WPForms vs Ninja Forms: Which Plugin Wins?

WPForms vs Ninja Forms: Deciding between these powerful WordPress form builders can transform your site’s user experience. Both offer advanced form solutions with drag-and-drop functionality, but which one delivers the features you actually need without unnecessary costs?

The decision between these popular WordPress form builder plugins isn’t just about price—it’s about finding the right balance of usability, integration options, and performance for your specific website goals.

Form plugins serve as critical touchpoints for visitor engagement, whether collecting data, processing payments through Stripe or PayPal, or integrating with your CRM form integration system like Salesforce or HubSpot.

This comparison explores everything from basic contact forms to advanced multi-page forms with conditional logic, helping you determine whether WPForms (developed by Syed Balkhi and WPBeginner) or Ninja Forms (created by WP Ninjas) better suits your needs.

We’ll examine their form entry management capabilities, form templates gallery, payment collection options, and GDPR compliant forms features—all essential factors in choosing between these WordPress contact plugins.

By the end, you’ll understand not just the advertised costs but also potential hidden expenses lurking in add-ons and premium plans, ensuring your investment delivers maximum value for your form-building requirements.

General Overview of WPForms and Ninja Forms

What is WPForms?

WPForms was built by the team at WPBeginner and Syed Balkhi to solve a common problem: making form creation accessible to everyone. The creators, who also developed OptinMonster, focused on simplicity first. They stripped away technical barriers so website owners could build functional forms without writing code.

Unlike older WordPress form plugins, WPForms prioritized the user experience from day one. Their development approach centers on solving real user problems rather than adding features just to match competitors.

Key Features and Popularity

The drag-and-drop form builder is what makes WPForms stand out in the crowded WordPress plugin space. Users can:

• Create multi-step forms with visual progress indicators
• Build forms with conditional logic that show or hide fields based on user responses
• Add file upload forms for document collection
• Implement form spam protection through Google reCAPTCHA integration

WPForms connects smoothly with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal, plus email marketing platforms including Mailchimp, AWeber, and Constant Contact. This extensive integration network helps it rank among the top form builder plugins for WordPress sites.

Their form templates gallery saves time with pre-built options for common needs like contact, registration, and payment forms.

Free vs. Premium Versions

The free version (WPForms Lite) handles basic contact form needs with standard fields and simple form styling options. For serious functionality, their premium tiers unlock:

• Advanced form field types
• Form entry management system
• PDF form submissions
• Survey and Poll capabilities with reports
• Frontend posting forms for user-generated content
• Form abandonment recovery

Premium prices vary by tier, with each level adding more features and site licenses. The cost structure rewards users who need the full toolkit rather than occasional form builders.

What is Ninja Forms?

Ninja Forms, created by WP Ninjas (including James Laws and Kevin Stover), took a different approach to WordPress form management. They built a system focused on flexibility rather than simplicity alone. Their development philosophy embraces customization options for advanced users while maintaining accessibility for beginners.

The core plugin has evolved steadily since launch, with each update refining the balance between power and usability.

Key Features and Popularity

The Ninja Forms builder differs from competitors like Gravity Forms or Contact Form 7 with its modular design. Key strengths include:

• Extensive form customization options
• Strong multi-column form layouts
• Flexible conditional logic forms
• GDPR compliant forms features built-in
• Powerful calculation fields for dynamic values

The plugin connects with services through individual add-ons, including CRM form integration with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier for workflow automation. This approach means you pay only for connections you actually use.

Ninja Forms stands out with its form user roles control, letting site owners restrict form access based on user permissions, ideal for membership sites.

Free vs. Premium Versions

Ninja Forms offers a unique pricing model compared to competitors like Formidable Forms. The core plugin is free and surprisingly capable, including:

• Basic field types
• Simple form templates
• Email notifications
• Basic form submission handling

Premium features come through individual add-ons or bundles. This à la carte approach means you can purchase just what you need:

• Payment form options (individual gateways)
• File uploads
• Form scheduling
• Email marketing connections
• Advanced form success messages

The cost advantage comes when you need few add-ons. For complex setups requiring many extensions, the bundled plans offer better value.

