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Published Nov 13, 2023 ⦁ 8 min read

Build Better Forms with Form Creating Software

Introduction

Forms are an essential part of most websites and online businesses today. From simple contact forms to complex multi-page surveys, forms allow you to easily collect information from users. However, building forms from scratch can be tedious and time-consuming. This is where form creating software comes in handy!

Form builders make it easy to create customized online forms with just a few clicks, saving you tons of development time. In this post, we'll compare some of the most popular form building platforms like JotForm, Wufoo, and Typeform to help you choose the right one for your needs. We'll look at key features like drag-and-drop editors, field types, templates, integrations, analytics, and more.

By the end of this post, you'll have a clear sense of the best form software options to turn your data collection dreams into reality! Whether you need forms for lead generation, user registration, surveys, or any other use case, the right form builder can make all the difference. Let's dive in!

There are a wide variety of excellent form builders to choose from today. Here are some of the most well-known platforms:

JotForm - JotForm is one of the most fully-featured form builders out there. It offers drag-and-drop form creation, over 100 field types, form analytics, mobile-optimization, and integrations with popular apps like MailChimp, PayPal, Slack, and more. JotForm has a free plan for basic usage as well as premium paid tiers. It's great for surveys, registration forms, lead capture forms, and general data collection.

Typeform - Typeform specializes in creating beautiful, engaging forms with slick animations and transitions between questions. It focuses on conversational forms that feel more interactive. Typeform excels at surveys and questionnaires. It has a free plan with limited features and paid plans for more advanced functionality.

Wufoo - Wufoo is an easy-to-use form builder great for beginners. It has drag-and-drop form creation, various themes and templates, and integrations with services like MailChimp, Slack, Zapier and more. Wufoo offers a fully-featured free plan as well as upgraded paid plans for more fields and submissions.

Formstack - Formstack is feature-packed for advanced form needs. It has strong form management capabilities, advanced integrations, and enterprise-grade security. Formstack offers robust form analytics and conditional logic features to create complex forms. It has several pricing tiers.

Google Forms - Google Forms is a completely free, simple form building option. It allows basic form creation and comes integrated with other Google Workspace apps. Google Forms works great for internal teams and simple data collection. The major limitations are a lack of advanced features and no integration options.

DevHunt Form Builder - The DevHunt form builder provides a streamlined way to create multi-page web forms for collecting user data and feedback. With an easy drag-and-drop editor, various themes, and integrations with CRMs, email, and other business apps, it's designed to help developers quickly build customized forms for their websites and web apps.

JotForm

JotForm is one of the top contenders for best overall form builder. Its drag-and-drop form editor makes form creation quick and easy. JotForm offers mobile-responsive form templates, multi-page form workflows, and over 100 field types from text boxes to file uploads, PayPal payments, and more. Form data can be exported to Excel or various apps via Zapier integration. JotForm provides detailed form analytics and is security compliant. Pricing starts with a free plan then paid tiers at $15+ per month. It's great for complex data collection scenarios.

For example, an ecommerce site could use JotForm to create multi-page checkout forms with credit card payments. Or a university might build complex registration forms for events and courses.

Wufoo

Wufoo shines for its sheer simplicity and ease of use. It has an intuitive drag-and-drop form builder with various themes and templates. Wufoo supports all the common form fields and features multi-page form workflows. You can embed forms on your site and share them publicly with handy links. Wufoo integrates with MailChimp, Zapier, and Slack. One of its best features is offering a full-featured free plan with no limits. There are paid upgrades for more features. Overall, Wufoo is ideal for basic forms and beginners.

For instance, a small business could use Wufoo to create a simple contact form for their website. An individual blogger may build basic email list signup forms with Wufoo.

Key Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing the top form builders, here are some of the key factors to consider:

  • Ease of use - How intuitive is the form builder? Can you quickly create forms without coding? Wufoo is one of the easiest to use.
  • Customization - Does the form builder offer themes, templates, and styling options to match your brand? JotForm has great customization capabilities.
  • Logic and branching - Can you create conditional logic and multi-page forms based on user responses? Typeform specializes in conversational, branching forms.
  • Data collection - How does the form builder handle form data storage, exports, and connection to external apps? JotForm offers robust data collection features.
  • Integrations - What native and third-party integrations does the form builder support? Wufoo integrates seamlessly with MailChimp.
  • Security - What compliance standards does the form builder adhere to? How is data secured? Formstack touts enterprise-grade security.
  • Pricing - Does the form builder offer a free plan? What are the charges for premium plans and features? Wufoo's free plan is very generous.

Selecting a form software that aligns with your specific use case and needs in these aspects will ensure you choose the best platform for your business.

Top Form Design Tips

Creating the perfect form requires more than just a good form builder. Here are some key form design tips to improve usability and conversion rates:

  • Keep forms short and concise. Avoid asking for unnecessary information.
  • Organize form questions logically into clear sections and steps.
  • Use selection fields like radio buttons or dropdowns instead of free text entries whenever possible.
  • Ensure forms are mobile-friendly with responsive design.
  • Include progress bars or step counters on multi-page forms.
  • Clearly highlight required vs optional fields. Explain why required fields are needed.
  • Use clear, action-driven language for form labels, introductions, and submit buttons.
  • Allow users to save drafts and return later to complete lengthy forms.
  • Provide clear error messages if users input incorrect data.
  • Limit use of CAPTCHA or other friction elements unless necessary.
  • Send confirmation emails and thank you messages after form submission.

By keeping these tips in mind when designing your forms, you can maximize the quality and completeness of responses.

Key Use Cases

Some of the most popular use cases and examples for online form software include:

Lead Generation

  • Landing page forms to capture visitor information
  • "Request a Quote" or "Download Offer" forms to generate sales leads
  • Email subscription signups for newsletters and marketing

For example, an accounting software company uses Wufoo to create lead gen forms offering free trial signups. A marketing agency uses JotForm for gated content offers to generate new business leads.

Registrations

  • User signup and account creation forms
  • Event or webinar registration forms
  • Online course and membership enrollment forms

For instance, Udemy uses JotForm for its online course registration flows. A SaaS company might use Formstack to handle complex user registration and account setup.

Surveys

  • Customer satisfaction surveys
  • Employee feedback surveys
  • Research and market surveys

Typeform is popular for building engaging surveys like customer satisfaction surveys by HubSpot or employee engagement polls by CultureAmp.

Others

  • Job applications
  • Contact/Query submission forms
  • Online order forms for products/services
  • Donation forms

Nonprofits often use Google Forms to create simple donation forms on their websites. Form builders are versatile enough to handle many other use cases like job applications, order forms, and more.

Conclusion

Creating and managing online forms is a breeze with the wide variety of dedicated form building platforms available today. Options like JotForm, Wufoo, Typeform, Formstack, and Google Forms allow anyone to build customized forms for nearly any use case.

Focus on key criteria like ease of use, integrations, conditional logic, and design flexibility when evaluating form builders. Apply best practices in form design for optimal user experience. And choose the form software that aligns best with your specific needs.

With a solid understanding of the top form creation platforms, you'll be equipped to quickly build the forms you need to grow your business or organization. The right form creator can save huge amounts of development time and provide powerful data collection capabilities. So simplify your workflow with form creating software!

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