When managing registrations, digital waivers, participant communication, and other operations that require forms, the platform you choose can significantly impact your efficiency.
Whether you’re evaluating Jotform’s enterprise pricing, comparing Smartwaiver’s waiver management costs, or considering Activity Messenger’s all-in-one registration platform, this detailed comparison includes pricing analysis, feature limitations, and implementation considerations to guide your software investment decision.
DISCLAIMER: Activity Messenger is our own product. We developed it after years of struggling with the limitations of current online registration software, and we believe that most class management software is flawed.
| Feature | Jotform | Smartwaiver | Activity Messenger |
| Primary Use Case | General-purpose forms, surveys, registrations | Digital waivers and liability forms only | Activity registrations, waivers, payments, marketing, and messaging all-in-one |
| Form Builder | ✅ Drag-and-drop, highly customizable | ⚠️ Waiver editor with specialized fields | ✅ Fully customizable drag-and-drop form builder |
| E-Signature Support | ✅ Multiple types: draw, type, upload | ✅ Digital signature capture included | ✅ Integrated e-signatures with automation capabilities |
| Conditional Logic | ✅ Advanced branching, skip logic | ❌ Limited waiver-focused logic | ✅ Conditional workflows with messaging triggers |
| Payment Collection | ✅ Multiple gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Square) | ❌ No payment capability | ✅ Integrated payments (credit card, offline payments, Interac e-transfers, Stripe) and ticketing |
| Templates | ✅ 1000+ templates across industries | ✅ Waiver-focused templates with legal language | ✅ Registration and event-specific templates customizable to your needs |
| PDF Generation | ✅ Auto PDF creation from submissions | ✅ Secure PDFs with audit trail | ✅ Registration and waiver PDF exports |
| Offline/Kiosk Mode | ❌ Limited offline capabilities | ✅ Full offline kiosk apps | ❌ Primarily online forms |
| Integrations | ✅ Extensive (CRM, marketing, Zapier, etc.) | ⚠️ Limited options | ✅ All-in-one platform approach (Canva customization, payments via e-transfer or Stripe, etc) |
| Messaging/Communication | ❌ Not natively integrated | ❌ No messaging features | ✅ Two-way SMS + email automation |
| Compliance & Security | ✅ GDPR, HIPAA (paid plans), SSL | ✅ HIPAA-compliant, encrypted storage | ✅ CASL compliance, Canadian data hosting |
| Pricing Model | Freemium with paid tiers | Subscription based on waiver volume | Monthly-based subscription with tiers depending on desired features and business size |
The most significant difference lies in how each platform approaches form creation:
Activity Messenger: Designed specifically for activity-based organizations, Activity Messenger combines registration forms, waiver collection, payment processing, and participant communication into a unified workflow. It is a versatile solution that anyone can use in just a few minutes. Utilize a template or create your form entirely from scratch in just a few clicks, with 80+ fields to choose from, conditional branching, and Canva integration to include your custom branding.
Jotform: Built as a comprehensive form solution, Jotform offers extensive customization options suitable for everything from simple contact forms to complex multi-page applications with conditional logic, payment processing, and workflow automation.
Smartwaiver: Focused exclusively on liability waivers, Smartwaiver provides industry-specific templates, legal compliance features, and specialized waiver management tools that general-purpose form builders often lack.
Activity Messenger’s Communication Advantage: The platform excels with automated SMS and email workflows that trigger based on registration status, attendance, and program milestones. Organizations can set up automated reminders, follow-up surveys, and attendance notifications without manual intervention.
Jotform’s Integration Approach: While Jotform doesn’t include native messaging, its extensive integration capabilities allow connection with email marketing platforms, CRMs, and communication tools through Zapier and direct integrations.
Smartwaiver’s Focus: As a specialized waiver platform, Smartwaiver doesn’t include communication features, focusing entirely on waiver collection, storage, and compliance.
The pricing models reflect each platform’s target audience and use cases:
Activity Messenger offers flat-rate pricing tied to program size and features, providing predictable costs for ongoing program management.
Jotform uses a freemium model with paid tiers based on form submissions, storage, and advanced features.
Smartwaiver charges subscription fees based on the number of waivers processed monthly, which suits organizations with predictable waiver volume.
💡 Pro Tip: Visit our blog post, “11 Simple Changes That Will Skyrocket Your Registration Form Conversions,” for practical tips on creating and optimizing your forms to perfectly meet your needs.
Book a demo with one of our experts and discover how Activity Messenger can help simplify your operations.
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While Jotform can create waiver forms with e-signatures, it lacks Smartwaiver’s specialized legal templates, industry-specific compliance features, and dedicated waiver audit trails that liability-sensitive businesses often require.
Smartwaiver focuses solely on waiver collection and has limited integration options. Organizations typically need separate registration and payment systems, then integrate waiver signing into their existing workflows. If you want an all-in-one program, Activity Messenger combines registration and payments for easier operations.
Activity Messenger can effectively replace both platforms by providing integrated registration forms, compliant waiver collection, and automated communication in one system.
All three platforms allow data export, but the process varies:
Your choice between Jotform, Smartwaiver, and Activity Messenger should align with your organization’s primary needs and operational focus.
For Integrated Management: Choose Activity Messenger if you want an all-in-one solution that combines registration, waiver collection, payment processing, and automated participant communication. It provides the best value for activity-based organizations seeking operational efficiency and can also handle general business forms such as lead capture, customer feedback, event sign-ups, and intake.
For Business-Wide Flexibility: Choose Jotform when you require advanced conditional logic, multi-page forms, or highly customized workflows that go beyond standard registration and communication needs.
For Specialized Waiver Management: Choose Smartwaiver if liability waivers are critical to your operations and you need industry-leading compliance, offline capabilities, and specialized legal features.
The key advantage of Activity Messenger lies in its ability to adapt to the unique workflows of activity-based organizations. Unlike general-purpose form builders or single-function waiver platforms, Activity Messenger recognizes that successful program management requires seamless integration between registration, communication, and ongoing participant relationships. Its versatility shines in how it handles diverse scenarios—from simple one-time workshop registrations to complex multi-session programs with waitlists, payment plans, and automated follow-up sequences.
💡 Ready to streamline your registration and communication workflows? Discover how Activity Messenger can automate your waiver collection, simplify participant messaging, and reduce administrative overhead.
