---
title: The Popup Maker Subscription Form
description: "## Introduction You don't have a forms plugin or an email marketing provider yet? No problem. You can add a sign-up form to your popups for free using Popup Maker! Popup Maker comes with a built-in subscription form and automatically…"
url: "https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/getting-started/popup-maker-subscription-form/"
updated: "2025-03-16"
category: Using Popup Maker / Getting Started
---

# The Popup Maker Subscription Form

## Introduction

You don't have a forms plugin or an email marketing provider yet? No problem. You can add a sign-up form to your popups for free using Popup Maker!

Popup Maker comes with a built-in subscription form and automatically gives you a shortcode [`pum_sub_form`] for setting up and tweaking that form.

You can add the Popup Maker subscription form using the **Popup Maker Shortcodes** dropdown in the popup editor. Click **Save** in the settings modal to make sure you add the subscription form (and its shortcode) to the popup content.

After you add the subscription form to your popup, you can edit its settings *visually* or *manually* using the **Visual** and **Text** editor tabs, respectively.

![Add subscription form shortcode](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-add-sub-form-shortcode.gif)

This guide covers the settings and the shortcode parameters (a.k.a. attributes) for the Popup Maker **Subscription Form**.

---

## Why Use Popup Maker's Built-In Subscription Form

### Main Advantages

The following are the main advantages of using the built-in subscription form:

1. You don't have a form plugin yet, and you need to start collecting subscriber emails right now for free.
2. You don't want to use a 3rd-party form plugin to keep your site lean or to skip the hassle.
3. You want to consolidate your popups, forms, and subscribers in one place.
4. You like the option of exporting your subscriber list directly from the database.
5. You have [Mailchimp](https://wppopupmaker.com/extensions/mailchimp-integration/), but setting up and styling the built-in form is better for you.

### Easy Access to Your Subscribers

To see your list of subscribers, go to **Popup Maker** > **Subscribers**.

![pm subscribers page](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-subscribers-page.png)

### Export Your Subscriber List

To export your list of subscribers, use your database admin tool to view and export the `{prefix}_pum_subscribers` table.

![pum subscribers db table](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pum_subscribers-db-table.png)

For example, if you're using something like [the Adminer database tool](https://www.adminer.org/), you can export your list as a CSV and save it to your desktop.

![pm sub form export list](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-export-list.gif)

### Bult-In Support for Mailchimp

At the time of writing, the form integrates with Mailchimp by way of the [Mailchimp Integration plugin extension](https://wppopupmaker.com/extensions/mailchimp-integration/).

That means you can use the Popup Maker **Subscription Form** to save your form submissions to any of your Mailchimp email lists.

If you're already using Mailchimp, read our [Mailchimp Integration Shortcode](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/mailchimp-integration/mailchimp-integration-shortcode-subscription-form/) doc to learn more.

### Developer-Friendly Integration

If you're a developer, check out our [Email Marketing Integration with Popup Maker](https://wppopupmaker.com/docs/dev-form-integration/integrating-form-provider-with-popup-maker/) doc. 

---

## The Subscription Form Settings

After you click **Subscription Form** from the Shortcode Button dropdown and save the settings, Popup Maker puts the **Subscription Form** into the editor.

![pm sc dropdown sub form](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sc-dropdown-sub-form.png)

The settings in the **Visual** tab of the content editor build the actual shortcode that eventually displays the subscription form. Each setting you see in the **Visual** tab has a corresponding shortcode *attribute* that you can see in the **Text** tab of the content editor. You can [go back to that demo above](#sub-form-demo) to see that in action.

That means if you really want to, you can manually edit the shortcode instead of using the **Visual** editor.

Here's an example of the *default* subscription form shortcode.

```
[pum_sub_form name_field_type="fullname" label_name="Name" label_email="Email" label_submit="Subscribe" placeholder_name="Name" placeholder_email="Email" form_layout="block" form_alignment="center" form_style="default" privacy_consent_enabled="yes" privacy_consent_label="Notify me about related content and special offers." privacy_consent_type="radio" privacy_consent_radio_layout="inline" privacy_consent_yes_label="Yes" privacy_consent_no_label="No" privacy_usage_text="If you opt in above we use this information send related content, discounts and other special offers."]
```

Did you get all that??

No worries if you didn't. Let's dive into all settings and their options right now!

