Forget Coding: Build Forms Visually with HTML Form Builders
Creating forms using traditional HTML and CSS coding can be time-consuming and require advanced technical skills. HTML form builders provide an intuitive drag-and-drop alternative to quickly build functional web forms without any manual coding. In this post, we'll explain the key benefits of visual form builders and compare some top options like DevHunt Form Builder, Typeform, JotForm, and more.
Introduction
HTML form builders allow anyone to create web forms by dragging and dropping pre-made form elements like text fields, checkboxes, and dropdowns. Instead of manually writing HTML and CSS markup, these visual editors handle all the complex code behind the scenes.
The end result is mobile-friendly web forms that can be embedded anywhere in minutes, without needing to know how to code. This makes form builders extremely valuable for small business owners, marketers, event planners, HR professionals, and more.
Popular use cases include:
- Registration and sign-up forms
- Contact forms and lead captures
- Customer surveys and questionnaires
- Job applications and HR forms
- Shopping cart and order forms
- Event and webinar registrations
- Customer support and feedback forms
For developers and tech businesses like DevHunt, form builders allow creating functional forms quickly without coding them from scratch.
Overall, form builders open up form creation to everyone through an easy drag-and-drop interface. Next let's explore their benefits and features in more detail.
Benefits of Visual Form Builders
Key advantages of using a form builder vs manually coding forms include:
- Faster form building - Create full forms in minutes/hours instead of days/weeks.
- No coding required - Anyone can build forms without HTML/CSS skills.
- Works on all devices - Mobile responsive design looks great on every screen size.
- Pre-made elements - Use ready-made text fields, dropdowns, uploads and more.
- Intuitive editing - Visually design forms and see changes instantly.
- Beautiful themes - Apply customizable designs and branding.
- Workflow integrations - Connect form data to apps like CRMs, email services, and more.
By handling the complex code behind the scenes, form builders make it easy for anyone to create mobile-friendly, functional forms quickly.
Top Form Builders Compared
There are many excellent form builder options available today, both free and paid. Here we'll overview some of the most popular full-featured solutions:
DevHunt Form Builder
DevHunt Form Builder provides an easy drag-and-drop editor to create forms visually. Key features include:
- Mobile responsive form designs
- Customizable themes to match branding
- Connects to DevHunt user management and analytics
- Free plan available
- Integrates with other apps via Zapier
It's a great option aligned with the DevHunt platform and ecosystem.
Typeform
Typeform specializes in conversational forms and surveys. Features include:
- Highly intuitive and engaging form UX
- In-depth analytics and insights
- Many templates and customization options
- Focus on "conversational" form interface
- Free basic plan, paid upgrades available
Typeform makes it very easy to create interactive, analytics-driven forms.
JotForm
JotForm provides a fully-featured form builder for diverse use cases. Key features:
- Drag and drop form creator with tons of options
- HIPAA compliant forms for healthcare
- Integrates with over 1000+ apps via Zapier
- Polished, customizable themes
- Popular free plan, paid upgrades available
JotForm stands out for its flexibility and integrations.
Wufoo
Wufoo focuses on ease of use and CRM integrations:
- Simple drag and drop editor
- Entry management and analytics
- Good basic customization options
- Integrates tightly with CRMs
- Paid plans starting at $19/month
Wufoo is a good choice for easy form building with CRMs.
Google Forms
Google Forms provides basic free form creation:
- Free and easy to use with a Google account
- Stores results in Google Sheets
- Provides templates and customization
- Limited integrations
- Good for simple forms and surveys
While limited, Google Forms offers a free starting point.
There are many other excellent form builders as well like Formstack, Zoho Forms, and more. But the above options represent some of the most widely-used and full-featured solutions available today.
Key Features to Evaluate
When selecting a form builder, here are some key features to look for:
Responsive Design
Ensure forms work perfectly across devices with:
- Adaptive design that auto-resizes for mobile
- Mobile previews to optimize for smaller screens
- Higher conversions from better mobile experience
Customizable Templates & Themes
Professionally designed templates and themes help build better forms faster. Look for:
- Many template options for diverse use cases
- Custom themes to match branding
- Improved UX from pre-designed templates
Integrations & Workflows
Connecting forms to other apps automates saving and sharing data. Consider:
- Email, CRM, analytics integrations
- Zapier for connecting 1000+ apps
- Saving responses to databases, calendars, storage etc.
- Multi-step processes triggered after submit
Analytics & Reports
In-depth analytics help optimize and improve forms. Evaluate:
- Real-time reports on conversions, drop-off etc
- Segmenting data by field, device, source etc.
- Email/SMS notifications on form submit
- Exporting raw data for further analysis
Advanced Logic
Smart form logic creates dynamic, personalized experiences. Offerings like:
- Conditional logic to show/hide fields
- Multi-page/step forms with progress bar
- Data validation and spam prevention
- Calculations, scoring, and advanced options
Prioritizing these key features will help you choose the right form builder for your needs and use case.
Conclusion & Next Steps
HTML form builders provide an easy drag-and-drop way to create web forms quickly without coding. They handle all the complex backend form processing and delivery.
When evaluating form builders, look for key features like mobile responsiveness, workflows, analytics, and advanced logic. Top solutions include DevHunt Form Builder, Typeform, JotForm, Wufoo, and more.
We recommend trying out a few top options first-hand to determine the best fit for your specific use case and needs. With the right form builder, you can build fully-functional, optimized forms in no time without writing any code yourself.
Get started building forms easily today with DevHunt Form Builder.