FormCraft vs Forminator: A Detailed Comparison of WordPress Form Builders

Posted by Josh Blackburn, in Contact Form Plugins

Overview of FormCraft and Forminator

When we assess the landscape of WordPress contact form plugins, FormCraft and Forminator are two solutions that stand out for their feature sets and capabilities.

FormCraft prides itself on usability and design, offering a streamlined experience that does not require coding skills. It is known for its:

• Drag-and-drop form builder: Simplifies the process of form creation.
• Responsive forms: Ensures compatibility with various devices and screen sizes.
• Customizability: Permits unique form designs to align with branding.

Forminator, on the other hand, is a comprehensive tool developed by WPMU DEV that excels in versatility. It is characterized by:

• Variety of form types: Beyond contact forms, it allows the creation of surveys, quizzes, and polls.
• Integrations: Supports payment collection through Stripe & PayPal.
• Drag-and-drop interface: Ensures that form creation is accessible to users without any coding background.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Our analyses reveal that both plugins offer robust solutions to create and manage forms on WordPress websites. Each caters to different preferences and needs, but the core of both FormCraft and Forminator is their user-friendly, drag-and-drop functionality, which is essential for usability. As we explore these plugins, we prioritize factual information and direct comparisons to aid WordPress users in making informed decisions about which plugin may best serve their needs.

Core Features Comparison

In comparing FormCraft and Forminator, we’ll examine their form builder capabilities, the variety of form fields they offer, and their options for customization and styling. We aim to provide a clear and balanced comparison of these features to help you determine which plugin might best suit your WordPress site’s needs.

Form Builder Capabilities

FormCraft boasts a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that allows us to easily create custom forms. It offers a suite of pre-built form templates that can save us time and streamline the form creation process. Additionally, FormCraft includes functionalities for calculations, which can be particularly useful for order forms and quotations.

Forminator, also with a drag-and-drop interface, provides us with the flexibility to create various form types, from simple contact forms to polls and quizzes. The plugin supports conditional logic, which enables us to create forms that adapt based on user input.

Form Field Variety

When it comes to form fields, both plugins offer a wide range.

• FormCraft provides us with standard fields such as text, email, number, and checkboxes, alongside unique fields like star ratings and sliders.
• Forminator compares favorably with a similar breadth of form field types, including file uploads and GDPR consent check-boxes, making it an excellent choice for those who value user engagement and data compliance.

Customization and Styling

With regards to customization and styling:

• FormCraft allows for profound customization of forms. We can adjust fonts, colors, and virtually every aspect of the form’s appearance to ensure consistency with our brand’s aesthetics. It also supports custom CSS for more advanced stylistic control.

• Forminator stands out with its easy-to-use styling options. We can modify basic styles from within the form builder itself without any need for custom CSS. Forminator’s focus on accessibility and responsiveness ensures that forms function well and look good on any device.

By leveraging these features, we are empowered to create forms that are not only functional but also align with the visual identity of our websites.

Ease of Use and User Experience

When evaluating both FormCraft and Forminator, we find that these plugins approach user experience with a keen understanding of WordPress users’ needs. FormCraft prides itself on a drag-and-drop builder, which facilitates a straightforward form creation process. It is particularly intuitive, allowing us to design forms quickly without necessitated coding knowledge.

Forminator, on the other hand, steps up as a worthy competitor by providing a user-friendly interface. It caters to beginners with its simplicity yet does not compromise on advanced features for the more tech-savvy. It also offers pre-made templates that ease the form creation process.

Table: Ease of Use Comparison

In our experience, we appreciate the key aspects of ease of use and user experience that both plugins offer:

• Forminator: Bundles ease of use with comprehensive functionalities.
• FormCraft: Prioritizes an intuitive interface beneficial for rapid form deployment.

In terms of support and guidance, both plugins come equipped with adequate documentation and support channels. This attention to user assistance enhances the overall experience, assuring us that help is available should we encounter any difficulties.

Types of Forms Supported

When comparing FormCraft and Forminator, it’s essential to understand the breadth of forms each plugin supports to ensure they align with your website’s needs. We’ll outline the types of forms both plugins can handle, showcasing their versatility and scope.

Contact Forms and Surveys

FormCraft and Forminator both offer robust support for contact forms and surveys, which are essential for gathering user feedback and enquiries.

• FormCraft:

  • Contact Forms: Customizable fields for tailored user queries.
  • Surveys: In-depth analysis tools to understand survey responses.

• Forminator:

  • Contact Forms: Drag-and-drop editor for easy form creation.
  • Surveys: Interactive designs to engage users and collect data.

