Getting started

Install NRG Forms

1. In WordPress, open Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin.
2. Select the NRG Forms ZIP file, choose Install Now, and then activate it.
3. Open Forms → Settings → License, enter your license key, and activate this site.

Create and embed a form

1. Open Forms → New Form and give the form a descriptive title.
2. Use the field buttons in the right column to add fields. Drag field title bars to reorder them.
3. Configure the submit button and publish the form.
4. Copy the shortcode shown under the form’s General settings and paste it into a page, post, or compatible page-builder shortcode element.
5. Submit a real test and confirm the entry, notification, confirmation, CAPTCHA, and integrations all behave as expected.

Form builder

The builder stores fields in the order shown on the edit screen. Each field has a shaded type bar and drag handle, followed by its label, description, requirement, choices, CSS classes, and other type-specific options.

Available field types

Current fields include common text and contact inputs, paragraph text, dropdowns, radio buttons, checkboxes, numbers, dates, file uploads, hidden values, HTML/content fields, and reCAPTCHA. Use clear labels and descriptions; mark only genuinely necessary information as required.

Layout classes

Add layout classes in a field’s CSS Class setting. Use nrg-half for half width, nrg-third for one-third width, and nrg-two-thirds for two-thirds width. Add nrg-align-right to place a partial-width field against the right side when the left side should remain empty. Test layouts at desktop, tablet, and phone sizes.

Field tags

Notifications and other supported settings provide a field selector. Choose a field by its readable name; NRG Forms inserts the corresponding field tag for you. Tags are replaced with submitted values when the form is processed.

Notifications

Notifications send submission details by email. Open a form’s Settings row action, then select the Notifications tab.

• Send To: one or more destination addresses controlled by the site owner.
• From Name: a recognizable site or organization name.
• From Email: use an address on the website’s domain for better deliverability.
• Reply-To: select the submitter’s email field when replies should go to them.
• Subject and Message: combine plain text with available field tags.

For production sites, configure authenticated SMTP or a transactional email service and verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. A successful form submission does not guarantee that an unauthenticated WordPress email will reach an inbox.

Confirmations

Confirmations tell the visitor that submission succeeded. Choose the Confirmations tab in form settings and select the appropriate behavior:

• Message: keep the visitor on the form page and display a success message.
• WordPress page: send the visitor to a page on the same website.
• Redirect URL: send the visitor to another approved HTTPS destination.

Do not include sensitive submitted values in redirect query strings. Use a concise success message and explain when the visitor should expect a response.

Security and reCAPTCHA

Global reCAPTCHA credentials belong under Forms → Settings. Enter the site and secret keys issued for the exact production domain, then choose the supported reCAPTCHA version. Individual forms can add a CAPTCHA field and select visible or invisible behavior where that version permits it.

• Keep secret keys server-side and never place them in page content.
• Use HTTPS on every form page.
• Do not collect information that is unnecessary for the form’s purpose.
• Keep WordPress, NRG Forms, add-ons, PHP, and the active theme updated.
• Test CAPTCHA after domain, caching, consent, or optimization changes.

Entries, uploads, and exports

Open Forms → Entries to review stored submissions. Entry details show the submitted field values and available file links. Uploaded files are validated against the field’s allowed extensions and configured maximum size, which cannot exceed the WordPress/PHP upload limit.

Export entries when a portable copy is needed. Store exports securely: they may contain personal information even though NRG Forms licensing never stores payment-card or Paddle billing details. Establish a retention period appropriate to the site, delete information that is no longer needed, and limit dashboard access to trusted administrators.

Add-ons and feeds

Mailchimp

Install and activate the Mailchimp add-on, then connect the account under global NRG Forms settings. After connection, the add-on retrieves available audiences and fields. In the form’s Mailchimp tab, select an audience, map the email and merge fields, and configure subscription options. Send a test with an address you control and confirm the contact appears in Mailchimp.

Webhook feeds

When the webhook add-on is active, each form can contain multiple feeds. Each feed can target a separate HTTPS endpoint and define its own field mapping. This supports CRMs, automation platforms, internal applications, and redundant workflows. Protect receiving endpoints, avoid including unnecessary personal data, and review failed-delivery logs.

Import and export

Use Forms → Import/Export to export NRG Forms definitions for backup or migration, and import supported packages on another licensed site. Review imported notification addresses, CAPTCHA settings, confirmation destinations, upload limits, and add-on mappings before publishing.

Import adapters for other form builders translate supported fields and settings into NRG Forms. Unsupported proprietary features should be reported during preview rather than silently discarded. Keep the original plugin active until each imported form has been compared and tested.

Licenses and updates

NRG Forms annual licenses support 1, 5, 10, or unlimited production sites. Recognized local, development, staging, sandbox, and preview installations do not consume production activations.

• Activate a key under Forms → Settings → License.
• Deactivate the old production site before moving a limited license when possible.
• An expired subscription blocks new activations and private updates, but installed forms and add-ons continue functioning.
• Never publish or send a license key to an untrusted recipient.

Troubleshooting

A form does not appear

Confirm that the form is published, the shortcode references the correct form, and the page is not serving stale cache. Test for theme or plugin conflicts on a staging site.

Notifications do not arrive

Check recipients and field tags, review spam folders, verify domain authentication, and inspect the site’s SMTP or transactional-email logs.

Uploads fail

Compare the field limit with WordPress and PHP upload limits, confirm the extension is allowed, and check server storage and permissions.

An integration does not run

Confirm the add-on is active and connected, re-save its feed, verify mapped fields, and review the provider or endpoint logs.

Still need help?

Include the NRG Forms version, WordPress version, PHP version, steps to reproduce, and relevant error text. Remove passwords, API keys, license keys, and personal submission data before sending diagnostics.