## General Settings

![Subscription form general settings Service Provider dropdown](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-general-settings-dropdown.png)

**Service Provider**: **None** or **Default** (also the actual default setting).

The **Default** setting uses the service provider you defined under **Popup Maker Settings** > **Subscriptions** > **General** > **Default Newsletter Provider**.

In the example below, we have our **Default Newsletter Provider** set to MailChimp.

![pm settings subs general mc](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-settings-subs-general-mc.png)

### Default Newsletter Provider shortcode parameter

**Default**: If you select **Default** in the dropdown, the provider attribute will **not** show up in the shortcode.

```
None (leave the parameter out to use your default provider)
```

**None**: No service provider. You'll see the provider attribute set to "none".

```
provider="none"
```

## Form Settings

### Fields Settings

**Name Field Type**: The format for your form's **Name** field.

These are the dropdown choices.

- **None**: Displays no name field.
- **Full**: Displays one full name field by default.
- **First Only**: Displays one field for the first name.
- **First & Last**: Displays one field for the first and another for the last name (2 fields total).

![Subscription form Name Field Type dropdown](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-name-dropdown.png)

If you're editing the shortcode directly in the editor's **Text** tab, these are the corresponding valid name_field_type shortcode parameter values.

```
[pum_sub_form name_field_type="disabled|fullname|first_only|first_last"]
```

- **disabled**: This is the same as picking **None** in the dropdown.
- **fullname**: If you completely leave out the name_field_type parameter or set it to blank (""), this displays the *default* full name field.
- **first_only**: Displays one field for the first name.
- **first_last**: Displays one field for the first and another for the last name (2 fields total).

**Name Optional**: If you add a name field to your form, it's required by default. Your subscribers must enter a name into the name field to submit the form. If you want to make people's names optional on the form, *check* this field.

![Name Optional checkbox](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-name-optional-checkbox.png)

### Name Optional shortcode parameter

**Required (default)**:

```
None (leave the parameter out to make the name required)
```

**Optional** (use the parameter name only; do not provide a value):

```
name_optional
```

---

### Labels Settings

### Disable Labels

Check the box to *hide* the **Name** and **Email** headings above the form fields. Checking it also hides the **Name** and **Email** options in the settings box.

The *default* is unchecked to make the headings show by (ahem) default.

![Subscription form disable labels checkbox](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pum-sub-form-disable-labels.gif)

### Disable Labels parameter

**Unchecked (default)**:

```
None (leave the parameter out to make the headings show)
```

**Checked** (use the parameter name only; do not provide a value):

```
disable_labels
```

### Field label text

The heading text that goes above each name field. The fields change depending on what you have for the **Name Field Type** option.

**Note**: You must uncheck **Disable Labels** to see the name field text settings.

**Options**:

- **Full Name** defaults to **Name**
- **First Name** defaults to **First Name**
- **First & Last** defaults to **First Name** (field 1) and **Last Name** (field 2)

![Subscription form Field label text](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-field-label-text.png)

### Field Label Text shortcode parameter

**Full Name**:

```
label_name="Name"
```

**First Name**:

```
label_fname="First Name"
```

**First & Last**:

```
label_fname="First Name" label_lname="Last Name"
```

**Email**

The text heading that goes above the email field. The default is **Email**.

### Email shortcode parameter

**Default**:

```
label_email="Email"
```

### Submit Button

The text you see on the submit button. The Default is **Subscribe**.

### Submit Button shortcode parameter

**Default**:

```
label_submit="Subscribe"
```

---

### Placeholders Settings

You can customize or use default placeholder text in your form fields. Below are the defaults.

- **Full Name** defaults to **Name**
- **First Name** defaults to **First Name**
- **First & Last** defaults to **First Name** (field 1) and **Last Name** (field 2)

![Subscription form Placeholders settings](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-placeholders.png)

### Field Placeholder Text shortcode parameter

**Full Name**:

```
placeholder_name="Name"
```

**First Name**:

```
placeholder_fname="First Name"
```

**Last Name**:

```
placeholder_lname="Last Name"
```

**Email**:

```
pum_sub_form placeholder_email="Email"
```

---

### Appearance Settings

These settings control how you want your subscription form to look.

![pm sub form appearance](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-appearance.png)

#### Form Layout

Choose a form layout. Options: block or inline. Default: block.

