ChimpMatic connects Contact Form 7 to EmailOctopus, so every form submission can join the right list. The EmailOctopus integration needs one API key, a list per form and a few mapped fields. It takes about five minutes to set up.
What the EmailOctopus integration needs
- A WordPress site with Contact Form 7 active
- The latest ChimpMatic Lite, which is free
- An account on any plan, with at least one list
Before you set up the EmailOctopus integration
The service keeps things simple, but a few details shape what you will see.
- Every list has its own fields. Fields such as first name live inside each list, so the fields you can map depend on the list you pick.
- The list decides the opt-in. ChimpMatic does not choose a status for new contacts. Instead, the list’s double opt-in setting applies.
- “Pending” is not “subscribed”. On a double opt-in list, a new contact stays pending until they confirm. ChimpMatic reports that honestly, so it never counts a pending contact as subscribed.
- Existing contacts stay as they are. If the address is already on the list, the API reports a conflict. ChimpMatic then shows it as already subscribed and changes nothing.
Get your EmailOctopus API key
- Log in and open the API keys page of your dashboard.
- Click Add key, name it “ChimpMatic”, and click Create.
- Copy the key right away, because it appears only once.
Treat the key like a password. Anyone who has it can read and change your lists.
Connect Contact Form 7 to EmailOctopus
- In WordPress, open Contact, Contact Forms and edit your form.
- Click the Chimpmatic tab and choose EmailOctopus.
- Paste your API key and connect. After that, your lists load on their own.
- Select the list that new contacts should join, then save the form.
Map your form fields
First, point the email field at the contact email address. Then map up to four more fields to the fields of that list. For example, a name field can fill the list’s “First name” field, and a city field can fill a “City” field you created.
Since fields belong to one list, check your mapping again whenever you switch a form to another list. Also, a zero stays a zero, so number fields keep their exact value. The field mapping guide covers the rest.
How the EmailOctopus integration handles opt-in
You control opt-in in your account, and the EmailOctopus integration follows your choice.
- Single opt-in is the default. New contacts join the list as subscribed.
- Double opt-in sends a confirmation email first. Until the person clicks the link, the contact stays pending.
To switch, open the list, go to the Consent & customisation tab and turn on Double opt-in email. You can also add a required consent checkbox to your form, so people who leave it unticked are never sent. Read how double opt-in works for each provider.
Test your EmailOctopus integration
- Save the form, then submit a test entry with an inbox you can check.
- Next, open the list and look for the new contact and its fields.
- If the list uses double opt-in, the contact shows as pending. Click the confirmation link, and it turns subscribed.
Do this on day one: add a honeypot or CAPTCHA to the form. Otherwise, bots will fill your list with junk.
Other ways to connect Contact Form 7 to EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus has a WordPress plugin of its own, but it adds EmailOctopus signup forms rather than connecting Contact Form 7. So your options look like this.
| Method | Cost | Per-form lists | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChimpMatic Lite (this guide) | Free | Yes | Keeping your Contact Form 7 forms and sending them to lists |
| EmailOctopus’s WordPress plugin | Free | Not applicable | Replacing your forms with EmailOctopus signup forms |
| Multi-integration plugins | Free core, paid add-ons | Yes | Sites that connect many form plugins to many services |
If you already use Contact Form 7, keep your forms and connect them. On the other hand, if you only need a newsletter box, the official plugin is enough. General plugins such as Advanced Form Integration or Noptin also reach EmailOctopus, although they are built for many services at once.
Common problems, and the fixes
- The contact shows as pending. The list uses double opt-in, so the person still has to click the confirmation link.
- ChimpMatic says “already subscribed”. The address was already on that list, so the existing contact stays.
- A field is missing from the mapping. Create it in that list’s fields first, then reconnect in the Chimpmatic tab.
FAQ
Does Contact Form 7 work with EmailOctopus?
Yes, with a connector. Contact Form 7 has no EmailOctopus module, so ChimpMatic adds the list choice, the field mapping and the consent option for each form.
Can different forms feed different lists?
Yes. You set up the Chimpmatic tab per form, so each form can use its own list, or even another provider.
Is the EmailOctopus integration free?
Yes. The EmailOctopus integration is part of ChimpMatic Lite, which is free on WordPress.org.
Where does my data go?
The email address, the mapped fields and the list choice go straight from your server to the EmailOctopus API. See external services for the full disclosure.
Also available: Mailchimp, Brevo, MailerLite, Klaviyo, Campaign Monitor, GetResponse and Moosend, or see all integrations.