Lightweight custom WordPress form plugin for creating HTML-based forms with submission storage, admin tools, and no plugin bloat. Fast, flexible, developer-ready.
In use on:
Overview
I developed a custom WordPress form plugin designed for clients who need simple, reliable forms without the overhead of large commercial form builders.
This lightweight tool allows developers (or me) to create clean, accessible HTML forms while giving site owners an easy way to view, manage, and export submissions — without ever touching form configuration themselves.
It’s an ideal solution for small businesses and service providers who only need a handful of well-structured forms and don’t want the bloat or complexity of plugins like Gravity Forms or WPForms.
The plugin is versioned and available in a GitHub repository as a downloadable component.
Key Features
HTML-Based Form Creation
Forms are created in pure HTML for total control over structure, styling, accessibility, and layout — no drag-and-drop limitations or hidden markup.
Dynamic Form Management
Each form has its own:
- Admin listing
- Submission viewer
- Export tools
- Optional email notifications
Site owners never have to build or edit forms themselves.
Slim, Fast, No-Bloat Architecture
The plugin avoids heavy scripts, page builders, and slow admin screens.
It’s intentionally simple, lightweight, and perfect for sites not already invested in a major forms ecosystem.
Built-In Submission Handling
All submissions are:
- Stored securely
- Viewable inside WordPress
- Exportable to CSV
- Structured per form
- Logged with timestamps and IP addresses
Flexible Template System
Forms can be styled or reorganized freely using:
- HTML
- CSS
- Minimal helper tags for field mapping
This lets the developer tailor each form precisely to the client’s needs.
Project Details
Plugin Structure
The plugin registers:
- A custom post type for storing form definitions
- A submission post type for each form
- Admin menus for browsing submissions
- A shortcode for embedding forms anywhere on the site
It’s easy to drop into any client’s theme or site—no extra configuration required.
Who It’s Built For
A surprising percentage of my clients:
- Don’t use a form plugin
- Don’t want to manage form builders
- Just need “a new form added this week”
- Prefer a developer to handle everything
This plugin was created to streamline that workflow while keeping things ultra-light and dependable.
MVP by Design
The plugin focuses on the core essentials:
- HTML forms
- Submission storage
- Admin viewing
- CSV export
Because of its structure, it could be expanded later to support:
- Conditional fields
- Field validation builder
- Auto-reply emails
- Anti-spam enhancements
- Multi-form dashboards
- API endpoints
But the current implementation intentionally stays simple and clean.
Result
A stable, minimalistic form system that:
- Delivers exactly what most clients need
- Avoids plugin bloat
- Keeps forms developer-controlled
- Simplifies admin workflows
- Works on any WordPress site without conflict or setup pain
It’s become my go-to option for clients who need a form but don’t need a full-blown form builder ecosystem.
Tech Stack
- jQuery (optional for enhancements)
- WordPress (custom plugin)
- PHP
- HTML-based form templates
- Custom post types
- CSV export utilities
