Why You Need to Create Custom Forms Online in 2025

In 2025, online forms are more than just data collection tools—they're essential components of marketing, sales, HR, education, and internal operations. Whether you're capturing leads, managing event registrations, collecting customer feedback, or processing applications, the ability to create custom forms online gives you the control and flexibility you need to match your brand, automate workflows, and improve user experience.

Gone are the days of generic, static forms. Today, you can build your own form using intuitive drag-and-drop editors, make forms online that connect directly to your CRM or email marketing platform, and even design visually-rich forms using tools like Canva and Formstack.

But with so many platforms available, how do you choose the best online form maker for your needs?

This listicle breaks down the 10 best tools to create custom forms online in 2025—featuring both free web form creators and advanced form making software. Whether you’re building a basic contact form, a branded application form, or a multi-step order form, these tools offer the flexibility to design the exact experience you want.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to create an online form free (with or without coding)
  • The best platforms for online order forms, fillable forms, and registration forms
  • Tools that integrate with your website, CRM, or project management apps like Asana
  • The pros and cons of each form builder for different industries and workflows

Let’s dive into the top picks for 2025, starting with the simplest and most accessible tool for everyone—Google Forms.

1. Google Forms – Best Free Web Form Builder for Simplicity

When it comes to simplicity, speed, and accessibility, Google Forms remains one of the top choices to create custom forms online—especially for beginners, educators, and small businesses looking for a free online form generator.

It’s part of the Google Workspace suite and seamlessly integrates with Google Sheets, Gmail, Drive, and Calendar—making it an ideal option for teams already invested in the Google ecosystem.

Key Features and Interface

  • Free and unlimited form creation and responses
  • Real-time collaboration and auto-saving
  • Basic conditional logic (e.g., “go to section based on answer”)
  • Export responses directly to Google Sheets
  • Integration with add-ons like formLimiter, Form Notifications, etc.

While it may lack the sleek design of more advanced form builders, Google Forms is easy to use and surprisingly powerful under the hood. You don’t need any coding or technical skills to make a form online and share it instantly via link, email, or website embed.

Ideal Use Cases

  • Internal surveys and check-ins
  • Education forms (quizzes, sign-ups, feedback)
  • Event registration forms
  • Volunteer applications or contact forms

For those who just need to create an online form free without worrying about design or branding, Google Forms is more than enough.

How to Create a Web Form in Google Forms

  1. Go to forms.google.com
  2. Choose a template or start from a blank form
  3. Add questions using short text, checkboxes, dropdowns, etc.
  4. Use section logic or quizzes if needed
  5. Customize your form's color and header
  6. Share the form via link or embed it into your website

💡 Tip: Use Google Sheets to track submissions in real time and even connect it with Zapier or Google Apps Script for workflow automation.

2. Typeform – Best for Interactive, Conversational Forms

If you want to create custom forms online that feel human, elegant, and engaging, Typeform is a top-tier choice. Known for its sleek, one-question-at-a-time interface, Typeform helps you build forms that look more like conversations than cold data collection tools.

Whether you're capturing leads, running customer surveys, or designing branded application flows, Typeform gives you powerful tools to build your own form with precision and personality.

Why Typeform Is a Top Choice for Engagement

  • Conversational UX increases completion rates
  • One question per screen keeps users focused
  • Dozens of stylish templates available for surveys, quizzes, applications, and more
  • Full control over branding (on paid plans)
  • Conditional logic ("Logic Jumps") for smart form flow
  • Custom thank-you screens and redirects
  • Supports UTM tracking, hidden fields, and custom domains

Typeform is especially popular with marketing teams, product managers, and businesses that care deeply about user experience and presentation.

Templates, Branding, and Integrations

Typeform includes pre-made templates for:

  • Lead generation
  • Feedback collection
  • Product-market fit surveys
  • Event registrations
  • Online order forms
  • Job application forms

It integrates with major platforms like:

  • HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp
  • Slack, Google Sheets, Notion, Trello
  • Automation tools like Zapier and Make (Integromat)

You can easily make fillable forms that tie into your CRM or email sequences with zero coding required.

