Comparison
CheckBadges vs Jotform
Choose CheckBadges if you want checks that already know which machine they're for: a sticker and a history per machine, instant problem emails with photos, and a warning for the next operator until it's fixed. Choose Jotform if you want one inexpensive, flexible form tool for inspections and everything else, and you're comfortable building and watching the forms yourself.
The short answer
CheckBadges is QR code equipment checklists: operators scan a sticker on each machine with their own phone and do its pre-use check in the browser — no app, login or per-user seat. Jotform is a popular online form builder: you can make an inspection form (it publishes forklift checklist templates), share it as a public link or QR code, and collect submissions.
CheckBadges vs Jotform at a glance
| CheckBadges | Jotform | |
|---|---|---|
| How an operator does a check | Scan the QR sticker on the machine with the phone's camera, answer that machine's checklist in the browser, submit. About a minute. | The operator scans a QR code or opens a link to the form, fills it in in the phone's browser (or Jotform's mobile app), and submits. |
| Does each operator need an app or login? | No. No app, account or password: operators type their name, or a 4-digit PIN if you turn PINs on. | No. Operators fill in a public form link in the browser without an account; Jotform's mobile app is optional. |
| QR codes on equipment | Every machine gets its own printed QR sticker, 8 to a page. A lost sticker is reissued in a click. | Do it yourself: point a QR code at the form (Jotform has a QR code generator). A code per machine means a form or a prefilled link for each machine. |
| When a check finds a problem | Emails you what's wrong with photos the moment it's submitted, flags the machine, and warns the next operator until it's marked fixed. | You get the submission, by email if you set up a notification for the form. A machine has no open or fixed status, and nothing warns the next operator. |
| Free plan | Free for up to 3 machines, with every feature and unlimited operators. | Free Starter plan: 5 forms, 100 submissions a month and 100 MB of uploads. |
| Pricing | Free for up to 3 machines. Pro is $9 a month for your first 3 machines, plus $1.50 a month for each machine after that. Operators and checks are unlimited on both. | Starter is free. Bronze is $39 a month ($34 billed annually) for 1,000 submissions a month, Silver $49 ($39) for 2,500 and Gold $129 ($99) for 10,000; these plans have one user, and multi-user accounts need Enterprise. |
| Monthly cost, 10 machines, 20 operators | $19.50/mo | $39/mo |
| Monthly cost, 25 machines, 50 operators | $42/mo | $49/mo |
| Monthly cost, 50 machines, 100 operators | $79.50/mo | $49/mo |
Jotform's costs use the cheapest plan whose submission limit covers one check per operator each working day (22 a month each): Bronze at $39 a month for 1,000 submissions or Silver at $49 for 2,500, billed monthly ($34 and $39 billed annually). CheckBadges is billed monthly. Prices were checked in October 2026 and change, so check Jotform's site before you buy.
What it costs a month
10 machines, 20 operators
25 machines, 50 operators
50 machines, 100 operators
The biggest difference: a form vs a machine
Jotform builds forms; CheckBadges keeps a record for each machine. A Jotform inspection form is very good at collecting answers, but it doesn't know which forklift or lift it's on unless you build a form or a prefilled link for each one, and it has no idea whether that machine's last check found a problem.
CheckBadges starts from the machine. Each one has its own QR sticker and its own history. When an operator marks something as a Problem, you get an email with their note and photos straight away, the machine turns red on your dashboard, and the next person who scans it sees the open problem before starting — until you mark it fixed.
Setting up 10 machines
Here's what it takes to put 10 machines on each:
| Step | CheckBadges | Jotform |
|---|---|---|
| Checklist | Pick a starter (forklift, MEWP, loader, vehicle, general) or write your own | Start from a template or build the form |
| One code per machine | Print 10 stickers, 8 to a page | Make 10 forms, or 10 prefilled links and QR codes |
| Operators | Scan, then type a name or PIN | Open the form; no account needed |
| Problem alerts | Built in: email to your alert list, with photos | Set up a notification on each form |
| Machine status | Red until fixed; next operator warned | None |
| Checked today | Dashboard | Filter the submissions |
| Records | Filed by machine; print any check or export CSV | Submissions, with PDF output |
Submission limits
Jotform's plans are priced by submissions a month, not by people. The free Starter plan allows 100 submissions, 5 forms and 100 MB of uploads — enough for about four operators doing one check each working day. Twenty operators doing a check a day is about 440 submissions a month, which needs Bronze; 50 operators is about 1,100, which needs Silver. Photos count against upload storage: 1 GB on Bronze, 10 GB on Silver.
