads and Stripe payments on forms
Cons
- Not production-proven at scale
- Still pre-1.0
- The free plan is 500 submissions in total, not a monthly allowance
- Webhooks, integrations and file uploads are paid features, and files attached on the free plan are dropped
- There is no contractual uptime SLA, and EU data residency is not offered yet
Details
PocketBase is a complete backend in one executable file. SQLite database, auth, file storage, real-time subscriptions, admin dashboard: all included. Perfect for indie hackers who want to ship fast without managing infrastructure. Open source (MIT license).
Split Forms receives the submissions from a form you build yourself. You set the form’s action to https://splitforms.com/api/submit and add a hidden access key, and every entry is filtered for spam, stored in a dashboard and sent to you by email. It accepts URL-encoded, multipart and JSON bodies, so the same endpoint works for a static page, a JavaScript app or a site made with an AI builder.
It suits a founder who has a website and wants its contact, waitlist or order form to work without running a server or SMTP. Paid plans can forward each submission to Slack, Discord, Google Sheets, Notion, Airtable or any signed webhook, accept file uploads and send submitters to Stripe Checkout. Every plan, including Free, includes an MCP server with 12 tools that ChatGPT, Claude and coding agents can use to create forms and read submissions.
The free plan gives 500 submissions in total with unlimited forms and no card. Pro costs $5 a month for 5,000 submissions a month, and Annual costs $49 a year for 15,000 a month with 5 GB of file storage. Split Forms is operated by TownMediaLabs, and its founder is Raman Makkar.
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