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Contact forms on a static site: four options compared
A static site can have a working contact form without a server. You point the form at a form service, which stores each submission and emails it to you. If your site is on Novence, Novence Forms is built in, posts to your own domain, and includes 50 submissions a month on Free. Formspree, Web3Forms, and Netlify Forms are good options too, and all of them work on Novence.
By Novence · Published · Updated
How does a form work without a backend?
An HTML form sends its fields to whatever URL is in its action. A form service gives you that URL, saves what visitors send, and emails you each message. Your site stays plain HTML.
Which form service should I use?
All four are reliable. The difference is mostly the free allowance and whether the form lives with your host.
| Service | Free submissions | Spam protection | Works with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novence Forms | 50/mo Free, 2,000/mo Pro | Hidden honeypot field and 30 per IP per hour | Sites hosted on Novence |
| Formspree | 50/mo | Formshield spam filter on every plan | Any host |
| Web3Forms | 250/mo | Honeypot and hCaptcha | Any host |
| Netlify Forms | Free on Netlify credit plans | Built-in spam filtering | Sites hosted on Netlify |
How do I add a Novence form?
Ask your AI assistant to create a Novence form for your site. It creates the form, sets the action to /__forms/{formId}, and adds the hidden _gotcha spam trap. Submissions are emailed to you and can be listed through the API.
Because the form posts to your own domain, there is no third-party script and no extra account. Forms accept up to 32 fields and 64 KB per submission.
<form action="/__forms/{formId}" method="post">
<input name="email" type="email" required />
<textarea name="message" required></textarea>
<input name="_gotcha" type="text" hidden />
<button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>How do I keep spam out?
Most small sites need only light protection. Start simple and add more if spam gets through.
- A honeypot: a hidden field people never fill in. Bots do, and the submission is dropped.
- A rate limit, so one visitor cannot send hundreds of messages.
- A CAPTCHA only if you still get spam, because it adds friction for real visitors.
What if I need file uploads or more submissions?
Novence Forms accepts text only. For attachments, use a service that supports file uploads on a paid plan, such as Formspree or Web3Forms, or link to a file-sharing service.
For more submissions, Novence Pro includes 2,000 a month, with extras at half a cent each.
Facts checked 29 September 2026. Sources: Novence Forms · Formspree limits · Web3Forms pricing · Netlify Forms update
FAQ
Can a static HTML site have a contact form?
Yes. Point the form's action at a form service, and it emails you each submission.
Which free contact form has the most submissions?
Of the four here, Web3Forms Free has the highest fixed limit at 250 a month. Netlify Forms is free on Netlify's credit plans.
Can I use Formspree or Web3Forms on Novence?
Yes. Third-party forms work on any Novence site and do not count towards your Novence quota.
Do Novence Forms need a paid plan?
No. Free includes 50 submissions a month once your email is verified.
Publish your site free
One prompt or one command. Your domain and SSL included on Free. No credit card.