Email is one of the most effective channels for lead generation and one of the most lucrative in terms of marketing ROI. However, there is one problem: to achieve great results, you need to collect real, valid email addresses.
When people leave their addresses on your website, they can often make typos, leave someone else’s address, make up fake addresses, or use temporary emails for registration. The way to fix all of these problems?
Validate email addresses with forms on your website. Today, we’re going to show you how to do just that, as well as teach you about how to create WordPress forms.
What are email validation forms?
An email validation form works in the background of an email capture form. If a website has a place to enter an email address (for example, for subscribing to a newsletter), the validation form works in the background to check if it is a valid email address or not.
If the address is valid (it has proper formatting and exists), the form accepts it.
If it is an invalid email address (includes a typo, does not exist, it’s a disposable address, a duplicate in your list), the form shows an error message after the input box.
The role of this form is to ensure only the valid email address format is accepted. This way, your email list does not get cluttered with outdated, fake, and generally useless addresses.
How do email validation forms work?
There are two main ways.
Get valid email addresses with code and regular expression
Most programming languages support email validation. For example, you can write Javascript code and add it to your website or create an HTML form for checking if an address is valid. This method can be fairly simple, as all you need to do is add the Javascript or HTML code to the website (via regular expression), and voila, you can do email validation.
The downside is that using regular expression and tools like Javascript code is not very reliable. These can only check if someone entered a properly formatted email address. For example, if they typed john@example_com instead of john@example.com, the form shows a validation message that the email is not valid.
For example, the following ASCII characters will throw an error: ^[a-z0-9.!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+@[a-z0-9-]+(?:.[a-z0-9-]+)*$.
In other words, it only checks for email syntax. The Javascript or HTML form does not capture:
- Outdated and fake email addresses
- Spam traps
- Duplicate emails
- Catch-all addresses
- Disposable emails
It essentially covers just the basics. If you have elementary coding skills, and you want to do server-side validation, this way of checking the email format makes sense. However, the use can still submit an address that can do damage to your email campaigns.
The advantage of this method is that if you know your way around regular expression and basic HTML elements, you can validate emails for free.
Validate email addresses via API
API stands for application programming interface, and in this case, it is the API of email validation tools such as Bouncer. These tools do email validation across different touchpoints, checking each email in less than a second.
Typically, you would go to a tool such as Bouncer and head to the dashboard. You then input text (a list of addresses), and it shows every invalid email address on your list.
With the API, you can do automatic validation directly on your website. Your developers just need to connect the API to the form on your website to validate emails in real time.
Here is how it works.
- Someone entered an email address on your website through a form
- Bouncer’s API works in the background, doing different types of email validation
- The user gets a message if their email is valid or not
The instant validation means that invalid emails never reach your email list, and you are safe against all types of invalid addresses.
The downside? Using APIs on email validation forms does not come free. However, the marketing ROI you can get can be amazing. For example, it costs just $8 to validate 1,000 email addresses in Bouncer. If you remove just 20 emails as fake or outdated, this can have a meaningful impact on your email engagement and overall deliverability.
Why should you validate emails on forms?
It seems like an extra step and a reason to annoy your developers. However, using validation on a contact form (be it through HTML code or validation tool APIs) actually makes a lot of sense.
No spam sign ups on form submissions
Whether it’s regular expressions or APIs, validation prevents spammers from signing up on your website. Demos, newsletters, downloading lead magnets – no one can leave a fake, spammy address on your website through form submissions. Your sales and marketing teams no longer have to waste time on fake leads and spam messages.
Improved sender reputation
When an invalid email lands on your list, and you send a message to it, email service providers take note of that. The email bounces, which is no big deal for just one email. But over time, with hundreds and thousands of bounced emails to fake addresses, this adds up and makes a dent in your sender reputation.
Sending only to valid email addresses is a superb way to lower your bounce rate, increase your engagement, and get a better return on investment from email marketing.
Less money spent on email marketing tools
All of the most popular email marketing tools charge a business based on the size of their email list. Fake emails are dead weight that bring no results to your business, but providers such as Mailchimp only care about the total number of users on your lists.
For every duplicate, outdated or fake address, you pay money every month. This may not sound like much, but with large email lists, this number adds up and could save a lot of money every month.
Improved analytics
Invalid addresses cannot receive emails. And if you constantly send messages to these addresses, they never get delivered. Among other things, this ruins your email analytics because you never know your real deliverability and open rates.
If every entered email address is valid, the email marketing analytics give you a clear representation of how your campaigns are performing.
Improved user experience
Whether you use automatic validation or a regular expression pattern, showing an error message to the user on your website can actually provide a better user experience.
If someone reallywants to purchase from you (or sign up for something) and they accidentally have a typo when adding their address, this person will want to know so they can correct it on the spot. Otherwise, you lose a subscriber and a potential customer just because you have not checked their address on your website.
