Introduction
Gravity Forms is a premium WordPress plugin designed to help users create advanced forms with ease. Launched by Rocketgenius in 2009, it has since become one of the most popular and robust form builder plugins available for WordPress. Unlike many other form builder plugins, Gravity Forms does not offer a free version, which speaks volumes about its value and the confidence its developers have in its capabilities.
In this review, we'll delve into the specifics of what makes Gravity Forms stand out, explore its ease of use, feature set, integration options, and pricing. We'll also examine user reviews to provide a comprehensive understanding of why Gravity Forms is considered one of the best form builder plugins for WordPress. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, this review will help you determine if Gravity Forms is the right choice for your needs.
Gravity Forms | The Best WordPress Form Plugin | Form Builder
- User-Friendly Interface
- Extensive Feature Set
- Wide Range of Integrations
- Customizable Notifications and Confirmations
- Developer-Friendly
- Save and Continue
- Accessibility and Compliance
- Strong Support and Documentation
- No Free Version
- Cost
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features
- Limited to WordPress
- Potential for Add-On Overhead
Ease of Use
Gravity Forms is renowned for its intuitive and user-friendly interface. One of the plugin's primary strengths is its drag-and-drop form builder, which allows users to create complex forms without any coding knowledge. The interface is clean and straightforward, making it easy for users of all skill levels to design and deploy forms quickly.
Setup and Installation
Installing Gravity Forms is a breeze. Once purchased, you can download the plugin from your Gravity Forms account and upload it to your WordPress site. After activation, the setup wizard guides you through the initial configuration, ensuring that you have everything you need to get started.
Form Creation
Creating a form with Gravity Forms involves dragging and dropping various field types into the form builder. You can easily customize each field by clicking on it and adjusting the settings. The plugin offers a wide range of field types, including text fields, dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons, file uploads, and more. This flexibility allows you to build forms for virtually any purpose, from simple contact forms to complex multi-page applications.
User Experience
Gravity Forms focuses on providing an excellent user experience. The form editor is responsive and performs well, even with large forms. Additionally, the plugin includes helpful tooltips and documentation links throughout the interface, making it easy to find answers to any questions that arise during the form-building process.
Preview and Testing
One of the standout features of Gravity Forms is the ability to preview your forms before publishing them. This ensures that you can see exactly how your forms will look and function on the front end of your site. The preview mode is interactive, allowing you to test the form and make any necessary adjustments before it goes live.
Overall, Gravity Forms excels in ease of use, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced users. Its intuitive drag-and-drop builder, combined with a wealth of customization options, ensures that you can create professional-quality forms with minimal effort.
Features
Gravity Forms boasts an extensive feature set that makes it one of the most powerful form builder plugins available for WordPress. Here are some of the key features that set it apart:
1. Wide Range of Form Fields
Gravity Forms provides a comprehensive selection of form fields, allowing you to create virtually any type of form. Standard fields include text, paragraph text, drop-downs, checkboxes, and radio buttons. Advanced fields cover email, website, file uploads, and CAPTCHA. The plugin also includes unique field types like pricing fields, product fields, and post creation fields for more specialized needs.
2. Conditional Logic
Conditional logic is one of the standout features of Gravity Forms. It allows you to create dynamic forms that change based on user input. For example, you can show or hide fields, sections, or entire pages of a form based on previous responses. This functionality is crucial for creating interactive and user-friendly forms that adapt to the user’s needs.
3. Multi-Page Forms
For lengthy forms, Gravity Forms offers the ability to break them into multiple pages. This not only improves user experience but also increases the likelihood of form completion. You can add page breaks, progress bars, and navigation buttons to guide users through the form.
4. File Uploads
Gravity Forms makes it easy to collect files from users, such as documents, images, or other media. This feature is particularly useful for applications, job submissions, and any scenario where you need to gather additional information from users.
5. Email Notifications
Stay informed about form submissions with customizable email notifications. You can set up multiple notifications to be sent to different recipients based on form submissions. This ensures that the right people are alerted when a form is completed.
6. Spam Protection
Gravity Forms includes built-in spam protection features such as Google reCAPTCHA, Akismet integration, and honeypot fields. These tools help prevent spam submissions and ensure that the data you collect is legitimate.