Build Your Own Form with Typeform in Minutes

  1. Create a free account at typeform.com
  2. Choose a template or start from scratch
  3. Add questions using the drag-and-drop builder
  4. Use “Logic Jumps” to personalize the flow
  5. Apply your brand fonts, colors, and logo
  6. Publish and share the link or embed it in your site

💡 Typeform’s free plan allows up to 10 responses per month. Upgrade to remove branding, increase limits, and unlock advanced integrations.

3. Jotform – Best Free Online Form Generator with Templates

Jotform is one of the most versatile platforms to create custom forms online—offering a rich combination of drag-and-drop form building, robust integrations, and an extremely generous free plan. Whether you're designing a simple contact form or a multi-step online order form, Jotform makes the process fast, visual, and intuitive.

What makes Jotform stand out is its vast template library, built-in payment gateways, and the ability to build fully branded forms without writing a single line of code.

Rich Template Library and Payment Features

Jotform offers over 10,000+ pre-designed templates across use cases like:

  • Registration forms
  • Job applications
  • Online store order forms
  • Feedback and satisfaction surveys
  • Appointment booking
  • Donation and subscription forms

Plus, you can integrate popular payment processors like:

  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Square
  • Authorize.net

This makes it an ideal solution if you want to make a form online that also collects payments—something many other free tools don’t offer.

How to Make Registration Forms or Order Forms with Jotform

Jotform excels as a form making software that simplifies creating registration workflows. You can:

  • Set form availability windows
  • Add dropdowns, file uploads, signatures, or multiple choice
  • Use conditional logic to customize the user journey
  • Enable autoresponder emails and confirmation pages

Their application form creator features are popular in HR, education, and events.

Application Form Creator Features

  • Pre-built templates for school, job, and grant applications
  • Digital signature fields and file upload options
  • Mobile-responsive design out of the box
  • Multi-page forms with progress bars
  • Embed directly on websites or use shareable links

How to Get Started

  1. Go to jotform.com and sign up for free
  2. Choose from thousands of templates or start from scratch
  3. Drag and drop fields to create a web form tailored to your needs
  4. Set conditions, confirmations, and integrations
  5. Embed it on your website or share a direct link

💡 Jotform’s free tier includes 5 forms, 100 monthly submissions, and 1,000 monthly views—making it one of the best free web form creators available today.

4. Tally – Best Easy Form Creator for Creators and Startups

If you're looking to create custom forms online without complexity—or cost—Tally is an exceptional choice. It offers a Notion-like interface, a generous free tier, and powerful features hidden beneath a minimalist design. Perfect for startups, solo creators, marketers, and teams that value ease of use over fancy UIs.

Unlike many tools that hide core features behind paywalls, Tally gives you unlimited forms and submissions for free, making it a rising star among free web form creators in 2025.

Unlimited Forms for Free, No Branding

What sets Tally apart:

  • Unlimited forms & responses, even on the free plan
  • No forced Tally branding on shared forms
  • Built-in conditional logic and calculations
  • Pre-filled URL parameters and hidden fields
  • Seamless Notion-like UX for form creation

It’s the ideal tool if you want to make forms online that feel lightweight and modern—without sacrificing functionality.

How to Create an Online Form Free with Tally

Creating a form in Tally is just like writing a Notion page:

  1. Visit tally.so and log in
  2. Click “Create New Form”
  3. Type / to add elements like input fields, checkboxes, dropdowns
  4. Add logic, calculations, or custom messages
  5. Hit publish and share your form link or embed it on your website

No coding. No limits. No watermarks. Just a clean way to build your own form quickly.

Using Tally as a Website Form Maker or Newsletter Form

Use cases for Tally include:

  • Newsletter signup forms with hidden fields for tracking
  • Lead generation forms that connect to Notion, Zapier, Mailchimp, or Webflow
  • Simple job application or registration forms
  • Free online forms for websites with easy embed codes or iframe support

You can even create an online order form, calculate pricing, or take basic payments via integrations.

💡 Tally offers a Pro plan too, but the free version already outperforms many paid form makers.

5. Paperform – Best Form Maker for Custom Styling and Branding

If you're looking to create custom forms online that don’t look like traditional forms, Paperform is the tool for you. Designed more like a document editor than a form builder, Paperform lets you create stunning, media-rich, and highly customizable forms that match your brand perfectly—no developer needed.