Ease of Use

User Interface and Form Building Experience

Drag-and-drop functionality

The WordPress form builder category lives or dies by how easily users can assemble forms. Both tools excel here, but differently.

WPForms offers the more streamlined experience, with fields that snap into place logically. For website forms that need to be built quickly, their interface reduces friction points. The layout feels natural even to first-time users.

Ninja Forms provides slightly more control during the drag-and-drop process, particularly with multi-column form layouts. This freedom comes with a steeper learning curve, though still far easier than coding forms manually.

Both support the WordPress block editor (Elementor, Divi) for positioning forms within pages.

Live form preview capabilities

Seeing your form take shape while building saves countless testing cycles.

WPForms shows a real-time preview next to your building panel. Changes appear instantly, letting you check spacing, field flow, and overall appearance. This split-screen approach keeps you oriented throughout the creation process.

Ninja Forms takes a different route with inline previewing, showing how fields will render as you add them. For complex conditional logic forms, this approach helps visualize user pathways more clearly.

Accessibility for beginners vs. advanced users

WPForms clearly targets beginners first, with a guided setup wizard that walks new users through form creation step-by-step. This focus makes it the easier entry point for WordPress newcomers building their first contact form.

Ninja Forms balances beginner access with advanced options. The basic interface remains approachable, but deeper customization lives just beneath the surface. Power users appreciate the control without overwhelming newer site builders.

Creating and Customizing Forms

Template availability and selection process

Starting from templates speeds up form building considerably.

WPForms excels with 150+ pre-built templates covering nearly every use case from simple contact forms to complex payment form options. Their template browser categorizes options clearly, with useful filters to find exactly what you need.

Ninja Forms offers fewer templates in their free version but focuses on quality over quantity. Each template works as a solid foundation rather than a nearly-finished product, encouraging customization to match your site’s specific needs.

Adding and modifying form fields

Field customization represents a key difference between these tools.

WPForms streamlines field editing with a clean panel showing only the most common options first. Advanced settings remain available but don’t overwhelm new users. This approach prioritizes speed over complete control.

Ninja Forms exposes more field properties upfront, allowing deeper customization without digging through layers of menus. For forms needing calculation fields or complex validation rules, this direct access saves time.

Neither tool requires CSS knowledge for basic styling, though both allow custom code for unique designs.

Flexibility in Form layout and design

Form appearance affects completion rates significantly.

WPForms provides preset layouts with standard field arrangements. Their system prioritizes clean, professional designs that work across devices. While custom layouts are possible, the tool encourages sticking with proven patterns.

Ninja Forms offers greater layout flexibility, particularly with multi-column form layouts and custom spacing. This freedom helps match forms exactly to your site design or brand guidelines.

Embedding and Publishing Forms

Integration with WordPress pages and posts

Getting forms onto your WordPress site should be seamless.

WPForms adds a dedicated button to the WordPress editor for inserting forms. The process takes just two clicks – select the form, confirm. This integration works flawlessly with the WordPress block editor, classic editor, and popular page builders.

Ninja Forms similarly integrates with WordPress core, adding both a block and shortcode option. Their approach focuses on flexibility, letting you embed the same form multiple ways depending on your site setup.

Shortcodes and block editor compatibility

Shortcodes remain a reliable backup for complex embedding situations.

WPForms generates simple shortcodes that work anywhere shortcodes are accepted. Their compatibility with Elementor and other builders ensures these codes render properly across your site.

Ninja Forms extends their shortcode functionality with parameters, letting you customize form behavior directly in the embedding code. This power helps when the same form needs slightly different settings in various locations.

Widgets and page builder support (Elementor, Divi, etc.)

Modern WordPress sites often rely on page builders for layout control.

WPForms offers dedicated widgets for popular builders like Elementor and Divi, ensuring seamless visual integration. Their components maintain styling consistency with surrounding elements.

