In today’s fast-moving digital ecosystem, seamless integration between your WordPress forms and third-party applications is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re capturing leads, collecting survey responses, or processing contact requests, sending WPForms submissions to a CRM or any external API can automate workflows, reduce manual effort, and streamline your business operations.
In this blog, we’ll explore how you can easily connect WPForms to any API, enabling instant data transfer to your CRM, email marketing tools, customer support platforms, or any third-party system.
Why Connect WPForms to an External API?
WPForms is one of the most user-friendly WordPress form plugins available, offering a drag-and-drop interface and extensive features. However, WPForms by default doesn’t offer direct support for every external service. That’s where API integration becomes essential.
Benefits of c*onnecting WPForms to any API*:
Real-time data sync with your CRM (like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho).
Improved lead management through automated form data entry.
Increased productivity by eliminating the need for manual data export/import.
Custom workflows, such as triggering SMS, emails, or creating support tickets.
Use Case Examples
Here are some common use cases where WPForms-to-API integration can significantly improve business operations:
Sales & Marketing Teams: Automatically send contact form data to CRMs like Salesforce or email platforms like Mailchimp.
Customer Support: Forward form data to helpdesk systems like Zendesk or Freshdesk to instantly create tickets.
eCommerce: Send order or inquiry data to inventory or ERP systems.
Custom Apps: Push form data to a custom REST API endpoint for custom applications or databases.
How to Send WPForms Submissions to Any API
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to send WPForms submissions to any API—be it REST, JSON, or a webhook-compatible endpoint.
- Create Your Form Using WPForms First, install and activate WPForms. Create a new form using the drag-and-drop builder. Include fields like Name, Email, Phone, or custom fields required by your API. 🛠 Tip: Keep field names user-friendly but map them properly to API field names in the integration step.
- Install a Plugin That Enables API Integration While WPForms doesn’t offer native support for sending data to arbitrary APIs, you can use third-party plugins or custom code. One of the best tools is: 🔌 Contact Form to API A lightweight and flexible plugin that allows you to send any WordPress form submission—including WPForms—to any REST API or CRM.
- Configure API Endpoint in the Plugin Once you have the plugin installed, follow these steps: Navigate to Contact Form to API → Add Integration
Choose WPForms as the form type
Enter the API Endpoint URL (e.g., your CRM’s API URL)
Choose the HTTP method (usually POST or PUT)
Map the form fields to the API parameters (this usually involves setting a JSON body or URL-encoded format)
Optionally, add headers for authentication (e.g., API key, Bearer token)
- Test the Connection Use a test submission on your WPForm to check if data is successfully reaching the API. Most tools or CRMs will offer a response code (e.g., 200 OK or 201 Created) that confirms successful submission.
- Enable Logs and Error Handling (Optional but Recommended) Enable submission logs and error tracking inside the plugin or by using custom logging in WordPress to troubleshoot any failed API calls.
Custom Code Alternative (For Developers)
If you prefer a code-based solution, use the wpforms_process_complete action hook to capture the form submission and send it manually via wp_remote_post() or wp_remote_request().
add_action( 'wpforms_process_complete', 'send_wpform_to_custom_api', 10, 4 );
function send_wpform_to_custom_api( $fields, $entry, $form_data, $entry_id ) {
$api_url = 'https://example.com/api/leads';
$data = [ 'name' => $fields[1]['value'], // Change field IDs accordingly 'email' => $fields[2]['value'], ]; $response = wp_remote_post( $api_url, [ 'headers' => [ 'Authorization' => 'Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN', 'Content-Type' => 'application/json', ], 'body' => wp_json_encode( $data ), ]);
}
⚠️ Warning: Always sanitize and validate data before sending it to external services.
Best Practices for WPForms API Integration
Secure your API keys using environment variables or the WordPress config file.
Test in a staging environment before going live.
Log API responses for error tracking and debugging.
Rate-limit your API calls if your endpoint has usage restrictions.
Why Use “Contact Form to API” for WPForms?
No coding needed – perfect for non-developers.
Supports all major form plugins including WPForms, Contact Form 7, Ninja Forms, and more.
Real-time sync with CRMs, Google Sheets, Mailchimp, etc.
Custom headers, JSON body, and method support.
Whether you’re working with HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, or a custom-built CRM, this plugin simplifies the process of connecting WPForms to any external system.
Final Thoughts
Integrating WPForms with your CRM or any third-party API can transform your workflow by automating data transfer and improving lead management. Whether you choose a plugin like “Contact Form to API” or build a custom solution, you’ll benefit from faster responses, cleaner data, and better customer experiences.
If you're not comfortable configuring APIs or managing webhooks yourself, consider hiring a professional WordPress developer to set everything up for you securely and efficiently.
Ready to Supercharge Your WPForms?
Connect WPForms to any API today and automate your business like a pro. Whether it’s syncing leads to Salesforce or logging support tickets in Freshdesk—your forms should work smarter, not harder.
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