Tap Forms Organizer 5 Database
reviews and complaints

Hello, I just wanted to leave a review for this app because I love it so much. I have had this app for years. I have over 50 apps on my phone… But tap forms is by far the app I use the most. I use it several times daily. You can do so much with this app. The different databases that you can make seems endless. You can track your taxes, make a grocery list, Track Doctor Appointments, Your Stocks, House maintenance and repairs, Passwords, Banking info, Address Book, Vacations, Vet appointments, Sales, Emails, Recipes… ect ect. The list just goes on and on. The customer support is amazing too. Everytime I have a question about something… and email support… I get an answer back within 24 hours. Some times within 30 minutes. I highly recommend this app. To this day I still enjoy making databases that are user friendly to make.

Thanks Tap Forms.
You’ve made my life easier .

I’ve been looking for a way to organize various aspects of my life and hobbies and business for literally years now, and finally learned about Tap Forms. I have no idea how I’ve missed this app for so long, because this program is perfect. I grew up using HyperCard and then loved Bento (FileMaker’s personal-level cousin), and this app uses similar terminology, so it was easy for me to build the databases I need quickly and easily.

There’s a great support knowledge base already existing and the customer support is unparalleled. So far all the problems have been user error, which means the database has been able to do everything I’ve asked of it.

I highly recommend buying Tap Forms 5. It’s worth every penny I paid and it’s reassuring to know that my data isn’t being shared or sold. In this day & age, developers who protect our data are absolutely golden! Thank you, Brendan and Tap Zapp Software!

The first thing I'd like to say is the tech support for the Tap Forms app. is fantastic. My questions were responded to within 24 hours; an incredible experience in today's world of computer support. Second, in making this review I'm not a computer techie so tech support was ultimately helpful in making my first database which I have now synced seccusefully with my cell phone. I found that without using the online tutorial I was able to jump in and start creating my first program fairly easily as the Tap app is very intuitive even for beginners. Also, Tap Forms provide numerous starter databases which address many everyday situations you may find useful if you are a beginner such as myself. There are many things I'm looking forward to as I continue to create other databases such as it's relational capability and other advanced features. Yes, Im very happy with my Selection of Tap Forms and will give it a 5 star rating.

Sadly, there are very few options for databases on the App Store. For three years I've been trying very hard to like Tap Forms, but it just is not usable for mission critical projects.
I tried to set up a database for daily use at work but couldn't get the Mac and iOS programs to sync. More recently, I tried to use it for house hunting. Big mistake. Fields were inconsistently implemented; pick lists were super hard to manage (at least if you have more than 20); syncing across an iPhone, iPad, and a Mac did NOT work; any time I worked offline, it kept warning me that it couldn't sync; it was a battery hog when using it all day (used 80% of my battery after 4-5 hours, when another program only used 30%).
I wish I could like it! Dev is very responsive, but apps should not require support emails constantly. Even the manual is not very helpful (e.g., does not explain what the different pick list options mean). I guess it's back to spreadsheets for me.

I’ve been using TapForms for years! It’s always been good but the last couple of updates have made it great! How can anybody get excited about a database app? Well, if you haven’t made the following secure: your password protected websites, credit cards, banking pins, healthcare logins, software passwords, shopping sites, email addresses, dropboxes, buying club memberships, cloud logins, social media logins, etc, you will be hacked! It’s only a matter of time. If you are using a single password for more than one account or if you use common words that you can remember, or if your password is less than 16 places, You Will Be Hacked! TapForms keeps the dozens, or in my case, hundreds of complex passwords in a neat, password protected database that securely syncs between computers, cell phones, & tablets to make security mean something. Oh, it does more than what I mentioned, but keeping me truly secure is worth a million bucks alone! Check it out! Move into the 21st century!

This is an exceptional software package. I previously used FileMaker’s Bento product, which was discontinued, and for context I use MySQL and MongoDB in enterprise applications. I love having a lightweight database on my computer (and now my iPad too). Tap Forms picked up where Bento left off and added impressive capabilities.

