How to Add Contact Forms in WordPress (Using Contact Form 7 & WPForms)

Method 1: Add Contact Form Using Contact Form 7

Step 1: Install and Activate Contact Form 7

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. In the left-hand menu, go to Plugins > Add New.
3. In the search bar, type Contact Form 7.
4. Click Install Now next to the plugin, and once installed, click Activate.

Step 2: Create a New Contact Form

1. After activation, you’ll see a new menu item called Contact in your dashboard. Click on it.
2. Click the Add New button at the top of the page.
3. A default form template will appear in the editor. You can modify this template as needed. Here’s a basic example of what the default template looks like:

Your Name (required)

[text* your-name]

Your Email (required)

[email* your-email]

Subject

[text your-subject]

Your Message

[textarea your-message]

[submit “Send”]

You can add or remove fields according to your needs, such as a phone number or message field. The tags like [text* your-name] represent different types of fields (e.g., text, email, textarea).

Step 3: Configure the Email Settings

1. After creating your form, go to the Mail tab.
2. In this tab, you’ll configure the email settings to specify where form submissions should be sent. By default, it sends to the email address associated with your WordPress admin account, but you can change that.
3. You’ll see fields like To, From, and Message Body. Make sure that the To field contains the email address where you want to receive messages.

Step 4: Add the Contact Form to a Page or Post

1. After saving your form, you’ll be given a shortcode at the top of the page. It will look something like this:

   Your name
   

   Your email
   

   Subject
   

   Your message (optional)
   
   .
2. Copy the shortcode.
3. Go to the page or post where you want the contact form to appear.
4. Paste the shortcode into the content area where you want the form to show up (either in the block editor or the classic editor).
5. Click Update or Publish to save your page/post with the contact form.

Step 5: Test Your Contact Form Visit the page where you added the form and fill it out to test that submissions are sent correctly to your email.

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Method 2: Add Contact Form Using WPForms

Step 1: Install and Activate WPForms

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. In the search bar, type WPForms.
4. Click Install Now next to the plugin, and after it installs, click Activate.

Step 2: Create a New Form

1. After activation, you’ll see WPForms in your dashboard menu. Click on it, then select Add New.
2. You’ll be prompted to choose a template for your form. For a simple contact form, select the Simple Contact Form template.
3. WPForms will automatically create a basic contact form with fields for name, email, and message.
4. You can drag and drop additional fields from the left panel if you need them (e.g., phone number, dropdowns, checkboxes).

Step 3: Configure Form Settings

1. After building your form, go to the Settings tab in WPForms.
2. In the General settings, you can modify the form name, button text, and other details.
3. In the Notifications section, you can set up email notifications. By default, WPForms sends form submissions to the WordPress admin email, but you can change the recipient address here.
4. You can also configure the Confirmations settings, which control what the user sees after submitting the form (e.g., a message thanking them for contacting you).

Step 4: Add the Contact Form to a Page or Post

1. Once you’re satisfied with your form, click Save.
2. WPForms will generate a shortcode for your form.
3. Copy the shortcode (it will look something like this: [wpforms id="1234"]).
4. Go to the page or post where you want to add the form.
5. Paste the shortcode into the content area (again, either in the block editor or classic editor).
6. Click Publish or Update to save the changes.

Step 5: Test Your Contact Form Go to the page where you added the form and submit a test message. Check that the form submissions are received in the email inbox as expected.

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Comparison: Contact Form 7 vs WPForms

• Ease of Use:
  • Contact Form 7: Requires more manual setup and can be challenging for beginners.
  • WPForms: Drag-and-drop builder, user-friendly, and suitable for beginners.
• Customization:
  • Contact Form 7: Highly customizable, but it requires familiarity with HTML and form tags.
  • WPForms: Offers more customization options with a simpler, user-friendly interface.
• Add-ons:
  • Contact Form 7: A free plugin, but you can extend it using add-ons (though they often require extra effort to configure).
  • WPForms: Offers a premium version with more advanced features like payment integrations, form templates, and email marketing integrations.
• Support:
  • Contact Form 7: Free support from the WordPress community via forums.
  • WPForms: Dedicated support with the premium version.

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Conclusion

Both Contact Form 7 and WPForms are excellent plugins for adding contact forms to your WordPress site, but they cater to different needs:

• If you’re comfortable with code or prefer a free option, Contact Form 7 is a great choice.
• If you prefer a more user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface, and potentially need advanced features, WPForms is an excellent option.