DropForm vs Formcarry: HTML Form Backends Compared

Overview: DropForm and Formcarry in a nutshell

Formcarry is a form API that lets you collect submissions from your own designed HTML forms without coding any backend. It provides email notifications, file uploads, spam protection, and integrations.

DropForm is also a hosted form backend, but it centers on a shared inbox with routing and integrations, tailored to static, Jamstack, and headless projects.

Quick comparison

Positioning

• DropForm: Form backend + inbox for static and headless sites with an emphasis on workflows and integrations.
• Formcarry: General-purpose form API for collecting submissions from custom HTML forms without server-side code.

Setup

• DropForm: Create a form in the dashboard, plug the endpoint into your frontend, and start receiving submissions.
• Formcarry: Create a form in Formcarry, copy the endpoint, and point your HTML form to it.

Features

• DropForm: Inbox, filters, search, integrations (Slack, Trello, Sheets, Notion, Airtable, webhooks), and MACH/headless-friendly API.
• Formcarry: Notifications, file uploads, spam protection, and integrations with third-party tools.

What Formcarry is good at

Formcarry is a solid choice when you're happy to keep full control over your HTML forms and just need a backend service to handle the heavy lifting.

• HTML-first: Designed around custom HTML forms that you style and build yourself.
• File uploads: Supports handling file fields securely via the backend.
• Spam protection: Built-in anti-spam tools.
• Integrations: Hooks into external tools and automation platforms.

How DropForm is different from Formcarry

While DropForm and Formcarry both solve the “I need a backend for my form” problem, DropForm leans more into collaboration and routing than into being a pure API.

Inbox and collaboration

• DropForm: The inbox is the heart of the product. It's easier to triage messages, assign work, and keep a record of conversations.
• Formcarry: You typically pull submissions out into email, exports, or other tools for day-to-day follow-up.

Routing into tools

• DropForm: Designed to pipe submissions into Slack, Trello, Sheets, Notion, Airtable, and custom APIs via webhooks.
• Formcarry: Can be wired into similar workflows, but often via external automation services.

Static & headless focus

DropForm explicitly targets static and headless setups and a MACH-style architecture, which can make it feel more “native” in those environments.

Pricing and limits

Both tools operate on subscription tiers based on usage and features. Details change over time, but a few general patterns hold:

• Formcarry: Good value if you just want a reliable form backend and expect moderate traffic.
• DropForm: Designed to be attractive for teams that need an inbox, integrations, and clear scaling as submission volume grows.

Developer experience

DropForm and Formcarry both offer straightforward integration for developers.

• Formcarry: Especially friendly to classic HTML forms and simple JS enhancements.
• DropForm: Equally at home in HTML, SPAs, SSGs, and serverless APIs, with a focus on composability.

When to choose DropForm vs Formcarry

Use Formcarry if…

• You want a proven HTML form backend with notifications, uploads, and spam protection.
• Your main workflow is still email + exports.
• You're okay wiring up more advanced workflows via external automation tools.

Use DropForm if…

• You want a central inbox and collaboration-centered workflow.
• You care about close integrations with tools like Slack, Trello, Sheets, Notion, and Airtable.
• Your project is static / Jamstack / headless and you value a MACH-style backend service.

Migrating from Formcarry to DropForm

If you're using Formcarry today, moving to DropForm is a matter of a few code changes and some configuration:

1. Create equivalent forms in DropForm.
2. Swap out the Formcarry endpoint in your HTML or JavaScript for the DropForm endpoint and preserve field names.
3. Adapt any client-side success/error handling if required.
4. Recreate notifications and integrations in DropForm.
5. Test submissions and start using the DropForm inbox with your team.