Its utility to import my Bento databases worked flawlessly; it took some work to prep the Bento files but no work after the import. My databases now sync with my teammate, providing great utility to my workflow. I did have a problem setting up IBM Cloudant (the service changed and Tap Forms did not work with it). Their customer support was extremely responsive. Within one day, they provided a workaround solution setting up my Cloudant service as a CouchDB. The workaround worked flawlessly.

If a lightweight desktop would benefit your lifestyle or workflow, particularly if you want to share that database through the cloud, I cannot recommend this product too enthusiastically.

I moved over to TAP firms when Apple stopped supporting Bento. I’ve been keeping tack of my craft supplies since the Palm Pilot days. I was able to easily import the data from Bento into TAP forms, and I’ve been using it ever since- on my laptop, iPad and of course, my iPhone. I have every stamp set, die cut set, Copic market, craft idea book, sewing pattern and all my crafts cataloged so I always know what I have to avoid duplicate purchases. Since I also have pictures of each item, I can quickly scroll through and find a particular item quickly. Most recently, after cleaning out my closet during COVID, I started logging my wardrobe so when I am able to go out shopping again (or shopping online from my couch), I’ll know exactly what I have on hand and what size it is. Again, since I added pictures, I can quickly pull together outfits. I was trying to use Stylebook for this, but TAP forms is easier since I already know how to use it plus this app is regularly updated unlike other apps for tracking your wardrobe.

I have never written an app review before but I am so disgusted with this app I feel I have to speak out and warn others. I found no help available either on the app itself or on the developer's website. All the help and videos are for the Mac app and given my experience with the iOS app, I thank God I didn't make that purchase too. I have quite literally wasted the better part of the day trying to figure out how to use it. After finally managing to figure out how to use the built-in forms which, I must admit, are well-designed and have a great deal of functionality, I tried without success to sync my iPhone with my iPad. I tried the two methods available, which are side by side and the Cloud (through an IBM account), without success. Having spent four hours trying to use the app I concluded that my time is worth more than the $16.99 paid and I have given up. Continuing to waste more time is a good example of the old adage not to "throw good money after bad." I intend to delete the app and chalk up the lost to experience but I felt compelled to warn others.

This is a huge update for TapForms. I'm really enjoying the new sync options with multiple users. This is something I have wanted for a long time.

With such a big update, a few bugs are to be expected. Developer is very responsive and is fixing the bugs as fast as possible. Based on past performance, I'm confident the developer will have everything sorted out soon and this will be a solid app. So far I've been able to work around the bugs and still enjoy using the app.

This was a paid upgrade, but I don't mind at all. I've been using this app for around 6 years. 6 YEARS! Many apps that I bought back then are long gone. This one is still going and getting wonderful features added. I'm happy to support the developer so I can enjoy using his app for another 6 years.

I have not found another app that lets me so easily track info, gather information, answer questions, etc. I have 11 databases some of which have thousands of records that all sync across all my devices. Pictures, text, numbers, all of which I can search, sort, and find with whatever device I have handy.

I was really looking forward to this. I'm Very disappointed. Although there were many obvious improvements, I can't help but feel that it was rushed in the end and not enough attention was paid to where it counts. The user experience has been forgotten. You launch the app and you're on your own. Zero visual clues as to where to go.
Why, oh why, is iCloud not integrated? Not even Dropbox! So no backup that we're all familiar with. Are you kidding? No. You can either local sync or you have to create an account and use an IBM cloud service that "may incur fees depending on usage." Nice way to possibly make some residual income there.
I'm not happy. I use this all the time. I look forward to (and support--I have the receipts to show) good apps that actually stick around, and developers that grow and improve their product. I don't like giving negative reviews. But this just has to be done. Besides, for what the dev wants for this and the Mac version, it should be better. I honestly think I'm done and I'm just going to find another solution.
Apple, Make a database app already. Please.

I have this app on both my Apple MacBook Pro and all my Apple 11+ phone. I like the fact that I can work on the MacBook Pro and then sync the information to my phone. However the problem arises when I try to use the phone app to open a record and it just locks up the application for like 60 seconds and then it crashes.The funny thing is it doesn’t do it on all records all the time, just sometimes.