Ninja Forms provides similar integration but with more customization options exposed within the builder interfaces. This approach gives designers more control over form appearance directly from their preferred page builder.

Features and Functionality

Form Fields and Customization Options

Standard form fields

Both WPForms and Ninja Forms cover the basics thoroughly. Text inputs, checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdowns are available in all versions.

WPForms organizes standard fields in a cleaner interface. Finding common elements takes fewer clicks. Their approach suits quick form creation.

Ninja Forms offers slightly more customization for standard fields. You can adjust validation rules and placeholder text more easily. This control helps with complex forms.

Each standard field supports basic form styling options in both plugins.

Advanced fields

WPForms includes powerful advanced fields in their paid plans:

• File upload forms with size and type restrictions
• Signature field forms for digital signatures
• Rating stars for feedback collection
• Geolocation form fields that capture user location
• Payment form options with product fields

Ninja Forms takes a modular approach to advanced fields through add-ons:

• Multi-column form layouts for complex designs
• Calculation fields for dynamic math formulas
• PDF form submissions for document generation
• Multi-step forms with progress indicators
• Date pickers with customizable formats

The conditional logic system in both tools allows showing or hiding fields based on user input. This feature creates smarter, more responsive forms.

Entry Management and Data Handling

Storage of form submissions

WPForms stores submissions directly in your WordPress database. This approach makes browsing entries simple through the admin dashboard. The system includes basic search functionality.

Ninja Forms similarly keeps entries in your database but adds more form entry management options. Their system includes custom views and filtering tools.

Both plugins allow limiting storage duration for GDPR compliance.

Viewing and exporting entries

WPForms includes a clean entry viewer with:

• Table and single-entry views
• Basic filtering options
• CSV export functionality
• Print-friendly formatting
• Entry notes for team collaboration

Ninja Forms offers more robust data handling:

• Advanced filtering system
• Bulk actions for entry management
• Form entry export to multiple formats
• Custom column arrangements
• Form user roles for team access control

The export capabilities matter greatly for sites collecting large amounts of form data.

Data filtering and management tools

WPForms keeps filtering simple with date ranges and field values. Their system works well for sites with moderate submission volumes.

Ninja Forms provides deeper filtering capabilities:

• Complex multi-condition filters
• Saved filter presets
• Custom views for different team members
• Direct database queries for advanced users
• Entry tagging system

Larger organizations benefit from these management tools when handling hundreds of submissions.

Payment Collection Capabilities

Supported payment gateways

WPForms integrates with major payment providers:

• PayPal Standard (all paid plans)
• Stripe (Pro plan and above)
• Square (Elite plan)
• Authorize.Net (Elite plan)

Their payment forms include product fields, quantity selectors, and total calculators.

Ninja Forms handles payments through add-ons:

• PayPal Express (separate add-on)
• Stripe (separate add-on)
• Recurly for subscription payments
• Smaller regional payment gateways

This modular approach means you only pay for the gateways you actually use.

Transaction tracking and reporting

WPForms offers basic transaction reports showing:

• Payment status tracking
• Simple revenue totals
• Payment source information
• Refund status monitoring
• Export of transaction data

Ninja Forms provides more detailed payment reporting:

• Custom transaction reports
• Revenue breakdowns by form
• Subscription analytics
• Failed payment tracking
• Integration with accounting tools

For e-commerce form solutions, the reporting capabilities can influence which plugin better fits business needs.

Surveys, Polls, and User Engagement Tools

Likert scales and Net Promoter Scores (NPS)

WPForms includes survey fields in higher-tier plans:

• Likert scale questions
• Rating stars
• NPS calculator
• Opinion scales
• Multiple choice grids

Ninja Forms requires the Surveys & Polls add-on for:

• Custom Likert scale designs
• Advanced NPS implementation
• Rating systems
• Weighted scoring
• Matrix question formats

Both tools allow creating of quiz and survey forms with different question types and scoring methods.

