While WPForms has a huge user base, some alternatives exist with better features and better form building experience. I have tried some form builder plugins and crafted a list below to make it easy for you to pick one when you need to create a form on your WordPress website.
WPForms itself is arguably the most popular form builder plugin for WordPress, with over 6 million active installations according to WordPress.org.
However, popular doesn’t always mean the best.
As I said above, there are some form builder plugins that offer better features than WPForms. Some even offer more features on the free version.
I have put together the WPForms alternatives into two sections: free and paid. You can use the shortcuts below to jump between sections.
Shortcuts ⤵️
- Is there a better alternative to WPForms?
- Features to consider in a WPForms alternative
- Free WPForms alternatives
- Paid WPForms alternatives
- Summary
Is There a Truly Better Alternative to WPForms?
6 million active installations. The number is enough to prove that WPForms is a good WordPress plugin. But again, it means nothing if what WPForms offers don’t meet your expectations.
WPForms is not an ideal solution if you are looking for a free form builder with ability to collect form submissions. It has a built-in form submission manager. It’s true. But you need to upgrade to the pro version to access it.
WPForms also comes with an analytics feature to allow you to monitor the performance of the forms you have created. But the feature has a dependency on MonsterInsights to work.
Other form builder plugins also have an analytics feature, but don’t require an extra plugin to work like WPForms’.
So yes, there are some form builder plugins better than WPForms. Depending on which point of view you see it.
Features to Consider in a WPForms Alternative
Depending on the version you use, you can use WPForms to create a wide range of form types. If you use the pro version, you can use it to create a lead generation form and connect it with HubSpot and other CRM platforms.
You can also create a payment form to collect payments via PayPal and Stripe.
WPForms offers an easy form builder experience with a drag-and-drop editor. Creating a form with WPForms is much easier than Contact Form 7.
Again. Some form builder plugins offer a better form building experience than WPForms. Some even allow you to create a beautiful plugin that completely blends with the design scheme of your website.
If you truly want to switch away from WPForms (and still want to create a self-hosted form), here are some features you need to consider:
- The availability of form field types
- Extensibility (in case you want to create a more advanced form in the future)
- Form builder editor
- Compatibility with other plugins you use (especially if you use a page builder plugin)
- Pricing (if you have a plan to use a paid solution)
- Spam protection
List of Free WPForms Alternatives
- Everest Forms
- Fluent Forms
- Ninja Forms
- JetFormBuilder
- WS Form
- Happyforms
- weForms
- Forminator
- Formidable Forms
1. Everest Forms
Everest Forms is the first plugin I recommend if you want to switch away from WPForms. It comes with a handy migration feature you can utilize to smoothen the migration process from WPForms.
If you have WPForms installed on your website, the feature will automatically detect it and you can import the forms you have built.
Everest Forms itself a feature-rich form builder plugin. Most of its core features are accessible on the free version, including the built-in submission manager which you can use to manage the collected form submissions.
You can export the form submissions into a CSV file and import it to a CRM or other marketing tools of your choice. You can also directly send form submissions to a CRM or email newsletter platform, but you need to upgrade to the pro version to do so.
Everest Forms comes with a visual form editor to make it easy for you to create a form. You can add rows to manage the form layout. Rows are especially useful if you want to create a complex form consisting of tons of fields like a job application form.
The free version of Everest Forms supports 26 field types, including File Upload and Image Upload. To avoid spammers, you can protect your form with Google reCAPTCHA, Cloudflare Turnstile, and hCaptcha.
Key Features of Everest Forms Free:
- Form migrator from WPForms and Contact Form 7
- Form export and import
- Supports up to 26 field types
- Submission manager
- Form access manager
- Ability to edit message content (form email, success message, etc)
- Custom redirect after submit
- Custom CSS
- Ready-to-use form templates
Everest Forms Pros:
- Flexible form installation via shortcode
- Extensive form field options
- Flexible form layout
- Most core features are accessible for free
- Useful form templates
Everest Forms Cons:
- Doesn’t allow to connect to a CRM platform on the free version
- Limited form actions on the free version
2. Fluent Forms
Same as Everest Forms, you can also use Fluent Form to create a wide range of form types without needing to upgrade to the pro version.
The free version of Fluent Forms allows you to add 21 form field types to your form, including country list and date picker. You can also manage form submissions from your WordPress dashboard with the free version, which is quite useful if you want to collect leads.
Fluent Forms offers flexible form design layout by allowing you to add containers to host form fields. The condition logic feature is also accessible on the free version in case you need it.
The free version of Fluent Forms allows you to protect your form with Google reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Cloudflare Turnstile or CleanTalk.
Fluent Forms offers form placement flexibility via shortcode.
