11 Best (Free & Paid) Online Form Builders – Updated 2024

With so many different online form builders available these days, it can be hard to know which one to choose. Can a free form builder give you everything you need? Or are you better off investing in a paid plan?

Either way, since online forms are such an important part of your website – and your website is such an important part of your business – you want to be sure to choose the right one.

You want to be able to easily figure out how to get your forms to do everything you need them to do. And you certainly don’t want to discover your database is too limited when it’s too late to do anything about it, or that your form isn’t attractive enough to get people to fill it out in the first place.

What might be the best online form builder for someone else isn’t necessarily the best one for you. That’s why we’ve tested and compared all the top form builders and put together this comprehensive list. Read on to find out which one is best for your needs.

What We Look For in the Best Online Form Builders

• Flexible: You want to be able to make different types of forms, from standard questionnaires to lead generation surveys and everything in between
• Simple: Building an online form shouldn’t take up hours of your time or require a how-to guide
• Feature-rich: You should have access to all the functionality you need, including useful third-party integrations
• Customizable: You want your forms to match your branding, to create a seamless customer experience

Free Online Form Builders

If you choose to use a free form builder, you’re going to want one that doesn’t limit you too much. Most of the free form builders on this list do have paid versions, but in this article, we’ll be focusing on the features you get for free.

#1: JotForm – The Largest Collection of Free Templates1

With JotForm, not only do you get the tools to create great-looking forms, but you can also accept payments from 30+ different payment gateways (just keep in mind that you can only receive ten payments per month with the free plan1). JotForm integrates with Dropbox and Google Docs, plus lots of other widgets that let you add extra features.

Standout Features

• Visual Form Builder. JotForm uses an intuitive drag-and-drop builder. It’s easy to customize styles, fonts, backgrounds, and color schemes.
• Templates. There are more than 10,000 (yes, you read that correctly) free templates available. In popular categories such as registration forms, signup forms, evaluation forms, and contact forms, you’ll literally have dozens of options to choose from.

• Mobile Forms. JotForm Mobile Forms is a new app-based form creation tool that enables you to create forms on the go. Plus, you can allow users to scan barcodes, take photos, and more.

For more in-depth information about JotForm, read our expert review.

#2: Google Forms – Feature-Packed and 100% Free1

Google Forms1 is one of the all-time easiest ways to build an online form, especially if you’re already familiar with Google’s other apps.

Standout Features

• Google Sheets Integration. All of your form submissions are automatically saved into a Google Sheets spreadsheet instead of a local database – which makes it easy to keep track of your form submissions and share them with others.
• Conditional Logic. Google Forms supports basic conditional logic, which means that the questions people see can be adjusted based on the previous answers they have provided.
• Add-Ons. There is a range of add-ons to choose from, including formLimiter (which limits the number of times your form can be submitted) and Form Notifications (which allows you to customize the email notifications you receive).

#3: Zoho Forms – Tons of Features and 30+ Field Types1

Zoho Forms is part of the Zoho family of apps, which includes CRM (customer relationship management), email, accounting, document editing, and more. It even has its own project management software (see our expert Zoho Projects review for more details).

The platform has been designed to integrate well with third-party apps, like Zapier, which means you can automatically send your form entries to a custom database, even on the free plan1.

Standout Features

• Rules. Zoho Forms allows you to create specific field, form, and page rules. This lets you instruct Zoho Forms to perform certain actions based on the particular responses. For example, in the screenshot below, I’ve created a form rule for my email subscription form so that people are taken to a page explaining GDPR rules if they fail to tick the GDPR consent checkbox.

• Field Types. There are more than 30 field types that you can choose from when you’re building your forms, including geolocation, decision boxes, file upload fields, formulas, multiple choice, radio buttons, and checkboxes. With Zoho Forms, you’re not limited to a certain number of form fields, either.
• Notifications. As well as having your form responses stored in your database and automatically emailed to you, you’re also able to send confirmation messages to your visitors’ email addresses. Few free form makers offer this feature.

If you’re interested in learning more about Zoho Forms, don’t miss our expert review.

#4: Sendinblue – Best Online Marketing Tool with Built-In Form Builder1

Although Sendinblue is much more than a form builder – it’s a fully-featured online marketing platform that covers email marketing, advertising, and landing pages – it actually has a really great (free!) form builder included in its features.

Create subscription/signup forms, unsubscription forms, and forms that allow your customers to update their profile. As part of the free plan, you can collect an unlimited number of contacts, and you’re not limited in the number of forms you can create, either. Unfortunately, there are no templates, but you can customize the background, change fonts, add images, and adjust the size of your form.

Standout Features

• Multi-List Subscription Field. If you have different mailing lists that you want to offer to your customers, to target specific needs and/or interests, you can add a field so that visitors can select the lists they want to subscribe to. This removes the need for multiple signup forms and enables you to create a better UX (user experience) for your visitors.

