Contact Form 7 vs Formidable Forms: A Detailed Comparison

Posted by Josh Blackburn, in Contact Form Plugins

Overview of Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms

Contact Form 7 is one of the most established WordPress plugins specifically designed for creating contact forms. It is a free, open-source solution with a considerable user base. The simplicity and extensibility through additional plugins make Contact Form 7 a versatile tool for website owners who need to implement basic form functionality.

• Ease of Use: Contact Form 7 offers a straightforward approach to form creation, allowing us to quickly develop and deploy contact forms.
• Customization: It provides a variety of options for form fields and has customizable HTML for those who need more control over their forms’ appearance and behavior.

On the other hand, Formidable Forms is a full-featured WordPress form builder with a broad range of functionalities. It goes beyond basic contact forms by offering more advanced features out of the box.

• Advanced Features: Some of Formidable Forms’ notable features include multi-page forms, payment integrations, front-end editing, and conditional logic.
• Built-In Templates: It offers pre-built form templates to help us get started quickly and efficiently.

Comparison Table:

In conclusion, our choice between Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms depends on our specific needs. If we require a simple contact form with some room for customization, Contact Form 7 can be quite sufficient. However, for more complex form functionalities and integrations, Formidable Forms presents a more robust solution.

Key Features and Capabilities

When comparing the key features and capabilities of Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms, we focus on aspects that greatly influence user experience and website performance. Both plugins offer a range of options for WordPress site owners, yet there are distinct differences in their design.

Drag-and-Drop Form Builders

Both Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms allow for the creation of forms, but Formidable Forms provides a drag-and-drop form builder, simplifying the process of form creation. Contact Form 7, while not offering a visual drag-and-drop interface, involves the integration of HTML tags within the content editor.

Styling and Design Customization

• Formidable Forms: Offers extensive styling and design customization through its visual styler, where you can adjust fonts, colors, and spacing without writing CSS.
• Contact Form 7: Lacks a visual styling tool, requiring manual CSS input for design changes.

Pre-Built Form Templates and Layouts

Formidable Forms stands out with a variety of pre-built form templates and layouts, making it easier to publish forms quickly. On the other hand, Contact Form 7 offers a more basic set of templates, necessitating additional customization efforts.

Advanced Form Features

The advanced form features in Formidable Forms include conditional logic, file uploads, and the ability to create complex forms. Contact Form 7 also supports these functionalities but they are less intuitive to implement and often require additional plugins or custom code.

Integration with Other Services

Formidable Forms excels in its integration capabilities with services such as CRMs and Salesforce, adding enhanced functionality to your WordPress site. Contact Form 7 offers integration with other services as well, but the setup may be more hands-on and coding-intensive.

Performance and Speed

In terms of speed and performance, Formidable Forms is built with an emphasis on maintaining high performance and minimal impact on website speed. Contact Form 7 also performs well, with a lightweight build that avoids slowing down a site, yet can require additional optimization for complex setups.

Developer and Coding Support

• Formidable Forms: Offers a built-in HTML editor and the flexibility for developers to add custom HTML/CSS, catering to those who need to implement custom functionality.
• Contact Form 7: While it allows for direct HTML editing in its form templates, it might require more hands-on coding knowledge for extensive customizations.

Ease of Use and User Interface

• Formidable Forms: Features a user-friendly interface, significantly reducing the learning curve for new users.
• Contact Form 7: Provides a minimalist and straightforward user interface, which may be familiar to users comfortable with the basics of HTML.

Support and Documentation

• Formidable Forms: Offers a comprehensive suite of support including documentation, video tutorials, and a community forum.
• Contact Form 7: Relies primarily on an extensive FAQ and support forum, though it lacks the structured customer support system compared to Formidable Forms.

Comparison of Form Plugins

In our dive into the world of WordPress contact form plugins, we’ll closely examine the differences and similarities between Formidable Forms and Contact Form 7, their place within the WordPress ecosystem, and other alternative solutions available in the market. We aim to provide clear insights to aid in making an informed decision on selecting the right plugin for your needs.

Formidable Forms vs Contact Form 7

Formidable Forms offers a robust feature set that extends beyond simple contact forms, supporting complex form-related functionalities with a user-friendly interface. Its ease of use particularly caters to non-developers. On the other hand, Contact Form 7 excels in simplicity and is highly favored for its user customization options, despite providing a more basic feature set compared to Formidable Forms.

