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WordPress Forms (Gravity, Formidable, WPForms, CF7) to WhatsApp

Send Gravity Forms, Formidable, WPForms and Contact Form 7 submissions to VGraple CRM as leads with a WhatsApp follow-up, via Zapier or a direct REST API call.

By Chirag Darji · Updated 27 Aug 2026 · 6 min read

On this page
  1. Before you start
  2. Steps: Gravity Forms, Formidable Forms or WPForms via Zapier
  3. Steps: Contact Form 7 (no built-in Zapier support)
  4. What you will see
  5. Settings and options
  6. Troubleshooting
Web forms in VGraple CRM that create a lead and start a WhatsApp conversation on submit

VGraple CRM's own form builder does not read submissions from Gravity Forms, Formidable, WPForms or Contact Form 7 directly; the working route is Zapier's native support for each plugin (built into three of the four) feeding into VGraple CRM's Create Lead action, or, for a plugin whose own webhook add-on supports custom headers, calling the REST API directly. This walkthrough covers both.

Before you start

  • Decide first whether you actually need this. If you are building new forms and have no existing WordPress plugin investment, VGraple CRM's own embeddable form builder skips this entire setup.
  • You need an API key either way, generated by the organisation owner, whether Zapier uses it behind the scenes or you paste it directly into a plugin's webhook add-on.
  • Confirm which plugin and tier you are on: Gravity Forms and Formidable Forms have Zapier support on their premium tiers; WPForms needs its Zapier addon, available on Pro and above; Contact Form 7 has no official Zapier feature and needs a separate webhook or automation add-on plugin.

Steps: Gravity Forms, Formidable Forms or WPForms via Zapier

  1. In Zapier, create a new Zap and search for your form plugin (Gravity Forms, Formidable Forms or WPForms). Choose its New Submission (or equivalently named) trigger.

The leads overview in VGraple CRM with totals, leads by campaign and leads by stage across the pipeline

  1. Connect your WordPress site to Zapier, following that plugin's own connection instructions, typically an API key or site key generated inside the plugin's own settings.

  2. Test the trigger by submitting a real test entry on your form, so Zapier can read the field structure and offer it for mapping.

  3. Add VGraple CRM as the action app and choose Create Lead. Connect with an API key if this is your first VGraple CRM Zap.

  4. Map the form's fields to Create Lead's fields, name, phone, email, and an optional pipeline; put any extra form answers you want to keep into the Notes field as free text.

  5. Optionally add a second action, Send Template Message, mapping the form's phone field to the "To" field, so the person who submitted gets an instant WhatsApp acknowledgement.

  6. Test both steps and turn the Zap on.

Steps: Contact Form 7 (no built-in Zapier support)

  1. Install a webhook or automation add-on for Contact Form 7, since it has no native Zapier or webhook feature. Several free and paid options exist in the WordPress plugin directory; pick one that can either connect to Zapier's own "Webhooks by Zapier" trigger, or POST directly with custom headers.

  2. If it connects to Zapier, use Zapier's "Webhooks by Zapier" as your trigger (Catch Hook), pointing your CF7 add-on's outgoing webhook at the URL Zapier generates, then continue with VGraple CRM's Create Lead action exactly as in steps 4 to 7.

  3. If it supports direct HTTP requests with custom headers, skip Zapier entirely: point it at https://crm.vgraple.co.in/api/v1/leads, method POST, header Authorization: Bearer vgk_your_key_here, and a JSON body with name, phone, email and notes mapped from your CF7 fields.

What you will see

A form submission creates a new lead in VGraple CRM within moments, visible on your leads pipeline with whatever fields you mapped, and, if you added the second action, an outbound WhatsApp template message appears in the inbox on that person's conversation.

Settings and options

Setting or fieldWhat it doesDefault
Form plugin triggerFires when someone submits the WordPress formChosen per plugin in Zapier (or a webhook add-on's own trigger)
Create Lead actionCreates the lead in VGraple CRMRequires at least a name, phone or email mapped
Pipeline mappingWhich pipeline the lead lands inYour default pipeline unless mapped explicitly
Send Template Message (optional)Sends an instant WhatsApp acknowledgementNot added unless you build it as a second step
Direct API route (CF7 or advanced setups)Skips Zapier using a webhook add-on with custom headersRequires the add-on to support an Authorization header

Troubleshooting

SymptomLikely causeFix
Submissions do not create leads at allThe Zap (or workflow) was never turned on, or the form plugin's own connection to Zapier expiredRecheck the Zap's on/off state and reconnect the form plugin's account if its own token expired
A lead is created but with no phone numberThe form itself did not collect a phone number, or the field was not mapped in the action stepAdd a phone field to the form if you need WhatsApp follow-up, and confirm the mapping in the Zap
Contact Form 7 submissions never reach ZapierCF7 has no native webhook feature; a required add-on plugin is missing, disabled, or misconfiguredInstall and configure a webhook or automation add-on for CF7 specifically, since this is not built into CF7 itself
A direct API call from a plugin's webhook add-on returns 401The Authorization header is missing, malformed, or the API key was rotatedRecheck the header value against your current key in Settings > API Keys; confirm the add-on actually supports custom headers
Every submission lands in the wrong pipelineNo pipeline was mapped in the Create Lead action, so it used your default pipelineExplicitly map the intended pipeline in the action step

Example

A clinic's website runs on Gravity Forms for its "Book a Consultation" form. A Zap creates a lead in VGraple CRM's Appointments pipeline the moment someone submits, and a second action sends a WhatsApp confirmation template to the phone number they entered, all without the front desk touching the form plugin.

Once this is working, see Facebook Lead Ads if you also run lead ad campaigns, or VGraple CRM's own form builder if you decide to consolidate onto one embeddable form instead of a separate WordPress plugin.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use my existing WordPress form plugin, or VGraple CRM's own form builder?
If your site already runs on Gravity Forms, Formidable, WPForms or Contact Form 7 and you do not want to rebuild those forms, keep them and connect their submissions to VGraple CRM as described here. If you are starting fresh, VGraple CRM's own embeddable form builder skips a separate plugin and Zapier step entirely; see building web forms.
Does VGraple CRM read submissions from these plugins directly?
No. The built-in form builder is VGraple CRM's own tool and does not natively read another plugin's submissions. A WordPress form plugin reaches VGraple CRM through a Zapier connection, or directly through your API key if the plugin's own webhook add-on supports custom request headers.
Which of these four plugins has the easiest path to VGraple CRM?
Gravity Forms and Formidable Forms both have long-standing Zapier support built into their premium tiers, making a New Submission trigger straightforward. WPForms offers a Zapier addon on its Pro-and-above plans. Contact Form 7 has no official Zapier or webhook feature built in, so it needs a separate free or paid webhook-add-on plugin, or a generic automation plugin, to reach Zapier at all.
Can a form plugin call the REST API directly, skipping Zapier?
Yes, if the plugin (or an add-on for it) has a webhook feature that lets you set custom request headers. Point it at a VGraple CRM v1 endpoint with an Authorization: Bearer header carrying your API key, and a JSON body matching the endpoint's expected fields.
What does a submission become inside VGraple CRM?
A lead, created through the Create Lead action (or the equivalent direct API call), landing in your default pipeline unless you map a specific one, with whatever name, phone, email and notes fields you mapped from the form.
Can a submission also send an instant WhatsApp reply to the person who filled out the form?
Yes, by adding VGraple CRM's Send Template Message action as a second step in the same Zap, mapping the form's phone field into the "To" field, sending an approved template as an acknowledgement.

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