Form Maker vs WPForms: Comparing Top Form Builders for WordPress
Contents
Overview of Form Maker and WPforms
As experts in WordPress development, we’re familiar with an array of form builder plugins, among which Form Maker and WPForms stand out. Each of these WordPress plugins has unique functionalities and caters to different user needs within WordPress websites.
Form Maker is a versatile plugin designed to help users create forms for their WordPress sites. It supports multiple form fields and offers a range of customizability options to ensure that the forms match the design and functionality required by the user. Form Maker is recognized for its flexibility and number of core features available.
On the other hand, WPForms is highly regarded for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. It is aimed at beginners and does not compromise on power or flexibility for ease of use. WPForms also boasts a vast selection of pre-designed form templates, facilitating quick form creation.
Here is a quick rundown of the key attributes for both form builders:
- Useability: WPForms emphasizes beginner-friendliness, whereas Form Maker caters to users seeking more advanced customization.
- Features: Both plugins support standard fields, advanced fields, and conditional logic.
| Feature | Form Maker | WPForms |
|---|---|---|
| User-Friendly | Customization Focus | Drag-and-Drop Focus |
| Form Fields | Multiple Types | Multiple Types |
| Templates | Limited Selection | 1100+ Templates |
| Entry Management | Available | Available |
Ultimately, while both Form Maker and WPForms are excellent WordPress form builder plugins, the choice between the two depends on the specific needs and skill level of the user. Whether it’s simplicity and pre-built templates of WPForms or the detailed customizability of Form Maker, both plugins have carved out their place in the WordPress ecosystem.
Key Features Comparison
When exploring Form Maker and WPForms, we consider critical factors like ease of use, customization, templates, advanced features, and integrations that shape the user experience and functionality of these WordPress plugins.
Ease of Use
Both plugins offer a user-friendly drag-and-drop form builder, simplifying the form creation process. WPForms is renowned for its intuitive interface, making it accessible for beginners. Form Maker provides a straightforward platform which is beneficial for users of all skill levels.
Form Fields and Customization
WPForms includes a variety of form fields and customization options on its basic plan, but unlocks more potential on the pro plan. Form Maker offers an extensive set of form fields even on its basic plan with options for further customization, catering to diverse needs.
Templates and Pre-Built Forms
WPForms boasts a large collection of pre-built form templates that save time and serve various purposes. Form Maker also provides a selection of templates, giving users a quick start without compromising the ability to create custom forms.
Conditional Logic and Advanced Features
Both plugins allow for conditional logic, enabling form responses to dynamically change based on user input. WPForms and Form Maker offer advanced features, like calculation fields, only in their premium plans, enhancing interactivity and functionality for complex forms.
Spam Protection Techniques
To combat spam, WPForms and Form Maker both utilize captcha options. WPForms uses reCAPTCHA by Google, offering both invisible and image-based CAPTCHA. Form Maker includes built-in CAPTCHA and custom CAPTCHA options, with some plans also supporting reCAPTCHA.
Integrations and Add-Ons
WPForms supports a variety of integrations including email marketing services like Mailchimp, Aweber, and GetResponse, as well as payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe. Form Maker also integrates with Mailchimp, PayPal, and Stripe, plus offers additional options with WooCommerce and Salesforce.
Surveys, Polls, and Interactive Elements
For surveys and polls, both WPForms and Form Maker enable you to create interactive forms with ease. WPForms offers conversational forms and survey features, primarily on its higher-tier plans. Form Maker supports surveys and polls but with a focus on interactive forms that require its premium features.
Payment Processing Options
WPForms supports payment processing by integrating with PayPal, Stripe, and Square, catering to a range of eCommerce needs. Form Maker allows payment forms and gateways like PayPal and Stripe, but the breadth of options available can vary based on the selected plans.
Multi-Page Forms and File Uploads
Both WPForms and Form Maker facilitate the creation of multi-page forms, improving user experience for longer forms and surveys. File uploads are also supported by both plugins, allowing users to submit documents and media as part of their form responses.
Pricing and Value for Money
When considering Form Maker and WPForms, we understand that pricing plays a critical role alongside the value each service provides. Below, we’ll compare both the free and premium offerings, along with their respective money-back guarantees.
