Wysiwyg Form Builders: An Essential Guide for Developers

Form builders have become an invaluable tool for developers looking to quickly and easily create online forms without coding. Wysiwyg (what you see is what you get) form builders allow you to visually drag and drop fields to build forms through an intuitive editor interface. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover what wysiwyg form builders are, their key features and benefits, top use cases, how to choose the right platform, and tips for getting started.

What are WYSIWYG Form Builders?

WYSIWYG form builders enable anyone to create professional online forms through a visual drag and drop interface, without needing to know how to code. These tools generate the HTML, CSS, and logic behind the scenes to build fully functional forms.

Key features of wysiwyg form builders:

• Drag and drop form editor to add and arrange fields visually
• Form templates for common uses like contact forms, surveys, etc.
• Database integration to collect and store submissions
• Form customization with themes, branding, and CSS
• Embed forms on websites with generated code
• Integrations with platforms like CRMs, email marketing, payments

Benefits include faster form building, easier maintenance, and accessibility to non-developers. Wysiwyg form builders are revolutionizing how forms are created.

Benefits of WYSIWYG Form Builders

Compared to hard-coding forms, wysiwyg form builders offer some significant advantages:

• Faster form building - Visually build forms in minutes without writing code
• Accessible to non-developers - Empowers anyone to build forms without technical skills
• Intuitive visual editor - Drag and drop interface is user-friendly
• Built-in templates - Pre-made forms for common needs accelerates creation
• Integrations - Connect to platforms like CRMs, analytics, email marketing

For developers, these tools eliminate time-consuming grunt work so they can focus on more high-value projects. Non-technical team members can also create and manage forms independently.

Use Cases and Examples

Wysiwyg form builders are versatile tools that can support many use cases:

• Contact forms (e.g. Mailchimp)
• Registration forms (e.g. Eventbrite)
• Feedback surveys (e.g. SurveyMonkey)
• Quizzes and assessments
• Booking forms (e.g. Calendly)
• Lead capture forms (e.g. HubSpot)
• Custom order forms (e.g. Shopify)
• Employment applications (e.g. Greenhouse)
• Event registrations (e.g. Eventbrite)
• Payment collection (e.g. Stripe)

Virtually any scenario requiring data collection through online forms can benefit from a wysiwyg form builder.

Popular WYSIWYG Form Builders

The market has no shortage of options when it comes to wysiwyg form building platforms. Some popular choices include:

• DevHunt Forms - Offers a full-featured form builder with 100+ field types and 40+ integrations.
• Typeform - Focuses on beautiful, conversational forms.
• JotForm - Feature-rich legacy form builder with HIPAA compliance.
• Wufoo - Simple and affordable forms from SurveyMonkey.
• Google Forms - Free form builder for G Suite users.
• Formstack - Robust enterprise-level form builder.

There are also many open source form builders like FormEditor and Anvil to consider. These allow unlimited customization and avoid monthly fees but require more technical expertise.

How WYSIWYG Form Builders Work

Under the hood, wysiwyg form builders generate standardized web form code:

• The drag and drop editor allows visually arranging form fields
• Form markup (HTML) is dynamically generated
• Form logic and validation uses JavaScript
• Submitted data is collected and stored
• Forms integrate with databases, CRMs, analytics platforms via APIs
• Generated embed code lets you add forms to websites

Advanced form builders offer features like multi-page forms, conditional logic, partial submissions, and more.

Key Form Builder Features and Functionality

Now let's take a deeper look at some of the most important features and functionality to evaluate when choosing a wysiwyg form builder:

Drag and Drop Form Editor

At their core, wysiwyg form builders allow you to visually drag and drop fields to create forms. The editor lets you:

• Add and arrange fields like text boxes, checkboxes, images
• Edit field labels, options, requirements
• Move fields and adjust layout
• Preview forms while building

This delivers a what-you-see-is-what-you-get editing experience.

Form Templates

Many form builders offer pre-made templates for common form types like contact forms, event signups, surveys, and more.

Benefits include:

• Time saver versus building from a blank form
• Pre-configured with best practices
• Customizable by adding/removing fields

This gives you a running start on form creation.

Form Submission Management

Once a form is published and collecting submissions, you need tools to manage the data. Form builders allow you to:

• Store submissions in integrated databases
• Export submission data to Excel, CSV
• Forward submissions to emails, CRM, Google Sheets
• View individual entry details

This ensures your form data is accessible for reporting and follow-ups.

Integrations and APIs

To maximize capabilities, look for form builders with integrations such as:

• CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot
• Email marketing tools like MailChimp, Constant Contact
• Webinar software like GoToWebinar, Zoom
• Payment processors like Stripe, PayPal

APIs and webhooks enable custom integrations, while Zapier opens up connections to thousands of apps.

