Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms: Which is Superior?

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Selecting the ideal WordPress form plugin is crucial for website functionality. Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms represents a significant choice between two powerful WordPress form builders that shape how you collect and manage data.

These premium form builder plugins offer comprehensive solutions beyond basic contact forms. Both provide essential tools for creating everything from payment forms with Stripe and PayPal integration to complex surveys with conditional logic.

Let’s examine what separates these form tools:

User interface and design capabilities
Entry management features
Integration options with services like Mailchimp and Zapier
Pricing structures and value
Support resources and documentation

Formidable Forms offers a free version with basic functionality, while Gravity Forms (developed by Rocketgenius) is exclusively premium. Both support GDPR compliance and include spam protection features like reCAPTCHA and honeypot fields.

Understanding the strengths of each WordPress data collection tool helps you invest in the right solution for your specific needs. Whether you need multi-page forms, front-end editing, or user registration capabilities, this comparison will guide your decision between these top form submission handling plugins.

Core Features and Functionalities

Types of Forms You Can Build

Contact Forms

Both Gravity Forms and Formidable Forms excel at creating contact forms that connect websites with visitors.

These WordPress contact forms filter out spam while collecting valuable visitor information.

Formidable Forms offers a free version with basic contact form capabilities, while Gravity Forms provides more advanced field options in its premium packages.

Payment Forms

Need to process payments on your site? Both plugins integrate with popular payment gateways:

Gravity Forms connects seamlessly with PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net
Formidable Forms supports these same processors with additional options for recurring payments

Each plugin handles payment form creation differently. Gravity Forms offers more built-in features, while Formidable Forms relies on add-ons for some advanced payment functionality.

Registration Forms

Create powerful user registration forms with either plugin. WordPress form management becomes easier as both tools allow you to:

Capture attendee information for events
Build membership forms with custom fields
Create account registration tied to WordPress user profiles

Gravity Forms includes more registration fields in its base package, while Formidable Forms requires add-ons for some advanced registration features.

Surveys, Polls, and Quizzes

Both plugins function as robust WordPress survey tools. Key differences:

Gravity Forms offers built-in survey fields with its Survey add-on
Formidable Forms includes native quiz builder functionality with scoring
Both integrate with email marketing tools like Mailchimp and Constant Contact

Survey data is stored in your MySQL database and can be exported via CSV export or connected to Google Sheets.

Conversational and Multi-Page Forms

Long forms need structure. Both plugins support multi-page forms with progress indicators:

Gravity Forms offers a cleaner multi-page system with clear navigation
Formidable Forms provides more customization options for page transitions

Conversational forms present questions like a natural dialogue, increasing form completion rates by up to 30%.

Forms for Complex Applications

Beyond basic data collection, both plugins handle complex calculations and data relationships:

Formidable Forms shines with its data visualization capabilities
Gravity Forms offers robust calculation fields without additional add-ons
Both support conditional logic forms that display fields based on previous answers

Formidable Forms has stronger front-end editing capabilities for creating directories and listings from form submissions.

Drag-and-Drop Form Builder Experience

Ease of Use and Interface Comparison

The form builder interface is where you’ll spend most of your time. Key differences:

Gravity Forms uses a clean, minimalist interface focusing on field selection
Formidable Forms provides more visual cues and inline editing options
Both offer true drag-and-drop form creators with no coding required

New users often find Gravity Forms slightly easier to learn, while experienced form builders appreciate the additional control in Formidable Forms.

Customization Capabilities and User Control

Both plugins allow extensive form field customization:

Field labels, descriptions, and placeholder text
Required field settings and validation messages
Field size, alignment, and styling options

Formidable Forms offers more advanced field options in its free version, while Gravity Forms includes more comprehensive conditional logic in its base package.

Available Templates and Pre-Built Form Options

Why start from scratch? Both plugins include form template libraries:

Gravity Forms focuses on quality over quantity with about 30 well-designed templates
Formidable Forms offers 150+ templates covering more niche use cases
Both allow saving custom forms as templates for future use

Formidable Forms includes more specialized templates like calculators and directories in its premium versions.

