{"id":48,"date":"2005-02-12T21:28:00","date_gmt":"2005-02-12T15:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/02\/12\/why-email-links-are-bad-for-feedback\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T15:14:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T09:44:59","slug":"why-email-links-are-bad-for-feedback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2005\/02\/why-email-links-are-bad-for-feedback\/","title":{"rendered":"Mailto Links vs Contact Forms: Which Is Better for Feedback? (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Should your website use a mailto link or a contact form? In 2005 we argued that mailto links<\/strong> were bad for feedback, because clicking one launched a desktop email program that often wasn’t set up, especially on public or library computers. Twenty years later phones and webmail have changed the picture, but the core problems remain: mailto links expose your email address to spammers and still fail for many visitors. Here’s how mailto links compare with contact forms in 2026, and when each one makes sense.<\/p>\n

\"Mailto<\/p>\n

Quick answer:<\/strong> For most websites, a contact form is better than a mailto link. Forms work on any device without a configured email app, hide your address from spam bots, and let you collect structured details and filter spam. Mailto links are fine as a secondary option for visitors who prefer their own email, especially on mobile, but obfuscate the address and pair them with a form.<\/p>\n

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Table of Contents<\/p>\n