Custom survey reports and analytics

WPForms generates visual reports automatically:

• Colorful graphs and charts
• Response breakdowns
• PDF export of results
• Data filtering by date range
• Response comparisons

Ninja Forms offers more customizable analytics:

• Custom report builders
• Advanced data visualization
• Cross-question analysis
• Respondent segmentation
• Export in multiple formats

For serious form analytics tools, the reporting capabilities can make a significant difference in extracting value from survey data.

Security and Spam Protection

CAPTCHA and honeypot protection

WPForms includes multiple spam-fighting tools:

• Built-in honeypot technology
• Custom CAPTCHA protection
• Form submission limits
• Country blocking options
• IP blacklisting

Ninja Forms provides similar protection:

• Invisible honeypot fields
• Math challenge questions
• Time-based submission filtering
• User authentication requirements
• Rate limiting controls

Both plugins implement these features without hurting the user experience.

Integration with Cloudflare Turnstile and Google reCAPTCHA

WPForms supports multiple CAPTCHA providers:

• Google reCAPTCHA v2 Checkbox
• reCAPTCHA v2 Invisible
• reCAPTCHA v3
• hCaptcha

Ninja Forms offers:

• Google reCAPTCHA v2 and v3
• Cloudflare Turnstile
• Custom CAPTCHA options
• Integration with anti-spam plugins

These integrations add a crucial layer of protection against form spam without requiring technical setup.

Integrations with Third-Party Tools

Email Marketing Integrations

Mailchimp, Constant Contact, AWeber, Drip, and others

WPForms connects directly with popular email platforms:

• Mailchimp (Basic plan and above)
• Constant Contact (Plus plan and above)
• AWeber (Pro plan and above)
• Drip (Pro plan and above)
• Campaign Monitor (Pro plan and above)
• GetResponse (Pro plan and above)

Their integration focuses on list subscription and basic segmentation. Forms map fields directly to your email provider contacts.

Ninja Forms handles email marketing through individual add-ons:

• Mailchimp (dedicated add-on)
• Constant Contact (dedicated add-on)
• AWeber (dedicated add-on)
• Active Campaign (dedicated add-on)
• MailPoet (dedicated add-on)
• ConvertKit (dedicated add-on)

This approach lets you pay only for the platforms you use. Their integrations support more advanced actions like tagging and custom field mapping.

For subscription forms, both plugins offer similar functionality but with different pricing models.

CRM and Project Management Integrations

Salesforce, Zoho CRM, HubSpot, Trello, and others

WPForms connects with major CRM systems in higher-tier plans:

• HubSpot (Pro plan and above)
• Salesforce (Elite plan)
• Zoho CRM (through Zapier, all paid plans)
• Capsule CRM (through Zapier, all paid plans)
• Trello (through Zapier, all paid plans)
• Asana (through Zapier, all paid plans)

Their CRM integration helps with lead generation and contact management.

Ninja Forms offers dedicated add-ons for CRM connections:

• Salesforce (standalone add-on)
• HubSpot (standalone add-on)
• Zoho CRM (standalone add-on)
• Insightly (through Zapier)
• Trello (through Zapier)
• Monday.com (through Zapier)

Their CRM form integration provides deeper mapping options and field synchronization.

For businesses using CRMs, these integrations can eliminate manual data entry and improve lead response times.

Automation Tools

Zapier and webhooks for workflow automation

WPForms connects with automation platforms:

• Zapier integration (all paid plans)
• Uncomplicated webhooks (Pro plan and above)
• Internal automation rules
• Basic workflow triggers
• Scheduled notifications

Their system works well for connecting forms to 3,000+ apps through Zapier.

Ninja Forms offers robust automation options:

• Zapier integration (dedicated add-on)
• Advanced webhooks with custom headers
• More flexible workflow triggers
• Conditional webhook firing
• Direct API connections

For complex form workflow automation, Ninja Forms provides more control over how and when data moves between systems.

Other Notable Integrations

Google Sheets (Ninja Forms only)

Ninja Forms offers a dedicated Google Sheets integration:

• Direct spreadsheet mapping
• Real-time data syncing
• Custom column formatting
• Multiple sheet targeting
• Formula-friendly data handling

This feature isn’t available in WPForms without using Zapier as a middle step.