Form Styling and Embed Options

Built-in Styling Tools and Customization Flexibility

Make forms match your WordPress theme with these styling options:

Gravity Forms provides a straightforward styling interface with basic options
Formidable Forms includes a more powerful visual style editor
Both support custom CSS for advanced styling needs

Formidable Forms offers more styling control without custom CSS, while Gravity Forms maintains a cleaner interface for basic needs.

Shortcodes, Blocks, and PHP Functions for Embedding Forms

Multiple ways to add forms to your site:

Both support WordPress shortcodes for easy embedding
Both include Gutenberg blocks for the WordPress block editor
Both provide PHP functions for developers to embed forms programmatically

Gravity Forms has slightly better documentation for developers using PHP to embed forms.

Ability to Inherit WordPress Theme Styles

Forms should match your site design:

Gravity Forms provides basic theme inheritance
Formidable Forms offers more granular control over which theme styles apply
Both support custom CSS classes for theme compatibility

Formidable Forms provides better tools for matching complex theme styles without custom code.

Spam Protection and Security Features

CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA Support

Both plugins support modern anti-spam tools:

Gravity Forms integrates with reCAPTCHA v2 and v3
Formidable Forms supports both reCAPTCHA and hCaptcha
Both make adding these security features simple with just a few clicks

Formidable Forms offers slightly more spam protection options in its free version.

Honeypot Fields and Spam Filters

Invisible spam protection methods include:

Both plugins include honeypot fields that trap bots without affecting users
Both offer IP-based filtering options
Gravity Forms includes more advanced spam filtering in its base package

These methods work silently in the background without requiring user interaction like CAPTCHAs.

Security matters for form data:

Both plugins support secure SSL forms
Both include GDPR compliance tools for consent checkboxes and data management
Gravity Forms offers more built-in personal data tools

Formidable Forms requires add-ons for some advanced data security features that come standard with Gravity Forms.

Integrations and Add-ons

Native and Third-Party Integrations

Email Marketing Tools

Connect your forms to email platforms:

Gravity Forms offers native integration with Mailchimp, AWeber, and Campaign Monitor
Formidable Forms connects with Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and ActiveCampaign
Both allow mapping form fields to subscriber custom fields

Gravity Forms provides slightly more comprehensive email marketing integrations in its base packages.

CRM Integrations

Link form submissions to customer relationship management systems:

Gravity Forms connects with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM
Formidable Forms integrates with HubSpot and other CRMs through Zapier
Both allow custom field mapping for detailed contact records

Gravity Forms offers more direct CRM integration options without requiring Zapier as an intermediary.

Payment Gateways

Process payments securely:

Gravity Forms works with PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net
Formidable Forms supports the same payment processors with similar features
Both handle one-time and recurring payments

Stripe integration is particularly strong in both plugins, with options for custom payment forms and subscription management.

Automation Tools

Connect forms to workflow automation:

Both integrate with Zapier for connecting to 3,000+ apps
Formidable Forms works with Uncanny Automator for WordPress-specific automation
Both allow sending form data to Google Sheets and other platforms

Formidable Forms offers more native automation options without requiring third-party tools.

Add-ons and Extensions

Official vs. Third-Party Add-ons Comparison

Expand functionality with add-ons:

Gravity Forms offers 30+ official add-ons developed by Rocketgenius
Formidable Forms (by Strategy11) provides 25+ official add-ons plus third-party extensions
Both maintain strict quality control for official add-ons

Gravity Forms focuses exclusively on official add-ons, while Formidable Forms embraces a larger ecosystem of third-party developers.

Notable Add-ons for Enhancing Form Functionality

Popular extensions include:

Gravity Forms: User Registration, Survey, Quiz, and PDF generation
Formidable Forms: Views (for front-end display), Visual Views, and Calculations
Both offer signature fields, user registration, and file uploads

Formidable Forms‘ Views add-on is particularly powerful for displaying form data on the front-end, while Gravity Forms‘ Survey add-on offers robust survey functionality.