It’s particularly useful for marketers, agencies, service providers, and small businesses that want to make fillable forms that feel like part of their website, not separate from it.

How to Design an Online Form That Matches Your Brand

Paperform’s UI feels like a blend of Google Docs and Canva:

  • Add text, images, video, and product descriptions
  • Use themes and custom CSS for design freedom
  • Build multi-page forms with logic-driven navigation
  • Customize URLs, fonts, layouts, and background images

From typography to button styles, every visual element is editable—making it one of the best online form makers for branding-focused teams.

Create Online Order Forms, Event Forms, and More

Popular use cases:

  • Online order forms with pricing, inventory, and quantity logic
  • Booking or RSVP forms with date/time selection
  • Event registration forms with auto-invoicing
  • Application form creator workflows with email confirmations
  • Feedback or testimonial forms that feel like a microsite

You can even accept payments with:

  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Square
  • Braintree

Paperform also offers built-in analytics and conversion tracking to see how your forms perform.

Form Making Software with Built-in Logic and Analytics

Paperform gives you:

  • Conditional logic (show/hide fields, branch logic)
  • Calculations for order totals or custom scoring
  • Answer piping (use previous answers in later fields)
  • Partial submissions and auto-save
  • Email notifications and redirect logic

It's a powerful alternative to traditional form making software, especially for teams that want more storytelling in their data collection.

How to Get Started

  1. Go to paperform.co
  2. Start with a template or a blank doc-style canvas
  3. Add media, form fields, logic, and payment options
  4. Design your layout, preview it, and hit publish
  5. Embed on your site or share directly

💡 Paperform offers a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start around $24/month for full customization and payment features.

6. Cognito Forms – Best for Secure Applications and HIPAA Use Cases

If you're looking to create custom forms online with a focus on data security, file uploads, and compliance, then Cognito Forms is an excellent choice. It's widely trusted by HR departments, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and finance teams who need powerful forms with serious backend capabilities.

Unlike basic builders, Cognito supports advanced logic, calculations, and even HIPAA compliance (on paid plans)—making it perfect for online application forms, registrations, and other sensitive workflows.

Create Fillable Forms for Healthcare or HR

Cognito Forms makes it easy to:

  • Build job application forms with file uploads
  • Design healthcare intake forms with encryption
  • Create volunteer or scholarship forms with conditional steps
  • Embed forms securely on a website with SSL protection
  • Accept legally binding e-signatures on any form

If you're wondering how to make an online application form that protects data and follows best practices, Cognito is a solid answer.

Free Web Form Creator with Advanced Features

Even on its free plan, Cognito offers:

  • Unlimited forms
  • 500 entries per month
  • File uploads
  • Conditional logic
  • Calculated fields (great for pricing, quotes, or scoring)

You can start building and testing robust forms without paying a cent, then upgrade as your form traffic or compliance needs grow.

How to Make an Online Application Form That’s Secure

  1. Sign up at cognitoforms.com
  2. Choose a template (e.g., job app, registration, request form) or start from scratch
  3. Add fields like text boxes, dropdowns, file uploads, digital signatures
  4. Use conditional logic to show/hide questions dynamically
  5. Enable encryption, user authentication, and email confirmations
  6. Share the form or embed it directly on your website

🔐 Pro and Enterprise plans offer HIPAA compliance, advanced security features, and more storage—ideal for medical, legal, and enterprise use.

7. Formstack – Best for Workflow Automation and eSignatures

If your goal is to not only create custom forms online, but also integrate them into seamless workflows, Formstack is one of the most powerful solutions available. This platform goes beyond basic form creation—it’s an all-in-one form automation and data management tool trusted by enterprises, healthcare systems, HR teams, and legal departments.

With Formstack, you can make fillable forms, route submissions for approval, and collect eSignatures—all within one secure platform.

Create Custom Forms Online with Conditional Logic

Formstack supports advanced features that allow you to:

  • Show or hide questions based on previous answers
  • Perform calculations inside the form (quotes, scores, pricing)
  • Automatically route submissions for approval or processing
  • Enable digital signatures for contracts or intake forms
  • Add file uploads and capture data securely

Whether you’re building a registration form, employee request form, or contract agreement, Formstack helps you build logic-rich, compliance-friendly workflows.