Price
Bronze is $39 a month billed monthly ($34 billed annually), Silver $49 ($39) and Gold $129 ($99), according to Jotform's pricing page. Those plans have one user; several managers sharing an account needs Enterprise. CheckBadges is free for 3 machines, then $9 a month plus $1.50 per machine after 3 — $19.50 for 10 machines and $42 for 25 — with unlimited operators and checks and no submission caps.
When Jotform is the better choice
If you already use Jotform for other forms, need complex conditional logic or branded PDFs, or want one tool for inspections, sign-ups and orders alike, Jotform is flexible and good value. For pre-use checks specifically, compare the setup above, or read how QR code equipment checklists work.
Jotform: what it does well, and where it falls short
Strengths
- Public forms anyone can fill in without an account, from any browser.
- A very flexible form builder with conditional logic and PDF output.
- Ready-made templates, including a forklift daily inspection checklist.
- Inexpensive plans priced by submissions, not by the people filling them in.
- Useful for every other form your business needs, too.
Drawbacks
- You build the system: a form or prefilled link per machine, and your own way of spotting failed checks.
- No per-machine history, 'checked today' view or open-problem status.
- Nothing warns the next operator about a problem found earlier.
- Monthly submission caps (100 free, 1,000 on Bronze) and upload storage caps.
Choose CheckBadges if…
Choose CheckBadges if you want checks that already know which machine they're for: a sticker and a history per machine, instant problem emails with photos, and a warning for the next operator until it's fixed.
Choose Jotform if…
Choose Jotform if you want one inexpensive, flexible form tool for inspections and everything else, and you're comfortable building and watching the forms yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How much do CheckBadges and Jotform cost?
For 10 machines, 20 operators, CheckBadges costs $19.50/mo and Jotform costs $39/mo; for 25 machines, 50 operators it's $42/mo against $49/mo. Jotform's figures use the cheapest plan whose submission limit covers one check per operator each working day (22 a month each): Bronze at $39 a month for 1,000 submissions or Silver at $49 for 2,500, billed monthly ($34 and $39 billed annually), checked in October 2026. CheckBadges is free for up to 3 machines; Pro is $9 a month for the first 3 plus $1.50 per machine after that, with unlimited operators.
Do operators need an app or login for Jotform?
No. Operators fill in a public form link in the browser without an account; Jotform's mobile app is optional.
What's the main difference between CheckBadges and Jotform?
Jotform is a popular online form builder: you can make an inspection form (it publishes forklift checklist templates), share it as a public link or QR code, and collect submissions. CheckBadges does one job: every machine gets a QR sticker, and operators scan it with their own phone to do that machine's pre-use check in the browser — no app, account or per-user seat — while problems email you with photos and warn the next operator.
Does Jotform have a forklift inspection checklist template?
Yes. Jotform publishes a forklift daily inspection checklist form template and a forklift inspection app template. To tie each submission to the right truck, you'd make a form or a prefilled link for each forklift.
Is Jotform free for daily equipment checks?
Only for a small team. The free Starter plan allows 100 submissions a month and 5 forms, which covers about four operators doing one check each working day. Bronze, at $39 a month billed monthly, allows 1,000.
Can several supervisors share a Jotform account?
Not on Starter through Gold, which are single-user plans; multi-user accounts need Jotform Enterprise. In CheckBadges, problem alerts go to every address on your alert list.
More comparisons
- Jotform alternativesLooking for a Jotform alternative? 6 options compared on price, how operators do checks and whether they need an app or login. Checked October 2026.
- vs SafetyCulture (Mitti)CheckBadges vs SafetyCulture: how operators do pre-use checks, whether they need an app or login, and what 10, 25 or 50 machines cost. Checked October 2026.
- vs Google FormsCheckBadges vs Google Forms: how operators do pre-use checks, whether they need an app or login, and what 10, 25 or 50 machines cost. Checked October 2026.
- vs Whip AroundCheckBadges vs Whip Around: how operators do pre-use checks, whether they need an app or login, and what 10, 25 or 50 machines cost. Checked October 2026.
- The best equipment inspection apps in 2026The best equipment inspection apps of 2026 compared: how operators do checks, whether they need an app or login, and what 10, 25 or 50 machines cost a month.
Switching from Jotform? Your machines could be checked by QR code today.
Stick a QR code on every machine and operators do the pre-use check on their own phone — no app, no login. Free for up to 3 machines; try it with your real machines before you sign up.