Design Web Forms Faster with These Top Software Tools

Introduction

Gathering input and data from users is critical for many websites and apps. Forms with elements like text fields, dropdowns, checkboxes and more allow collecting structured user input for things like registrations, contact forms, surveys, e-commerce checkouts and beyond.

Typically web forms are built using HTML, CSS and JavaScript and connected to a backend database or server to store and process submitted data. Good form design and validation is important for usability and converting visitors. With mobile traffic now exceeding desktop, responsive design is also essential.

However, manually coding form layouts, validating inputs and connecting to databases can be tedious and time consuming. This is where web form design software comes in handy.

These tools provide intuitive drag and drop form builders, mobile-friendly templates, built-in integrations and analytics to streamline creating, publishing and managing web forms without any coding.

Below we'll compare some of the top web form design software options available in 2023 to help you work smarter.

Defining Web Forms

• Form elements like text fields, dropdowns, radios, checkboxes etc allow collecting structured user input
• Critical for registrations, contact forms, surveys, e-commerce checkouts, and more
• Built using HTML, CSS, JavaScript and connected to database or server backend
• Design and validation important for usability and converting visitors
• Mobile responsiveness critical as majority of traffic is now mobile

Challenges of Manual Web Form Building

Manually coding web form layouts, styling, and validation logic from scratch is a very tedious and time-consuming process. Developers have to hand-code the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript needed to create the form fields, structure, conditional logic, error handling, and mobile responsiveness. Connecting the web form to backend databases or servers to store and process submissions also requires additional backend development and integration work.

Some specific challenges include:

• Coding unique form layouts and field validation for each new form from scratch. Cannot reuse code easily.
• No pre-built validation functions, have to code custom validation logic.
• Hard to make forms mobile-responsive across devices without specialized CSS skills.
• Connecting to databases or third-party services requires server-side coding.
• Changing or updating forms requires re-coding parts of the form.

All of this can take weeks of development work for complex forms. It slows down the process and takes resources away from other initiatives.

Introducing Web Form Software

Web form design software provides intuitive drag and drop builders so anyone can create forms visually without coding. They include mobile-friendly responsive form templates and themes to ensure forms work perfectly across devices.

Built-in integrations with databases, email marketing, payments and other apps eliminate the need for custom backend coding. You simply connect services with a few clicks.

Other key benefits include:

• Form builder is easy for non-coders to use. Faster form creation.
• Editing or changing forms is simple with drag and drop.
• No need to build custom mobile-responsive designs.
• Integrations provide turnkey connections to data and apps.
• Real-time analytics give data to optimize conversions.

For developers and businesses that rely heavily on web forms, these tools can save huge amounts of dev time and resources compared to building and managing forms manually.

Top Web Form Design Software in 2023

There are many great options for web form design software on the market currently. Here we'll compare some of the most popular tools and their key capabilities.

DevHunt Forms

DevHunt Forms provides an intuitive drag and drop form builder with modern templates. It creates mobile responsive form designs that look great on any device.

Forms can be easily connected to databases, email services, payment gateways and more. It provides real-time analytics on form views and conversions.

There is a free plan for basic usage as well as paid tiers with additional features like conditional logic, multi-page forms, file uploads and more.

Pros: Easy to use, great free plan, mobile friendly forms. Cons: Smaller user base than some competitors.

Wufoo

Wufoo offers a drag and drop form builder with advanced field types like website, phone, date, etc. It has a large library of templates for contact forms, online surveys, event registrations and more.

Wufoo integrates directly with CRMs, email marketing, payments and 1000+ apps via Zapier. It provides real-time analytics and conditional logic.

Paid plans start at $15/month for unlimited forms and 100 submissions. More expensive plans offer more submissions and features.

Pros: Tons of field types, templates and integrations. Cons: More expensive pricing.

JotForm

JotForm features an intuitive drag and drop form builder with integrated themes and a mobile form editor. It offers 100+ mobile-friendly form templates for different uses.

It connects to apps like Mailchimp, PayPal, Slack and more via Zapier. JotForm provides built-in form analytics and conditional logic features.

The free plan allows unlimited forms while paid plans start at $15/month adding submission storage, PDF creation and more.

Pros: Mobile friendly forms and great free plan. Cons: Zapier integration only on paid plans.

Formstack

Formstack provides an advanced form building experience with tons of field types, templates and customization options. It has beautifully designed form themes for different purposes.

It can integrate with 1000+ apps including Salesforce, MailChimp, DocuSign, Slack and more via Zapier. In-depth analytics provide insights on conversions.

Paid plans start at $14.99/month for 100 form submissions. More expensive tiers offer more features and submissions.

Pros: Powerful customization and tons of integrations. Cons: More complex and expensive.

Typeform

Typeform offers a unique conversational, quiz-style web form builder. It provides visually engaging, interactive form templates that feel more like surveys.

It integrates with apps like MailChimp, Slack, Google Sheets and more. Real-time analytics track form completion rates.

The free plan is limited to 10 questions and 100 responses per month. Paid plans start at $19/month for more questions and responses.

Pros: Innovative, conversational forms. Cons: Steep learning curve, restrictive free plan.

Key Form Software Features and Considerations

There are a few key factors to evaluate when choosing web form software:

Drag and Drop Form Builders

• Intuitive visual form builders with drag and drop fields speeds development.
• Easily add text fields, checkboxes, images and rearrange layouts.
• Live previews ensure forms look how you expect.
• Great for faster form building without coding expertise.

Form Templates

• Pre-designed form layouts for common uses like contact forms, surveys, etc.
• Library of themes to quickly style forms to match branding.
• Modify templates by adding/removing fields as needed.
• Accelerate design process and provide consistent look.

Mobile Responsiveness

• Fluid, responsive form layouts work perfectly on any device.
• Mobile-friendly themes prevent tiny text, broken layouts on phones.
• No need to build custom mobile-friendly CSS from scratch.
• Essential with over 50% of traffic now on mobile.

Integrations

• Connect forms directly to databases, CRMs, analytics platforms.
• Send data to Mailchimp, Slack, PayPal and 1,000+ other apps.
• Automate workflows when forms are submitted.
• Eliminate custom coding and integration headaches.

Form Analytics

• View real-time stats on form conversions, abandonment.
• See which fields or steps cause drop off.
• Track performance over time to optimize.
• A/B test different form designs and flows.
• Critical for improving form completion rates.

Also consider ease of use, capabilities, flexibility, scalability, and pricing.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Web form design software provides an easy way to create, manage and optimize online forms without coding. Key features like drag and drop builders, templates, mobile responsiveness, integrations and analytics can streamline and simplify the entire form design process.

Top tools like DevHunt Forms, Wufoo, JotForm, Formstack and Typeform each have unique strengths depending on your needs and budget. Evaluating priorities like core features, ease of use, and pricing models will help determine the best fit.

The key takeaway is that these tools allow you to work smarter, not harder when it comes to collecting critical user input and data through web forms. No more struggling with manual coding and integration issues. With the right web form software, you can build high converting web forms faster and focus on driving results.

If you rely heavily on web forms for business, explore DevHunt Forms to see how it can help you streamline web form design and boost conversions. The easy drag and drop builder, mobile-friendly forms, and built-in analytics make it a powerful option to consider.