Workflow Tools for Approvals, Teams, and HR

Formstack’s standout strength lies in its automation capabilities:

  • Approval workflows (e.g., supervisor sign-off, HR review)
  • Task assignment and routing based on form data
  • Team collaboration via secure dashboards
  • Form analytics for tracking conversions and bottlenecks

It’s ideal for enterprise users who need their forms to do more than collect data—they need forms to initiate tasks, notify people, and drive outcomes.

How to Make Fillable Forms That Feed Into Automation

  1. Go to formstack.com and sign up
  2. Choose from 300+ templates or start from a blank form
  3. Add fields using the drag-and-drop builder
  4. Configure logic, workflows, and routing rules
  5. Connect to tools like Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, or Google Sheets
  6. Publish the form and track submissions in real-time

💡 Formstack also supports HIPAA compliance, SSO, and audit trails—perfect for industries with strict security requirements.

8. Zoho Forms – Best Option for CRM Users and SMBs

If your business already uses Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail, or Zoho Projects, then Zoho Forms is a natural and powerful choice to create custom forms online. It offers a full-featured, drag-and-drop builder with deep native integrations across the Zoho ecosystem—making it especially valuable for small businesses, agencies, and service-based teams.

Even if you're not a Zoho user, this tool stands out as a flexible form making software with generous functionality on its free plan.

How to Create Online Forms That Sync with Zoho CRM

One of Zoho Forms’ biggest strengths is its ability to connect submissions directly to:

  • Zoho CRM (add leads, contacts, or deals)
  • Zoho Projects (create tasks based on form inputs)
  • Zoho Desk (generate support tickets automatically)
  • Zoho Campaigns (add email subscribers or segments)

You can also push data to Google Sheets, send Slack alerts, or automate actions with Zapier and Power Automate—all without touching code.

Use Cases: Application Forms, Feedback Forms, Surveys

Zoho Forms is ideal for:

  • Application forms for jobs, vendors, or schools
  • Feedback forms with rating scales and comments
  • Customer surveys with logic-based question branching
  • Client onboarding forms connected to your sales workflow
  • Online registration form creators with payments and file uploads

It also includes features like:

  • Email notifications and autoresponders
  • Form scheduling and expiration
  • Field rules and hidden fields for smarter flows

Free Online Forms for Website Integration

Even on the free plan, you get:

  • 3 forms
  • 500 submissions/month
  • Email notifications
  • Basic integrations
  • SSL protection
  • Embeddable code to publish on any site

To create an online form free that feels professional and feeds into your CRM, Zoho Forms delivers great value without the cost.

Getting Started

  1. Go to zoho.com/forms
  2. Select a template or start a blank form
  3. Drag and drop fields like text boxes, checklists, emails, dropdowns
  4. Add logic, calculations, or field rules
  5. Publish via direct link, QR code, or website embed

💡 Pro plans unlock advanced integrations, approvals, and analytics—great for growing teams who need more power later.

9. Forminator – Best WordPress Plugin to Create a Web Form

If you run a WordPress site and want to create custom forms online without relying on third-party SaaS platforms, Forminator is the perfect solution. It’s a powerful, user-friendly plugin that lets you make forms online, collect submissions, and even accept payments—right from your own website.

Forminator is ideal for bloggers, agencies, educators, and ecommerce sellers who need an integrated, GDPR-friendly, and free online form generator built into WordPress.

Drag-and-Drop Form Building on WordPress Sites

Forminator offers a smooth drag-and-drop experience with:

  • Text fields, email fields, file uploads, and hidden fields
  • Calculations and pricing formulas
  • Conditional logic for branching questions
  • Email notifications and autoresponders
  • Spam protection via Google reCAPTCHA and Akismet
  • Styling options to match your WordPress theme

You can create:

  • Contact forms
  • Quizzes and polls
  • Appointment request forms
  • Payment forms (Stripe and PayPal integrations)
  • Online registration forms and user feedback surveys

How to Build a Registration or Contact Form in Forminator

Here’s how to use Forminator as your go-to website form maker:

  1. Install the Forminator plugin from the WordPress dashboard
  2. Create a new form and name it (e.g., “Newsletter Signup” or “Client Onboarding”)
  3. Drag in form fields as needed
  4. Set logic, email alerts, and thank-you messages
  5. Publish using shortcode, block, or widget on any WordPress page/post

You can make registration forms, lead capture forms, or even calculate order totals with a simple formula setup.

