Do WordPress form plugins store entries by default?<\/h2>\n
It depends entirely on the plugin:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Contact Form 7<\/strong> \u2014 no. It emails submissions and keeps nothing unless you add a separate plugin. (More on capturing CF7 below \u2014 it’s new in EntryVault<\/a>.)<\/li>\n
- WPForms, Gravity Forms, Fluent Forms, Formidable, Ninja Forms, Everest Forms<\/strong> \u2014 yes, but each stores entries in its own tables, behind its own screen.<\/li>\n
- Trinity Forms<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 stores natively and exports to CSV out of the box.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So storage isn’t always the problem. The friction shows up when you run more than one<\/em> form plugin, or when you need to actually work<\/em> the submissions \u2014 tag them, follow up, assign them to teammates, or hand a clean CSV to someone else. Each plugin silos its entries, and none of them were built to be a lightweight CRM.<\/p>\n
The fix: one inbox for every form’s entries<\/h2>\n
Instead of checking three different plugin dashboards, route every submission into a single, searchable board. That’s what EntryVault<\/a> does \u2014 it captures entries from 11 form builders<\/strong> (Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, Fluent Forms, Forminator, SureForms, Ninja Forms, Formidable Forms, WS Form, Everest Forms, and Trinity Forms) and puts them on one Kanban-style board you can filter, tag, and export.<\/p>\n
![\"EntryVault](\"https:\/\/jnkplugins.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/shot-entryvault-board.png\")
EntryVault’s Kanban board \u2014 every form’s submissions in one pipeline you can drag through stages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n How to store and export form entries with EntryVault<\/h2>\n
Step 1 \u2014 Install EntryVault<\/h3>\n
From your dashboard go to Plugins \u2192 Add New<\/strong>, search for EntryVault<\/em>, and install and activate the free build. It runs alongside your existing form plugins \u2014 you don’t replace anything.<\/p>\n
Step 2 \u2014 There’s no step 2 (it auto-detects your forms)<\/h3>\n
This is the part people expect to be fiddly, and isn’t. EntryVault auto-detects which form plugins are active<\/strong> and only loads the matching adapters \u2014 no API keys, no per-form mapping, no configuration. Submit a test entry on any supported form and it appears in EntryVault immediately.<\/p>\n
Step 3 \u2014 See every submission in one place<\/h3>\n
Open EntryVault \u2192 Submissions<\/strong>. Every entry \u2014 regardless of which plugin created it \u2014 is listed with its fields, the source form plugin<\/strong>, and timestamps. Filter by pipeline, stage, source, or date, or search by name\/email.<\/p>\n
![\"EntryVault](\"https:\/\/jnkplugins.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/shot-ev-submissions.png\")
The Submissions screen. Note the Source<\/strong> column \u2014 Contact Form 7, Ninja Forms, and Everest Forms entries side by side, all captured automatically.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Step 4 \u2014 Tag and organize<\/h3>\n
Add colour-coded tags (for example lead<\/em>, support<\/em>, spam<\/em>) so you can triage the board at a glance, and open any card to see its full field values, an activity timeline, and notes.<\/p>\n
Step 5 \u2014 Export to CSV<\/h3>\n
Need the data elsewhere \u2014 a spreadsheet, your email tool, an accountant? Hit Export CSV<\/strong> on the Submissions screen to download everything (or a filtered view) as a clean, portable file \u2014 no wrestling with each form plugin’s separate exporter.<\/p>\n
Step 6 \u2014 Work submissions like a mini CRM (Pro)<\/h3>\n
When simple storage isn’t enough, EntryVault Pro adds the workflow layer:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Pipelines<\/strong> \u2014 move cards through stages (New \u2192 Contacted \u2192 Won) on the board.<\/li>\n
- Owners<\/strong> \u2014 assign submissions to specific team members, with round-robin.<\/li>\n
- Automations<\/strong> \u2014 trigger actions when an entry arrives or changes stage.<\/li>\n