In addition, sometimes it will not add information from the MacBook Pro to the phone. It shows that It added some part of the record but not the complete record. Or sometimes it’ll just drop a record off of the MacBook Pro. In addition, sometimes it will not add information from the MacBook Pro to the phone or vise verse. It shows that I added some part of the record but not the complete record. Or sometimes it’ll just drop a record off of the MacBook Pro but the information will still be on the phone. I’m not quite sure if that’s an issue with the MacBook Pro App, the phone Mobile App, or something to do with the sync process between the two. ButIt is very annoying, it makes the reliability of the project App questionable.

I just purchased the Mac laptop app yesterday and I’m already set with my data base! Today I bought the app for my iPhone and it’s already synched! I have over 8,000 clients and they are on my phone and my lap top! If I change client details on one, it changes on the other.

Creating the data base was quite intuitive, especially coming from FileMaker Pro. My Pro was wanting an upgrade and was acting wonky so I looked for a new Mac Data Base. Tap Forms 5 was more than I asked for ... in a good way.

I got a bit stuck but there are a lot of tutorials and I emailed the customer service, thinking, well, I probably have to figure this out on my own, but no! Brendan got back to me very quickly and he has gotten back to me with a few other questions! Right away! Wow!

I need to track over 8,000 client sessions, where they came from and more. Tap Forms does it all. It even lets me make labels!

I can’t say enough good about this app! You won’t be disappointed. Get it! You’ll be up and running in no time!

Update: I messed up my data base and customer (Brendan) service got tight back to me and fixed it for me over night! Amazing customer service!

Before I start... let me preface this comment with a statement.

I am not a novice when it comes to database programs... that being said, the program did everything I wanted it to do.

I possess the greatest looking and working video game database that my friends have ever seen. (They are incredibly jealous!)

But I never referenced any of the tutorials because I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from the program.

It's true... my friends envy the program I use for my games... a collection of over 1000 video games. I have integrated photos of the game covers along with the different current prices of competing stores both retail and online. I also have several check marks that indicate whether or not I have the game or if I have a disk or digital copy.

I use several filtered searches that create compilations of games. For example... I have a compilation of certain ranges of achievements met. I also have a compilation of wether I need to buy a game. I even keep track of the anniversary of a game's release Date so that I can play it on its anniversary!

That may be a bit too much... but it gives you an idea of what I have done with this program.

Hope it helps.

There are relatively few good relational databases available for the Mac. Tapforms does a great job of filling in this hole, and does it very well.

The program is quite powerful, offering a number of very useful features which help one to easily organize, and very importantly, find and use the data they have stored. A variety of record types are available to allow the users to include all types of data and features including images, URLs, check boxes, numbers, and many more. I have yet to find anything I want to do with organizing data that I could not.
I should also mention that the Mac version is fully able to interact and Sync with the iOS versions, and although the iOS versions are slightly different, due to the differences in their formats, the data created is easily worked with and used on all the platforms it supports.

Finally, there is the customer support. It is phenomenal. The developer is very willing to communicate with users, assist with issues, and help the users in many ways. This is in addition to a very thorough and comprehensive online manual providing detailed information on how to use the Apps many features.

This is a really good program and I highly recommend it.

Update3: Guess if I don't write here, I don't get a response. Nope, the save button doesn't completely resolve the issue. Plus if the save button is so important, it should replace the copy icon. Poor design logic.

Update2: I start with no documents at all. So first I create a document. Second I press Add Form and a form is created and opens the area where fields can be added. Third the first field that I add is a Date field. No problems so far. Fourth I add another field, say set it as a Note field. When it goes back to the area to add fields, only the Date field is showing. The Note field is not shown. So I close the app and open it up and still only the Date field is showing. So I close the app, double-press the home button, flip up the app screen to completely close it, and then open up the app again. Finally, the Note field is visible.

Very frustrating to create a form.

Update: The field is added, but one has to close the app completely (including closing the app by double-tapping the home button) and then reopen the app to see the added field. What a joke!

Just downloaded the app and the app is not letting me add a new field. No idea what that double rectangle icon is supposed to do but it does nothing when pressed. Will try to get a refund if issue is not solved. So far, waste of time.

