SnagBaneShort answer: Cognito Forms is a capable, affordable cloud form builder with calculations, repeating sections and workflow approvals from its Team plan. SnagBane covers similar ground — calculations, repeating tables, multi-stage approvals — but runs on your own server, includes approvals on every plan and adds a request portal and directory integration.
At a glance
| SnagBane | Cognito Forms | |
|---|---|---|
| Approvals / workflow | Every plan, including Free | From the Team plan |
| Calculations and repeating sections | Yes (calculations, repeating tables) | Yes |
| Entry limits | None | Monthly entry limits per plan (100 on the free plan) |
| Users | Plans by company size | Users per plan (1 on the free plan, more on paid plans) |
| HIPAA / SSO | Self-hosted on your controls; SSO on Business | Enterprise plan |
| Hosting | Your own server | Cognito Forms' cloud |
| Request portal with status | Built in | — |
| Microsoft 365 / Google directory | Sign-in, person pickers, manager as approver (Business) | — |
Cognito Forms' plan prices were shown differently in two places on its pricing page when we checked, so we don't quote them here — see its pricing page for current numbers.
Where Cognito Forms is the better choice
- Low entry price for a hosted form builder with real calculations.
- No server to run.
- HIPAA on its Enterprise plan.
Where SnagBane is the better choice
- Approvals on the Free plan too.
- No entry limits on busy request forms.
- Directory-aware approvals — the requester's manager from Microsoft 365, Google or Okta.
- A portal with My requests and every step; Teams approvals and a phone app on Business.
- Your own server.
Which one to choose
Choose Cognito Forms if you want an inexpensive hosted builder for calculation-heavy forms and entry volumes fit its plans.
Choose SnagBane if approvals are company-wide processes, you use Microsoft 365, Google or Okta, or data must stay on your infrastructure.
Cognito Forms is a trademark of its owner; SnagBane is independent software.
Sources
Facts about other products were checked against their public documentation on 15 October 2026. Products change — if something here is out of date, tell us at contact@snagbane.com and we will correct it.
