IstbanIstban vs Tally: an Arabic-first alternative you build by describing
A platform known for a simple, document-style editor.
The short answer
Tally is a nice choice if you like a document-style editor. Istban shortens building itself: describe what you want in Arabic, even in dialect, and the form is built — with a Hijri calendar, local payments and six layouts.
Comparison
| Feature | Istban | Tally |
|---|---|---|
| Full Arabic interface and RTL | Built Arabic-first; accepts Arabic-Indic digits and Saudi mobile formats | Varies by plan — check their website |
| Hijri calendar | Umm al-Qura dates with the Gregorian equivalent | Varies by plan — check their website |
| AI form creation in everyday Arabic | Describe the form in your own words, even in dialect, and edit it by chatting | Varies by plan — check their website |
| Questions from a file or images | Upload a PDF, Word file or images and review suggested questions | Varies by plan — check their website |
| mada and Apple Pay inside the form | Through your own Moyasar account, paid straight to you (plan-dependent) | Varies by plan — check their website |
| SAR pricing, VAT included | Free plan to start; paid plans in SAR with VAT included | Varies by plan — check their website |
| Six display layouts | Question by question, single page, steps and chat | Varies by plan — check their website |
| Quiz mode and certificate | Automatic grading, pass mark and a private certificate link (plan-dependent) | Varies by plan — check their website |
| Google Sheets and webhooks | A row per response in your sheet, plus signed webhooks (plan-dependent) | Varies by plan — check their website |
Paid plans start at SAR 49 per month, VAT included.
Information about other platforms is general and may change — check their official websites.
When Tally may suit you better
No tool fits everyone. Tally may be the better choice if:
- You prefer building forms by hand in a document-style editor.
- Your audience mainly speaks English.
- Your current workflow is built on it and you don't need local payments.
How to switch to Istban
- 1
Create your account
Sign in and start on the free plan, no credit card needed.
- 2
Build the form
Describe the form in your own words and let AI build it, or start from a ready template.
- 3
Share the link
Publish the form and share its new link in place of the old one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to write every question myself?
No. Write a description like “a first-aid course registration form with payment” and the form is built, then edit it by chatting or by hand.
Does Istban help protect respondent data?
You can enable a privacy notice and consent checkbox that is required before submitting, and uploaded files are kept in private storage.
Can I import my forms from Tally automatically?
There is no automatic import tool today. The fastest route is to describe the form in your own words and let AI build it, or start from a ready template, then share the new link.
Can I start for free?
Yes. Istban has a free plan to start, and paid plans are priced in SAR with VAT included. Plan details are on the pricing page.
Try Istban for free
Describe your form in your own words and it's ready in a minute, or start from a template.