Compliance with regulations such as GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation states that the data you collect from users should be accurate. By adding validation directly on your email forms, you ensure compliance before the situation spirals out of control and you start emailing bogus addresses.
Security and fraud prevention
Some users could be adding fake addresses just for some fun. But others could have a different idea: trying to commit fraud using fake identities. While you cannot prevent situations of false representation, you can easily stop users from entering fake addresses.
Bouncer Shield: your registration form’s first line of defense
Collecting emails through forms sounds simple—until your CRM starts filling up with fake names, spam traps, or mistyped addresses that never deliver. Most marketers plug in a spam filter and hope for the best. But here’s the truth: general anti-spam tools aren’t built for email validation. They filter noise but don’t fix what really matters—whether that address can actually receive your message.
That’s exactly where Bouncer Shield steps in.
Unlike tools like Akismet, OOPSpam, or Zero Spam, which rely on static spam databases, Bouncer Shield provides real-time, intelligent validation at the point of entry. It’s a form security tool specifically designed for marketers who care about list quality, deliverability, and fraud prevention—not just filtering bots.
What makes Bouncer Shield different?
1. Live email verification, not just database checks
Instead of relying on outdated blocklists, Bouncer Shield checks if an email is real, active, and deliverable—the moment someone hits “submit.” It also corrects common typos like @gmal.com or yaho.com, preventing junk entries from ever reaching your email list.
2. Built-in fraud and abuse detection
Bouncer Shield monitors more than just the email itself. It detects patterns linked to cybercrime, like registrations from known abusive domains or suspicious IP ranges. That means fewer fake accounts and less risk for your business.
3. Purpose-built for registration forms
While most competitors were designed for blog comment spam or general site protection, Bouncer Shield was developed with lead forms, signup pages, and gated content in mind. Whether you’re running a Shopify store or managing gated whitepaper downloads, it integrates smoothly with your CMS, landing page builder, or email tool.
4. Cost-efficient at scale
Email verification often comes with a hefty price tag. Bouncer Shield flips that model by offering better accuracy per verification at a lower cost. You can validate hundreds of thousands of emails per hour—without watching your budget implode.
Competing on a different level
It’s easy to assume Bouncer Shield competes with traditional email verification APIs. But the truth is, users often compare it to spam blockers because of how seamlessly it protects form entry points. However, unlike Akismet or OOPSpam, it doesn’t just block known bad actors—it stops fake or undeliverable emails from slipping through in the first place.
| Feature | Bouncer Shield | Akismet / OOPSpam / Zero Spam |
| Real-time deliverability check | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Email typo correction | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Registration form focus | ✅ Yes | ❌ Mostly comment spam |
| IP and domain abuse detection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Partial |
| Works with Shopify and CMSs | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Real-world impact
Let’s say you run a webinar signup form and collect 5,000 emails. If even 10% are fake or undeliverable, that’s 500 emails that waste your send credits, harm your sender reputation, and skew your analytics. With Bouncer Shield in place, those addresses get blocked or corrected before they ever reach your list—protecting both your budget and your campaigns.
It’s easy to install, includes a generous free tier (your first 100 validations are on the house), and scales up to 100,000 email checks per hour—all while staying GDPR and SOC-2 compliant.
🔗 Check out Bouncer Shield and give your forms a smarter defense system.
How complex is it to set up validation on forms?
Not complex at all. For example, you can add the following regular expression to your code on your website:
You can ask your developer to add this to your Javascript or HTML form and you’re safe against the most basic types of invalid addresses.
If you’re using API, the principle is the same: just connect the API to the website’s code and you can get real-time validation and squeaky-clean lists.
Using form builders for contact form HTML validations
If you don’t want to do the hard work and code everything on your own, there are ready-made solutions you can purchase and use on your website with minimal setup. Specifically, these are WordPress forms plugin tools for validating emails on the point of entry.
WordPress contact form plugins use multiple validation layers to make sure data is accurate and secure. HTML5 handles basic checks in the browser, such as required fields and email formats. JavaScript is often thrown into the mix for real-time feedback and dynamic form behavior. All reputable plugins also perform server-side validation using PHP to verify submitted data and protect against manipulation.
- HTML5 validation: Uses attributes like required and type=”email” to check inputs in the browser to prevent spam entries.
- JavaScript validation: Adds extra checks, custom error messages, and supports conditional or multi-step forms.
- Server-side validation: Makes sure all form data is securely validated on the server, even if client-side validation is bypassed.
- Security: Server-side checks are essential to prevent spam, errors, and tampering with form submissions.
If you’re looking for the best WordPress form plugin for your website, make sure that it has these features:
- Drag-and-drop form builder: Easily create and arrange form fields without coding, letting you create different form styling based on your needs.
- Pre made form templates: Quickly insert common form types like contact, feedback, or quote request forms.
- Field variety: Includes text fields, dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons, file uploads, and more. Also, make sure it supports multi page forms.
- Email notifications: Sends submitted form data to one or more email addresses after each form entry.
