Paperform
Document-style form tool with flexible features for agencies and developers
TL;DR
Paperform offers a document-style approach and specialized features that work especially well for agencies needing multiple custom domains and code-level control.
Overview
Paperform takes a different approach to form building, different from what you are used to.
Instead of drag-and-drop, you type to create forms. Think of Notion or Medium's interface; it is similar to theirs. You type / and select a question type. Each question appears as a block.
The platform offers features that make it stand out for specific use cases, such as custom codes and multiple custom domains. On the other hand, the interface requires an adjustment period, and some design decisions feel overwhelming.
We tested Paperform by creating various form types, analyzing user feedback across multiple platforms, comparing it with competitors like Google Forms, Typeform, and Jotform, and exploring its capabilities from basic forms to complex e-commerce setups. In this review, we'll share our notes and test results, so you can decide if Paperform is for you.
Paperform has been around since 2016. It is an Australian company launched by a husband and wife. We enjoyed learning about their story.
Ease of Use 3.5/5
Getting inside Paperform took me some time. The onboarding survey was long for me; I wanted to get in as quickly as possible, but had to answer over five questions. After I got in, the platform asked me to try their new tool called Stepper. I mean, it's great that the team works on additional projects, but I asked myself, "Is it relevant for the first-time user?"
The form editor is free-text style, like Medium or Notion; it allows you to insert questions anywhere. It has a steeper learning curve than a drag-and-drop editor. Apart from the editor style, the form-building layout was intense and intricate. I had a hard time reading what's on the screen. The interface itself has visibility issues. Text and UI elements sometimes require squinting to read clearly. The contrast and sizing choices don't always prioritize readability. When you're trying to configure settings or review options, this becomes noticeable.
The page transition animations are overwhelming. When you move between pages in multi-page forms, the previous page slides left or right while the next one slides in. It's disorienting. This might seem like a minor detail, but replacing them with simple fade-in animations or removing them altogether would make the interface feel much cleaner.
On a positive note, once you understand the system, certain tasks become faster. The AI form generator does work well for getting started quickly. And for those comfortable with HTML and CSS, the ability to inject custom code provides significant flexibility that drag-and-drop builders can't provide.
Overall, expect an adjustment period. We tried Paperform after testing Jotform, Typeform, Google Forms, Fillout, forms.app, and Tally. So we can say this: Paperform isn't the easiest form builder to pick up, but it offers you unmatched flexibility.
Features 4.5/5
Paperform offers a solid feature set that covers most needs. The platform supports 26+ field types, including rankings, product listings, payments, and appointment scheduling.
The HTML and CSS injection capability is a standout feature. If you know code, you can customize forms far beyond what the standard interface allows. This gives Paperform an edge over more restrictive platforms. It's particularly valuable for agencies with specific design requirements or developers building custom solutions.
The calculations feature is genuinely powerful. You can create complex pricing rules, calculate shipping dynamically, or build custom formulas based on user inputs. This goes beyond basic math and allows for sophisticated logic without coding.
Multiple custom domains are a game-changer for agencies. Most form builders limit you to one custom domain per account or charge significantly for additional domains. Paperform allows multiple domains ($20/month each), making it practical to manage forms for different clients under their own domains.
Some limitations exist. There's no native HIPAA compliance option, which rules out healthcare use cases. Team collaboration features are available, but basic compared to enterprise-focused tools. Analytics and reporting are functional but not comprehensive.
Key Features
Lacking Features
Looks & Design 4/5
Forms built by Paperform look clean. You have both one-at-a-time and classic form layouts available. The one-at-a-time layout is not as polished as Typeform, but it still delivers a good experience. If you have HTML and CSS knowledge, you can make the slightest adjustments and make your form really customized.
Customer Satisfaction 4/5
Paperform maintains strong customer satisfaction across review platforms. On Trustpilot, it holds a 4.8-star rating from customers. On Glassdoor, employees rate Paperform 4.6, which is quite good.
What people like:
- Support quality: Customer service receives exceptional praise. Users consistently mention fast response times and knowledgeable staff.