7. Save and Continue
Users can save their progress and continue filling out the form at a later time. This feature is especially useful for longer forms that require significant time to complete, ensuring users don’t lose their progress.
8. Calculations
You can create forms that perform calculations based on user inputs. This is useful for order forms, pricing calculators, and any scenario where you need to process numerical data dynamically.
9. Integration with Add-Ons
Gravity Forms integrates seamlessly with a wide range of third-party services through add-ons. These include email marketing services (Mailchimp, AWeber), payment processors (PayPal, Stripe), CRM systems (HubSpot, Salesforce), and more. The add-ons extend the functionality of Gravity Forms, making it a versatile tool for various applications.
10. Developer Friendly
For developers, Gravity Forms offers a robust API and a wide range of hooks and filters. This makes it easy to customize and extend the plugin’s functionality to meet specific needs.
With its extensive feature set, Gravity Forms provides all the tools necessary to create sophisticated and functional forms for any purpose.
Integration Options
One of the strongest aspects of Gravity Forms is its extensive integration capabilities. The plugin offers seamless integration with a wide array of third-party services, enhancing its functionality and making it a versatile tool for various applications. Here are some of the key integration options:
1. Email Marketing Services
Gravity Forms integrates with popular email marketing platforms, allowing you to add form submissions directly to your mailing lists. Key integrations include:
- Mailchimp: Automatically add subscribers to your Mailchimp lists and update subscriber information.
- AWeber: Connect your forms to AWeber to grow your email lists with ease.
- Constant Contact: Seamlessly integrate with Constant Contact to manage your email campaigns more effectively.
2. Payment Processors
For businesses that need to collect payments, Gravity Forms supports several payment gateways, enabling you to process transactions directly from your forms. Key integrations include:
- PayPal: Accept PayPal payments for donations, product purchases, and services.
- Stripe: Collect credit card payments securely using Stripe’s robust payment processing system.
- Authorize.Net: Another secure option for processing credit card payments directly through your forms.
3. CRM Systems
Gravity Forms can be integrated with various Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, helping you manage your leads and customer interactions efficiently. Key integrations include:
- HubSpot: Automatically send form submissions to HubSpot to manage your contacts and track leads.
- Salesforce: Connect your forms to Salesforce to create leads, contacts, or cases from form submissions.
- Zoho CRM: Integrate with Zoho CRM to streamline your customer relationship management processes.
4. Project Management Tools
For project management and collaboration, Gravity Forms integrates with tools that help you manage tasks and workflows. Key integrations include:
- Trello: Send form submissions to Trello boards, creating cards and tasks directly from form data.
- Asana: Automatically create tasks in Asana from form submissions to keep your projects organized.
5. Automation Platforms
Automation platforms enable you to connect Gravity Forms with hundreds of other apps and services, automating workflows and saving time. Key integrations include:
- Zapier: Use Zapier to connect Gravity Forms with over 2,000 apps, creating automated workflows without any coding.
- Integromat: Similar to Zapier, Integromat allows you to automate tasks and connect Gravity Forms with various apps and services.
6. Social Media Platforms
Gravity Forms also integrates with social media platforms to help you manage your social presence and interactions. Key integrations include:
- Facebook: Collect leads from Facebook Lead Ads and import them into Gravity Forms.
- Twitter: Send notifications and updates based on form submissions directly to your Twitter account.
7. Learning Management Systems (LMS)
For educational purposes, Gravity Forms integrates with LMS platforms, making it easier to manage course registrations and student information. Key integrations include:
- LearnDash: Seamlessly integrate with LearnDash to manage course enrollments and track student progress.
- LifterLMS: Connect Gravity Forms with LifterLMS to handle course registrations and user management.
8. Other Essential Integrations
- Google Sheets: Automatically export form submissions to Google Sheets for easy data management and analysis.
- Slack: Send real-time notifications to your Slack channels when a form is submitted, keeping your team informed.
The extensive integration options offered by Gravity Forms make it an incredibly versatile and powerful tool, capable of fitting into almost any workflow or business process.