Analytics and Reporting

Understanding form performance is easy with built-in analytics:

• Submission volume metrics over time
• Conversion rates and funnel analysis
• Field completion rates and drop-off points
• Filter and segment reports
• Lead quality scoring

These insights help you optimize forms.

Multi-Page Forms

For long or complex forms, multi-page capabilities are useful:

• Divide forms into logical pages
• Add page titles, descriptions
• Progress bar shows completion
• Conditional pages based on answers

This improves long form completion rates.

Conditional Logic

Make forms dynamic by showing or hiding fields based on user input:

• Show additional fields when options are selected
• Skip to sections based on responses
• Personalize experience with branching logic

Conditional logic offers a customized form journey.

Payment Integration

If you need to collect payments or fees with forms, look for built-in payment options like:

• Stripe integration
• PayPal payments
• Partial payments and subscriptions
• Coupons and discounts

Payment integration enables powerful monetization directly within forms.

Design Customization

Match forms to your brand with customization features:

• Color palettes, fonts, and themes
• Upload logos and images
• Custom CSS overrides
• Responsive mobile-friendly designs

Consistent branding increases conversions.

Form Embedding

Seamlessly embed forms on your website with options like:

• Generated embed code
• Scroll-triggered popups
• Sticky form bars
• Multi-language support

Flexible embedding makes adding forms to sites simple.

Lead Management

Streamline lead capture and follow-ups with:

• Organized lead records from form submissions
• Assign tags and categories
• Lead scoring and rating
• Email and SMS notifications

Robust lead management saves time.

Compliance and Security

Stay compliant and secure with form builders offering:

• GDPR, SOC 2, ISO certification
• Encrypted data storage
• Role-based access controls
• International data centers
• Accessibility features

Compliance and security give you peace of mind.

Evaluating and Choosing a WYSIWYG Form Builder

With an abundance of form builders to evaluate, here are some key considerations when choosing the right platform:

Determining Use Cases

Start by outlining your primary form uses like:

• Lead generation
• Event registration
• Customer surveys
• Payment collection

Knowing your goals helps match the tool to your needs.

Comparing Features

Next, make a list of must-have and nice-to-have features and stack form builders against it. Critical factors for most:

• Drag and drop form builder
• Mobile responsiveness
• Form templates
• CRM and marketing integrations
• Conditional logic
• Analytics and reporting

Ease of Use

Test driving the editor and overall UI is key:

• How intuitive is the form building workflow?
• How steep is the platform's learning curve?
• Does the UI feel modern or dated?

Opt for simplicity.

Pricing and Plans

Pricing can range from:

• Free or freemium tiers
• Monthly subscriptions ($20 - $50/month)
• Per form pricing
• Volume and annual discounts

Find the best value for your budget.

Integration Requirements

Evaluate which critical app integrations you need like:

• CRM and marketing automation
• Webinar and meeting software
• Payment gateways

Then verify form builder compatibility.

Scalability

Consider long-term requirements:

• Form submission limits
• Reliability and uptime history
• Feature roadmap trajectory

Choose a platform built to scale.

Open Source vs Commercial

Commercial form builders offer full-service support and greater ease of use but can have higher costs. Open source platforms allow endless customization freedom but require more technical skills. Weigh the pros and cons of each approach for your needs.

Getting Started with WYSIWYG Form Builders

Ready to dive in? Here are some best practices to launch your first form:

Signing Up

First, sign up for the form builder service you selected. For paid plans, take advantage of free trials before committing.

Exploring Templates

Browse the template library to find relevant pre-made forms you can tweak and customize. Using a template gives you a head start.

Configuring Fields

Add, edit, rearrange, and configure the fields needed. Enable options like required responses, input validation, and conditional logic as desired.

Configuring Options

Set up autoresponder emails, integration connections, and form logic like multi-page or branches.

Adding Branding

Make sure your forms align with your brand identity by customizing colors, fonts, themes and adding your logo.

Testing Forms

Thoroughly test your forms by submitting test data, checking email routing, and confirming mobile responsiveness before publishing.

Publishing and Sharing

Generate a form embed code and add it to your website. Also share the direct form link for convenience.

With these steps, you'll be off and running with a polished form that converts. Don't forget to continually optimize your form based on performance data within your wysiwyg form builder's reports.

Conclusion

Wysiwyg form builders make creating professional online forms simple and fast without needing to code. Leading solutions offer intuitive drag and drop editors, pre-made templates, robust submission management, and deep integrations with third-party platforms.

When evaluating form builders, carefully determine your use cases and requirements to select the best platform for your needs and budget. Opting for an enterprise-grade builder like DevHunt Forms can provide the scalability, compliance, and features to support your growth long-term. With the right wysiwyg form builder in place, you'll be able to quickly build forms that engage audiences and capture high-quality leads.