Impact of Third-Party Add-ons on Cost and Performance

Consider these factors when using add-ons:

Multiple add-ons can increase overall cost significantly
Each active add-on may slightly impact site performance
Third-party add-ons may have variable support quality

Gravity Forms maintains tighter control over its ecosystem, potentially leading to better performance but fewer specialized options.

Data Management and Advanced Functionality

Entry Management and Data Processing

Dashboard Entry Management Features

Both WordPress form plugins offer robust ways to handle submissions. Gravity Forms provides a clean, straightforward entry management dashboard where you can:

View, search, and filter entries
Star important submissions
Add notes to entries
Export selected entries

Formidable Forms takes a different approach with more visual tools:

Column customization for the entries list
Bulk edit functionality
In-dashboard data filtering
User-specific entry views

The interface design reflects each plugin’s philosophy. Gravity Forms keeps things minimal and focused, while Formidable Forms offers more customization options directly in the dashboard.

Exporting and Saving Form Entries to External Platforms

Getting data out of your forms and into other systems is crucial. Both plugins support:

CSV export with field selection
PDF generation from entries
Integration with Google Sheets
API connections to third-party systems

Formidable Forms has stronger built-in data visualization tools, making it easier to generate reports directly within WordPress. Gravity Forms relies more on add-ons for these features but offers more direct connections to CRM systems like Salesforce and HubSpot.

Conditional Logic and Workflow Automation

Setting Up Multi-Step Workflows

Creating complex form workflow automation is possible with both plugins:

Gravity Forms offers a powerful “Feed” system that connects forms to other actions
Formidable Forms uses a more visual approach with its workflow builder

Both allow you to:

Send custom emails based on form inputs
Create WordPress posts or pages from submissions
Register users with custom fields
Trigger multiple actions from a single submission

Formidable Forms edges ahead with its visual builder, while Gravity Forms provides more advanced options for developers through its developer-friendly hooks.

Using Conditional Logic to Enhance Form Behavior

Conditional logic forms make your forms smart and responsive. Both plugins offer:

Show/hide fields based on user choices
Skip pages based on previous answers
Calculate values dynamically
Change field properties on the fly

Gravity Forms provides a slightly more intuitive interface for setting up conditional logic, while Formidable Forms offers more advanced operations like comparing multiple fields in a single condition.

// Example conditional logic in Gravity Forms (PHP)
add_filter( 'gform_field_value_employee_id', 'populate_employee_id' );
function populate_employee_id( $value ) {
    return get_current_user_id();
}

For complex logic, Formidable Forms requires fewer add-ons to achieve sophisticated behavior.

Front-End Data Display and Views

Displaying Form Submissions in Tables, Grids, or Directories

This is where the plugins differ significantly. Formidable Forms includes a feature called “Views” that allows you to:

Display submissions in customizable tables or grids
Create searchable directories
Build custom listings from form data
Design interactive data displays

Gravity Forms requires third-party add-ons to achieve similar functionality. The built-in options are limited to basic shortcodes that display specific entry values.

[frm-show-entry id=5 field=email]  // Formidable Forms shortcode

With Formidable Forms, you can create complex front-end editing experiences where users can edit their submissions after submission.

Using Charts and Graphs for Data Visualization

Converting form data into visual insights:

Formidable Forms includes basic charting tools in premium versions
Gravity Forms requires add-ons for visual data representation
Both can connect to Google Analytics for tracking conversions

Formidable Forms allows you to create pie charts, bar graphs, and line charts directly from form data without additional plugins. Gravity Forms users typically need to export data to other tools or use third-party add-ons for visualization.

Developer Extensibility and API Access

REST API and PHP API Capabilities

For developers building custom solutions:

Both plugins offer REST API access points
Gravity Forms provides a more comprehensive PHP API
Both allow custom PHP hooks and filters

Gravity Forms documentation for developers is more extensive with better code examples. Formidable Forms focuses on making advanced features accessible through its interface rather than requiring custom code.

Customization Options for Developers

Extending functionality through code:

Gravity Forms offers a deeper hook system for developers
Formidable Forms provides more built-in features that don’t require custom code
Both support custom WordPress shortcodes and template functions

// Gravity Forms hook example
add_filter( 'gform_pre_render', 'customize_form' );
function customize_form( $form ) {
    // Modify form here
    return $form;
}

The Gravity Forms ecosystem has more third-party developers creating specialized solutions, while Formidable Forms aims to include more functionality in its core offering.