Comparison of Free Versions
- WPForms Lite: This no-cost version is available for users looking for basic form functionality.
- Form Maker Free: Similarly, Form Maker offers a free version with essential features for simple form creation.
Both free versions are best suited for individuals or businesses with minimal form-building requirements.
Premium Plan Features and Costs
- WPForms Pro: Priced at $79/year, this plan includes extra features such as email marketing integrations and payment addons.
- Form Maker Pro: At $45, the pro version provides a cost-effective alternative with basic support and updates for one year.
| Feature | WPForms Pro | Form Maker Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79/year | $45 |
| User Rating | Not rated yet | Not rated yet |
| Support | One year of support and updates | One year of support and updates |
In our analysis, WPForms tends to provide more advanced features, suiting users with complex needs, while Form Maker appears to offer fundamental services at a lower cost.
Money-Back Guarantee Policies
Both WPForms and Form Maker assure customer satisfaction through their refund policies:
- WPForms: Offers a 14-day, no-risk money-back guarantee.
- Form Maker: Also comes with a 14-day money-back promise.
These guarantees offer peace of mind when investing in either platform’s premium plan.
Ease of Implementation
When choosing a WordPress plugin, ease of implementation is a paramount concern. We’ll examine how Form Maker and WPForms stack up in terms of user experience, specifically looking at the installation and setup process, as well as the straightforwardness of form publication and embedding on a WordPress site.
Plugin Installation and Setup
WPForms:
- Installation: We find WPForms quick to install directly from the WordPress dashboard. Simply navigate to the ‘Plugins’ section, search for WPForms, and click ‘Install’.
- Setup: After activation, a handy on-screen guide and pre-built templates make WPForms setup a breeze, even for beginners. This is helpful in setting up forms without needing to understand code.
Form Maker:
- Installation: Similar to WPForms, Form Maker can be installed directly from your WordPress dashboard.
- Setup: Form Maker provides a step-by-step wizard for initial setup. While not as streamlined as WPForms, it still offers a user-friendly interface with extensive options for form customization.
Form Publication and Embedding
WPForms:
- Publishing: WPForms allows us to easily embed forms into pages and posts via shortcodes, which can be generated and copied from the form editor with a single click.
- Embedding: The plugin also offers a widget for embedding forms into sidebars or footers, and an option to add forms to posts and pages via the Gutenberg block editor.
Form Maker:
- Publishing: With Form Maker, adding forms to pages and posts is also managed through shortcodes. The plugin generates a shortcode for each form that we can place anywhere on the site.
- Embedding: Form Maker supports form embedding into pages, posts, and widget areas, though it might lack the Gutenberg block advantage, which could affect the convenience factor for some users.
Both plugins cater to ease of use, with strong emphasis on user registration and dashboard navigation, ensuring a pleasing experience for various levels of WordPress users. Each offers a straightforward approach to embed forms – a crucial feature for efficiently managing forms within a WordPress site.
Customer Support and Documentation
In evaluating Form Maker and WPForms, we find that both prioritize customer support and offer extensive documentation, ensuring users can leverage these tools effectively. Our assessment reveals key aspects of their support services and documentation quality.
Support Services and Availability
Form Maker offers customer support primarily through email and support tickets. For user convenience, they also maintain a knowledge base and facilitate community interaction via forums. This approach provides multiple avenues for assistance, catering to different user preferences.
On the other hand, WPForms provides a range of support options. Users with free plans can access basic support forums, while premium plans include more direct support channels such as priority email support. WPForms distinguishes itself with the level of support provided at different pricing tiers, ensuring users get the assistance that aligns with their investment.
Quality and Accessibility of Documentation
When it comes to documentation, both plugins strive to offer clear and comprehensive guides. Form Maker compiles its documentation within a centralized knowledge base, offering users a repository of articles that explain various features and provide step-by-step instructions.
WPForms, similarly, hosts a thorough knowledge base that’s easily accessible. Their documentation includes detailed articles, how-to guides, and video tutorials. WPForms’ documentation is user-friendly and designed to help users navigate the form-building process with minimal hassle. Through well-structured articles and visual aids, users can find solutions independently, enhancing their learning and usage experience.
Security and Compliance
When assessing the security of both Form Maker and WPForms, it’s vital to consider several aspects that contribute to the protection of online forms. We’ll discuss the security measures, compliance with regulations, and features like spam protection and CAPTCHA, which are integral to maintaining safe form submissions.
