Display Modes
Every TinyForm can be displayed in three modes. The mode changes how respondents experience the form: same questions, different presentation.
Card mode (default)
One question per screen. The respondent sees one question, answers it, and advances to the next.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| URL | Default form URL (no suffix) |
| Layout | Full-screen, one question centered |
| Navigation | Answer → auto-advance, or click Next/Back |
| Progress | Progress bar shows completion percentage |
| Best for | Mobile, short attention spans, surveys, lead capture |
Card mode creates a focused, distraction-free experience. Each question gets the respondent's full attention.
Classic mode
All questions on one page, scrollable. Traditional form layout.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| URL | Form URL + /cl suffix |
| Layout | Vertical stack of all questions |
| Navigation | Scroll and fill, submit at bottom |
| Progress | No progress bar; respondent sees all questions upfront |
| Best for | Desktop, long forms, applications, when respondents need context of the full form |
Classic mode works best when respondents need to see all questions at once, like application forms where answers to later questions might affect earlier ones.
Chat mode
Conversational, chat-like interface. Questions appear as messages in a chat thread.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| URL | Form URL + /c suffix |
| Layout | Chat bubbles, question-answer conversation |
| Navigation | Answer → next message appears |
| Progress | Message count indicates progress |
| Best for | Engagement, feedback, casual surveys, support intake |
Chat mode has the highest completion rates for short forms (under 10 questions) because it feels like a conversation, not a form.
Choosing the right mode
| Scenario | Recommended mode |
|---|---|
| Mobile lead capture (3-5 fields) | Card |
| Job application (20+ fields) | Classic |
| Customer feedback survey | Chat |
| Event registration | Card |
| Support intake form | Chat |
| Multi-page questionnaire | Card (with question groups) |
| Data collection with file uploads | Classic |
Setting the display mode
You don't configure the mode in the form builder. Instead, you choose it when sharing:
- Default URL → Card mode
- URL +
/cl→ Classic mode - URL +
/c→ Chat mode
Each embed mode (Popup, Slider, etc.) also lets you select the display mode.
A/B test display modes by sharing different URLs. Card mode typically has higher completion for short forms; Classic mode works better for long, complex forms.