![Sub form layout settings](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-layout.png)

The **Block** layout looks like this.

![Sub form block layout](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-block-layout.png)

The **Inline** layout looks like this.

![Sub form inline layout](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-inline-layout.png)

#### Form Layout shortcode parameter

**Block (default)**:

```
form_layout="block"
```

**Inline**:

```
form_layout="inline"
```

#### Form Alignment

Choose how you want your field heading justified.

For example, here's how **Left** justified looks in the **Block** layout.

![Sub form with left-justified field headings](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-left-justified.png)

Options: **Left**, **Center**, or **Right**. Default: **Center**.

#### Form Alignment shortcode parameter

**Center (default)**:

```
form_alignment="center"
```

**Left**:

```
form_alignment="left"
```

**Right**:

```
form_alignment="right"
```

#### Form Style

Choose how to style the form. Options: **Default** or **None**. Default: **Default**.

#### **Form Style shortcode shortcode parameter**

**Default**:

```
form_style="default"
```

**None**:

```
None (leave the parameter out to make the style none)
```

---

## Privacy Settings

If you don't see the **Enabled** setting in your subscription form editor, make sure **Popup Maker** > **Settings** > **Privacy** > **Always enable consent field on subscription forms.** is set to **Yes**.

![pm settings privacy enable consent](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-settings-privacy-enable-consent.png)

### Enabled

**Enabled**

**Yes** (default)

Displays the consent field radio buttons below the **Email** field and just above the **Subscribe** button. Giving your subscribers consent options helps with [GDPR compliance](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/privacy/what-is-the-gdpr/).

Here's an example.

![pm consent radio buttons](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-consent-radio-buttons.png)

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_enabled="yes"
```

**Enabled**

**No**

Does ***not*** display the consent field radio buttons. There won't be any consent radio buttons between the **Email** field and the **Subscribe** button. See the screen capture below.

![pm consent off](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-consent-off.png)

When someone subscribes while privacy is turned off (i.e., **No)**, their information goes into Popup Maker's **Subscribers** list.

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_enabled="no"
```

> **Note**: If you want to *globally* change the defaults for all the settings below go to **Popup Maker**> **Settings** > **Privacy** > **Subscription Forms**. The defaults in there are for any new popup subscription form you make. You can override them for individual popups using the settings below.

### Privacy Consent Settings

All of the settings we'll go over next deal with this one component pictured below.

![pm sub consent radio](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-consent-radio-example.png)

#### Summary of what you can customize

You can make that consent field appear (or hide it), make it required (or optional), change the heading text, change the **Yes**/**No** text, and even change those buttons to a single checkbox.

![pm sub form privacy overrides](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-privacy-overrides.png)

#### Customizing each Privacy Consent setting

Let's cover each one now.

**Consent Field Label**

**Default text**: "Notify me about related content and special offers."

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_label="Notify me about related content and special offers."
```

**Consent Required**

**Unchecked** (default)

When someone subscribes while **Consent Required** is turned off (unchecked), their information ***does not*** go into Popup Maker's **Subscribers** list. Popup Maker ***does not*** save their info.

In the **Subscribers** page, you'll see an entry with the email "deleted@site.invalid" and blank (empty) name fields.

![pm subs deleted site invalid](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-subs-deleted-site-invalid-1024x199.png)

**Shortcode parameter** (must be left out)

```
NONE
```

**Consent Required**

**Checked**

Check this checkbox to make the field required. Then, your subscribers must choose **Yes** or **No** to submit the form.

They'll see a warning message if they submit the form without choosing **Yes** or **No**.

![pm consent required warning](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-consent-required-warning.png)

If the subscriber clicks **Yes** and then **Subscribe**, Popup Maker saves their information in the **Subscribers** page.

If the subscribers click **No** and then **Subscribe**, Popup Maker ***does not*** save their info. You'll see an entry with the email "deleted@site.invalid" and blank (empty) name fields.

**Shortcode parameter** (parameter name only; don't add a value)

```
privacy_consent_required
```

**Field Type**

**Radio** (default)

Radio buttons mean you can choose only 1 option. If you click **Yes**, then **No** stays blank. If you click **No** after you click **Yes**, then **Yes** turns blank, and **No** turns active (selected) and vice versa.

![pm consent radio demo](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-consent-radio-demo.gif)

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_type="radio"
```

**Field Type**

**Checkbox**

If you want to go minimalist, go with the **Checkbox**.