WordPress Plugin Ecosystem

Within WordPress plugin ecosystem, Contact Form 7 has long stood as a reliable choice, yet alternatives like WPForms, Gravity Forms, and Ninja Forms add diversity with unique features. Each plugin interacts within this ecosystem by offering integrations with popular third-party services, enhancing WordPress’s capabilities as a flexible and scalable platform.

Alternative Form Solutions

Looking into alternatives, plugins like WPForms and Gravity Forms surface as notable contenders. WPForms is praised for its drag-and-drop builder and marketing-oriented features, while Gravity Forms is known for its developer-friendly tools. Ninja Forms, with its impressive conditional logic and layout control, is also a strong Contact Form 7 alternative worth considering.

Choosing the Right Plugin

When selecting the right plugin, assess the following:

• Features: Identify the specific functionalities you require. Is it simple contact forms or complex form-based solutions?
• Support: Ensure there is accessible and reliable support, vital for troubleshooting and queries.
• Ease of Use: Should cater to your skill level, whether you are a beginner or developer.
• Pricing: Factor in budget constraints, recognizing that some plugins offer free core services with premium add-ons.

By taking into account these considerations alongside the features table provided, you can pinpoint the plugin that aligns best with your specific WordPress needs.

Extending Functionality with Add-ons and Customization

As we evaluate the capabilities of Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms, we find that their extensibility plays a significant role. Through the strategic use of add-ons and customization options, both form builders can cater to a variety of web development needs and enhance website functionality.

Add-ons and Third-Party Integrations

Contact Form 7 offers a straightforward approach to form building, which we can extend via a collection of third-party add-ons. These add-ons allow us to integrate with various CRM and email marketing platforms, elevating the form from a simple contact tool to a part of the sales and marketing automation ecosystem.

• Key Add-ons for Contact Form 7:
  • CRM Integration: Connect forms to customer relationship management tools.
  • Email Marketing: Link forms with email marketing services for automated follow-ups.

In contrast, Formidable Forms not only supports additional add-ons but also includes many advanced features by default. We can leverage a multitude of integrations with payment gateways, marketing tools, and other third-party services right out of the box.

• Included Features with Formidable Forms:
  • Payment Integrations: Directly collect payments through forms.
  • Marketing Automation: Integrate forms within broader marketing strategies.

Customization Options for Web Developers

Both form builders come with customization options, but to differing extents. Contact Form 7 allows for HTML and CSS modifications, enabling us to personalize the styling down to the element level.

Formidable Forms takes customization a step further. With its drag-and-drop form builder, we are equipped with a powerful tool that not only facilitates form creation with no need for coding knowledge but also gives web developers full control over HTML and CSS should they need it.

Automation and Workflow Enhancements

For enterprises looking to optimize workflows through form submissions, both plugins offer automation features. Contact Form 7’s extensive documentation supports custom JavaScript, allowing us to implement automation with the help of developers.

With Formidable Forms, however, we observe a deeper level of automation capability, such as multi-page forms that can segment the data entry process and conditional logic to tailor the form experience based on user input. This ability to build sophisticated forms can lead to refined data collection and ultimately, more efficient business processes.

Use Cases and Practical Applications

In our review of Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms, we examine how each plugin serves different practical applications and use cases within website management.

Creating Contact Forms

We find that both Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms excel in form-building, particularly for creating website contact forms. Contact Form 7 offers a straightforward approach focusing on functionality for users requiring basic contact forms. With Formidable Forms, we notice that the experience goes beyond, with drag-and-drop form building, which allows for stylish and detailed contact forms that can align closely with our site’s branding.

Building Online Surveys and Questionnaires

For conducting online surveys and questionnaires, Formidable Forms leads with a comprehensive suite of tools. It supports multi-page forms and conditional logic, making it possible for us to create complex questionnaires that enhance user feedback and data capture. Contact Form 7, with its extension ecosystem, also enables us to create surveys, though the process is less intuitive compared to Formidable Forms.

Handling Payments and Donations

When it comes to handling payments and donations, Formidable Forms offers built-in payment integrations, which is vital for our sales and fundraising efforts. With Contact Form 7, while we can capture basic forms for donations, integrating payment gateways often requires additional plugins or custom coding.