Free Online Form Generator Without Branding

What makes Forminator so appealing?

  • It’s 100% free with no branding or entry limits
  • Built for WordPress users
  • Includes advanced features like polls, quizzes, and calculators
  • Easily connects with Google Sheets, Mailchimp, Slack, and Zapier

💡 If you’re already using WordPress, Forminator gives you pro-level form functionality—without needing to pay for a third-party service.

10. Asana Forms – Best for Internal Requests and Task Automation

If you're managing projects or operations inside Asana, their built-in form feature is one of the easiest ways to create custom forms online for internal use. While it’s not a traditional public-facing form builder like Jotform or Typeform, Asana Forms excels at streamlining task intake, standardizing work requests, and automating internal workflows.

Instead of juggling emails or Slack messages, you can build your own form that feeds submissions directly into project boards—with no manual copy-paste.

How to Create an Asana Form for Project Intake

Creating a form in Asana is simple and fast:

  1. Open any project in Asana
  2. Navigate to the “Forms” tab
  3. Drag and drop fields like Name, Email, Dropdowns, and Multi-choice
  4. Map responses to custom fields or assignees
  5. Share the form via a link or embed it on your company wiki

Each form submission becomes a task—complete with details, file attachments, and due dates—automatically routed to the right team or board.

Link Forms to Tasks, Projects, and Workflows

Perfect for:

  • IT help desk requests
  • Design or marketing briefs
  • Employee onboarding checklists
  • Maintenance or facilities requests
  • HR feedback and support tickets

Asana Forms also integrates with automation rules. For example:

  • Tag a task based on form input
  • Route design requests to a specific assignee
  • Trigger Slack or email alerts

This makes it a great free form creator for companies already using Asana to manage tasks and projects.

Use Asana to Make a Fillable Form for Team Use

  • No third-party apps required
  • No form limits on premium plans
  • Fully secure and private (great for internal workflows)
  • Easy to organize and search via Asana task filters

💡 While Asana Forms aren’t suitable for public lead capture or surveys, they’re ideal for and process-driven environments.

Bonus Section – How to Make a Fillable Form in Canva

While Canva is best known as a design tool, it’s surprisingly effective for creating visually rich, fillable forms—especially if you want a printable or digital PDF form that looks more polished than what most online form builders offer. If you're a designer, educator, event planner, or small business owner looking to create custom forms online with a creative edge, Canva is a fantastic free option.

Step-by-Step Guide to Design and Export Fillable Forms

Here’s how to make a fillable form in Canva in just a few minutes:

  1. Go to canva.com and log in (free account works)
  2. Type “form” or “application form” in the template search bar
  3. Choose a design template or start from a blank document
  4. Add your desired fields: Name, Email, Checkboxes, Text Boxes, etc.
  5. Style the form using Canva’s elements, icons, colors, and typography
  6. Once finished, click “Share” → “Download”
  7. Choose PDF (Standard or Print) and select “Flatten PDF” unchecked
    (Or export with “PDF with form fields” if enabled)

💡 If you want the form to be typed into digitally, you’ll need to open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro, PDFescape, or Jotform’s PDF Editor to insert interactive fields.

Use Canva to Build Application or Event Forms Visually

Popular use cases:

  • Printable application forms for schools, contests, or jobs
  • Event sign-up forms with maps and design branding
  • Feedback forms for live events or product trials
  • Client intake forms styled to match your personal brand

While Canva doesn’t offer real-time response collection like Google Forms or Jotform, it shines in offline use cases or when you need to embed beautifully designed forms in emails, brochures, or downloads.

Pro Tip

If you want to make forms online that feel professional and visual, use Canva for design, then upload the file into:

  • Jotform PDF Editor (to make it interactive and sharable)
  • PDFescape (for quick form field insertion)
  • Google Drive + DocHub (to collect responses via editable PDF)

🎨 Canva is ideal when aesthetics matter—whether you’re designing a branded application form, a custom RSVP, or a stylish downloadable worksheet.

