When building a WordPress website, one of the most essential elements you’ll need is a reliable form plugin. Whether you’re creating simple contact forms or complex multi-step forms, there’s a WordPress form plugin that fits your needs. However, with so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to make the right decision.
In this blog post, we’ll compare the top 10 WordPress form plugins, focusing on their features, ease of use, and pricing, so you can pick the best one for your website.
1. WPForms: Best for Beginners
WPForms is one of the most popular WordPress form plugins because of its ease of use and flexibility. It’s perfect for beginners, with a drag-and-drop form builder and a set of powerful features for users as they scale their businesses.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Builder
- Pre-built Form Templates
- Conditional Logic (Pro version)
- Payment Integrations (PayPal, Stripe)
- Spam Protection (Google reCAPTCHA, Honeypot)
- Email Marketing Integrations
Best For: Small businesses, startups, and beginners who need a simple yet powerful form plugin.
2. Gravity Forms: Best for Advanced Users
Gravity Forms is a premium form plugin known for its advanced features and flexibility. It’s ideal for users who need complex forms and advanced integrations, making it a favorite among developers and businesses with specific form requirements.
Key Features:
- Advanced Fields (e.g., calculations, file uploads)
- Conditional Logic
- Third-Party Integrations (PayPal, Stripe, CRMs)
- Multi-Page Forms
- Spam Protection (Google reCAPTCHA)
- Email Notifications
Best For: Developers, agencies, and businesses that need complex forms and extensive integrations.
3. Contact Form 7: Best for Simplicity
Contact Form 7 is one of the oldest and most widely used WordPress form plugins. It’s simple, lightweight, and ideal for those who need a basic form without any extra complexity.
Key Features:
- Customizable Form Fields
- Spam Protection (reCAPTCHA, Akismet)
- Simple Interface
- Email Customization
Best For: Users who need a lightweight, simple form solution.
4. Ninja Forms: Best for Flexibility
Ninja Forms offers a simple drag-and-drop interface but also includes advanced features with its premium versions. It’s a great choice for users who want a flexible and customizable form solution.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Builder
- Conditional Logic (Pro version)
- Multi-Step Forms
- Email Integrations (Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign)
- Spam Protection (Google reCAPTCHA)
- Payment Integrations (PayPal, Stripe)
Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses that need flexibility and ease of use.
5. Formidable Forms: Best for Advanced Features
Formidable Forms is an excellent choice for users who need complex forms with advanced features. It offers a range of powerful tools like calculations, data management, and custom post types, making it a go-to option for developers and businesses with specific needs.
Key Features:
- Advanced Form Fields (e.g., calculations, ratings)
- Conditional Logic
- Data Management and Reporting
- Multi-Step Forms
- CRM and Payment Integrations
Best For: Developers, businesses, and users who need advanced form features and data management capabilities.
6. Caldera Forms: Best for Customization (Deprecated)
Caldera Forms is another advanced form plugin that focuses on customization. It offers both a free and premium version, making it a good option for users who need both flexibility and advanced functionality.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Builder
- Conditional Logic
- Multi-Part Forms
- File Uploads
- Email Customization
Best For: Developers and users who want maximum customization. It’s closed now.
7. Elementor Forms: Best for Elementor Users
If you’re already using the Elementor page builder, then Elementor Forms is an ideal choice. It integrates directly with Elementor, allowing you to create forms as part of your page-building process seamlessly.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Builder (via Elementor)
- Basic Conditional Logic (Pro version)
- Email Notifications
- Spam Protection (Google reCAPTCHA)
- Form Actions (redirect, email)
Best For: Users who use Elementor and want a seamless form-building experience.
8. HappyForms: Best for Simplicity
HappyForms is all about simplicity and ease of use. It provides a straightforward interface and focuses on helping users build forms quickly and efficiently without complex configurations.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Builder
- Real-Time Form Previews
- Customizable Fields
- Email Notifications
- Spam Protection (Google reCAPTCHA)
Best For: Users who need simple and fast form creation.
9. FluentForm: Best for a Balance of Simplicity and Power
FluentForm is a powerful yet easy-to-use form plugin. It strikes a great balance between simplicity and advanced functionality, offering features like multi-step forms, conditional logic, and payment integrations.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Builder
- Pre-built Form Templates
- Conditional Logic (Pro version)
- Payment Integrations (PayPal, Stripe)
- Spam Protection (Google reCAPTCHA, Honeypot)
Best For: Users who want both simplicity and advanced features without the complexity of some other plugins.