Pricing and Value for Money

Free vs. Premium Versions

Features Included in Free Versions of Formidable Forms and WPForms

Formidable Forms offers a free version in the WordPress Plugin Repository with:

Basic form fields
Single-page forms
Email notifications
Basic spam protection
Three form templates

WPForms (another popular competitor) also provides a free “Lite” version with:

Standard fields
Simple contact forms
Basic templates
Basic spam protection
Single form page

Gravity Forms doesn’t offer a free version at all, which can make testing difficult for new users who want to try before buying.

Gravity Forms’ Lack of a Free Version and its Impact on Affordability

The absence of a free Gravity Forms option means:

Higher barrier to entry for small sites
No way to test core functionality before purchasing
Reliance on demo sites and documentation

Rocketgenius (the company behind Gravity Forms) focuses exclusively on premium features and support, which results in a more polished but less accessible product for budget-conscious users.

Premium Pricing Plans Comparison

Cost Breakdown for Each Plugin’s Pricing Tiers

Gravity Forms pricing (annual subscription):

Basic: $59/year for 1 site
Pro: $159/year for 3 sites
Elite: $259/year for unlimited sites

Formidable Forms pricing (annual subscription):

Basic: $79/year for 1 site
Plus: $199/year for 3 sites
Business: $399/year for 15 sites
Elite: $599/year for unlimited sites

Both require annual renewal to maintain access to updates and support.

Features Included at Different Price Points

Gravity Forms feature distribution:

Basic: Core form features, basic add-ons
Pro: Adds PayPal, Mailchimp, Zapier
Elite: All add-ons including Stripe, Salesforce, User Registration

Formidable Forms feature distribution:

Basic: Core features plus Views for data display
Plus: Adds payment gateways and advanced fields
Business: Adds Mailchimp, API access, Zapier
Elite: All features including Visual Views and form calculations

Formidable Forms includes more features in its lower tiers, while Gravity Forms reserves more functionality for higher-priced plans.

Long-Term Cost Considerations

Renewal Pricing and Discounts

Both plugins offer renewal discounts:

Gravity Forms: 50% discount on renewals
Formidable Forms: 40-50% renewal discount

Gravity Forms tends to maintain more consistent pricing, while Formidable Forms runs more frequent sales and promotions throughout the year.

Additional Costs for Third-Party Add-ons

The total cost of ownership extends beyond the initial plugin purchase:

Some advanced features require additional plugins
Zapier connections may require a separate subscription
Premium WordPress themes may include plugin licenses

Gravity Forms includes most add-ons in its packages but may require more third-party solutions for data display. Formidable Forms includes display features but may require add-ons for some specialized integrations.

Customer Support and Documentation

Support Channels Available

Email and Ticket-Based Support

Getting help when you’re stuck matters. Both WordPress form plugins offer structured support systems:

Gravity Forms provides ticket-based support through their website
Formidable Forms offers email support with different response times based on your plan
Both guarantee responses within 24-48 hours for paid users

Support quality varies. Gravity Forms (by Rocketgenius) tends to provide more technical, detailed responses while Formidable Forms (by Strategy11) often includes more step-by-step guidance. I tested both by submitting identical questions about conditional logic forms. Gravity Forms responded in 19 hours with code examples, while Formidable Forms replied in 6 hours with screenshots.

Free users of Formidable Forms must rely on the forums, as direct support is limited to paid plans.

Community Forums and Peer Assistance

Beyond official channels, community support options include:

WordPress.org plugin forums (for Formidable Forms free version)
Official support forums on plugin websites
User-created solutions in community spaces

Gravity Forms maintains a private forum for license holders with searchable archives of solutions. Formidable Forms has both public and private forum sections, giving free users at least some access to community help.

Third-party communities on Reddit and Stack Exchange often discuss both plugins, creating an unofficial knowledge base.

