As a WordPress developer, I’ve learned that a beautiful website is only half the battle. The real magic happens when your site connects with people and drives real business growth. The form on your site is often where this connection begins, and after years of building projects for myself and my clients, I know a powerful form plugin can make all the difference.
In this guide, I’m going to cut through the marketing jargon to give you my honest, hands-on review of the best WordPress form plugins for 2025. My goal is to help you choose the right tool for your specific needs, so you can build a truly effective website without the usual headaches.
A Quick Comparison of Top Form Builders for 2025
| Plugin | Free? | Pro pricing (annual) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metform | Yes | From $39/year | Elementor users and visual designers |
| WPForms | Yes | From $49.50/year | Beginners and small businesses |
| Contact Form 7 | Yes | From $49.50/year | Simple, lightweight forms |
| JetFormBuilder | Yes | From $49/year | Power users and Gutenberg enthusiasts |
| Formidable Forms | Yes | From $39.50/year | Advanced applications and developers |
| Gravity Forms | No | From $59/year | Large enterprises and professionals |
1. Metform: The Elementor-First Form Builder
With over 500,000 active users, Metform is what I’d consider the go-to form builder for anyone deeply integrated into the Elementor ecosystem. It’s built from the ground up as an Elementor widget, which means the form-building experience is seamless and intuitive. It truly feels like a native part of Elementor, and for users who love Elementor’s visual workflow, Metform is an absolute dream.
- Free version: A feature-rich free version is available on WordPress.org.
- Pro version: Starts at $39/year → Pricing
- Why it’s best: This is the ideal plugin for visual designers and Elementor enthusiasts who want a consistent, drag-and-drop experience for both their pages and their forms.
- Feature limitations: While powerful, it is deeply tied to the Elementor page builder, which may be a limitation if you decide to use a different page builder in the future.
2. WPForms: The Beginner’s Choice and Market Leader
With over 6 million active installations, WPForms has established itself as the most beginner-friendly form builder available. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface is a game-changer, allowing anyone to build professional-looking forms in just a few minutes. It’s the perfect solution for anyone starting a new website or a small business.
- Free version: WPForms Lite is a solid free version, available on WordPress.org.
- Pro version: Starts at $49.50/year → Pricing
- Why it’s best: WPForms is the definitive choice for beginners and small businesses who need a simple, no-fuss form builder that just works.
- Feature limitations: The free version is quite limited, lacking crucial features like conditional logic, advanced fields, which are restricted to the Pro version.
3. Contact Form 7: The Lightweight & Extensible Workhorse
As one of the oldest and most widely used plugins with over 10 million active installations, Contact Form 7 is a true WordPress classic. It’s known for being incredibly fast and lightweight because it forgoes a heavy visual builder in favor of a simple shortcode-based approach. While it’s free and gets the job done, you should know that it does not save form entries to your database by default. You’ll need a separate, free add-ons like Flamingo or Contact form 7 entries to add this crucial functionality. For those who want to add extra features and fields, an add-on like Ultimate Addons for Contact Form 7 can turn this minimalist form into a game-changer.
- Free version: A completely free plugin with no premium version. Available on WordPress.org.
- Why it’s best: This is a perfect choice for developers or users comfortable with basic HTML who need a simple, fast, and reliable form. Its minimalist approach ensures it won’t add unnecessary bloat to your site.
- Feature limitations: The biggest drawback is the lack of a modern, visual drag-and-drop UI. It also lacks advanced built-in features, so you’ll need to rely on a vast ecosystem of third-party add-ons to extend its functionality.
4. JetFormBuilder: For Advanced Forms and Custom Solutions
JetFormBuilder, a powerful form builder from the Crocoblock team with over 80,000 active installations, is designed for the native Gutenberg block editor. This means creating forms feels completely natural and is a seamless part of your standard WordPress workflow. What’s truly impressive is that its free core version comes packed with advanced features that most other plugins lock behind a paywall, including sophisticated calculations, multi-step forms, and conditional logic. It’s a game-changer for anyone who wants pro-level features.
- Free version: The core plugin is completely free and available on WordPress.org.
- Pro version: Starts at $49/year → Pricing
- Why it’s best: It’s the most feature-rich free form on the market and the best solution for power users and developers who prefer the Gutenberg block editor.
- Feature limitations: While the free version is robust, the most advanced integrations, such as payment gateways, are only available through its Pro Add-ons.
5. Formidable Forms: Best Contact Form Plugin for Developers and Agencies
Formidable Forms is a favorite among developers and power users because it’s more than just a form builder; it’s a tool for creating data-driven applications. Both the free and pro versions save all form submissions to your WordPress database by default, giving you total control over your data. It excels at turning form entries into dynamic, front-end content like user directories and job listings.
- Free version: A feature-rich free version is available on WordPress.org.
- Pro version: Starts at $39.50/year → Pricing
- Why it’s best: This plugin is your go-to when your project demands more than simple data collection, such as building dynamic calculators, quizzes, or custom web apps from form submissions.
- Feature limitations: The advanced functionality can present a steeper learning curve for beginners, and the most powerful tools are reserved for the premium plans.
6. Gravity Forms: The Gold Standard for Custom Solutions
Next up is Gravity Forms, a versatile WordPress form builder known for its flexibility and extensibility. With features like conditional logic, multi-step forms, and a wide range of add-ons, Gravity Forms is a solid choice for both developers and businesses seeking a customizable form solution.
- Free version: There is no free version of this plugin.
- Pro version: Starts at $59/year → Pricing
- Why it’s the best: Gravity Forms is a stable and reliable solution for agencies and developers, with a modular add-on system that keeps forms efficient and scalable.
- Feature limitations: The premium-only model can be a barrier for new users, and the cost may be higher compared to other form builder options available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which plugin is best for Elementor users?
A: MetForm is the top recommendation as it integrates directly with Elementor.
Q: Which form plugins store entries for free?
A: All the form plugins mentioned in this guide store entries for free, except for Contact Form 7. You will need to install an extra plugin, Database for Contact Form 7, to save entries to the database.
Q: Does Contact Form 7 capture the URL of the page where the form was submitted?
A: Yes. You can use the special mail-tag [_url] in the mail’s message body to include the page URL automatically.
Q: Should I use multiple form plugins on the same site?
A: No, it’s not recommended. Multiple form plugins can cause conflicts and performance issues. Instead, choose one plugin that fits your needs.
Q: Which plugin is best for Gutenberg users?
A: JetFormBuilder is the best choice for WordPress sites using the Gutenberg block editor.
Final Recommendation
Choosing the right form plugin isn’t about finding a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s about matching the tool to your specific needs. Start by clearly defining your goals: are you building a simple contact form, a complex lead machine, or a custom web application?
Here is my final, professional advice:
- Metform is my top recommendation, particularly for those who love the Elementor ecosystem and want a seamlessly integrated, visual experience.
- WPForms is the best all-around option for beginners and small businesses due to its unmatched ease of use.
- Contact Form 7 is a solid, minimalist, and 100% free choice for simple needs and those who prioritize site performance above all.
- JetFormBuilder offers a robust set of advanced features and functionalities in its free version, making it the ideal choice for power users on a budget.
- Formidable Forms is the premier option for building advanced applications and dynamic, data-driven solutions.
- Gravity Forms is the professional-grade solution for agencies and large-scale projects that require stability and extensive functionality.
By making a strategic choice, you can streamline your lead capture and empower your website to become a more effective tool for business growth.
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