Key Features of Fluent Forms Free
- Display condition
- Security via reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Turnstile and CleanTalk
- Custom CSS
- Submission manager
- Stats
- Form access manager
- Custom redirection
- Ability to edit message content (form email, success message, etc)
- Export and import
- Allows to integrate with Mailchimp and Slack
- Ready-to-use form templates
Fluent Forms Pros:
- Clean, modern form builder interface
- Extensive form field options
- Flexible form layout
- Flexible form installation
- Most core features are accessible for free
Fluent Form Cons:
- Limited email marketing options on the free version
- Limited form action on the free version
3. Ninja Forms
Ninja Forms is one the best WPForms alternatives in terms of popularity. It has over 700,000 active installations. Which is a huge number.
However, when it comes to form builder experience, both Everest Forms and Fluent Form are better than Ninja Forms. It doesn’t allow you to add a row or container to set the form layout.
Also, when I tried it, I was unable to remove the tooltip appearing in the editor area, which was annoying enough.
Even so, Ninja Forms is useful enough to create a form for free. With the free version, you have 22 field types that you can add to your form. Ninja Forms also comes with a built-in feature to manage your form submissions.
Key Features of Ninja Forms Free:
- Submission manager
- Ability to edit message content (form email, success message, etc)
- Form templates
Ninja Forms Pros:
- Flexible form installation via shortcode
- Ready-to-use form templates
- Extensive form field options
Ninja Forms Cons:
- Doesn’t allow to connect to a CRM platform with the free version
- The editor is not clean enough
4. JetFormBuilder
If you love building your WordPress website with Gutenberg, then you will love to use JetFormBuilder to create a form on your website. It utilizes the native WordPress editor to create the form backend.
For the form frontend, you can use either Gutenberg or Elementor.
JetFormBuilder offers a dedicated element for both Gutenberg and Elementor which you can use to add your form. However, the Gutenberg element lacks design options compared to Elementor.
JetFormBuilder itself is especially a great solution to replace WPForms if you want to create a payment form for free. The free version allows you to create a form to collect payments via PayPal.
You can also use the free version of JetFormBuilder to create a lead generation form and send the leads to MailChimp, GetResponse, and ActiveCampaign. Other CRM platforms (including HubSpot) are also available, but you need to use the pro version to connect with them.
While JetFormBuilder offers a dedicated element for Gutenberg and Elementor, you can embed your form to any page builder, including Divi, via a shortcode.
Key Features of JetFormBuilder Free
- Display condition
- Ability to integrate with Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign and GetResponse
- Ability to collect payments via PayPal
- Spam protection via reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Turnstile and Friendly Captcha
- Submission manager
- Custom redirection
- Multiple actions support (including register a user)
- Ability to edit message content (form email, success message, etc)
JetFormBuilder Pros:
- Flexible form installation via shortcode
- A great solution for Elementor and Gutenberg users
- Native WordPress editor for form building
- More features on the free version
JetFormBuilder Cons:
- Limited form templates
- Requires extra plugin to style the form design on Gutenberg
5. WS Form
WS Form is a simple form builder plugin that you can also use to replace WPForms. You can use the free version of WS Form to create a lead generation form, a survey from or a contact form.
You can even create a multi-step form with the free version.
To manage your form submissions, WS Form comes with a useful submission manager feature which supports export/import capability.
To protect your form from spammers, WS Form allows you to integrate your form with Akismet, Google reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and Cloudflare Turnstile.
Key Features of WS Form Free:
- Submission manager
- Spam protection via reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Turnstile and Akismet
- Custom redirection
- Multiple actions support (including register a user)
- Ready-to-use form templates
WS Form Pros:
- Flexible form installation via shortcode
- Allows to create a multi-step form on the free version
WS Form Cons:
- Clumsy form editor
- Doesn’t allow to connect to a CRM platform with the free version
6. Happyforms
Happyforms is another form builder plugin that you can use to create a self-hosted form on your WordPress website. Unfortunately, the free version of the plugin has too many limitations just like WPForms.
You can’t even manage your form submissions on your WordPress dashboard. Instead, your form submissions will be sent directly to your email. You can’t also set things like redirection after submit and reCAPTCHA.
Even worse because it doesn’t allow you to access the settings screen!
But if you still want to try this form builder, that’s great.
Happyforms itself uses the classic WordPress customizer for form building. There are only 7 field types you can add to your form.
Key Features of Happyforms Free:
- Ability to edit message content
- Ability to customize the form design
- Form export and import
Happyforms Pros:
- More options to style up the form
Happyforms Cons:
- Too many limitations on the free version
- Only usable to create a contact form
7. weForms
weForms is a form builder plugin from BoldGrid, the developer of a popular caching plugin, W3 Total Cache. You can also use it to replace WPForms if you need a form builder plugin that comes with a built-in submission manager requiring you to upgrade to the pro version to use it.