Pricing
Gravity Forms is a premium WordPress plugin that offers a tiered pricing structure, providing different levels of access and features depending on your needs. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing plans:
1. Basic License
- Cost: $59 per year
- Features:
- Use on one website
- Standard support
- Access to basic add-ons (Mailchimp, AWeber, Constant Contact, etc.)
The Basic License is ideal for small businesses or individual site owners who need powerful form-building capabilities without extensive integrations.
2. Pro License
- Cost: $159 per year
- Features:
- Use on three websites
- Priority support
- Access to both basic and pro add-ons (PayPal, Stripe, Trello, etc.)
The Pro License is suitable for businesses or developers managing multiple sites who require more advanced integrations and support.
3. Elite License
- Cost: $259 per year
- Features:
- Use on unlimited websites
- Priority support
- Access to all add-ons (including those for CRMs, automation platforms, LMS, etc.)
- WordPress multisite support
The Elite License is designed for agencies, large businesses, or developers who need extensive features and integrations across numerous sites.
Why Gravity Forms Doesn't Offer a Free Version
Unlike many form builder plugins that provide a free version with limited features, Gravity Forms is a premium-only product. Here are a few reasons why:
- Quality and Reliability: By focusing on a paid model, Gravity Forms can maintain high standards of quality and reliability. Users get a robust, well-supported product without limitations.
- Continuous Development: The revenue from subscriptions allows Rocketgenius to invest in continuous development and improvement of the plugin, ensuring it remains at the forefront of form-building technology.
- Dedicated Support: Premium pricing enables the company to offer dedicated and responsive support, ensuring users receive help when they need it.
- Comprehensive Features: Gravity Forms includes a wide range of features and integrations that would typically be locked behind a paywall in freemium models. Users gain access to these powerful tools without the need for multiple upgrades or add-ons.
Overall, the pricing structure reflects the value and capabilities of Gravity Forms, making it a worthwhile investment for users who need a reliable and feature-rich form builder.
Customer Support
Gravity Forms is well-regarded for its customer support, providing users with a range of resources and assistance to ensure they get the most out of the plugin. Here’s a detailed look at the support options available:
1. Documentation
Gravity Forms offers extensive documentation covering every aspect of the plugin. The documentation is well-organized and includes step-by-step guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting tips. This resource is invaluable for users who prefer to solve issues independently or learn more about the plugin’s capabilities.
2. Support Tickets
For more personalized assistance, Gravity Forms provides a support ticket system. Users can submit tickets detailing their issues or questions, and the support team typically responds within 24-48 hours. Priority support is available for Pro and Elite license holders, ensuring faster response times for those on higher-tier plans.
3. Community Forums
Gravity Forms has an active user community, with forums where users can ask questions, share tips, and discuss various aspects of the plugin. The community is a great place to get advice from experienced users and discover new ways to utilize Gravity Forms.
4. Email Support
Email support is another channel through which users can seek help. The support team is known for being knowledgeable and responsive, providing clear and helpful solutions to a wide range of issues.
5. Tutorials and Blog
The Gravity Forms website features a blog and tutorial section, offering practical tips, use-case examples, and updates on new features. These resources help users stay informed and learn new ways to leverage the plugin’s capabilities.
6. Webinars and Training
Occasionally, Gravity Forms conducts webinars and training sessions, providing users with in-depth knowledge about specific features or integrations. These sessions are particularly beneficial for users who want to master the plugin or explore advanced functionalities.
7. Social Media and Updates
Gravity Forms maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. These channels are used to announce updates, share tips, and engage with the user community. Following these accounts can keep users informed about the latest developments and best practices.
User Feedback on Support
User reviews consistently praise Gravity Forms for its excellent customer support. Many users highlight the responsiveness and expertise of the support team, noting that issues are often resolved quickly and effectively. The availability of comprehensive documentation and active community forums further enhances the overall support experience.
In summary, Gravity Forms provides robust customer support through multiple channels, ensuring users have access to the help they need. Whether through detailed documentation, responsive ticketing, or community interactions, Gravity Forms makes sure its users are well-supported.
Unique Selling Points
Gravity Forms stands out in the crowded field of WordPress form builders due to several unique selling points. These features and attributes distinguish it from competitors and justify its position as a premium-only plugin.
