Title: Defer for Contact Form 7
Author: Ryabinin Vitalii
Published: July 1, 2026
Last modified: July 1, 2026
---
Search plugins
# Defer for Contact Form 7
By [Ryabinin Vitalii](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ryabininvitaliy/)
[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/defer-for-contact-form-7.1.0.0.zip)
* [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/defer-for-contact-form-7/#description)
* [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/defer-for-contact-form-7/#reviews)
* [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/defer-for-contact-form-7/#installation)
* [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/defer-for-contact-form-7/#developers)
[Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/defer-for-contact-form-7/)
## Description
On every page Contact Form 7 loads its dependencies (wp-hooks, wp-i18n) and its
CSS into the ``, blocking first paint. This plugin fixes that:
* **Defer CF7 core** — moves wp-hooks/wp-i18n to the footer (you cannot `defer`
them: an inline `wp.i18n.setLocaleData` block runs synchronously and would throw“
wp is not defined”). CF7’s scripts leave the critical path.
* **Async CSS** — the form stylesheet loads via `media=print` + onload-swap.
Both optimizations are idempotent and safe on every page. Strict dependency: with
Contact Form 7 inactive, the plugin does nothing.
#### A note on jQuery
This plugin does NOT defer jQuery — on purpose. Deferring jQuery is only safe when
EVERY jQuery-dependent script on the site is also deferred or in the footer; on
an arbitrary site that is not guaranteed and breaks inline scripts in the head.
### Pro version
Defer for Contact Form 7 Pro adds lazy-loaded Google reCAPTCHA v3 — spam protection
without a PageSpeed hit:
* Google’s api.js loads only on the first interaction with a form, so it never
appears in Lighthouse/PSI.
* The score check is server-side; a fresh single-use token is fetched for every
submission.
* The badge is hidden with the required Google disclaimer (GDPR-friendly); configurable
score threshold and action label.
The free version stays fully functional on its own.
### Support
Questions, bug reports or feature requests: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitalii-
ryabinin/
## Screenshots
[⌊Plugin settings page under Contact ](https://ps.w.org/defer-for-contact-form-7/assets/screenshot-1.png?rev=3592120)
Plugin settings page under Contact Performance: defer/async toggles and the Pro
reCAPTCHA v3 section.
## Installation
1. Upload the `defer-for-contact-form-7` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install
the ZIP via Plugins Add New Upload.
2. Activate the plugin. Contact Form 7 must be active.
3. Both optimizations are on by default — there is nothing else to configure.
4. To toggle them, go to **Contact Performance**.
## FAQ
### Does this work with caching/optimization plugins?
Yes, but minifiers that combine and reorder scripts can interfere with the headfooter
move. Test with your cache plugin enabled.
### Does the plugin send any data anywhere?
No. It makes no external requests and stores no personal data.
## Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
## Contributors & Developers
“Defer for Contact Form 7” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.
Contributors
* [ Ryabinin Vitalii ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ryabininvitaliy/)
* [ Freemius ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/freemius/)
[Translate “Defer for Contact Form 7” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/defer-for-contact-form-7)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/defer-for-contact-form-7/),
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/defer-for-contact-form-7/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/defer-for-contact-form-7/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/defer-for-contact-form-7/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 1.0.0
* Initial release: CF7 core defer + async CSS.
## Meta
* Version **1.0.0**
* Last updated **6 days ago**
* Active installations **Fewer than 10**
* WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
* Tested up to **7.0**
* PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
* Tags
* [cf7](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/cf7/)[contact form 7](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/contact-form-7/)
[defer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/defer/)[pagespeed](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/pagespeed/)
[performance](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/performance/)
* [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/defer-for-contact-form-7/advanced/)
## Ratings
No reviews have been submitted yet.
[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/defer-for-contact-form-7/reviews/#new-post)
[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/defer-for-contact-form-7/reviews/)
## Contributors
* [ Ryabinin Vitalii ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ryabininvitaliy/)
* [ Freemius ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/freemius/)
## Support
Got something to say? Need help?
[View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/defer-for-contact-form-7/)