You can even import the forms you created with WPForms using its form migrator.
The free version of weForms also allows you to create a lead generation form for MailPoet and WP ERP.
weForms offers similar form building experience as WS Form but weForms offers more flexible field arrangement by allowing you to add columns to your form, which is super useful if you want to create a form that consists of many fields like a survey form or job application form.
The free version of weForms supports 15 field types, including Image Upload field in case you want to accept image submission.
Key Features of weForms Free:
- Form migrator
- Submission manager
- Custom redirection after submit
- Ability to connect your form with MailPoet, WP ERP and Slack
- Ability to edit success message
- Spam protection via Google reCAPTCHA
- Form export and import
- Ready-to-use form templates
weForms Pros:
- Useful form migrator
- Flexible form installation via shortcode
- Supports integration with CRM platform on the free version
- Flexible field arrangement
weForms Cons:
- Limited form templates
- Limited form actions on the free version
8. Forminator
Forminator is also a popular enough form builder plugin for WordPress. Its free version allows you to create more form types than other WPForms alternatives above. You can create a login form, a payment form to a lead generation form without needing to upgrade to the pro version.
Unfortunately, Forminator is not friendly enough for beginners. It takes a steeper learning curve because its form editor doesn’t really offer the WYSIWYG form building experience.
You need to click the preview button every time you want to preview the form you are building.
In terms of functionality, however, Forminator is superior. Especially for a free version.
You can even collect payments via Stripe and PayPal with Forminator Free. With this capability, Forminator can be a great solution if you want to create a self-hosted payment form.
If you want to create a lead generation form, Forminator allows you to send the collected leads directly to Google Sheets, HubSpot, and Mailchimp. If you prefer collecting your leads locally, Forminator also comes with a built-in submission manager you can leverage.
Key Features of Forminator Free:
- Display condition
- Security via reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and Turnstile
- Submission manager
- Reporting
- Form access manager
- Custom redirection
- Ability to edit message content (form email, success message, etc)
- Export and import
- Ability to connect with CRM platforms
- Ability to connect with PayPal and Stripe
- Ready-to-use form templates
Forminator Pros:
- More features on the free version
- Supports integration with Stripe and PayPal on the free version
- More CRM integration support on the free version
- Flexible form installation via shortcode
Forminator Cons:
- The editor is not easy enough to use
9. Formidable Forms
Formidable Forms is another great WPForms alternative you can use if you want to create a payment form for free. The plugin allows you crate a payment form and integrate it with Stripe.
However, you will be charged 3% for every payment you receive, unless you upgrade to the pro version. No PayPal option available on the free version.
Formidable Forms itself offers a clean editor. It offers more design options where you can customize the form fields like the border radius, padding and margin. You can even add an image background and custom CSS if you want it.
Other features available on the free version Formidable Forms are submission manager and ability to export and import a form.
Key Features of Formidable Forms Free:
- Submission manager
- Security via reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and Turnstile
- Form access manager
- Custom redirection
- Ability to edit message content (form email, success message, etc)
- Export and import
- Ability to connect with Stripe
- Ready-to-use form templates
Formidable Forms Pros:
- Supports integration with Stripe on the free version
- Flexible form installation via shortcode
- Clean editor
Formidable Forms Cons:
- Doesn’t allow CRM integration on the free version
List of Paid WPForms Alternatives
10. Gravity Forms
Most free WPForms alternatives above use the native email delivery function of WordPress (wp_mail) to deliver emails related to the form submissions. Be it notifications or form submission themselves.
WordPress native email delivery function is usable enough, but it is not reliable enough. Especially if you use a shared hosting provider with limited resources.
Gravity Forms has a built-in setting option to use a more reliable SMTP service like SendGrid and Mailgun, without requiring you to install an extra plugin.
Gravity Forms itself is arguably the most popular paid form builder plugin for WordPress. It offers several plans you can choose from according to your needs.
The lowest plan, $59 per year, is usable to create a lead generation form thanks to its integration support with HubSpot, Zoho CRM and other CRM and email marketing platforms.
Key Features of Gravity Forms:
- Submission manager
- Display condition
- Security via reCAPTCHA
- Google Analytics integration
- Custom redirection
- Ability to edit message content
- Export and import
- Ability to connect with Stripe
- Ability to connect with CRM platforms
- Ready-to-use form templates
Gravity Forms Pros:
- Clean interface
- Built-in setting option to connect with an SMTP service
- Easy form installation for Gutenberg
Gravity Forms Cons:
- No one-time purchase option
- No form access manager
11. ARForms
To be honest, ARForms doesn’t offer as pleasant form building experience as Gravity Forms. But if you are looking for an affordable form builder plugin that is functionality good, then ARForms is worth trying.