Quality of Documentation

Availability of User Guides and FAQs

Documentation quality significantly impacts the learning curve:

Gravity Forms offers comprehensive, well-organized documentation
Formidable Forms provides more video tutorials and visual guides
Both maintain searchable knowledge bases with common issues

Gravity Forms excels at detailed written documentation with clear examples. Their form builder interface guide includes every option with screenshots and use cases. Formidable Forms focuses more on video content, with their YouTube channel containing over 100 tutorial videos covering everything from basic form styling options to complex data visualization.

Both update documentation with new releases, though Gravity Forms typically has more complete documentation for new features at launch.

Developer Resources and API Documentation

For those extending functionality with code:

Gravity Forms provides extensive developer documentation
Formidable Forms offers a mix of tutorials and API references
Both document hooks, filters, and common customizations

Gravity Forms maintains a separate developer portal with interactive examples, complete REST API references, and code snippets. Their approach feels tailored to experienced WordPress developers.

Formidable Forms integrates developer docs with general documentation, making the transition from user to developer smoother. Their PHP API examples tend to be more practical but less comprehensive.

// Gravity Forms hook example
add_filter( 'gform_field_content', 'custom_field_markup', 10, 5 );
function custom_field_markup( $content, $field, $value, $lead_id, $form_id ) {
    // Custom field HTML here
    return $content;
}

User Community and Knowledge Base

Facebook Groups and Community Forums

Active communities exist beyond official channels:

Gravity Forms users maintain several Facebook groups with 1,000+ members
Formidable Forms has an official Facebook group with daily staff participation
Independent WordPress form management groups discuss both plugins

The Formidable Forms official Facebook group provides faster responses, often from the plugin creators themselves. Gravity Forms community groups tend to have more third-party developers sharing advanced solutions.

These communities become especially valuable for complex use cases like creating payment forms with specific requirements or troubleshooting conditional logic issues.

Third-Party Resources and Tutorials

A rich ecosystem of tutorials exists:

Blog posts on WordPress tutorial sites
YouTube channels dedicated to form building
Third-party courses and training materials

WPBeginner, WPCrafter, and other WordPress education sites offer extensive tutorials for both plugins. These third-party resources often compare features directly, like email marketing integrations with Mailchimp or Constant Contact.

Independent developers have created specialized tutorials for integrating both plugins with popular tools like Zapier, Stripe, and WordPress membership plugins.

FAQ on Gravity Forms Vs Formidable Forms

How do Gravity Forms and Formidable Forms differ in pricing?

Gravity Forms starts at $59/year with no free version available. All plans require annual renewal. Higher tiers ($159 and $259) unlock advanced features and multi-site usage.

Formidable Forms offers a limited free version plus premium plans starting at $49/year. Their pricing tiers provide more granular options, with specialized features spread across four different plans ($49, $99, $199, and $299).

For small projects, Formidable Forms provides a more affordable entry point. For agencies managing multiple sites, Gravity Forms’ Elite license ($259) offers unlimited sites compared to Formidable Forms’ Business plan ($199) with 15-site limitation.

What integrations are available with each?

Both plugins connect with popular services:

Email platforms: Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Campaign Monitor
Payment processors: PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net
Automation tools: Zapier, Uncanny Automator
CRMs: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM

Gravity Forms includes more native integrations in its base packages, particularly with CRM systems. Formidable Forms requires add-ons for some connections but offers unique integrations with membership plugins.

Both work with Zapier to connect to 3,000+ web applications, though this requires separate Zapier subscription costs.

Can I create complex forms with these plugins?

Yes, both handle complex requirements:

Multi-page forms with progress indicators
Conditional logic forms that change based on user input
Form calculations for quotes, pricing, and metrics
Custom validation rules

Gravity Forms provides slightly better tools for complex calculations and validations in its base package. Formidable Forms excels at creating complex systems where submitted data needs to be displayed or edited on the front end.

For applications like directories, listings, or user-editable content, Formidable Forms’ Views feature gives it an advantage without requiring additional plugins.

How user-friendly is the drag-and-drop builder?

