Copy the code
Copy the HTML Form example below.
HTML · THE FORM ELEMENT
HTML Form — working code, live demo, and how to make it submit
An HTML form is created with the <form> element and collects user input through controls like <input>, <textarea>, and <select>. It sends that data to a server using the action URL and an HTTP method (usually POST). Below is a complete, working form you can copy — it submits to a free backend, no server required.
- 500 free / mo
- No backend
- Copy-paste ready
Copy-paste ready
The HTML Form example below is a complete, working form — paste it into any HTML page and it submits, no edits to the markup required.
No backend to build
Your html form form posts to one endpoint. No server, PHP, or API route — submissions land in your inbox and a searchable dashboard.
A form that really submits
Unlike a static reference snippet, this <form> form actually sends data to a free splitforms backend, with spam filtering built in.
Copy-paste code
HTML Form code you can paste today.
Replace YOUR_ACCESS_KEY with a key from your free splitforms dashboard. The form posts to one endpoint — submissions land in your inbox and dashboard with spam filtering built in.
<form action="https://splitforms.com/api/submit" method="POST">
<input type="hidden" name="access_key" value="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY">
<label for="name">Name</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name" placeholder="Your name" required>
<label for="email">Email</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="email" placeholder="you@example.com" required>
<label for="message">Message</label>
<textarea id="message" name="message" placeholder="How can we help?" required></textarea>
<!-- Honeypot: hidden from humans, bots fill it in -->
<input type="checkbox" name="botcheck" style="display:none">
<button type="submit">Send message</button>
</form>How it works
How to add HTML Form to any page.
Copy the html form example, drop in your free access key, and paste it into any page — submissions start landing in your dashboard.
Add your access key
Replace YOUR_ACCESS_KEY with a free splitforms key from the dashboard.
Paste into your site
Drop the form into any HTML page. Submissions arrive in your dashboard.
The <form> element
Which HTML Form attributes matter?
The <form> element takes a handful of attributes — these decide how your form behaves and what actually gets emailed to your inbox when someone submits.
- action — The URL the form data is sent to. Omitting it submits to the current page.
- method — get (default, appends data to the URL) or post (sends data in the request body — use this for real forms).
- enctype — How data is encoded. Use multipart/form-data when the form includes file uploads.
- target — Where to show the response. _blank opens it in a new tab; _self is the default.
- novalidate — Disables the browser's built-in validation. Usually leave it off so HTML validation runs.
- autocomplete — on (default) lets the browser pre-fill fields like name, email, and address.
Common mistakes
HTML Form not working? Here's why.
Most broken forms come down to a few small mistakes with the <form> element. Check these before you ship — then forward every submission to Slack or a webhook.
- Every field needs a name — A control without a name= attribute is not included in the submitted data. The id is for labels and anchors — it is not sent anywhere.
- Use POST for real submissions — GET appends fields to the URL, exposing emails and messages to logs and history. POST keeps data in the request body.
- A button inside the form submits it — A <button> with no type defaults to type="submit". Use type="button" when you only want it to run JavaScript.
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.
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
HTML Form questions, answered.
View all FAQsWhat is an HTML form?
An HTML form is a <form> element that collects user input through controls like text fields, checkboxes, and buttons, then sends that data to a server URL specified by the action attribute using an HTTP method such as POST.
How do I make an HTML form actually send email?
Point the form's action at a form backend endpoint (like splitforms.com/api/submit) and include your access key as a hidden field. The backend receives the submission and forwards it to your inbox — you never expose your email address or run a server.
What is the difference between form action GET and POST?
GET appends the form data to the action URL as a query string and is meant for searches and read-only requests. POST sends the data in the request body and is the correct method for contact, registration, and order forms because it keeps large and sensitive data out of the URL.
Do I need a backend to receive an HTML form?
No. A hosted form backend like splitforms lets you post the form directly from static HTML. Submissions land in a dashboard and your inbox, with spam filtering, for 500 free submissions per month.
Why is my HTML form not submitting?
The most common causes are a field missing a name= attribute, a <button> with type="button" instead of submit, a JavaScript handler calling preventDefault(), or the action URL being wrong. Check the Network tab — a successful POST returns a 200 with JSON.
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, and higher submission limits.
Free
$0
Free forever
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
- Every paid feature included
- Priority support (under 4hr)
- 10× free submission volume
- Cancel anytime
Pre-launch · founders pricing locked in
3-Year
$59/ 36 months
was $99 · save 40% · new-user price
Pay $59. 3 years sorted.
- 15,000 submissions / mo
- Unlimited forms
- Everything in Pro
- Renews every 3 years
- Long-term discount
- Priority support included
- Vote on the roadmap
No credit card required on Free • Cancel anytime