Over the last few years I’ve tried out various apps to use for inventory at a school. Most apps with these features have a subscription model which is not appealing once you add up how much you’d spend to keep it accessible. Almost every inventory app has the subscription model... and they are not cheap! This one does not have a subscription model! For this alone it is worth it. If you compare features and price... you’ll see this is a winner.

The barcode scanning is not the best I’ve used, but is certainly not the worst. No Google Drive integration, and finding out how to use it is a bit of a task until you watch their tutorial videos a few times. It’s a little tough to navigate their website to find out how to use the app, so some parts of the app are still confusing to me after a few days of use. These are my biggest complaints, but overall this app has a lot of capability and I’m very impressed. Easily worth the money spent. I’ve already set up my database and have logged over 100 items so far after only a few days I’ve got it set up just right.

This app doesn’t seem to break a lot of your database is viewed if you choose to rename something, or re-organize how it’s viewed (some apps do this). Lots of solid options. I’d like to see Apple’s Shortcuts integration, as well as Google Drive support, although iCloud has been working out great!

Great Job on the app! It’s saving me a lot of time and headache so far!

I never leave reviews. First, there’s not really any apps that I use as much as this one. And second, this app is amazing and its customer service is beyond normal (and I mean that in a great way) so I feel that I have to share my appreciation with others.

This app can do everything you want it to do, plus more. I wish I had more knowledge in databases and scripting, so that I can create Forms for everything that I want to organize in my life. I mean this app could organize every single thing that you have. I do use it a lot though because it’s simple enough for a beginner, yet strong enough and great enough for the most experienced person.

Here’s where I believe the five star review stems from exactly.I have never used an app or used any service, even one not related to the App store, where customer service was as great as what you get from this app. You can ask a question on the forum and get a reply within an hour. And these people will answer your question so that you truly get the answer you were looking for. I’ve seen them go back-and-forth with people on the forum for days trying to get to the bottom of something and totally showing them exactly how to do it. I am so impressed. I know every time I’ve had a question, I’ve been able to get the answer I’m looking for.

I would definitely recommend this app. No matter what level of experience you have. If you want to organize anything in your life – this is the way to go.

Other than being able to text family and friends, this app is what makes my iPhone so useful to me. TapForms is flexible, functional, customizable and dependable. The app turns my communication device into a peripheral brain. Creating and organizing databases is simple yet they are are powerful. There is a plethora of field options that include images, hyperlinks, relational links, auto-dating, check boxes, pull-down lists, etc. I use it to catalog, cross-reference, inventory, remember and store almost everything. Some examples include: passwords, auto maintenance, call notes/customer service diary, exercise programs, recipes, inventories (personal belongings, beer database, etc.), important document locations, travel logs and notes, hotel ratings, health records, property maintenance, part/item numbers for routine expendables, financial information, etc. All in one app.

Some of my favorite features:
1) It is available for multiple OS’s so that initial or large entries may be made on your computer (using a real keyboard) then sync’ed with your phone, tablet, etc.
2) Syncing is dependable and can be performed in a variety of ways, most notably including a ‘Nearby’ option that does not require you to use cloud based storage (I have a long-standing preference for local (and redundant) storage).
3) Forms may be encrypted (excellent for storing passwords or financial records). As an extra convenience, it is facial recognition enabled.
4) It includes provision for document and image incorporation that is extremely functional.
5) The camera is well integrated and you can scale photos so as not to use excessive storage with unnecessary resolution.
6) Most impressive support/customer service in the business. Brendan has always responded to queries and suggestions in a most timely, helpful, concise, instructional and professional manner.

Over the years, I have used Hypercard, Filemaker and Bento, and TapForms easily ranks as my favorite for its ease of use, flexibility, adaptability (very easy to restructure and edit on the fly without sacrificing data integrity) and support. And there are many more powerful features I’ve yet to employ or explore. Can’t say enough good things about it. It is like the Swiss Army Knife of the digital world. Most highly recommend it.

This app is full of bugs, features don't work, no apparent documentation either in app or on web site for the ios version, though developer did take the time to put a multi-page ad for the program you just bought on the main screen that creates a junk databases each time it is run, though with the lastest update is so broken, you cant use the main screen anymore.