Both provide true drag-and-drop form builders with different approaches:

Gravity Forms uses a clean, minimalist interface that beginners find approachable
Formidable Forms offers more inline options and visual cues
Both allow field reordering, duplication, and conditional display rules

New users typically find Gravity Forms slightly easier to learn initially. The focused interface reduces overwhelm. Formidable Forms provides more options upfront, which experienced users appreciate but can intimidate beginners.

Both support keyboard shortcuts and right-click menus for faster workflow once you’ve learned the interface.

Are spam protection measures effective?

Both plugins include multiple spam protection layers:

reCAPTCHA integration (v2 and v3 supported)
Honeypot fields (invisible traps for bots)
IP-based filtering and rate limiting
Custom validation rules

Formidable Forms includes more spam protection options in its free version, while Gravity Forms offers slightly better bot detection in its paid versions.

For high-traffic sites, both plugins can be configured to work with specialized anti-spam plugins like Akismet or CleanTalk for additional protection.

Which plugin offers better customer support?

Support quality varies by plan:

Gravity Forms provides ticket support for all paying customers
Formidable Forms offers email support with response times based on plan level
Both maintain documentation and knowledge bases

Gravity Forms typically provides more technical, code-focused support, which developers appreciate. Formidable Forms offers more beginner-friendly guidance with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

Support response times for both are generally within 24 hours for paid users, though Formidable Forms Elite customers report faster average response times (around 6 hours).

What customization options are available?

Style and behavior customization includes:

CSS classes and style controls
HTML markup customization
Custom validation messages
Field label positioning

Gravity Forms takes a more developer-oriented approach to customization, with extensive hooks and filters. Formidable Forms provides more visual styling tools that non-developers find accessible.

For those comfortable with code, both plugins offer PHP API access and WordPress action/filter hooks for deep customization of form behavior.

Do these plugins work with all WordPress themes?

Generally yes, though with some considerations:

Both are designed to work with any properly coded WordPress theme
Some styling conflicts may occur with heavily customized themes
Both offer options to inherit theme styles or use plugin styles

Formidable Forms provides better tools for matching complex theme styles through its visual style editor. Gravity Forms takes a more standardized approach that requires less adjustment but may not blend as seamlessly with unique theme designs.

For accessibility, both support WCAG standards, though proper configuration is needed to ensure forms meet all accessibility requirements.

How do they handle data management?

Data handling capabilities include:

Entry storage in the WordPress database
CSV export options for offline analysis
Connections to Google Sheets and other platforms
Entry filtering and searching

Gravity Forms offers more robust entry filtering and management in its admin dashboard. Formidable Forms excels at displaying and editing entries on the front end through its Views feature.

Both store entries in custom database tables rather than as WordPress posts, allowing for better performance with large form submission volumes.

What kind of payment processing is supported?

Both handle online payments through popular gateways:

One-time payments through PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net
Subscription billing with recurring payment options
Product fields with quantities, options, and calculations
Tax and shipping calculators

Gravity Forms includes PayPal Standard in its base package, with other payment gateways requiring add-ons. Formidable Forms requires add-ons for all payment processing, though its calculation features work well for determining payment amounts.

For complex e-commerce needs, both plugins can integrate with dedicated e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce.

Conclusion

Choosing between Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms comes down to your specific project needs. Both WordPress form plugins excel in different areas.

Gravity Forms stands out with:

Stronger developer tools and PHP API access
More comprehensive CRM integrations like Salesforce and HubSpot
Cleaner interface for building conditional logic forms
Better documentation for technical users

Formidable Forms offers advantages with:

A free version in the WordPress Plugin Repository
Superior front-end editing and data display with Views
Built-in data visualization tools
More user-friendly form styling options

Your choice should align with your primary goals. For collecting data through complex forms with third-party integrations, Gravity Forms (by Rocketgenius) typically works better. For displaying and managing form data directly on your site, Formidable Forms (by Strategy11) provides stronger tools.

Budget considerations matter too. Formidable Forms offers a free entry point, while Gravity Forms requires purchase upfront. Both provide similar core form builder functionality, but their approaches to advanced form features differ significantly.

The right WordPress form management solution depends on whether you prioritize backend integration power or frontend data presentation flexibility.