Form Handling for Static Sites

The Problem

Static site generators like Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy, Gatsby, and Astro produce HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. They have no server-side runtime, which means there is no way to process a form submission, send an email, or store data. You either need to spin up your own backend, use a serverless function, or rely on a third-party form service. The first two options add complexity and hosting costs. The third option is exactly what FormsList provides — without the complexity.

The Solution

Add your FormsList endpoint as the action attribute on any HTML form. When a visitor submits the form, the data is sent to FormsList. We store it, email you, filter spam, and trigger any integrations you have configured. Your static site stays static.

<!-- Works in any static site generator -->
<form action="https://formslist.com/f/YOUR_FORM_HASH" method="POST">
  <input type="text" name="name" placeholder="Your name" required />
  <input type="email" name="email" placeholder="you@example.com" required />
  <textarea name="message" placeholder="Your message" required></textarea>
  <button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>

Works With Every Static Site Generator

If it outputs HTML, it works with FormsList. No plugins, no build step changes, no runtime dependencies.

FormsList vs Netlify Forms vs Formspree

AJAX Example for Jamstack Apps

For Gatsby, Next.js, or any JavaScript-heavy static site, you can submit via fetch for a smoother UX without page reload:

async function handleSubmit(e) {
  e.preventDefault();
  const form = e.target;
  const res = await fetch("https://formslist.com/f/YOUR_FORM_HASH", {
    method: "POST",
    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
    body: JSON.stringify(Object.fromEntries(new FormData(form))),
  });
  if (res.ok) alert("Submitted!");
}