Security Standards:
For WPForms, third-party attacks are mitigated by secure storage of form data within WordPress databases. We ensure this aligns with website security best practices. In contrast, Form Maker also emphasizes security, striving to minimize vulnerabilities within their forms.
Compliance with GDPR and Other Regulations:
We take compliance seriously—WPForms features tools catering to GDPR, such as options for managing data retention and disabling the storage of user data. Form Maker also offers GDPR compliance features, ensuring users’ data protection rights are respected.
Spam Protection:
To protect against spam, both WPForms and Form Maker offer CAPTCHA integrations. WPForms allows for Google’s reCAPTCHA, keeping forms free of unwanted spam submissions. Similarly, Form Maker provides built-in options for adding CAPTCHA to forms.
CAPTCHA Solutions:
Having CAPTCHA is a strong line of defense. We leverage smart CAPTCHA solutions that enhance the user experience by only challenging suspicious traffic. By integrating CAPTCHAs, both form builders add an essential layer to our security framework to distinguish between genuine users and automated bots.
Dealing with Form Abandonment:
WPForms addresses form abandonment with features designed to capture partial entries, assisting in lead recovery while prioritizing security. While Form Maker doesn’t explicitly emphasize form abandonment solutions, security measures still apply to all elements of the form submission process.
In summary, we prioritize security and compliance in our selection of form-building tools, recognizing that a strong defense against security threats and adherence to data protection laws is indispensable in the digital age.
User Feedback and Reputation
When considering user feedback plugins for WordPress, customer experience and reputation play critical roles in determining the tool’s effectiveness for capturing quality leads. Let’s explore how WPForms and Form Maker fare in these areas.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
WPForms boasts a strong user base, with over 6 million users embracing its ease of use and broad range of functionalities. This is reflected in user testimonials highlighting the drag-and-drop interface and pre-built form templates which have notably enhanced user experience when creating various WordPress forms. Customer reviews often praise the sheer simplicity WPForms offers, especially for beginners not keen on delving into code.
Form Maker, while having a smaller user base in comparison, is also appreciated for its user-friendly design. Customers have often advocated for its flexibility and customization options. Both plugins receive feedback that suggests they are efficient and reliable solutions for creating WordPress forms.
Comparison to Competitors
We find that WPForms is mentioned favorably against competitors like Ninja Forms and Gravity Forms, especially in relation to its beginner-friendly approach. The free version of WPForms, known as WPForms Lite, has been particularly well-received for providing a zero-cost solution for form creation on WordPress, which continues to be 100% free.
Form Maker is also compared with its peers and is valued for its detailed feature set and cost-effectiveness. Users consider Form Maker’s competitive advantage to be its balance between comprehensive features and ease of use, making it a strong candidate alongside WPForms.
In summary, both plugins receive positive feedback from their customers for their user experience and the ability to create leads through WordPress forms efficiently. With WPForms taking a slight edge due to its larger user base and free offerings, we see that Form Maker is not far behind with its robust feature set.
Use Cases and Applications
When evaluating WPForms and Form Maker for WordPress, it’s important to consider the specific contexts in which they excel. We’ve identified how each plugin caters to various needs ranging from basic contact forms to complex e-commerce operations.
WPForms is renowned for its user-friendliness and is an ideal choice for creating contact forms. Its drag-and-drop builder facilitates rapid form creation, streamlining the process of gathering sales leads and inquiries.
- Contact Forms: Optimize user engagement with easy-to-create forms.
- Order Forms: Deploy simple payment forms for product purchases.
- Email Marketing: Integrate with services like Mailchimp for subscriber growth.
Form Maker is also a robust solution, especially for sites requiring specialized forms. Its adaptability makes it suitable for registration forms and order forms, where customizability is key.
- Registration Forms: Customize complex forms for events or memberships.
- E-commerce: Advanced field options for detailed product orders.
Both plugins offer:
- CRM Integration: Connect with platforms like Salesforce to nurture leads.
- E-commerce: Develop forms that sync with WooCommerce for product sales.
By considering the practical applications of WPForms and Form Maker, we ensure that our choice aligns with our website’s form requirements and enhances our online strategy.