Webflow sync, pageviews & more.
NEW

Is there a way to prevent form submissions from using personal email addresses on Webflow to reduce spam, even with Recaptcha?

TL;DR
  • Use custom JavaScript in Webflow to detect and block form submissions from personal email domains like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com.
  • Provide user feedback via form error messages, and optionally use external tools like Zapier for post-submission filtering.

Yes, you can block personal email providers in Webflow forms using input validation and custom code. While Webflow’s built-in Recaptcha helps prevent bots, it doesn’t block specific email domains.

1. Use Custom JavaScript to Filter Email Domains

  • Webflow does not support native domain filtering for form input, so you’ll need to use custom JavaScript to intercept the submission.
  • Add a script in your Page Settings > Before tag or via an Embed element at the bottom of the page.
  • The script should check the email input for domains like @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, @hotmail.com, etc., and prevent submission if detected.
  • Example (do not add the script tag literally): Use something like email.includes("@gmail.com") to detect unwanted domains and event.preventDefault() to block the submission.

2. Add Visual Feedback for User

  • If you prevent form submission, ensure you display a message informing the user to use a business or non-free email.
  • You can use Webflow’s native Form Error Message block, show/hide it via JavaScript based on the validation result.
  • Common personal domains to filter may include:
  • (a) gmail.com, (b) yahoo.com, (c) hotmail.com, (d) outlook.com, (e) icloud.com, (f) aol.com

4. Alternative Server-Side Filtering

  • Webflow does not allow server-side code, but you can use external form handlers (e.g., Zapier, Make, or Integromat) to filter submissions after they’re captured.
  • This won't prevent submission but can auto-delete or ignore emails from personal domains in your CRM or database.

5. Don’t Rely on Pattern Attribute Alone

  • Webflow supports the pattern attribute in form fields, but regex alone isn’t robust for this use case, especially since it requires a long negative match pattern for multiple domains.

Summary

Webflow does not natively support blocking personal email addresses in forms, but you can achieve this using custom JavaScript to validate the email input before submission. This is the most effective way to reduce spam from free email services, especially when used alongside Recaptcha.

Rate this answer

Other Webflow Questions