IstbanIstban vs Typeform: an Arabic-first alternative with question-by-question forms
A well-known global platform recognised for its one-question-at-a-time experience.
The short answer
If your audience is Arabic-speaking in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, Istban offers the same question-by-question experience built Arabic-first, with a Hijri calendar, local payments and SAR pricing. For a global English-speaking audience, Typeform may suit you better.
Comparison
| Feature | Istban | Typeform |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Known for question-by-question — check their site for other layouts |
| 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 Typeform may suit you better
No tool fits everyone. Typeform may be the better choice if:
- Your audience is global and mainly English-speaking.
- Your team relies on it in existing workflows and integrations that are hard to change.
- You need a broader global integration ecosystem than local work requires.
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
Does Istban offer a question-by-question experience like Typeform?
Yes. Question by question is one of Istban's six layouts, alongside single page, steps, chat, stories and cards, and you choose per form.
What matters most for a Saudi audience?
A full Arabic interface, the Umm al-Qura Hijri calendar, mada and Apple Pay through your own Moyasar account, and SAR pricing with VAT included.
Can I import my forms from Typeform 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.