10. Visual Form Builder: Best for Simplicity and Speed
Visual Form Builder is another simple form plugin that focuses on providing a user-friendly interface to create forms quickly. It’s ideal for users who don’t need complex functionality but still want a customizable solution.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Interface
- Multi-Page Forms
- Email Notifications
- Spam Protection (Google reCAPTCHA)
Best For: Users who need a quick and simple form solution with a bit of customization.
Table 1: WPForms, Gravity Forms, Contact Form 7
| Feature | WPForms | Gravity Forms | Contact Form 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Easy (Drag & Drop) | Moderate (Advanced) | Moderate (Manual setup) |
| Free Version | Yes | No | Yes |
| Premium Version | Yes | Yes | No |
| Drag & Drop Builder | Yes | Yes | No |
| Conditional Logic | Yes (Pro) | Yes | No |
| Multi-step Forms | Yes (Pro) | Yes | No |
| File Uploads | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes |
| Spam Protection | Yes (reCAPTCHA, Honeypot) | Yes (reCAPTCHA) | Yes (reCAPTCHA, Akismet) |
| CRM / Email Marketing Integrations | Yes (Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, etc.) | Yes (via Add-ons) | Limited (via Add-ons) |
| Payment Gateway Integration | Yes (PayPal, Stripe) | Yes (PayPal, Stripe) | Limited (via Add-ons) |
| Form Templates | Yes | Yes | No |
| Analytics/Reporting | Yes (Pro) | Yes (via Add-ons) | No |
| Multilingual Support | Yes (via Add-ons) | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing (Starting at) | Free; $39.50/year | $59/year | Free |
| Best For | Beginners & Small Business | Advanced Users & Developers | Simple Contact Forms |
Table 2: Ninja Forms, Formidable Forms, Caldera Forms
| Feature | Ninja Forms | Formidable Forms | Caldera Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Easy (Drag & Drop) | Advanced (Drag & Drop) | Moderate (Drag & Drop) |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Premium Version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Builder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional Logic | Yes (Pro) | Yes (Pro) | Yes |
| Multi-step Forms | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes |
| File Uploads | Yes (via Add-ons) | Yes | Yes |
| Spam Protection | Yes (reCAPTCHA, Honeypot) | Yes (reCAPTCHA, Honeypot) | Yes (reCAPTCHA, Honeypot) |
| CRM / Email Marketing Integrations | Yes (via Add-ons) | Yes (via Add-ons) | Yes (via Add-ons) |
| Payment Gateway Integration | Yes (via Add-ons) | Yes (PayPal, Stripe) | Yes (PayPal, Stripe) |
| Form Templates | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics/Reporting | Yes (via Add-ons) | Yes (Pro) | Yes (via Add-ons) |
| Multilingual Support | Yes (via Add-ons) | Yes | Yes (via Add-ons) |
| Pricing (Starting at) | Free; $49/year | $49.50/year | $15/month |
| Best For | Beginners & Small Business | Advanced Users & Developers | Developers & Advanced Users |
Table 3: Elementor Forms, HappyForms, FluentForm
| Feature | Elementor Forms | HappyForms | FluentForm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Easy (Integrated with Elementor) | Very Easy (Simple UI) | Very Easy (Drag & Drop) |
| Free Version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Premium Version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Builder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional Logic | Yes (Pro) | Yes (Pro) | Yes |
| Multi-step Forms | Yes (Pro) | No | Yes (Pro) |
| File Uploads | Yes (via Elementor Pro) | Yes | Yes |
| Spam Protection | Yes (reCAPTCHA) | Yes (reCAPTCHA) | Yes (reCAPTCHA, Honeypot) |
| CRM / Email Marketing Integrations | Yes (via Elementor Pro) | No | Yes (Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, etc.) |
| Payment Gateway Integration | Yes (via Elementor Pro) | No | Yes (PayPal, Stripe) |
| Form Templates | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics/Reporting | No | No | Yes (Pro) |
| Multilingual Support | Yes (via Elementor) | Yes | No |
| Pricing (Starting at) | Free with Elementor Pro | $39/year | $59/year |
| Best For | Elementor Users & Designers | Beginners & Simplicity | Beginners & Simplicity |
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