• Unlimited Attributes. Attributes are form fields that relate to specific information that you would like to be stored in your contacts list(s) when your visitors subscribe. Pre-defined attributes include FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, SMS, and EMAIL. Because the available form fields in the editor are fairly limited, the attributes tag enables you to create new fields that you can use in other forms – for example, creating a MESSAGE attribute to turn a signup form into a contact form.
• GDPR-Compliant with Double Opt-In. Ensure you’re complying with GDPR data-handling regulations with this form field. Your new subscriber enters their email address, then they have to click a link in a confirmation email to subscribe. You will have to set a boolean attribute for this field in your attributes list, but there’s a step-by-step guide to help.

#5: Wufoo – The Best for Advanced Analytics1

As a featured Wix partner, Wufoo is a great choice. Although the interface looks super simple, its features are anything but basic. You can choose from a huge range of templates and easily customize your form’s fields.

The downside with Wufoo form builder’s free plan is that the limits are pretty tight. For instance, you can’t have more than ten fields on a form, and each option in a multiple choice section counts as a field, so they can add up quick.

Standout Features

• Customization. Forget about having a generic-looking form. Some of the other tools on this list don’t give you advanced customization options, but with Wufoo forms you can create a super personalized look. Adjust alignment, build custom themes, and select colors to match your website and make your form stand out from the crowd.
• Predefined Choices. If you’re collecting specific information from your website visitors (perhaps for a research project or as part of a survey), you can easily pre-populate common demographic options for a multiple choice field. Add gender, age, employment, income, and education options with just a couple of clicks.

• Reports. Instantly create detailed, graphic reports without even opening a spreadsheet app. Reports can be customized, too.

Want to learn more about Wufoo? Click here to read our expert review.

#6: Typeform – Great Design That Encourages Conversion

Designing forms that look amazing is a breeze with Typeform . There are more than 80 pre-designed, modern and stylish templates that you can choose from. The form builder integrates with Google Analytics so you can easily analyze your data, plus you can connect to Zapier.

Standout Features

• Unique Design. If you’re tired of the same old form types, you’ll appreciate the modern look of Typeform forms. Instead of displaying all questions at once, Typeform shows one question at a time, which can help improve completion rates.
• Keyboard Shortcuts. Your visitors can fill out an entire form using only a keyboard. This includes selecting multiple-choice options, typing into dropdown menus to filter out the options, and pressing “Enter” to go to the next field. The result? More submissions!
• Mobile-Friendly. The larger buttons on a Typeform form make it much easier for your visitors – especially your older visitors – to make selections and fill out your forms on mobile devices.

#7: 123FormBuilder – Simple, Yet Full of Advanced Features1

With 123FormBuilder, you get 200 templates to choose from, plus an impressive array of tools – including two-step verification, multiple fields on a row, and support for e-signatures. It integrates really well with platforms like Wix and WordPress so you can easily add forms to your website. Plus, you get full access to the HTML code.

Standout Features

• Multiple Notifications. While most website form builders have some kind of email notification system activated when a new form submission is saved to your database, 123FormBuilder has a more advanced system that allows notifications to be sent to three different email addresses on its free plan.
• CSS Customization. Take the design of your online form to the next level with the ability to customize your CSS code. Change colors, styles, and more!
• Theme Creation. Design your own theme to match your website’s branding. Plus, you can save your theme to use on all of your future forms. The theme creation tool lets you create up to three custom form themes on the free plan.

#8: Formsite – The Best for Text Encryption1

If you’re looking for a more secure solution for your online forms – for example, if you’re collecting healthcare responses – then Formsite is for you. Not only do you get text encryption, but you can also produce password-protected reports. Unfortunately, you only get a daily summary email (rather than email notifications) on the free plan.

Formsite offers a large number of form field options for free, plus you can upload files. The biggest downside? You only get ten results per form with the free plan.

Standout Features

• Spam Prevention. As well as being compatible with reCAPTCHA, Formsite comes complete with automatic spam protection for all forms. This feature ensures that every response you get is genuine, so your database isn’t filled with spam entries.
• Text Field Encryption. Free online form builders don’t usually come with the level of security that Formsite offers. With text field encryption, you can assure website visitors that their data is safe – which means they’re more likely to hand it over.
• QR Code. Direct people to your online form using a QR code. Great for adding to leaflets and other physical literature, so you can reach people who might not otherwise find your form.

Want to know more about Formsite? Read our expert review.

Paid Online Form Builders

Time to upgrade to a paid form builder? Maybe you need more monthly form submissions than what the free form builders offer. If you’re running a business, being limited to 100 form submissions (or less) per month doesn’t offer much room for growing your customer base.