- Flexibility: Users appreciate the ability to customize forms extensively, especially those using custom HTML/CSS. The platform doesn't restrict what you can build.
- Agency features: Multiple users mention the multi-domain and pro-agency features as a reason they chose Paperform over competitors.
What people don't like:
- Analytics & reporting: Many of the low ratings come from users who find Paperform's reporting capabilities inadequate. One user even suggests exporting the data to a spreadsheet as a better way to make sense of it.
- Pricing: Some users say they had problems with increased prices, or they simply find the prices high.
Paperform Pricing 3.5/5
Paperform's pricing is comparable to Typeform's plans.
Paperform didn't always have a free plan; it was added in 2025. However, with only 30 submissions per month and limited features, Paperform's free plan is meant for testing the platform. The paid plans start at $24/month (with annual billing).
Paperform has an opt-in free trial. So, when you sign up, you get a 7-day free trial of the Pro plan with no credit card required. This gives you a real sense of the platform before committing.
Here's our take: at these price points, you're competing with Typeform. Both tools offer similar core functionality at similar prices. Unless you specifically need Paperform's unique features (multiple custom domains, custom HTML/CSS injection, or advanced product listings), it's hard to justify choosing Paperform over Typeform's more polished experience. And it is already hard to justify these prices when compared with affordable form builders like Tally, forms.app, or Fillout.
But Paperform has its own wins for specific use cases:
- Unique blend of features, like Multiple custom domain support, custom code, product listings, and payments, and an in-house appointment system.
- No form view limits like Jotform, which is sensible.
- Instead of upgrading to a higher plan, you can get additional response limits in each plan.
- It's possible to add more team members with an add-on pricing ($9/month/user)
Free
- 30 submissions/month
- 5 payment submissions/month
- 5 Appointment Submissions/month
- 100 MB storage
- Paperform branding
Essentials
- 100 submissions/month
- 20 payment submissions/month
- 50 Appointment Submissions/month
- 1 GB storage
- Minimal branding
Pro
- 1,000 submissions/month
- 250 payment submissions/month
- 500 Appointment Submissions/month
- 10 GB storage
- No branding
- Custom HTML/CSS
Business
- 10,000 submissions/month
- 2500 payment submissions/month
- 5000 Appointment Submissions/month
- 100 GB storage
- 1 Custom domain
Pros & Cons of Paperform
Pros
- • Multiple custom domains make it ideal for agencies managing client forms.
- • Custom HTML/CSS injection provides flexibility.
- • Product listing features work well for ecommerce use cases.
- • Customer support is there, and they are helpful.
- • It is a reliable platform overall.
Cons
- • The document-style editor has a learning curve; drag-and-drop would be easier.
- • Interface has visibility issues and page transition animations are overwhelming.
- • Pricing is similar to Typeform without clear advantages unless you need specific features.
- • No HIPAA compliance for healthcare users.
The Verdict
For general form building, Paperform faces stiff competition. It has high pricing points and a learning curve. But Paperform occupies a specific niche. It's the right choice if you're an agency that wants to use multiple client domains for forms under one account, or a business building complex product catalogs through forms.
How Paperform compares to other form builders
Frequently Asked Questions about Paperform
When was Paperform founded?
Paperform was founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife team Diony and Dean McPherson.
Who are the founders of Paperform?
Paperform was founded by the husband-and-wife team Dean and Diony McPherson.
Where is Paperform based?
Paperform is based in Sydney, Australia, with its founders located there, but operates as a remote-first company with a global team.
Where is Paperform's data hosted?
Paperform uses AWS servers primarily located in the USA for data hosting. They offer other regions and hosting options upon request.
Where is Paperform based?
Yes, Paperform is generally considered safe. The platform follows security best practices and is a safe tool to create forms. If you want to know if a form created on Paperform is safe, that depends on the contents of the form, as it is generated by a user.
This review has been researched and written following our strictly standardized FormBuilderTools methodology. We believe in transparency and consistency.
- We create real accounts and build actual forms.
- We test specific features like logic, payments, and integrations.
- We evaluate the respondent experience on mobile and desktop.
- We verify pricing claims and support responsiveness.