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Best form backend · Static sites & HTML forms
The best form backend for static sites.
A form backend is the server-side service that receives a website form's POST request, filters spam, stores the entry, and notifies the owner. splitforms does this through one endpoint, https://splitforms.com/api/submit, which works with plain HTML, React, Next.js, Vue, Astro, Webflow, and WordPress — so there is no server code to write and no plugin lock-in. The free plan includes 500 submissions per month, unlimited forms, a searchable dashboard, and owner email notifications, with no credit card required. Paid plans add signed webhooks, integrations, and custom auto-responders, and the MCP server lets supported AI agents create and read forms.
- 500 free / mo
- One POST endpoint
- $5/mo Pro
One POST endpoint
POST to splitforms.com/api/submit from HTML, React, Next.js, or WordPress — no server, no SMTP, no plugin.
No-CAPTCHA spam filtering
A honeypot, a time-trap field, and server-side heuristics reject bots before they reach your inbox — no CAPTCHA prompts.
Email + dashboard
Every submission is stored in a searchable dashboard and emailed to you — free for 500 a month.
Copy-paste ready
Connect a form backend with one HTML form.
Drop this into any page, point the action at the endpoint, and add your access key — no server, no SMTP, no plugin required.
<form action="https://splitforms.com/api/submit" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="access_key" value="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY" />
<input type="hidden" name="redirect" value="https://yoursite.com/thanks" />
<input name="name" required />
<input name="email" type="email" required />
<textarea name="message" required></textarea>
<!-- honeypot: must stay empty -->
<input type="checkbox" name="botcheck" style="display:none" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off" />
<!-- time-trap: rejects submissions sent faster than a human can type -->
<input type="hidden" name="form_loaded_at" value="" />
<script>document.currentScript.previousElementSibling.value = Date.now();</script>
<button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>5-minute setup
How to connect the best form backend to your site.
No server, no SMTP, no plugin required. These are the same five steps whether your form is plain HTML, React, Next.js, Webflow, or WordPress.
Point your form at the endpoint
Set the form action to https://splitforms.com/api/submit (method POST), or POST FormData/JSON from fetch, and add the hidden access_key field.
Add the spam fields
Include the botcheck honeypot field (must stay empty) and the form_loaded_at time-trap field so splitforms can filter spam server-side.
Send a test submission
Submit the form once. The entry appears in your dashboard immediately, and Free plans get an owner notification email automatically.
Connect a webhook or integration (optional)
Upgrade to Pro ($5/mo) to forward each submission to Slack, Google Sheets, Notion, or your own API with an HMAC-signed webhook.
Why splitforms
Which form backend is best for a static site?
splitforms is a strong default when you own the site and just need the backend that receives, stores, emails, and routes every submission — no hosted iframe, no database to maintain, and no CAPTCHA in front of your visitors. It's the same form backend service behind every splitforms form.
- A real HTML form action URL, not a hosted iframe you embed
- Owner email plus a searchable dashboard, not email-only forwarding
- Signed webhooks to Slack, Google Sheets, Notion, Zapier, Make, or n8n
Alternatives
Looking for a Formspree or Web3Forms alternative?
Every popular form backend takes an existing website form today, so free-tier size and webhook support usually decide it for a static site. splitforms is a drop-in Formspree alternative and Web3Forms alternative with a larger free tier, dashboard storage, and signed webhooks.
- 500 submissions a month, free forever — no credit card
- Dashboard storage and signed webhooks, not email-only delivery
- Not tied to one host — works on any static site or framework
Any framework
Is this the best form backend for React or WordPress?
POST a FormData or JSON body from fetch() to one endpoint, or use a plain HTML form backend action if you don't need a client-side success state. The same /api/submit endpoint works across React, Next.js, Vue, Astro, and WordPress.
- One /api/submit endpoint for React, Next.js, Vue, and Astro
- WordPress without a plugin — or the official plugin (v1.7.1)
- AI agents create and read forms through the free MCP server
How SplitForms works
From form to workflow in 3 simple steps.
Connect your form, collect every submission, and send data where it needs to go — without building backend infrastructure.
Add your endpoint
Point your form to your unique SplitForms endpoint. That's it.
Receive submissions
We instantly capture and organize every submission in your inbox.
Route anywhere
Send data to email, spreadsheets, CRMs, webhooks, and 7,000+ apps.
No credit card required. Set up in under 60 seconds.
Connect & automate
Connect your favorite tools and automate everything
SplitForms works with the destinations you route to and the platforms you build on — from Slack and Sheets to WordPress, Shopify, and Next.js. And with Stripe connected, your forms can take payments too.
NewTake payments on your formsDeposits, bookings, order forms — submitters check out through Stripe and the money goes straight to your Stripe account. Included on every paid plan.See plans →Trusted by indie teams and agencies shipping forms worldwide
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Testimonials
Loved by developers shipping at every scale.
40 quotes on record — from indie hacks to agency migrations.
“I replaced a Lambda + DynamoDB + SES contact form with six lines of HTML. It took eleven minutes, and the dashboard is better than what I was going to build.”
“We migrated 14 client sites off Formspree in a single weekend. The price is a third of what we paid, the API is more honest, and the spam filter actually works.”