- Form confirmation messages: Displays a success message or redirects users after submission.
- HTML5 and server-side validation: Ensures accurate and secure input.
- Spam protection: Includes CAPTCHA, reCAPTCHA, or honeypot fields to block bots.
- Input masking: Helps guide users enter data in the correct format (e.g., phone numbers).
- Conditional logic: Show/hide fields or sections in registration forms based on user input.
- Multi-step forms: Break long web forms into pages or steps for better UX.
- AJAX submission: Submit forms without reloading the page.
- Email marketing integrations: Connect to Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, etc.
- CRM integration: Sync data to HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho or your favorite CRM.
- Webhooks and APIs: Send form data to third-party tools or custom scripts.
- Database entries: Save submissions to the WordPress database for later viewing/export.
- Payment support: Integrate Stripe or PayPal for donations or product orders to create payment forms easily.
- Surveys and polls: Create interactive questionnaires and analyze responses.
- User registration/login forms: Customize front-end user registration or login forms.
What is the best WordPress form builder?
To get spam protection on your WordPress site, it makes sense to grab a plugin instead of writing the code yourself. These your best choices.
1. WPForms (Best all-around form builder for most users)
WPForms is one of the most popular WordPress form plugins, known for its ease of use and clean interface. It’s a great pick for beginners who want to build forms quickly without touching code.
Best features:
- Drag-and-drop builder that’s beginner-friendly
- Pre-built templates for contact, registration, payment, etc.
- Smart conditional logic and advanced form settings
- Entry management within the dashboard
- Integrations with Mailchimp, PayPal, Stripe, Zapier, and CRMs
Free version available (WPForms Lite), with paid plans starting at $49.50/year.
2. Gravity Forms (Best for developers and advanced users)
Gravity Forms is an advanced WordPress form plugin geared toward power users who need advanced customization and workflow features for spam protection. It’s ideal for developers or businesses building complex forms like applications, surveys, and order forms.
Best features:
- Deep conditional logic and multi-step forms
- Add-ons for user registration, surveys, quizzes, and payments
- Webhooks and REST API for custom workflows
- Strong third-party integration ecosystem
- File uploads and advanced field types when you create forms with their builder
No free version, paid plans for Gravity Form licenses start at $59/year.
3. Ninja Forms (Great balance of ease and flexibility)
Ninja Forms offers a friendly drag-and-drop builder with powerful features that can be added through extensions. It’s a solid choice if you want flexibility without committing to a full premium suite upfront.
Best features:
- Visual form builder with easy field customization
- Modular add-on system (pay only for what you need)
- Conditional logic, multi-part forms, and file uploads
- Integrates with email tools and CRMs
- Developer-friendly with hooks and filters
Free core plugin, premium add-ons available separately or in bundles.
4. Formidable Forms (Best for building advanced data-driven forms)
Formidable Forms is a powerful form builder built for users who want to go beyond basic contact forms. It’s especially useful for creating calculators, directories, or anything that displays submitted data on the front end.
Best features:
- Repeater fields, calculations, and cascading dropdowns
- Views: display submitted data on the front end (great for directories, listings)
- Conditional logic and multi-step forms
- Integration with WooCommerce, Zapier, and more
- Built-in calculator forms and quizzes
Free version available, paid plans start at $39.50/year.
5. Contact Form 7 (Best free basic option)
Contact Form 7 is one of the oldest and most widely used form plugins on WordPress. It’s lightweight and completely free, but has a steeper learning curve for non-technical users.
Best features:
- Simple and lightweight for basic contact forms
- Easily extendable with free third-party add-ons
- CAPTCHA and spam filtering for anti spam protection
- Email routing and form customization via HTML tags
- Works well with most themes
Completely free, though less user-friendly for beginners.
6. Fluent Forms (Fast and feature-rich alternative to premium builders)
Fluent Forms is a modern WordPress contact form plugin known for its speed, sleek user interface, and extensive free feature set. It’s a great option for users who want powerful features without a steep price tag or bloated interface.
Best features:
- Fast drag-and-drop form builder with live preview
- Built-in conditional logic, multi-step forms, and calculations (even in the free version)
- 45+ native integrations including CRMs, email marketing tools, and payment gateways
- Spam protection with reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and Akismet
- Entry management, email notifications, and form analytics built-in
Free version available, paid plans start at $59/year.
Use Bouncer’s API and validate emails at the point of entry
Bouncer’s email validation API helps you capture all types of invalid addresses at the point of entry. It takes a few hours to set up, and the benefits you get are long-lasting. Some of the reasons to try it include:
- Impressive performance: validate up to 100,000 emails per hour
- Fortress-like security: GDPR and SOC-2-compliant
- Easy to use: plenty of API documentation to help even non-developers integrate
- High accuracy: 99.5% validation accuracy
And the best part is that API is included in all Bouncer plans, starting as low as $8 for 1,000 emails.
Wait, the actualbest part is that you can get started with Bouncer today and validate your first 100 emails completely free.