Market research and lead generation are two of the most important things for businesses. The best form builders in the paid category are the ones that give you the tools you need to increase conversions and grow your business.

#9: Ninja Forms – The Best to Use With WordPress1

A flexible form builder designed especially for WordPress, Ninja Forms can be downloaded and installed for free. But if you want to use it for business, you’ll need to either subscribe to a yearly plan or purchase some add-ons.

Standout Features

• Add-Ons. With Ninja Forms, you don’t have to sign up to a yearly plan. Add-ons can be purchased individually so you can pick and choose. For example, if you’re on the personal plan and want to add a Zapier integration, buying the add-on would be up to 60% cheaper than upgrading to the next level plan.

• Add-On Manager. The Ninja Forms dashboard in WordPress has a handy manager that enables you to install the add-ons you’ve purchased with a single click, so you can quickly get started with creating advanced forms.
• Widgets and Shortcodes. Ninja Forms only works with WordPress – but it makes adding forms onto your pages and posts in WordPress easy, like really easy. You can use shortcodes, widgets, and automatic content to give your forms the most exposure possible.

#10: Formstack – Perfect Solution for Regulated Businesses1

With a stack of advanced tools for all types of businesses, Formstack is particularly useful if you have strict data rules you need to adhere to. Other features include A/B testing, accepting payments directly through the form, and custom branding. The interface is clean and easy to use, with a drag-and-drop-style builder that makes customizing your form a breeze.

While Formstack doesn’t offer a free plan, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial.

Standout Features

• Compliance. If your business is subject to strict regulations, then Formstack offers you the peace of mind of being completely HIPAA compliant. It’s also GDPR compliant, and will give you warnings if your form fails to meet Section 508 compliance standards (for users of assistive technology).
• Advanced Code Editor. Take complete control of the look and feel of your online form with the theme creation feature. This includes an advanced code editor that enables you to directly edit CSS and HTML.
• Approval Workflows. In a regulated business, you need to know that your data isn’t being mishandled. In addition to being a HIPAA compliant form builder, Formstack offers approval workflows. These ensure that when form data is submitted it automatically reaches the right person, avoiding any data breaches.

Curious to know more about Formstack? Don’t miss our in-depth review.

#11: Paperform – A Digital Swiss Army Knife1

If you’re looking for a feature-packed builder that’s designed to help you create great looking forms, Paperform is a solid choice. The interface makes it incredibly easy, and can be used for everything from contact forms to “landing forms” – where landing pages meet online forms, like in the screenshot below:

Standout Features

• Payments and Subscriptions. It’s super easy to accept payments. You can set up subscriptions and accept donations, too. Payments are processed via Braintree.
• Simplicity. Even with its powerful tools, Paperform is amazingly easy to use. The editor has been designed to feel like you’re simply writing a doc as you’re building your form.
• Onboarding and Application Forms. Paperform is perfect for setting up application forms and client-information forms (onboarding forms) directly on your website. It also makes the filling out process feel more enjoyable and like less of a chore.

Update: Paperform has gone through a rebrand, and it now goes way beyond building forms. In fact, it is now a flexible Saas platform suited to helping small businesses create beautiful no-code solutions for various projects. From creating forms that automate onboarding, taking payments and appointments to dedicated landing pages. Its powerful editor helps you tailor the color palette, themes and whatever content you want to your unique brand.

Free and Paid Solutions for Fabulous Online Forms

Free form builders impose limitations, including the cap on the number of submissions you can receive or forms you can generate. However, you might find it pleasantly surprising that these constraints notwithstanding, you can access numerous features without incurring any charges.

If you’re running a business and are in the market for a paid online form maker, then you’re much less likely to face restrictions. That said, not all paid plans are unlimited, so it’s worth checking exactly what you’re getting before you sign up. Extra charges, when you go over the limits, can quickly add up!

Online forms are really easy to create and have come a long way in terms of design in just a few years. With new ways of collecting data popping up every day, there’s no excuse for having a boring, basic form on your website.

Our Recommendations

• If you have a larger-sized business or you’re looking to grow your revenue, JotForm1’s conversion-focused forms are excellent and can help you boost your conversion rate quickly.
• If you’re a blogger on a tight budget and you’re looking for a 100% free form builder, Google Forms1 is an excellent choice. You can add extra features through the Google Add-ons, and you won’t find any features hidden behind a paywall.
• If you’re a small business owner looking for the best free form builder that you can upgrade as your business grows, Zoho Forms1 is for you. It gives you more monthly submissions than other forms, plus it integrates with Zoho apps to make your business management more streamlined.
• If you have a WordPress-based website, then Ninja Forms is our recommendation. You can choose a yearly plan or pick and choose from the range of different add-ons available for purchase.