WPForms Lite: Build Your First Form

Plugins

November 5, 2025

WPForms Lite is one of the easiest form builder plugins for WordPress. It lets you create contact forms, feedback forms, and newsletter signups with a simple drag-and-drop interface — no coding required. In this guide, you’ll learn how to install WPForms Lite, create your first form, and add it to your website step by step.

Why Choose WPForms Lite?

✅ Beginner-friendly drag & drop form builder
✅ Pre-built templates (contact, feedback, registration, etc.)
✅ Mobile-responsive and fast
✅ Built-in spam protection with reCAPTCHA and anti-spam tokens
✅ Seamless integration with WordPress block editor and shortcodes

Step 1: Install and Activate WPForms Lite

Go to your WordPress dashboard.
Navigate to Plugins → Add New.
Search for WPForms.
Click Install Now → Activate.

Once activated, a new menu item WPForms will appear in your sidebar.

Step 2: Create Your First Form

Go to WPForms → Add New.
Enter a form name, such as Contact Form.
Choose a template:
- Simple Contact Form — best for general inquiries
- Newsletter Signup Form — for email subscriptions
- Suggestion Form — for collecting feedback
- Blank Form — start from scratch

WPForms will open the drag-and-drop builder interface where you can customize fields visually.

Step 3: Add and Customize Form Fields

To modify your form:

Drag fields from the left panel (e.g., Name, Email, Message) into your form.
Click on any field to edit its label, placeholder, or required setting.
Reorder fields by dragging them up or down.

Common fields you can use:

Name: First Name / Last Name
Email: validates correct email format
Paragraph Text: for longer messages
Dropdown / Multiple Choice: for selections
Checkboxes: for multiple options

Tip: WPForms Lite doesn’t include advanced fields like payment or file uploads — those are available in the Pro version.

Step 4: Configure Form Settings

Click the Settings tab inside the form builder.

General Settings

Form Name: Used internally for identification.
Submit Button Text: Example: “Send Message” or “Submit Now.”
Anti-Spam Protection: Leave enabled to block bot submissions.

Notifications

Configure who receives form submissions:

Send To Email Address: The admin email or a custom address.
From Name / From Email: Customize the sender details.

Confirmations

Decide what visitors see after submitting a form:

✅ Display a message (“Thank you for contacting us!”)
🔗 Redirect to a specific page (like /thank-you/)
📄 Show another form

Step 5: Enable Spam Protection (reCAPTCHA)

WPForms Lite integrates with Google reCAPTCHA to block spam and automated bots.

1) Get reCAPTCHA API Keys

Go to the Google reCAPTCHA Admin Console.
Register your domain and choose reCAPTCHA v2 (“I’m not a robot”) or v3 (invisible).
Copy your Site Key and Secret Key.

2) Add Keys in WPForms

Go to WPForms → Settings → CAPTCHA.
Select your reCAPTCHA type (v2 or v3).
Enter your Site Key and Secret Key.
Click Save Settings.

Next, open your form and click Settings → General → Enable reCAPTCHA.

Step 6: Embed the Form on a Page or Post

You can add your WPForms form anywhere using the block editor or shortcode.

Option 1: Using the Block Editor (Recommended)

Open the page or post where you want to insert the form.
Click the (+) icon → search for “WPForms.”
Select your form from the dropdown menu.
Publish or update the page.

Option 2: Using a Shortcode

Go to WPForms → All Forms.
Copy the shortcode (e.g., [wpforms id="123"]).
Paste it into any post, page, or widget.

Step 7: Test Your Form

Always test your form before publishing it widely:

Visit your page and fill out the form.
Submit the form and confirm that the success message or redirect works.
Check your email inbox to verify you received the submission.

If you don’t receive emails, install a plugin like WP Mail SMTP to improve email deliverability.

Step 8: View Form Entries (Pro Feature)

WPForms Lite does not store entries in the WordPress database — they’re only sent via email.
If you need to view or export entries inside WordPress, upgrade to WPForms Pro.

Step 9: Add a Thank-You Page Redirect (Optional)

You can easily redirect users to a custom thank-you page after form submission.

Edit your form → go to Settings → Confirmations.
Select Go to URL (Redirect).
Enter your thank-you page URL (e.g., /thank-you/).
Click Save.

Step 10: Troubleshooting Tips

1) Form Doesn’t Appear on the Page

Ensure you published the correct page.
Confirm that caching plugins are cleared.

2) Emails Not Sending

Install WP Mail SMTP and configure with your mail provider.
Use a domain-based email (e.g., info@example.com).

3) Too Much Spam

Enable reCAPTCHA or hCaptcha in Settings → CAPTCHA.
Turn on Anti-Spam Protection under Settings → General.

Best Practices for WPForms

✅ Use simple, clear labels to improve user experience.
✅ Test your form on both desktop and mobile devices.
✅ Enable reCAPTCHA or honeypot protection for all forms.
✅ Regularly check your email inbox or upgrade to Pro for entry logs.

Conclusion

WPForms Lite makes it quick and effortless to create fully functional contact forms in WordPress. With its drag-and-drop builder, reCAPTCHA protection, and shortcode/block integration, it’s perfect for beginners who want to collect messages, feedback, or leads without writing code.

Summary: Install → Create form → Add fields → Enable spam protection → Embed → Test.
In minutes, you’ll have a professional, responsive contact form live on your site.

🔌 Looking for more? Check out our WordPress Plugins Hub to discover recommended tools and how to use them.