Advanced Data Collection and Management

As for advanced data collection and management, we prefer Formidable Forms due to its powerful data collection capabilities, including front-end editing, file uploads, and the ability to store submissions in a database or export them to Excel. Although Contact Form 7 supports file uploads, it doesn’t match Formidable Forms in terms of comprehensive data management solutions.

Performance, Security, and Compliance

In the realm of WordPress contact forms, performance and security are not to be taken lightly, and GDPR compliance is a necessity for our peace of mind and legal protection.

Loading Speed and Website Optimization

We’ve found that Formidable Forms often outperforms Contact Form 7 in terms of loading speed. Specific concerns have been raised about Contact Form 7 affecting site speed, which is a critical factor for user experience and SEO. The use of Formidable Forms aligns with our goal of maintaining optimal website performance without compromising functionality.

• Contact Form 7: May impact loading speed if not optimized correctly.
• Formidable Forms: Better for speed on complex forms.

Security Measures and GDPR Compliance

We take our website’s security seriously, and Formidable Forms provides robust options to ensure data protection. GDPR compliance is not just about following a trend; it’s a compliance standard that we adhere to meticulously. Formidable Forms seems to be ahead in this area, providing integrated features designed for GDPR compliance.

• Contact Form 7
  • Basic security features
  • Requires additional measures for GDPR compliance
• Formidable Forms
  • Advanced security options
  • Built-in tools for GDPR compliant forms

Security and compliance don’t take a back seat when it comes to website forms, and our investigation suggests that while both plugins are capable, one may offer an edge over the other, particularly in specialized requirements like GDPR compliance.

Pricing, Licensing, and Value Proposition

In this section, we explore the financial implications of choosing Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms, delving into the tangible benefits of each plugin’s premium offerings.

Cost Analysis and Comparison

Contact Form 7 is a beloved WordPress plugin due to its zero-cost entry point. It’s completely free to use, and for many users, this might be all they need—making it an exceedingly cost-effective solution. However, should one require additional functionality, they can opt for third-party extensions, which vary in price.

On the other hand, Formidable Forms offers a tiered pricing structure, which includes a free version with basic features. Their premium versions provide more advanced features and are available through various plans:

• Basic Plan
  • Price: Approximately $50/year
  • Features: Unlimited forms, entries, and basic form features.
• Plus Plan
  • Price: Around $100/year
  • Features: Adds more advanced form features like multi-page forms, calculators, and integrations.
• Business Plan
  • Price: Close to $200/year
  • Features: Integrates payment gateways, marketing integrations, and more.
• Elite Plan
  • Price: Approximately $300/year
  • Features: Unlimited sites license and priority support.

It’s crucial to evaluate the cost of upgrading or integrating additional functionalities for Contact Form 7 against Formidable Forms’ inclusive premium packages.

Understanding the Value of Premium Versions

The value of a plugin’s premium version is substantiated by its enhanced features and capabilities that are absent in the free versions. With Formidable Forms’ premium versions, one gains access to features that extend beyond basic contact forms such as:

• Multi-page forms
• Payment integrations
• Front-end editing
• Conditional logic

These features elevate the user experience and are instrumental in streamlining data collection and management processes for businesses. On the other side, the extensions and premium solutions for Contact Form 7 may be necessary for those users requiring more than what the foundational free version offers.

By understanding the full scope of both plugins’ offerings and how they align with your website’s needs, we can better assess the value proposition of each—keeping in mind that initial costs may be supplemented by potential upgrades or added extensions to meet specific demands.

User Engagement and Feedback

In our experience, the strength of a form plugin lies not just in form creation but also in fostering user engagement and effectively collecting feedback. Our discussion will focus on the specifics of how Formidable Forms and Contact Form 7 perform in these two crucial areas.

Enhancing User Engagement with Forms

Our utilization of Formidable Forms has shown that its interface encourages more interactive and dynamic form experiences. This is achieved through features like conditional logic and the ability to display or hide form fields based on user choices. Engaging users becomes simpler with such hands-on customization options.

On the other hand, Contact Form 7 primarily focuses on simplicity and reliability. While it may not offer as wide a range of engagement features out of the box, this stability and the familiarity of its interface have been conducive to maintaining engagement through consistent performance.

