Tally is a no‑code platform that lets indie hackers build forms, collect data, and create simple databases without writing a single line of code. This guide walks you through the basics, shows you how to set up a production‑ready form, and teaches advanced patterns like conditional logic and API integrations. Follow each step to launch a reliable feedback loop for your startup.
Tally stores each form submission as a row in a spreadsheet‑like table. You can view, filter, and export data directly from the dashboard. No server, no database, no maintenance.
Visit tally.so and click “Sign up”. Use Google or email. The free plan gives you unlimited forms and 5 000 submissions per month.
Copy the iframe code from the “Share” panel. Paste it into any HTML block. Example for a Webflow page:
<iframe src="https://tally.so/r/mYz3X9" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Form fields: Name (optional), Email (required, unique), Startup Idea (short text). Enable “Unique email” to avoid duplicates.
In Form Settings → “Email notifications”, add your address. Use the default template or customize with {{email}} placeholder.
Click “Export → CSV”. You can import the file into Google Sheets, Airtable, or your own CRM.
Show a “Referral code” field only when the user selects “I heard about you from a friend”.
Steps:
Send each submission to a Discord channel or a private API.
| Platform | URL | Payload example |
|---|---|---|
| Discord | https://discord.com/api/webhooks/… | {"content":"New sign‑up: {{email}}"} |
| Zapier | https://hooks.zapier.com/hooks/catch/123456/abcde/ | {"email":"{{email}}","idea":"{{idea}}"} |
Add columns: “Status” (Lead, Contacted, Customer), “Last Contact”. Filter by status to run daily outreach.
Problem: Users submit “test” as email. Fix: Enable “Email format” validation and turn on “Unique email”.
Problem: After submit users stay on a blank page. Fix: In Form Settings → “Redirect URL”, point to a thank‑you page or your product’s onboarding flow.
Problem: Leads disappear in the dashboard. Fix: Add at least one notification address and test with the “Send test email” button.
Problem: More than 8 fields reduces conversion. Fix: Keep to 3‑5 essential fields. Use optional sections hidden behind logic.
Tally is a no‑code form and database builder. Indie hackers use it to collect user feedback, run beta sign‑ups, and power simple dashboards without writing backend code.
No. Tally offers a free tier that includes unlimited forms and up to 5,000 submissions per month. A credit card is only required for paid plans.
Yes. Tally provides an iframe embed code that works on Webflow, WordPress, Ghost, and any platform that accepts HTML.
Enable the “Unique email” rule in the Form Settings. Tally will reject a submission if the email address already exists in the database.
Skipping field validation, ignoring the thank‑you redirect, and not setting up email notifications. Each of these hurts conversion and data quality.
With this guide you can launch a functional Tally form in under 30 minutes, avoid the typical pitfalls, and start gathering real user data for your indie project. Keep the form simple, test every rule, and iterate based on the data you collect.