This guide takes you from a fresh install to a published form in a few minutes.
1. Install the plugin
- In WordPress, go to Plugins > Add New and search for SubtleForms.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
- A new Subtle Forms menu appears in the admin sidebar.
2. Create a form
Open Subtle Forms > Add New. Pick a template or start blank. The builder opens with the field library on the left, the live canvas in the middle and settings on the right.
- Drag fields from the library onto the canvas, or click a field to add it at the end.
- Click any field on the canvas to edit its label, placeholder, help text and validation.
- Use the width control to place fields side by side. See Layout and field widths.
3. Choose what happens after submit
In the form settings, show a confirmation message or redirect to a page. Both support merge tags, so you can greet the visitor by name or pass answers in the URL.
4. Add the form to a page
In the block editor, insert the SubtleForms block and choose your form. Anywhere else that supports shortcodes, use:
[subtleforms id="123"]Replace 123 with your form ID, shown in Subtle Forms > All Forms. Only published forms render on the front end.
5. Check your entries
New entries land in Subtle Forms > Submissions. Mark them read or unread and add private notes. With Pro you can export them to CSV. Set up email notifications in the form settings so your team hears about new entries straight away.
Next: learn the builder in Building forms.