“Replaced my entire Express form handler with a single URL. Literally deleted 200 lines of code and it works better now.”
Marcus KimFull-stack Developer, Tines
Form Backend
Form Backend for Static Sites & Web Apps
Formtorch is a modern form API for HTML, React, Next.js, Astro, and more. Capture form submissions, send emails, and automate workflows without building a backend
Used by developers replacing Formspree, Netlify Forms, and custom backends.
<!-- Drop this in any page -->
<form
action=
method="POST"
>
<input type="text" name="name" placeholder="Your name" />
<input type="email" name="email" placeholder="Email" />
<textarea name="message"></textarea>
<!-- Spam protection: honeypot field -->
<input type="text" name="_honeypot" style="display:none" />
<button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>✓ 200 OKSubmission received. Email sent.
import { submitForm } from ;
// Your form ID from the Formtorch dashboard
const FORM_ID = ;
async function handleSubmit(data: FormData) {
"use server";
const res = await fetch(
,
{
method: "POST",
headers: {
Authorization: `Bearer ${FORMTORCH_API_KEY}`,
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: JSON.stringify(Object.fromEntries(data)),
}
);
return res.json();
}✓ 200 OKSubmission received. Email sent.
# Submit a form via cURL
curl -X POST https://formtorch.com/f/YOUR_FORM_ID \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"name": "Ada Lovelace",
"email": "ada@example.com",
"message": "Hello from the terminal"
}'✓ 200 OKSubmission received. Email sent.
As featured on
Trusted by teams shipping on
Handle forms without servers, setup, or headaches
Formtorch gives you everything you need to process form submissions without writing backend code.
No backend required
Add a form endpoint to your HTML or API. No server setup, no database, no DevOps.
Works with any stack
HTML forms, React, Next.js, Astro, Vue, Webflow. If it can send an HTTP request, it works with Formtorch.
Built-in spam protection
Honeypots, rate limiting, and CAPTCHA support out of the box. Submissions arrive clean.
How it works
From form to inbox in seconds
Add one endpoint. We handle the rest: spam protection, storage, and notifications included.
Connect your form
Point your form action (or fetch) to a Formtorch endpoint. Works with any form, any framework, any host.
Collect submissions
We accept HTML form posts, AJAX requests, and JSON payloads. Built-in validation, honeypot spam filtering, and reCAPTCHA support.
Get notified instantly
Receive submissions via email, view them in your dashboard, trigger webhooks, or export as CSV. Your data, your way.
About
What is Formtorch?
Formtorch is a developer-first form backend that lets you collect form submissions without writing a single line of server code. Point any HTML form or API request at a Formtorch endpoint and we handle everything else.
Built for static sites, Jamstack apps, and modern web applications, Formtorch processes submissions, blocks spam, stores data securely, and delivers notifications in real time. Your stack stays the same. You just stop worrying about the backend.
Used by developers replacing Formspree, Netlify Forms, and custom-built form APIs.
Works everywhere
Drop in. Ship it.
Formtorch works with any stack. If it renders HTML or sends HTTP, you're good.
contact.html
<!-- Plain HTML — no JavaScript required --><form action="https://formtorch.com/f/xK9a2b" method="POST"> <label for="name">Name</label> <input id="name" name="name" type="text" required /> <label for="email">Email</label> <input id="email" name="email" type="email" required /> <label for="message">Message</label> <textarea id="message" name="message" rows="4"></textarea> <!-- Honeypot: hidden spam trap --> <input name="_honey" style="display:none" /> <!-- Redirect after submit --> <input type="hidden" name="_redirect" value="https://mysite.com/thanks" /> <button type="submit">Send message</button></form>Features
Serious backend for serious forms
Built by engineers who expect infrastructure to just work.
ENDPOINT
Works with any stack.
Point your form's action to a Formtorch endpoint and start collecting submissions instantly, with no SDK, no backend code, no server required.
HTML, React, Next.js, Astro, Vue: Formtorch is a single attribute change away, no matter what framework you're building with.
PROTECTION
Block spam before it starts.
Every Formtorch submission is scored in real time. Bots are blocked before they reach your inbox, without adding friction for real users.
TorchWarden runs automatically on every form, combining honeypots, rate limiting, and pattern detection into a form backend that stays ahead of abuse.
Type
SubmissionsNOTIFICATIONS
Know the moment someone submits.
Every submission to your Formtorch form triggers an instant email notification to your team. No polling, no dashboard checks, no delay.
Add multiple recipients per form and control exactly who gets notified, directly from the Formtorch dashboard.
CAPTCHA
Add bot protection in one line.
Integrate Cloudflare Turnstile, hCaptcha, or reCAPTCHA with a single hidden field. Formtorch validates the token server-side automatically. No custom routes needed.
No secret key exposure, no verification endpoints to maintain. Drop the CAPTCHA widget in your form and Formtorch handles the rest.
Everything a form backend needs
Battle-tested infrastructure, not a weekend project. Built for teams that ship.
Rate limiting
4-layer protection: per-IP, per-form, per-project, and monthly quotas. Powered by Redis with in-memory fallback.
Honeypot fields
Invisible fields that catch bots automatically. Zero friction for real users, zero chance for automated spam.
CAPTCHA support
Plug in Cloudflare Turnstile, hCaptcha, or reCAPTCHA v3. Toggle per-form from the dashboard.
Custom redirects
Send users to any URL after submission. Set per-form defaults or pass _redirect in the form payload.
Webhook retries
Failed deliveries automatically retried with exponential backoff. Full delivery log in the dashboard.
Encrypted storage
Submissions stored in Postgres with field-level encryption. SOC 2 in progress. GDPR-compliant data handling.
Team access
Invite team members with role-based access. Owners, admins, and viewers. Per-project permissions.
Slack and email
Get notified instantly in Slack, email, or any HTTP endpoint. Configurable per-form notification rules.
GDPR-ready exports
Export any date range as CSV. Cursor-based pagination scales to millions of rows without timeouts.
Use cases
Built for every type of form
Whether you're capturing leads, collecting feedback, or onboarding users — Formtorch handles the backend so you focus on the form.
Integrations
Works with your stack. Routes to your tools.
Formtorch accepts submissions from any framework and delivers them to the tools your team already uses — no middleware, no glue code.
Submit from any framework
HTMLReactNext.jsAstroVueSvelte+ any HTTP source
Route to your tools
Connect via webhook to Slack, Zapier, Make, Google Sheets, or any HTTP endpoint your team uses.
Formspree alternative
Why developers choose Formtorch over Formspree
Faster setup, stronger spam protection, and a free tier that actually lets you ship.
| Feature | Formtorch | Formspree |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier submissions | 150 / month | 50 / month |
| Spam protection | TorchWarden™ scoring engine | Basic reCAPTCHA / honeypot |
| Email branding on free plan | None | Formspree branding |
| Dashboard spam visibility | Score + signals per submission | Blocked / not visible |
| File uploads | Starter plan ($10/mo)+ | Paid plans only |
| Webhooks | Starter plan ($10/mo)+ | Paid plans only |
Testimonials
Loved by developers
who ship fast.
Join 100+ of developers who ditched their form backend and never looked back.
Frequently asked questions
A form backend is a service that receives and processes form submissions without requiring you to build your own server. Instead of creating API routes, configuring databases, and setting up email delivery, you simply send your form data to a Formtorch endpoint. Formtorch acts as a form API and handles validation, spam filtering, secure storage, email notifications, and webhook delivery in one place.
Stop building form backends.
Start shipping.
Start collecting form submissions in minutes. No server, no backend code. Free for your first 150 submissions per month, forever.
