# FormDoc vs Netlify Forms

> Netlify Forms works with sites deployed on Netlify. FormDoc works on any host: Vercel, Cloudflare, GitHub Pages, WordPress or your own server.

Netlify Forms is built into Netlify: its build finds your forms when you deploy. That’s convenient on Netlify, but it ties your forms to that host. FormDoc works the same way on any host.

Netlify Forms’s figures are from its own website on 29 October 2026 and may have changed since. FormDoc’s paid plans are opening soon; every new form starts on Free.

| Checked 29 October 2026 | FormDoc | Netlify Forms |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spam protection | Honeypot, spam scoring and rate limits; Turnstile and hCaptcha on Free; reCAPTCHA on Pro | Akismet filtering, optional honeypot and reCAPTCHA |
| File uploads | Not available yet | Yes |
| Plain HTML form, no JavaScript | Yes | Yes, with the netlify attribute |

## Choose FormDoc if

-   Your site isn’t hosted on Netlify, or might move
-   You want spam scoring plus Turnstile or hCaptcha
-   You want submissions stored in India
-   You want the same form to work on every host

[Create your free form](https://app.formdoc.dev/new)

## Choose Netlify Forms if

-   Your site is on Netlify and will stay there
-   You need file uploads today
-   You want forms managed in the Netlify dashboard

## How to switch to FormDoc

1.  [Create a free access key](https://app.formdoc.dev/new) with the email address that should receive submissions.
2.  Change your form’s `action` and add the key as a hidden field. Your existing fields keep working: each `name` becomes a label in your email.

HTML

```html
<form action="https://api.formdoc.dev/v1/submit" method="POST">
  <input type="hidden" name="access_key" value="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY">
  <!-- your existing fields stay as they are -->
  <input type="checkbox" name="botcheck" style="display:none" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off">
  <button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>
```

3.  Send a test submission and check your inbox. See the [setup guide](https://www.formdoc.dev/docs/) for redirects, JavaScript and every option.

## Common questions

### Does Netlify Forms work on other hosts?

Netlify detects forms when it builds and deploys your site, so it’s designed for sites hosted on Netlify. FormDoc only needs your form to post to its URL, wherever the site is hosted.

### Can I use FormDoc on a Netlify site?

Yes. Leave out the `netlify` attribute, set the form’s `action` to FormDoc and add your access key.