Collecting and Utilizing User Feedback

When it comes to feedback, how we gather and leverage it is fundamental. Formidable Forms excels with its built-in functionalities that allow for deep integration with customer support systems and analytics, enabling us to streamline the feedback process and make data-driven decisions with ease.

Contact Form 7 provides a more straightforward approach. It’s a robust form builder that gets the job done when it comes to basic feedback collection. With additional plugins and extensions, we’ve been able to enhance its functionality but found it to be less directly integrated compared to Formidable Forms.

To summarize, both form builders offer unique advantages in user engagement and feedback collection. Our choice between the two typically depends on the specific needs of our projects related to engagement features and feedback integration.

Technical Support and Resources

Ensuring you have robust support and access to comprehensive resources is essential when choosing a contact form plugin for your WordPress site. We take into account both the availability and quality of support, as well as resources like community forums and documentation.

Availability of Customer and Technical Support

Contact Form 7, as a free and open-source plugin, offers support primarily through the WordPress.org forums. Its large user base contributes to a community-driven support environment, although direct customer service from the plugin’s developers may not be as prompt or personalized due to the nature of free plugins.

Formidable Forms, on the other hand, provides a more structured support system. With its premium version, you can expect priority support which includes:

• Direct assistance from the development team
• Faster response times compared to free support forums
• Access to a more extensive suite of documentation

Access to Resources and Community Forums

Both plugins have resources that aid in their use and troubleshooting issues. However, the kinds of resources available differ:

• Contact Form 7:
  • Extensive WordPress.org forums where users can post queries and share solutions
  • Documentation with basic instructions and FAQs
  • Community-contributed video tutorials scattered across various platforms
• Formidable Forms:
  • A more centralized knowledge base including tutorials and a FAQ section
  • Access to video tutorials created by the plugin developers and community
  • A community forum for users of the premium version, fostering a space for more in-depth discussion and knowledge sharing

By comparing these aspects, we ensure you can make an informed decision about which plugin offers the level of technical support and resources that meet your website’s needs.

Final Thoughts

When comparing Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms, we see a distinct difference in their approach to WordPress form building. With Contact Form 7, simplicity is at the core. Users gain access to straightforward functionality that serves basic contact form needs effectively.

On the other hand, Formidable Forms excels in providing a comprehensive suite of features. It’s designed for users seeking advanced customization, and integrates effortlessly with various email marketing platforms and payment gateways.

In terms of user experience:

• Contact Form 7 offers a no-frills, easy-to-implement solution.
• Formidable Forms provides a more intuitive drag-and-drop interface, which is especially beneficial for those who prioritize form design and complex structures.

Below are some key considerations:

• Ease of Use: Contact Form 7 may require some manual coding, whereas Formidable Forms is more user-friendly with its visual builder.
• Features: Formidable Forms typically offers a broader range of features out of the box.
• Customization: Formidable Forms leads with more styling options and advanced fields.
• Integration: Both plugins offer integration capabilities, but Formidable Forms has a wider range.

We encourage you to assess the specific needs of your website and choose a plugin that aligns best with your goals, whether it be the simplicity of Contact Form 7 or the robust feature set of Formidable Forms.

Additional Resources

To further deepen our understanding of both Contact Form 7 and Formidable Forms, we can explore a number of additional resources:

• Official Documentation:
  • Formidable Forms: Formidable Forms User Guides
  • Contact Form 7: Contact Form 7 Docs
• User Forums: Community-driven forums can be an excellent place to seek advice and share experiences:
  • Formidable Forms: Community Forums
  • Contact Form 7: WordPress Support Forum tagged with Contact Form 7
• Developer Resources: For those inclined towards customization:
  • Formidable Forms: Developer Documentation
  • Contact Form 7: Developer Docs
• Comparison Articles: Independent reviews and head-to-head comparisons can offer varied perspectives:
  • WP Beginner‘s head-to-head comparison
  • Website Rating‘s roundup of Contact Form 7 alternatives
• Online Courses: There are a multitude of tutorials and courses for those of us who prefer structured learning. Websites like Udemy and Lynda offer up-to-date lessons on both plugins.
• Video Tutorials: Visual learners may benefit from YouTube tutorials demonstrating the setup and use of both plugins.

By tapping into these resources, we can make a well-informed decision on the contact form plugin that best serves our needs.