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Balane Forms

Build forms, collect responses and summarize them, even offline.

Balane Forms creates forms, collects responses and summarizes them. You start with a blank form, a template or one of your own. Questions cover text, numbers, dates and choices, plus photos, files and signatures as attachments, conditions, validation rules and calculations. You collect responses right on the device, offline too, and in a kiosk mode if you like. People without the app fill in the form in a browser: as an HTML file or through a survey link, where the response is encrypted in the browser and can only be read on your device. The summary shows an overview, a table and charts, and exports go to CSV, XLSX and PDF. Form files can be exchanged and merged between devices. AI features are optional and use your own API key. Forms are stored on your device as .bform files, and no account is required. For Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows. Balane Office is a project that shows how far an office suite can be taken with AI-assisted development. The apps are free and fully usable.

Forms that work without a connection

Balane Forms is for data collection, checklists, questionnaires and surveys. You design the form, collect responses on the device and summarize them. It works where there's no network too, such as on a site visit or in a warehouse.

Designing

Questions: 21 question types in sections, including text, numbers, dates, choices, image choices, photos, files and signatures.
Logic: Conditions, branching per answer, validation rules, calculations and earlier answers inside question text.
Appearance: Accent color, logo and header image, with previews at window, tablet and phone width.
Templates: Six built-in templates and your own.

Filling in

You collect responses right in the app. Drafts are saved automatically, and a PIN-protected kiosk mode keeps a device ready for several people. On phones and tablets there's one question per page with swiping. Quizzes with points and feedback are possible too.

For people without the app

A form can be passed on as an HTML file that runs in any browser, offline too. Or you create a survey link: the form is contained in the link itself, the response is encrypted in the browser and comes back as a file that only the device that created the link can open. No server collects responses along the way.

Summarizing and sharing

The summary shows an overview with charts, a table and each response individually, with filters. Exports go to CSV, XLSX and PDF. Form files can be exchanged and merged between devices, attachments included. Balane Sheets and Reports link to published responses and update along with them.

AI only when you switch it on

With your own Anthropic API key, the AI builds a form from a description, improves questions, checks the logic and analyzes responses. Changes are suggestions and are only applied once you accept them. Without a key the AI is off.

Support

Questions and bug reports go to support@balane.tech.

— Questions & answers

Common questions.

How much does Balane Forms cost?

Nothing. Balane Forms is free and fully usable, with no subscription and no in-app purchases.

Do I need an account?

No. There's no sign-in and no Balane account. You open the app and start.

Where do the responses end up?

In the form file on your device. Responses from a browser come back as a file that you import into the app; with a survey link, that file is encrypted and can only be read on the device that created the link. There is no server that receives or stores responses.

Do I have to use the AI?

No. The AI features stay off until you add your own Anthropic API key in the settings. Requests then go directly from your device to Anthropic (or to an Anthropic-compatible service you enter yourself), containing only what the app puts together for that request, and are billed to your key. Nothing the AI suggests is applied until you accept it. Without a key, the app is fully usable.