How One Freelancer Manages 30 Websites with Formidable Forms

Meet António from Ajoscoa, a Portugal-based freelancer who's been building websites since 2005. With 30 active client sites under management, he's found his secret weapon for staying efficient — and it's not custom code.

Approximate read time: 6 minutes

Managing dozens of client websites as a solo freelancer isn't easy. Every site needs forms, data collection, and custom features. But coding everything from scratch? That's a time drain no freelancer can afford.

António from Ajoscoa, a Portuguese web professional who's been in the business for nearly two decades, knows this challenge intimately. With around 30 websites currently under his management, he needed a solution that could handle complexity without requiring deep programming knowledge.

That solution came in the form of Formidable Forms.

"Formidable is one of the three, four, or five plugins that I use every time," António explains. For him, it's become an essential tool — one of the handful of plugins he installs on virtually every project.

But what makes Formidable Forms stand out in a crowded marketplace of WordPress form plugins? António's experience reveals exactly why this tool has become indispensable to his freelance business.

The Freelancer's Dilemma: Power vs. Simplicity

As a freelancer since 2005, António has seen the WordPress ecosystem evolve dramatically. He's tried countless tools and plugins, always searching for solutions that balance power with usability.

The problem? Most tools force you to choose between simplicity and capability.

Simple form plugins are easy to use but can't handle complex requirements. Advanced solutions require programming expertise that not every freelancer possesses — or has time to apply on every project.

António needed something different. He needed a tool that could scale from basic contact forms to sophisticated data collection systems without requiring him to become a full-stack developer.

"I'm not a programmer," António admits candidly. "Without it, I couldn't offer what I offer."

This is the reality for many freelancers and small agencies: the features clients want often require technical skills beyond their expertise. António was looking for a tool that could bridge that gap — something that would empower him to build complex solutions without writing complex code.

Why António Chose Formidable Over the Competition

When António was evaluating form builders years ago, he looked at several options. One popular alternative was Gravity Forms, a well-known player in the WordPress forms space.

But there was a dealbreaker.

"Gravity didn't have the Views," António explains. "Views for me are very important."

This single feature — Formidable's Views functionality — made all the difference. Views allow users to display form submissions as customizable lists, directories, or databases on the front end of a website. For António's clients who needed directories, listings, or searchable databases, this was essential.

Beyond Views, António found that Formidable offered the most complete solution available. "I think Formidable is the more complete solution. Everything is customizable."

That completeness meant António could handle nearly any client request with a single tool, rather than juggling multiple plugins or resorting to custom development.

From Simple Forms to Complex Solutions: Formidable's Range

One of the aspects António appreciates most about Formidable Forms is its versatility across different use cases.

For Beginners: The Free Version Delivers

António doesn't believe in overselling. When someone needs just a basic contact form, he's quick to recommend starting simple.

"If someone wants to create a simple form, I will say, yeah, go to the Formidable free version. A lot of fields there. You can do a normal form for the contact form stuff and so on."

The free version of Formidable Forms includes entry management — a feature that António points out isn't always available in other free form plugins. This means even users on the free tier can collect, store, and review form submissions without upgrading.

For Professionals: Pro Unlocks Possibilities

When projects get more complex, António upgrades to Formidable Forms Pro. And that's where the real power emerges.

"If you go along with it and you need more complex stuff, you go to Formidable Forms Pro, and then you have many solutions in your hands."

With the Pro version, António can build:

• Custom directories and listings using Views
• Conditional forms that adapt based on user input
• Front-end form editing for clients
• Complex data relationships and calculations
• User registration systems and member portals

These capabilities transform Formidable from a simple form builder into a complete application development platform — all accessible through a visual, no-code interface.

No-Code Power: Building Without Programming

António describes Formidable Forms as a "no-code tool" that lets him create sophisticated solutions without writing custom code.

"I'm using a no-code tool right, to create complex things. Some developers can look at this and say, 'Yeah, I would create this more easily programming and everything.' Yeah, I'm not a programmer."

This is a crucial point. António acknowledges that experienced developers might build certain features faster with custom code. But that's not his path — and it doesn't need to be.

For freelancers like António who focus on delivering results rather than reinventing the wheel, Formidable provides all the power they need without the overhead of custom development.

The result? António can compete with larger agencies and offer sophisticated features to his clients, all while working solo.

World-Class Documentation Means Less Support Needed

Another standout feature for António is Formidable's documentation quality.

"In one year, I use support like one or two times. I don't use support very much because the documentation is very good from my experience."

As someone who's worked with dozens of WordPress tools over the years, António has a basis for comparison. "Comparing with the many other tools that I have access to, your documentation is top of the line."

For a busy freelancer managing 30 websites, this is invaluable. Self-service documentation means António can find answers and solve problems quickly without waiting for support responses. Time saved on troubleshooting is time available for billable work or new projects.

Formidable: The Freelancer's Best Friend

For António, Formidable Forms has become more than just a plugin — it's a fundamental part of his business model.

"It's been my best friend," he shares. "Thank you to you for creating these tools that allow us to build stuff. Without these tools, this only would be available to programmers and so on. This is great."

This sentiment captures something important: tools like Formidable Forms democratize web development. They allow skilled freelancers and agencies to deliver professional solutions without requiring a computer science degree.

António can focus on understanding his clients' needs, designing effective solutions, and delivering results. Formidable handles the technical complexity behind the scenes.

The Bottom Line: 30 Websites, One Essential Tool

Managing 30 active websites as a solo freelancer requires efficiency, reliability, and powerful tools. António has found all three in Formidable Forms.

From simple contact forms on the free version to complex directories and applications on Pro, Formidable scales to meet whatever challenge his clients present. The comprehensive documentation keeps him moving fast, while the no-code form builder interface means he's not blocked by programming limitations.

For António, the choice is clear: "Formidable is one of the three, four, or five plugins that I use every time."

If you're a freelancer or small agency looking to deliver more sophisticated solutions without drowning in custom code, António's experience offers a blueprint. Formidable Forms might just become your best friend, too.

---

Ready to build better, faster, smarter? Try Formidable Forms today and see how it can transform your freelance or agency workflow.

Get Formidable Forms →