- IMAP reply sync<\/strong> \u2014 connect a mailbox so email replies attach to the right entry, keeping the whole conversation in one place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Special case: storing Contact Form 7 submissions<\/h2>\n
Contact Form 7 is the classic example of a form that keeps nothing<\/strong> \u2014 it just emails you. As of EntryVault 1.1, CF7 is fully supported, so your existing CF7 forms get a real database and CSV export with zero changes to the forms themselves.<\/p>\n
One detail that matters: EntryVault captures CF7 submissions on the before-send-mail<\/em> step (the same hook CF7’s own storage add-on uses), so a lead is recorded even if the notification email fails to send<\/strong> \u2014 which is exactly when you’d otherwise lose it. If you’re weighing CF7 against a builder that stores natively, see our Contact Form 7 alternative guide<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Why storing entries properly matters<\/h2>\n
- \n
- You never lose a lead<\/strong> to a bounced or filtered notification email.<\/li>\n
- You have a record<\/strong> for follow-up, disputes, and data-retention requirements.<\/li>\n
- You can collaborate<\/strong> \u2014 a shared board beats forwarding emails around.<\/li>\n
- You can report and export<\/strong> \u2014 analyze what’s actually coming through your forms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pricing<\/h2>\n
EntryVault has a free-forever core<\/strong> that stores entries and gives you the unified board and CSV export. Pro unlocks the CRM workflow \u2014 automations, IMAP reply sync, multiple pipelines, owners, and round-robin \u2014 starting at $79\/year<\/strong> for a single site, with a $319 lifetime<\/strong> option. See the pricing page<\/a> for all tiers.<\/p>\n
The bottom line<\/h2>\n
If your form entries live only in your inbox, you’re one spam filter away from losing a customer. Store them properly, keep them in one place, and export whenever you need to. EntryVault<\/a> makes that a five-minute setup \u2014 and it’s free to start.<\/p>\n
Ready to try it?<\/strong> Explore EntryVault<\/a> or check the pricing and tiers<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Plugin-specific guides:<\/em> we’ve written dedicated walkthroughs for exporting Gravity Forms entries<\/a> and exporting Fluent Forms entries<\/a>, plus a comparison of the best form entry management plugins<\/a>.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Does Contact Form 7 store form entries?<\/h3>\n
No \u2014 Contact Form 7 emails each submission and keeps no database record by default. To store CF7 entries you need a companion plugin such as Flamingo or EntryVault, which capture submissions on CF7’s own hook so nothing is lost even if the email fails.<\/p>\n
How do I export WordPress form entries to CSV?<\/h3>\n
Install EntryVault, open EntryVault → Submissions<\/strong>, optionally filter the list, and click Export CSV<\/strong> to download every entry as a clean spreadsheet file \u2014 from all your form plugins at once, with no per-form exporter to wrestle.<\/p>\n
Can I manage entries from several form plugins in one place?<\/h3>\n
Yes. EntryVault auto-detects your active builders and captures entries from 11 of them \u2014 Contact Form 7, WPForms, Gravity Forms, Fluent Forms and more \u2014 into a single searchable board, so you stop checking a separate screen per plugin.<\/p>\n
Related reading<\/h2>\n
- \n
- How to export Contact Form 7 entries to CSV<\/a> \u2014 the CF7-specific route, including very large archives<\/li>\n
- Exporting WordPress posts to CSV<\/a> \u2014 the same job for your content instead of your form entries<\/li>\n
- Migrating form entries between plugins<\/a> \u2014 moving stored entries when you switch form builders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Exporting WordPress posts to CSV<\/a> \u2014 the same job for your content instead of your form entries<\/li>\n
- You have a record<\/strong> for follow-up, disputes, and data-retention requirements.<\/li>\n
- Owners<\/strong> \u2014 assign submissions to specific team members, with round-robin.<\/li>\n
- WPForms, Gravity Forms, Fluent Forms, Formidable, Ninja Forms, Everest Forms<\/strong> \u2014 yes, but each stores entries in its own tables, behind its own screen.<\/li>\n