Compare
Formerie or a mailto link?
A mailto link is the simplest thing that can work. Here’s where it stops working, and when it’s still the right choice.
In short
A mailto link opens the visitor’s own email app, so it costs nothing and needs no setup, but you get no validation, no spam checks, no structured fields, and no record of what was sent. Formerie receives the submission itself, validates it, stores it, and records each delivery attempt. Use mailto when an email address is all you need to offer.
When each one fits
Use mailto when
You only want to show an address, volume is very low, and you don’t need specific fields or a record.
Use Formerie when
You need certain answers from people, a record of each message, spam checks, or proof that delivery worked.
Your address stays private
A mailto link publishes your address to the page. With Formerie, recipients stay on the server.
Side by side
This compares a plain mailto link with Formerie as it works today.
| mailto link | Formerie | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | One line of HTML | Create and publish a form |
| Needs the visitor’s mail app | Yes | No |
| Required fields and validation | No | Yes, on the server |
| Spam checks | No | Yes |
| Record of each submission | Only in your inbox | Yes, in the app |
| Delivery attempts and retries | No | Yes |
| Recipient visible in the page | Yes | No |
| Cost | Free | Free plan; listed prices not charged during early access |
Replace your mailto link with a form you can check.
Start free, and keep the link until you’re happy.