Other productivity and business tools

WPForms connects with various services:

• WordPress user registration
• Elementor and Divi builders
• WooCommerce for product orders
• Google Analytics event tracking
• SMS notifications via Twilio

Ninja Forms offers unique integrations:

• Slack notifications
• Help Scout ticket creation
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM
• Dropbox file uploads
• Highrise CRM

Both plugins extend functionality through Zapier for hundreds of additional connections, but direct integrations generally provide better performance and reliability.

Pricing and Value for Money

WPForms Pricing Structure

Free vs. premium versions

WPForms offers a free version called WPForms Lite on the WordPress plugin repository.

The free version includes:

• Basic contact form creation
• Simple form field options
• Standard form templates
• Basic form entry management
• CAPTCHA protection options
• Limited form styling options

Premium plans unlock the full potential of this WordPress form builder:

• Multi-page forms
• File upload forms
• Conditional logic forms
• Advanced fields
• Payment form options
• Multi-step forms
• Email marketing integrations
• Form A/B testing

Breakdown of pricing tiers and features included

WPForms uses annual subscription pricing with four main tiers:

Basic ($99/year):

• 1 site license
• Basic form templates
• File uploads
• Multi-page forms

Plus ($199/year):

• 3 site licenses
• Email marketing integrations (Mailchimp, etc.)
• Form abandonment recovery
• Form user roles

Pro ($399/year):

• 5 site licenses
• Payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe)
• Conversational forms
• Surveys and polls
• Form success messages customization

Elite ($599/year):

• Unlimited sites
• Membership forms
• CRM form integration
• Custom form styling options
• Client management tools

Prices occasionally drop during promotional periods.

Ninja Forms Pricing Structure

Free vs. premium versions

Ninja Forms takes a different approach with their free core plugin.

The free version includes:

• Unlimited forms
• Basic fields
• Email notifications
• Form success messages
• Basic form templates
• Anti-spam measures

Premium features come through individual add-ons or bundled collections:

• Conditional logic forms
• File upload forms
• Multi-step forms
• PDF form submissions
• Payment gateways
• Email marketing connections

Add-on pricing model vs. bundled plans

Ninja Forms offers two ways to buy premium features:

Individual Add-ons ($29-$129 each):

• Payment gateways ($129 each)
• CRM connections ($129 each)
• Mailchimp integration ($49)
• File uploads ($49)
• Multi-step forms ($49)
• Conditional logic ($29)
• Google Sheets integration ($49)

Bundles (annual subscription):

• Personal ($99/year): Core add-ons for 1 site
• Professional ($199/year): More add-ons for 20 sites
• Agency ($499/year): All add-ons for unlimited sites

The advantage: only pay for what you need. The disadvantage: costs add up quickly if you need multiple features.

Cost-Effectiveness Comparison

Which plugin provides better value for different use cases?

WPForms works better for:

• Small business websites needing complete functionality
• Sites requiring all-in-one form solutions
• Multiple websites under single ownership
• Teams with varying technical skills
• Projects needing predictable costs

Ninja Forms offers better value for:

• Specific feature needs (just payment collection or email signup)
• Developers working on multiple client sites
• Projects with tight budgets needing select premium features
• Agencies building custom solutions
• Sites with unique integration requirements

For simple sites needing just 1-2 premium features, Ninja Forms add-ons often cost less than WPForms’ starting premium tier.

Hidden costs and additional expenses (add-ons vs. all-inclusive plans)

WPForms keeps pricing transparent with clear tiers. No surprise costs exist, but limitations include:

• Need to upgrade for specific features
• Annual renewal costs
• Single site license limitations at lower tiers
• No option to buy just one feature

Ninja Forms may have hidden costs through:

• Multiple add-ons quickly exceeding bundle prices
• Add-on interdependencies (one requiring another)
• License renewal requirements for updates
• Technical support limitations for individual add-ons
• Development time configuring multiple add-ons

The true cost depends on your specific needs and how many premium features your forms require.

