You’re trying to figure out which form solution will actually capture leads on your static site, and the choice between Netlify Forms and Formspree feels overwhelming. Both services promise easy form handling for static sites, but choosing the wrong one could mean lost leads, frustrated visitors, or unexpected costs down the line.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Step 1: Quick Feature Check
Open two browser tabs and visit netlify.com/products/forms and formspree.io. Look at their pricing pages first – Netlify gives you 100 free submissions per month, while Formspree offers 50. If you’re expecting more than 100 form submissions monthly, this difference matters immediately. Check if your current hosting is already on Netlify, as this makes their forms integration much simpler.
Step 2: Test Your Current Setup
Create a basic contact form on your static site with this HTML:
“`html
“`
For Netlify Forms, that data-netlify=”true” attribute is all you need. For Formspree, replace the form tag with:
“`html
“`
Step 3: Check Your Spam Protection
Both services handle spam differently. Netlify Forms includes automatic spam filtering and optional reCAPTCHA. Navigate to your Netlify dashboard, click Forms, then Settings to enable these features. Formspree requires you to add their honeypot field manually:
“`html
“`
Step 4: Set Up Email Notifications
In Netlify, go to Site Settings > Forms > Form notifications. Add your email address for instant notifications. For Formspree, this happens automatically to the email you registered with, but you can add team members in your dashboard under Settings > Collaborators.
Step 5: Test Your Lead Routing
Submit a test form and check where the data goes. Netlify stores submissions in your dashboard under the Forms tab. Formspree sends them directly to your email and stores them in their dashboard. If you need webhook integrations for your CRM, both support this but Formspree’s webhook setup is more straightforward.
Step 6: Monitor Your Usage
Set calendar reminders to check your form submission count on the 25th of each month. Both services reset limits monthly, and going over means your forms stop working. Netlify shows usage in Site Settings > Forms, while Formspree displays it prominently on your dashboard homepage.
Likely Causes
Cause #1: Forms Not Submitting on Netlify
Your build process might be stripping out the netlify attribute. This happens with React, Vue, or other JavaScript frameworks. Check your deployed HTML by right-clicking and viewing page source. If data-netlify=”true” is missing, add a hidden input field:
“`html
“`
Also ensure your form has a name attribute. Deploy your changes and test again within 5 minutes.
Cause #2: Formspree Emails Landing in Spam
Formspree sends from their servers, which some email providers flag as suspicious. Check your spam folder first. To fix this, add formspree.io to your email whitelist. In Gmail, find a Formspree email, click the three dots menu, and select “Filter messages like this.” Choose “Never send to spam.” For better deliverability in 2025, consider upgrading to Formspree’s paid plan which allows custom email domains.
Cause #3: Hitting Submission Limits Too Early
You’re getting more spam than real submissions. For Netlify Forms, enable reCAPTCHA in your form settings immediately. Add this to your form:
“`html
“`
For Formspree, their built-in spam filtering is automatic, but you can add reCAPTCHA by including their JavaScript library. If legitimate submissions are being blocked, check your form validation rules – overly strict patterns can reject real users.
When to Call an Expert Help
Contact a developer when your forms need complex workflows like multi-step processes, conditional logic, or integration with specific CRM systems. If you’re seeing consistent delivery failures after trying these fixes, or if you need GDPR compliance features for European visitors, professional setup ensures you’re not losing valuable leads. Most importantly, if form submissions contain sensitive data like payment information or health records, you need expert security configuration beyond what basic form services provide.
Copy-Paste Prompt for AI Help
“I’m using [Netlify Forms/Formspree] on my static site built with [your framework]. My forms were working but now [describe specific issue]. I’ve already tried [list what you’ve attempted]. My site is hosted on [hosting provider] and I need to capture about [number] leads per month. The form HTML looks like this: [paste your form code]. What specific steps should I take to fix this issue and prevent it from happening again?”