If your subscribers check the checkbox, their info goes into the **Subscribers** list.

If they leave it unchecked, they don't get on the list.

![pm consent checkbox field type](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-consent-checkbox-field-type-1024x101.png)

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_type="checkbox"
```

**Consent Radio Layout**

**Inline** (default)

This setting applies only to the **Radio** buttons (not the checkbox).

Inline means the **Yes** and **No** options display together side-by-side on one horizontal line (across).

![pm consent radio layout inline](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-consent-radio-layout-inline-1024x164.png)

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_radio_layout="inline"
```

**Consent Radio Layout**

**Stacked**

This setting applies only to the **Radio** buttons (not the checkbox).

If you want to display the **Yes**/**No** radio buttons vertically, then choose **Stacked**.

![pm consent radio stacked](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-consent-radio-stacked-1024x198.png)

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_radio_layout="stacked"
```

**Consent Yes Label**

**Default text**: Yes

This setting applies only to the **Radio** buttons (not the checkbox).

This is the heading for your consent **Yes** option.

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_yes_label="Yes"
```

**Consent No Label**

**Default text**: No

This setting applies only to the **Radio** buttons (not the checkbox).

This is the heading for your consent **No** option.

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_consent_no_label="No"
```

**Consent Usage Text**

**Default text**: "If you opt in above we use this information send related content, discounts and other special offers."

This text displays below the consent options and right above the **Subscribe** button.

**Note**: There's a typo at the time of writing. "... use this information send related ..." Should be "to send" instead of just "send".

![pm privacy usage](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-privacy-usage-text.png)

**Shortcode parameter**

```
privacy_usage_text="If you opt in above we use this information send related content, discounts and other special offers."
```

---

## Actions Settings

Action settings let you do something after a subscriber submits the form. Right now, you can close the subscription form popup, open another popup, and redirect to another post or page.

> ### Heads up! Remember to set a cookie 🍪
>
>
>
> We always recommend setting a **Form Submission** or **Subscription Form: Successful** cookie in your popup trigger. That way, visitors who fill out and submit your form won't see it again and get annoyed.
>
>
>
> ![Popup Maker Cookie Dropdown Form Submission](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/popup-maker-cookie-dropdown-form-submission-1024x558.png)

### Popup

You can close the subscription form popup or open another popup (or do both) after your subscriber submits the form. The following popup and redirect combinations work fine at the time of writing:

- **Close Popup** and **Open Popup**
- **Close Popup** and **Redirect**

![pm sub form actions](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-form-actions.png)

Let's go over how to do each one.

#### Close Popup

1. Click **Close Popup**.
2. Set your **Delay** (seconds) by using the slider, entering a number, or using the -/+ buttons. We think you should use a 2-second (or so) delay so people can read your success messages before the popup closes.
3. Click **Save**

![pm sub actions close](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-actions-close.png)

#### Close Popup shortcode parameters

The default close popup delay is 0 seconds.

```
closepopup closedelay="0"
```

#### Open Popup

1. Click **Open Popup**.
2. Click a popup name in the **Popup ID** dropdown.
3. Click **Save**.

**Note**: Even though the dropdown heading says **Popup ID**, you're really seeing the popup name. In the shortcode parameter, you'll see the actual popup ID number.

![pm sub action open](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pm-sub-action-open.png)

#### Open Popup shortcode parameter

```
openpopup openpopup_id="100"
```

---

### Redirect

Here's how to redirect to another post or page after your subscriber submits the form.

1. Make sure that **Popup** > **Open Popup** is unchecked. At the time of writing, the **Open Popup** and **Redirect** combination only opens a new popup and never redirects.
2. Click **Redirect**.
3. Check the **Redirect** checkbox.
4. Enter a valid URL in the **Redirect URL** field.
5. Click **Save**.

![pum sub action redirect](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/pum-sub-action-redirect.png)

### Redirect shortcode parameter

```
redirect_enabled redirect="https://wildebeest-take.instawp.xyz/about/"
```

## Remember to Save Your Changes!

After changing and saving your subscription form settings, always remember to click **Publish** or **Update** for your popup to save all of your changes.

![Popup Maker Publish button](https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-content/uploads/popup-maker-publish-493w.jpg)