Customer Support and Documentation

Support for Free Users

Community forums and response times

WPForms free users get:

• WordPress.org support forum access
• Basic documentation
• Community help from other users
• Limited response times (typically 2-5 business days)
• No guaranteed solutions

Ninja Forms offers slightly better free support:

• Active community forum
• Developer participation in free forums
• Faster average response times (1-3 days)
• Troubleshooting guides for common issues
• Basic code snippets for customization

Neither plugin provides priority support for free users, which is standard in the WordPress plugin industry.

Support for Paid Users

Ticket-based support and response times

WPForms premium support includes:

• Dedicated ticket system
• Fast response times (usually within 24 hours)
• Technical specialist assignment
• Code examples when needed
• Priority bug fixes

Ninja Forms premium support offers:

• Ticket-based help desk
• Similar response times (24-48 hours)
• Direct developer access for complex issues
• Custom code suggestions
• In-depth troubleshooting

Both companies prioritize paid users appropriately, though WPForms typically responds slightly faster based on user reports.

Dedicated customer service options

WPForms Elite plan includes:

• Priority support queue
• Faster response guarantees
• Personal account manager
• Early access to new features
• Custom development consultation

Ninja Forms Agency users receive:

• Priority support channels
• Direct Slack access (for larger accounts)
• Custom development guidance
• Personalized onboarding
• Implementation assistance

These premium support options matter particularly for business-critical website forms where downtime means lost leads or sales.

Availability of Documentation and Tutorials

Knowledge base and written guides

WPForms documentation includes:

• Detailed setup guides
• Feature-specific tutorials
• Troubleshooting articles
• Integration walkthroughs
• Code snippet library
• Form template galleries with setup instructions

Ninja Forms offers similar documentation:

• Comprehensive knowledge base
• Developer documentation
• Add-on specific guides
• Technical reference material
• Integration setup instructions
• Example form configurations

Both plugins maintain up-to-date documentation covering all core features and common use cases.

Video tutorials and community resources

WPForms created extensive video resources:

• Getting started videos
• Feature walkthrough videos
• YouTube channel with regular updates
• Webinar recordings
• Integration setup videos

Ninja Forms offers fewer official videos but more community resources:

• Basic tutorial videos
• Developer screencasts
• Active user community
• Third-party tutorials
• GitHub repository for technical users

For visual learners, WPForms provides more comprehensive video training, while Ninja Forms better serves technical users through developer resources and code examples.

Conclusion

WPForms vs Ninja Forms presents a clear choice based on your specific needs. After examining their features, pricing, and support options, distinct strengths emerge for each WordPress form builder.

WPForms stands out with:

• More intuitive drag-and-drop form builder interface
• Comprehensive all-in-one pricing tiers
• Extensive built-in form templates gallery
• Stronger focus on non-technical users
• Faster support response times

Ninja Forms excels through:

• Flexible à la carte add-on system
• More advanced form customization options
• Stronger developer-focused tools
• Better multi-column form layouts
• Free core plugin with significant capabilities

For beginners and those needing complete solutions, WPForms delivers an easier path to professional forms. Its predictable pricing and bundled features save time figuring out which components you need.

Small businesses and agencies benefit from Ninja Forms’ modular approach when specific functionality is required without unnecessary extras. This targeted strategy can significantly reduce costs for focused use cases.

Both handle essential form types effectively:

• Contact forms
• Payment form options via PayPal and Stripe
• Subscription forms for email lists
• Survey and Poll forms with reporting
• File upload forms for document collection

Integration capabilities remain comparable, connecting to email marketing platforms, CRM form integration systems, and third-party tools through direct connections or Zapier.

The deciding factor often comes down to your working style. WPForms prioritizes streamlined workflows and user-friendly interfaces, while Ninja Forms offers greater customization control for those willing to invest time in configuration.

Consider your technical comfort level, budget constraints, and specific feature requirements when making your choice between these leading WordPress contact form solutions.