“The webhook payload is signed, idempotent, and well-shaped. It reads like code from a competent team, not a CRUD app held together with duct tape.”
“I stopped reaching for Typeform on small marketing sites. splitforms covers 90% of the use case at none of the bloat.”
“I onboarded our whole agency in an afternoon. The MCP integration meant Cursor literally dropped the form straight into our client repos for us.”
“The free plan gave me 500 submissions before I paid a cent, and Pro is five dollars a month. I've spent more on coffee deciding which backend to use.”
“Spam went from forty junk entries a day to zero, with no reCAPTCHA puzzle ruining the form. The honeypot and time-trap just quietly do their job.”
“Point the form action at one endpoint and you're done. No SDK, no client library, no build step. This is how a form backend should feel.”
“Leads land in Slack the second someone submits, and a copy goes to Google Sheets for the sales team. I wired both up in under ten minutes.”
“I run a static Hugo site on a five-dollar VPS. splitforms gave it a real contact form without me standing up a single server.”
Questions
Best form backend questions.
View all FAQsWhat is the best form backend for static websites?
For developer-owned static sites, splitforms is a strong default because it works with a plain HTML form action, includes 500 free submissions per month, stores submissions in a dashboard, filters spam, sends owner notification emails, and adds signed webhooks on Starter without requiring a server.
How does splitforms compare to Formspree, Web3Forms, Getform, and Netlify Forms?
Every one of them receives an existing website form, so free-tier size and webhook support usually decide it for a static site. splitforms includes 500 free submissions a month with dashboard storage, signed webhooks, no-CAPTCHA spam filtering, MCP access, and Storage-backed uploads. Formspree is an established hosted form backend with paid feature gates. Web3Forms is email-first with a lighter dashboard and storage story. Getform is integration-friendly with a smaller free tier. Netlify Forms is best when your whole site already runs on Netlify. Choose a visual builder like Typeform, Tally, or Jotform when you want a hosted drag-and-drop form UI instead of a backend for your own form.
When should I choose Formspree instead?
Choose Formspree if your team already uses it, your form volume is tiny, and you do not need splitforms features like the larger free tier, MCP access, built-in spam filtering, or the 3-Year pricing option.
When should I choose Typeform, Tally, or Jotform instead?
Choose a visual form builder like Typeform, Tally, or Jotform when you want a hosted drag-and-drop form UI. Choose splitforms when you already have your own website form and need the backend that receives, stores, emails, and routes submissions.
When is splitforms not the best form backend?
Reach for a different tool when you need a hosted drag-and-drop survey builder with polished question transitions, payments handled inside the form backend instead of via Stripe or your own checkout, large-file intake beyond the current 5 MB per-file upload limit, or when your site is fully on Netlify and Netlify Forms already covers the whole workflow.
Does splitforms support file uploads?
Yes, when Storage is connected. Current file-upload limits are 5 files per submission and 5 MB per file. Text-only submissions work without Storage.
Does splitforms work with ChatGPT or AI agents?
Yes. splitforms has an MCP server for AI coding agents and can receive structured lead payloads from AI chatbots or website agents through the same /api/submit endpoint.
How much does the best form backend cost after the free plan?
Free includes 500 submissions a month forever, no credit card required. Pro is $5/month for 5,000 submissions plus CSV/XML/PDF exports, webhooks, integrations, and an auto-responder. Pro is $5/month for 5,000 submissions plus CC/BCC and priority support. The 3-Year plan is $59 for the first 3 years, then $59/year, for 15,000 submissions a month (36 months of access). Business (unlimited submissions) is available by contacting [email protected].
Is splitforms the best form backend for React or Next.js?
Yes. POST a FormData or JSON body from fetch() to https://splitforms.com/api/submit with your access_key field, or use a plain HTML form action if you do not need a client-side success state. The same endpoint works across React, Next.js, Vue, and Astro.
What is the best form backend for WordPress without a plugin?
Point a Custom HTML block's form action at https://splitforms.com/api/submit. If you would rather manage the form from your splitforms dashboard, the official WordPress plugin (v1.7.1) connects your account and syncs dashboard-built forms with a Gutenberg block or shortcode.
Simple pricing
Start free. Scale when you need more.
Choose a plan that fits your workflow — from a free form endpoint to full automations, exports, Stripe payments, and higher submission limits.
Free
$0
For side projects and indie devs.
- 500 submissions / mo
- Unlimited forms
- Email notifications included
- Honeypot spam filtering
- Submissions dashboard
- MCP setup stays free
- No credit card required
Most Popular
Pro
$5/ month
was $15 · save 67% · new-user price
For agencies and growing products.
- 5,000 submissions / mo
- Unlimited forms
- Stripe payments on your forms
- Every paid feature included
- Priority support (under 4hr)
- 10× free submission volume
- Cancel anytime
Pre-launch · founders pricing locked in
3-Year
$59/ first 3 years
was $99 · save 40% · new-user price
Pay $59. 3 years sorted.
- 15,000 submissions / mo
- Unlimited forms
- Everything in Pro
- $59 for 3 years, then $59/year
- Long-term discount
- Priority support included
- Vote on the roadmap
No credit card required on Free • Cancel anytime