Choosing the Right Tool for Your Needs

With so many options to create custom forms online, the best tool for you depends on your specific goals, budget, and workflow. Some platforms are built for speed and simplicity, while others shine in design, logic, or integration capabilities. In this section, we’ll help you quickly assess which form builder aligns best with your use case.

Best Free Option for Beginners

  • 🟢 Google Forms
    If you need to get up and running in minutes with no cost or learning curve, Google Forms is a clear winner. It’s perfect for:
    • Students and teachers
    • Internal teams
    • Event signups or quick polls
    • Collecting basic contact info
  • 🟢 Tally
    Also excellent for beginners, with a sleek interface and unlimited responses even on the free plan. Great for creators, freelancers, and simple lead forms.

Best No-Code Tool for Branding and UX

  • 🎨 Typeform
    Offers an immersive, one-question-at-a-time flow that feels like a conversation. Ideal for marketers who want to impress and convert.
  • 🎨 Paperform
    Document-style form builder that allows full creative control—great for brands that care about visual storytelling.

Best for Workflow Automation

  • ⚙️ Formstack
    Designed for teams that need forms to initiate approvals, trigger tasks, and connect deeply with apps like Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and email platforms.
  • ⚙️ Asana Forms
    Great for streamlining internal request management—especially if your team already uses Asana for task tracking.

Best Website Form Maker

  • 🌐 Forminator
    Perfect for WordPress users looking for a free plugin to build forms directly within their website—no external tools needed.
  • 🌐 Jotform
    Easy to embed on any website, with widgets, integrations, and mobile responsiveness for modern form experiences.

Best for Secure Applications and Compliance

  • 🔒 Cognito Forms
    HIPAA-ready, secure form builder with file uploads, digital signatures, and encrypted fields—ideal for healthcare, HR, and legal use.
  • 🔒 Zoho Forms
    Especially strong for CRM-connected forms with conditional logic, approval workflows, and data compliance in small businesses.

FAQs About Creating Custom Forms Online

To wrap up this guide, here are answers to some of the most common questions people ask when trying to create custom forms online—especially for business, education, or personal use.

What is the easiest way to create a web form?

For beginners, Google Forms is the easiest tool to use. It requires no sign-up if you have a Google account, and you can create, share, and collect responses in just minutes.

How do I make a registration or application form online?

You can use platforms like:

  • Jotform or Zoho Forms for detailed applications with file uploads and approval flows
  • Cognito Forms for secure, HIPAA-compliant registration
  • Forminator if you're using WordPress

These tools offer pre-built templates, drag-and-drop interfaces, and logic-based question routing.

What is the best free form builder in 2025?

Top choices include:

  • Tally – Unlimited forms/responses, no branding
  • Google Forms – Reliable, fast, and fully free
  • Jotform (Free Plan) – 5 forms, 100 responses/month with great features

Each has different strengths depending on your needs—volume, design, or integrations.

Can I build my own form without coding?

Absolutely. Every tool in this list is no-code or low-code. Builders like Paperform, Formstack, and Tally make it easy to build your own form without any programming knowledge.

How to make a fillable form in Canva?

Canva lets you design a form visually. Once you export it as a PDF, you can use Adobe Acrobat Pro, PDFescape, or Jotform PDF Editor to make it interactive (i.e., fillable digitally).

How do I embed a form on my website?

Tools like Jotform, Forminator, and Typeform provide HTML embed codes, iframe snippets, or WordPress shortcodes so you can place your form directly on landing pages, blog posts, or eCommerce sites.

Can I collect payments through an online form?

Yes. Use platforms like:

  • Jotform (Stripe, PayPal, Square)
  • Paperform (custom pricing and inventory logic)
  • Cognito Forms (secure payment fields)

These tools help you create online order forms that handle payments seamlessly.

Is it possible to automate responses and workflows?

Yes. Tools like Formstack, Zoho Forms, and Asana Forms allow you to:

  • Trigger emails
  • Route requests to specific team members
  • Create tasks in a project management system
  • Send data to your CRM or email list

These integrations save time and reduce manual processing.

Which form builder is best for designers and creators?

  • Paperform and Typeform offer the most beautiful, brandable forms.
  • Tally is also a favorite among creators for its Notion-like simplicity and elegant UX.