Comparing Waline to Form.io

Compare Waline with Form.io for adding forms to your static site.

Waline

A simple and cute comment system with backend

Partial free

Overview

Fork of Valine with significant improvements; GDPR-compliant storage options

+ Pros

  • Open source
  • multiple deployment options
  • email notifications
  • spam protection
  • Markdown support
  • reactions
  • page views

− Cons

  • Moderate setup complexity
  • requires Node.js knowledge for self-hosting
  • free tier relies on Vercel

Visit Waline →

Form.io

Build Forms; APIs; and Agentic Workflows

Partial free

Overview

Trusted by Accenture; Booz Allen Hamilton; Deloitte; State of Ohio; NHS Scotland; enterprise focus

+ Pros

  • Self-hosted option
  • open source core
  • drag-and-drop form builder
  • JSON-powered
  • enterprise-grade
  • white-labeling
  • multi-tenancy
  • AI Agent Gateway (UAG)

− Cons

  • Complex setup for simple forms
  • enterprise-focused
  • pricing not transparent
  • steep learning curve

Visit Form.io →