Free web form builders make collecting data a breeze
Collecting information and data from users is crucial for businesses and organizations of all sizes. However, building fully customized online forms from scratch can be time consuming and require technical expertise. This is where free web form builders come in - they provide an easy drag and drop solution to create forms for gathering registrations, survey responses, contact information, and more. In this article, we'll cover the benefits of using free form builders and highlight some of the top options available like JotForm, TypeForm, Google Forms, and FormStack.
Introduction: The Advantages of Free Online Form Builders
Free web form builders empower anyone to quickly create customized online forms without coding. They provide a visual editor to add fields, customize design themes, and adjust settings through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Built-in integrations with other services also allow collected data to flow directly into your CRM, email marketing platform, online database, and more for further analysis.
Key benefits of free form builders include:
- Ease of use - No coding required. Drag-and-drop editors and pre-made templates make form creation simple.
- Customization - Tailor forms with your branding, color schemes, fonts, layouts and more.
- Mobile responsiveness - Forms work seamlessly on all devices.
- Data collection - Securely gather information through multiple field types and input formats.
- Integrations - Connect form data to hundreds of popular apps and services.
- Analytics - Track form views, submissions, conversion rates, and more.
- Multi-page forms - Create intuitive multi-step workflows with progress bars.
In this post, we'll highlight some of the most popular free form builders and how different users can benefit from them, including marketing teams, HR departments, event planners, researchers, and more.
Top Free Web Form Builders
There are many great options when it comes to free online form builders. Here are some of the most popular platforms to consider:
JotForm
JotForm is one of the most full-featured free form builders available. Key features include:
- Drag-and-drop form editor with mobile optimization
- Integrates with Zapier, PayPal, Mailchimp, Slack, and 1,000+ other services
- Accept payments, donations, and online orders
- 100 free submissions per month on free plan
JotForm is great for marketers and anyone wanting to create polished, professional-looking forms with maximum customization options.
TypeForm
TypeForm specializes in creating engaging, conversational forms with a focus on surveys. Features include:
- More interactive forms with mobile-first design
- Powerful built-in analytics and reporting
- Free plan limited to 10 questions and 100 responses
- Geared more toward surveys than transactional forms
TypeForm excels at creating fun, human-feeling survey and quiz experiences optimized for completion and gathering feedback.
Google Forms
Google Forms is a great free option for those already using Google's G Suite apps. Benefits include:
- Seamlessly integrates with other Google services
- Real-time collaboration allowing teams to work together
- Limited custom styling compared to other form builders
- Cannot collect payments with free version
Google Forms is the obvious choice if you need easy collaboration and already rely heavily on Google services.
FormStack
FormStack provides free embeddable forms for websites with Zapier integration. Features include:
- Forms can be hosted and embedded directly on your site
- Connect to Zapier to streamline workflows
- 100 monthly entries free, then paid plans start at $14.99/mo
- Additional reporting and features require premium plans
FormStack is a flexible option for anyone wanting forms directly embedded on their website.
The free versions of these form builders allow you to easily create unlimited forms and collect up to 100 submissions per month, which is perfect for getting started. For higher submission volumes and advanced features, paid plans are available that remove these limits.
Key Features to Look for in Form Builders
When evaluating different form builder options, here are some of the essential features to look for:
- User-friendly interface - Drag and drop form editors that don't require any coding or design expertise.
- Custom branding - Match form colors, fonts, and styles to your branding.
- Mobile responsiveness - Forms should adapt seamlessly across all devices.
- Integrations - Connect to marketing, sales, and business systems to streamline data workflows.
- Spam filtering - Block bots and spam to keep data clean.
- Embeddable forms - Embed forms on your website for easy access.
- Analytics - View form performance stats to optimize.
- Payments - Accept one-time and recurring payments directly through forms.
- Multi-page forms - Create intuitive multi-step form workflows.
Looking specifically at responsive design and analytics, these factors are critical:
Responsive Design
With most traffic coming from mobile devices, ensuring your forms display properly across all screen sizes and devices is essential. Avoid any form builder with limited or poor mobile responsiveness. Seek out builders like JotForm and TypeForm that fully optimize for any device out of the box.
Data Collection & Analytics
The ability to view real-time analytics on form views, submissions, abandon rates, and more is invaluable for identifying issues and improving your forms over time. Prioritize builders like Google Forms and JotForm that give you robust insights into your form performance and user behavior.
Use Cases for Online Form Builders
The potential use cases for free web form builders are nearly endless. Here are some of the most popular examples:
- Lead generation forms
- Registration and event signup forms
- Customer surveys and feedback collection
- Job applications and HR forms
- Quizzes, contests, giveaways
- Polling and general research
- Collecting payments, donations, and online orders
For specific examples, forms can be extremely valuable for:
Lead Generation
- Create contact request forms to capture leads
- Offer content upgrades like ebooks/whitepapers and special offers in exchange for emails
- Use exit intent forms to collect emails as visitors are leaving
- Give coupons/discounts for newsletter signups
Registrations & Event Signups
- Accept registrations and RSVPs for webinars, conferences, or online events
- Customize registration workflows with multi-page forms
- Collect info like name, email, interests, and questions
- Allow attendees to pick ticket types or package options
Customer Feedback
- Survey customers on product satisfaction and pain points
- Get feedback on new features or redesigns before launch
- Let customers submit reviews, testimonials, or report issues
Overall, the use cases are limitless - any situation requiring data collection can benefit from custom forms.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
Free web form builders like JotForm, TypeForm, Google Forms, and FormStack provide an easy way for anyone to create customized online forms without technical skills. With drag-and-drop editors, mobile optimization, built-in analytics, and integrations, they streamline data collection and input.
Key criteria to evaluate include ease of use, custom branding, responsive design, integrations, embeddable forms, payments, and multi-page workflows. Use cases range from capturing leads to registrations, surveys, quizzes, and collecting payments or orders.
With the right free form builder tailored to your specific needs, you can deploy unlimited forms to engage and convert website visitors. Be sure to choose an option with capabilities aligned with your goals. Check out the leading form builders on DevHunt to explore your options and get started gathering data today.