1. Extensive Add-On Library
One of the primary differentiators of Gravity Forms is its extensive library of add-ons. These add-ons allow users to extend the functionality of their forms significantly. Whether you need to integrate with CRM systems, email marketing platforms, or payment processors, Gravity Forms offers a solution. The breadth of available integrations ensures that the plugin can meet the needs of various industries and use cases.
2. Advanced Conditional Logic
Gravity Forms offers advanced conditional logic capabilities that enable users to create dynamic, interactive forms. This feature allows you to show or hide fields, sections, or entire pages based on user input. Such functionality is crucial for creating personalized and user-friendly forms, which can lead to higher completion rates and better data quality.
3. Developer-Friendly
Gravity Forms is designed with developers in mind. It provides a robust API, extensive hooks, and filters, allowing developers to customize and extend the plugin’s functionality. This flexibility makes it possible to create bespoke solutions tailored to specific requirements, making Gravity Forms an excellent choice for developers working on client projects or complex applications.
4. Multi-Page Forms and Progress Indicators
For complex forms, Gravity Forms offers the ability to create multi-page forms with progress indicators. This feature improves the user experience by breaking down lengthy forms into manageable sections, making them less daunting for users to complete. The progress indicator keeps users informed about their progress, reducing abandonment rates.
5. Powerful Data Handling and Export Options
Gravity Forms excels in data handling and export capabilities. Users can easily view, filter, and manage form entries within the WordPress dashboard. Additionally, data can be exported in various formats, such as CSV or Excel, making it simple to analyze and utilize form submissions outside the WordPress environment.
6. Customizable Notifications and Confirmations
The plugin allows users to set up highly customizable notifications and confirmations. You can create multiple notifications based on different form conditions and send them to different recipients. This feature ensures that relevant parties are informed promptly, improving communication and response times.
7. Save and Continue
The “Save and Continue” feature is particularly valuable for longer forms. It allows users to save their progress and complete the form at a later time. This functionality is essential for complex applications, surveys, or any scenario where users might need more time to gather information before submitting the form.
8. Accessibility and Compliance
Gravity Forms is built with accessibility in mind, ensuring that forms are usable by people with disabilities. The plugin adheres to WCAG 2.0 guidelines, which are crucial for creating accessible web content. This commitment to accessibility helps users meet legal requirements and provide a better experience for all visitors.
9. Built-In Security Features
While we’re not focusing on performance and security, it’s worth noting that Gravity Forms includes built-in security features such as honeypot fields and integration with reCAPTCHA and Akismet to combat spam submissions. These features help ensure that the data collected is legitimate and secure.
10. Comprehensive Documentation and Support
The extensive documentation and robust support system set Gravity Forms apart. The availability of detailed guides, community forums, and responsive ticket support ensures that users can quickly find solutions to any issues they encounter.
In conclusion, Gravity Forms’ unique selling points, such as its extensive add-on library, advanced conditional logic, developer-friendly features, and strong support system, make it a standout choice for users seeking a powerful and flexible form-building solution.
Pros and Cons
Like any software, Gravity Forms has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a balanced look at the pros and cons to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs:
Pros
- User-Friendly Interface
- The drag-and-drop form builder is intuitive and easy to use, allowing users of all skill levels to create complex forms without coding knowledge.
- Extensive Feature Set
- Gravity Forms offers a comprehensive range of features, including advanced conditional logic, multi-page forms, file uploads, and calculations.
- Wide Range of Integrations
- The plugin integrates seamlessly with numerous third-party services, including email marketing platforms, payment gateways, CRM systems, and automation tools.
- Customizable Notifications and Confirmations
- Users can set up multiple, highly customizable notifications and confirmations based on different form conditions, ensuring prompt communication and efficient workflow management.
- Developer-Friendly
- Gravity Forms provides a robust API, extensive hooks, and filters, making it highly customizable and extendable for developers.
- Save and Continue
- This feature allows users to save their progress and complete forms later, which is particularly useful for lengthy or complex forms.
- Accessibility and Compliance
- The plugin is designed to meet WCAG 2.0 guidelines, ensuring forms are accessible to users with disabilities.
- Strong Support and Documentation
- Gravity Forms offers extensive documentation, a supportive user community, and responsive ticket support, providing users with the resources they need to resolve issues quickly.