I have used this app for several years and like what I am able to do with it to organize my business. However, syncing is still a huge issue in that I’m losing data and have to go back in and re-enter it too often. Too bad as this is a great application but I’m going to have to leave it for something more stable. Spending too much time worrying about losing important data.

I purchased both the versions for mac and ios.
What an epic nightmare to setup syncing. I gave up on the nearby sync after trying to get it to work for over an hour. Then it took quite a while to finally get it to work with icloud sync.

The user interface is just terrible. I have used many databases over the years and this is by far the most confusing interface i have used.

I’ve used Tap Forms for years and I wish I could recommend it. If you use it on a single device, I can. But if you use iCloud Sync with multiple devices it’s completely unreliable. I have it installed on a Mac, two iPads, and an iPhone and my databases between the four devices are all different. I’ve reported this to the developer and, while he does respond promptly, he is unable to solve the issue.

Been a long time user. Upgraded both the ios and mac versions. Quickly went back to the previous version - synch not working for me (and many others) and saw enough glitches with not enough new features that interest me. But developer very active so my $30 total upgrade fee is to ensure i will have access to a supported version of tap forms - which i use on almost a daily basis. Great app - but i prefer the dropbox synching glitch free 4.x version to this beta 5.x version.

I had the pre-5 version and getting a database to sync between my Mac and my iPad was troublesome enough. Too much so, to be honest (coming from a Usability Master Degree). Version 5 is completely void of usability, and apparently has ditched Dropbox and iCloud storage in favor of some IBM storage. I have been unable to move my existing database on iCloud to the new state...nor do I want to. Bad move all around. I'm about to uninstall everything and look for a new system.

I have 4 iOS devices and the iCloud sync is quite inconsistent across all of them. Some records will show up, some won’t. Some file attachments will show on one device and not on the others. Some images will show on some devices, not on others. It can be quite frustrating. Because of this, I can’t rely on this app to house my critical databases, for fear of losing my data or risking data corruption. If they fix this, I might come back because I really like the functionality of this app. Please make iCloud sync more reliable!

Don't buy this app it's junk it doesn't support iCloud or Dropbox sync anymore it has a crappy IBM sync. I contacted the developer and they just whined about how hard it was to sync to iCloud or Dropbox

Do Not Buy! Hard to create new databases and each time you create a new field, you have to force close the app to get it to appear on the app as created. I expected a lot more for having paid so much money.

You can’t make any relations. You really just can’t do diddly. To say this program is weak is an understatement.

It really is not a database program. It is a glorified and overly expensive contact’s program.

I used the previous version and liked, upgrade to 5 only to loose hours worth of work making new forms and entries. This version crashes on my 3rd gen iPad Pro, loosing data. Waste of money, waste of time, until this gets updated don’t bother. EPIC FAIL

I bought this app to sync with the Mac version (which is an acceptable replacement for Bento) and so that I could have certain data available on my iPhone. Syncing does not work with iPhone version and, from what I can gather from the Tap Forms forums, hasn't worked for a while. So shame on me for not doing my due diligence. The app will serve its purpose if syncing is fixed. If syncing with your computer version of Tap Forms is critical, hold off on your purchase!

You can’t view custom forms from the Mac version. No ability to annotate fields. Pretty much useless as a mobile solution for a pretty good Mac app. I really feel like it was a waste of money. This app is just not there.

Update.

Still no support for fields that have descriptions on the Desktop version. Really lacking as a mobile companion. If you make a forum on the Mac not everything will show up in the mobile version. I suggest using one or the other but they do not work well together.

When I first converted to Tap Forms my 3 devises synced whenever I had them on all together. Then suddenly, they never synced again. I am most frustrated with this program. Bento synced even when they were close. I didn’t have to do a thing. Now I have to play a game and try to trick them into syncing. BUT THEY WON’T DO IT! I can’t find a number ANYWHERE where someone will help. I even PAID to upgrade to 5 hoping that would help. Can’t do it there either! This program is a hopeless waste of money! Don’t buy it unless you like different information on each of your devises.