It comes with some handy features to create a wide range of forms.
If you want to create a lead generation form and want to collect your leads locally, ARForms has a useful submission manager. It also comes with a built-in analytics feature to monitor your form performance.
If you want to create a payment form, ARForms allows you to connect your form with PayPal and Stripe.
One thing. While ARForms is extremely affordable (it doesn’t require a subscription fee by the way), you need to pay more to add a certain functionality. ARForms has tens of paid add-ons available on Codecanyon.
Key Features of ARForms:
- Submission manager
- Display condition
- Security via reCAPTCHA, Cloudflare Turnstile, and hCaptcha
- Analytics
- Custom redirection
- Ability to edit message content
- Export and import
- Ability to connect with Stripe
- Ability to connect with CRM platforms
- Ready-to-use form templates
- Custom CSS
ARForms Pros:
- Useful analytics
- One-time purchase option, no subscription
- Flexible form installation via shortcode
ARForms Cons:
- Most feature requires extra add-ons
12. Elementor Pro
Elementor is not designed specifically to be a form builder. But, since it also has a form builder feature, I think it’s worth mentioning on this list.
Before you can use the form builder feature of Elementor, you need to upgrade to the pro version. Apart from form builder, you can also unlock popup builder feature after upgrading to the pro version.
The form builder feature of Elementor is represented by the Form widget. You can use this widget to create a wide range of forms. From a contact form, a lead generation form to a file upload form. You can even create a registration form too.
There are about 20 field types you can add to your form.
Furthermore, Elementor also offers a built-in feature to manage form submissions.
The advantage of using Elementor to create a form is that you have absolute control over the design using its advanced visual editor.
Key Features of Elementor Pro:
- Submission manager
- Security via reCAPTCHA
- Custom redirection
- Ability to edit message content
- Ability to connect with CRM platforms
- Custom CSS
Elementor Pros:
- Offers absolute control over form design
- Extremely easy to use
- Allows to create a lead generation popup
Elementor Cons:
- Doesn’t support integration with a payment gateway
- No display condition for form fields
13. Brizy Pro
Brizy has one thing in common as Elementor. It is a page builder plugin that comes with an element to create a form. To use this element, you need to upgrade to the pro version.
Brizy also comes with a popup builder which you can pair with its form builder to create a lead generation popup. Brizy allows you to connect your form with popular marketing tools like Mailchimp and HubSpot.
With Brizy, you can create a form that completely blends with your website design thanks to its advanced visual editor.
Key Features of Brizy Pro:
- Security via reCAPTCHA
- Custom redirection
- Ability to edit message content
- Ability to connect with CRM platforms
- Custom CSS
Brizy Pros:
- Offers absolute control over form design
- Extremely easy to use
- Allows to create a lead generation popup
Brozy Cons:
- Doesn’t support integration with a payment gateway
- No display condition for form fields
14. Divi Builder
Divi Builder is another page builder that allows you to add a form to your website. It offers two dedicated elements (called modules) which you can use to add a form to your website.
The first one is the Contact Form module. You can use this module to create a contact form and survey form. It supports 5 fields and you can set dynamic visibility thanks to display condition support.
The second module is the Email Optin module. You can use this module to create, you guess it, a lead generation form. The module supports integration with HubSpot, Mailchimp, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign and other popular marketing platforms.
Divi Builder also offers an advanced visual editor to allow you to create a beautiful form that completely blends with the design of your website.
Key Features of Divi Builder:
- Display condition
- Security via reCAPTCHA
- Custom redirection
- Ability to edit message content
- Ability to connect with CRM platforms
- Custom CSS
Divi Builder Pros:
- Offers absolute control over form design
- Easy to use
Divi Builder Cons:
- Doesn’t support integration with a payment gateway
Summary – Which WPForms Alternative is the Best?
WPForms is the most popular form builder plugin for WordPress. But it is definitely not the best. There are many alternatives that offer better features and better form building experience, depending on which point of view you see it.
Everest Forms is one of form builder plugins that has better features than WPForms. Especially on the free version where it allows you to collect form submissions and manage them right from your WordPress dashboard.
If you are looking for a free solution to create a payment form, then you can go with Forminator. Despite its lack of form building experience, the plugin allows you to collect payments via Stripe and PayPal.
If money is not a problem, Elementor Pro, Brizy Pro and Divi Builder are the best options if you are looking for a WPForms alternative that offers absolute control over the form design. They allow you to create beautiful forms that completely blend with your website design.
Gravity Forms, meanwhile, is a better solution if you are looking for an extensible form builder plugin to replace WPForms.