Cons
- No Free Version
- Gravity Forms is a premium-only plugin, which means there is no free version available. This might be a drawback for users who are looking for a free solution or want to test the plugin extensively before committing to a purchase.
- Cost
- While the plugin offers great value, the annual subscription cost might be a consideration for small businesses or individual site owners with limited budgets.
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features
- Although the basic form-building process is straightforward, mastering the more advanced features and integrations can require some time and effort, especially for beginners.
- Limited to WordPress
- Gravity Forms is a WordPress-only plugin, which means it cannot be used on other website platforms. This limits its utility for users who manage non-WordPress sites.
- Potential for Add-On Overhead
- While the extensive add-on library is a strength, managing multiple add-ons can become cumbersome and might impact site performance if not handled correctly.
Conclusion
Gravity Forms excels in providing a user-friendly, feature-rich form-building experience. Its extensive integration options, powerful features, and strong support system make it a top choice for WordPress users. However, the lack of a free version and the cost may be considerations for some users. Overall, its pros significantly outweigh the cons, making it a worthwhile investment for those who need a reliable and versatile form builder.
Alternatives
While Gravity Forms is a powerful and feature-rich form builder, it’s important to consider other options that might better suit your specific needs. Here are some notable alternatives:
1. WPForms
- Features: Drag-and-drop builder, conditional logic, multi-page forms, file uploads, and extensive integrations.
- Pros: User-friendly interface, wide range of templates, excellent customer support.
- Cons: Some advanced features are only available in higher-tier plans.
- Ideal For: Beginners and small businesses looking for an intuitive form builder with a robust feature set.
2. Ninja Forms
- Features: Drag-and-drop builder, conditional logic, multi-step forms, file uploads, and various add-ons for extended functionality.
- Pros: Free version available, modular pricing for add-ons, user-friendly interface.
- Cons: Some essential features require paid add-ons, which can add up in cost.
- Ideal For: Users who prefer a modular approach to adding features and want a free version to start with.
3. Formidable Forms
- Features: Advanced form builder, conditional logic, multi-page forms, file uploads, and calculations.
- Pros: Powerful for creating complex forms and applications, integrations with various third-party services.
- Cons: Steeper learning curve, higher cost for advanced features.
- Ideal For: Advanced users and developers needing to build complex, data-driven forms and applications.
4. Contact Form 7
- Features: Basic form creation, customizable form fields, and integrations via third-party plugins.
- Pros: Completely free, widely used, and supported by a large community.
- Cons: Lacks advanced features and a user-friendly interface, requires coding knowledge for customization.
- Ideal For: Users looking for a free, basic contact form solution without the need for advanced features.
Ratings (Out of 5):
- Ease of Use: 4.5
- The drag-and-drop builder and intuitive interface make it easy for users of all skill levels to create forms. A slight learning curve for advanced features prevents a perfect score.
- Features: 5
- Gravity Forms provides a rich array of features, including advanced conditional logic, multi-page forms, file uploads, and calculations, meeting the needs of diverse use cases.
- Integration Options: 5
- The plugin’s extensive integrations with email marketing services, payment processors, CRMs, and automation platforms make it highly versatile and powerful.
- Customer Support: 4.5
- Excellent documentation, responsive support ticket system, and active community forums provide robust support. Slight delays in response time for basic license holders prevent a perfect score.
- Value for Money: 4
- While Gravity Forms offers great value through its extensive features and support, the lack of a free version and the cost may be a consideration for some users.
- Customization and Flexibility: 5
- The developer-friendly nature of Gravity Forms, with its API, hooks, and filters, allows for extensive customization and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Conclusion
Gravity Forms stands out as a premium form builder for WordPress, offering a comprehensive set of features, extensive integration options, and a user-friendly interface. Despite the lack of a free version, its value is evident in its robust capabilities and strong support.
Gravity Forms is an exceptional form builder that provides a comprehensive solution for creating advanced forms on WordPress. Its user-friendly interface, extensive feature set, and robust integration options make it a top choice for users seeking a reliable and versatile form builder. Despite the premium cost, the value it offers makes it a worthwhile investment for those serious about their form-building needs.