Polls and Quizzes

Engage visitors with interactive polls and quizzes through both FormCraft and Forminator, allowing for a more dynamic experience on your site.

• FormCraft:

  • Polls: Quick setup for instant visitor feedback.
  • Quizzes: Seamless integration for educational content and lead generation.

• Forminator:

  • Polls: Real-time results to spark visitor interest.
  • Quizzes: Variety of question types to suit different quiz structures.

Registration and Payment Forms

Managing user registration and processing payment forms is a critical component for many websites, and both plugins offer solutions.

• FormCraft:

  • Registration Forms: Smooth user signup process for events or services.
  • Payment Forms: Direct integration with payment gateways like PayPal.

• Forminator:

  • Registration Forms: Custom fields to capture all necessary user details.
  • Payment Forms: Multiple payment options, including recurring subscriptions.

Advanced Functionality

When considering FormCraft and Forminator for our advanced online forms, it’s crucial to examine how they expand their core capabilities. Specifically, we look for their ability to integrate with other services and the advanced features they offer that can take our forms to the next level.

Integrations and Add-Ons

FormCraft:

• Integrations: Offers powerful integrations with email marketing services like MailChimp, allowing us to automate our email workflows.
• Add-Ons: Features various add-ons, such as integrating with CRM systems to streamline our lead management processes.

Forminator:

• Integrations: Comes with built-in Zapier integration, making it possible to connect our forms with over a thousand apps for comprehensive automation capabilities.
• Add-Ons: Provides various WordPress-centric add-ons, however, there might be fewer third-party add-ons in comparison to FormCraft.

Advanced Features

FormCraft:

• Multi-Page Forms: Supports the creation of multi-page forms, improving user experience for more extensive forms.
• Calculations: Offers advanced calculation features, essential for payment and other numerical forms.
• Analytics: Incorporates built-in analytics to track the performance of our forms.

Forminator:

• Advanced Forms: Allows for the construction of advanced forms with dynamic fields that can show or hide based on user input.
• Calculations: Similar to FormCraft, it supports form calculations, a vital feature for quotes and estimates.
• Analytics: Provides basic analytics that can be connected to external services for in-depth analysis.

Our exploration reveals that both plugins are equipped with distinct functionalities addressing different advanced requirements, from seamless integrations to comprehensive analytical tools.

Embedding and Integration

When considering the embedding capabilities of WordPress form builders like FormCraft and Forminator, we have clear options for integrating forms into posts, pages, or widgets. FormCraft allows for quick embedding via shortcodes, ensuring that the forms can be easily inserted wherever shortcodes are supported within WordPress. This functionality facilitates the integration of complex forms without disturbing the flow of existing content.

Similarly, Forminator also supports shortcodes for embedding forms. Forminator distinguishes itself with the ability to integrate with various business tools, as well as offering a wide range of third-party integrations for CRM, email campaigns, storage, and project management.

Both plugins provide comprehensive integration with popular WordPress page builders. Forminator seems to have an edge with its ability to natively integrate with builders such as WPBakery and Divi, whereas FormCraft is also flexible but might require additional steps for full compatibility.

Integration does not just stop at form embedding; it extends to the connectivity with external applications. The availability of a plugin’s integration with other tools enhances its efficiency and value. FormCraft offers webhooks and API integrations, which are handy for developers looking to create custom workflow.

In our use, we find that the choice between FormCraft and Forminator in terms of embedding and integration hinges on the specific needs for integration depth with other business tools and the desired ease of embedding within your WordPress environment. Each provides robust solutions that cater to different user requirements.

Spam Protection Mechanisms

As we explore the spam protection features in FormCraft and Forminator, it’s critical to understand how these WordPress plugins safeguard forms from unwanted spam submissions. Both plugins provide robust systems to mitigate spam, and we’ll examine how they each handle this pervasive issue.

FormCraft integrates spam protection as part of its feature set, primarily relying on reCAPTCHA to differentiate between real users and automated bots. The addition of reCAPTCHA requires users to solve a challenge or tick a checkbox to prove they’re not automated spam bots.

• FormCraft Spam Protection Features:
  • Google reCAPTCHA
  • Logic-based anti-spam

Forminator, on the other hand, comes with multiple free spam protection tools and a premium option:

• Forminator Spam Protection Features:
  • Google reCAPTCHA (Versions 2 and 3)
  • hCaptcha: An alternative to reCAPTCHA that serves the same purpose.
  • Honeypot Field: A hidden field that catches bots without affecting user experience.
  • Akismet: An advanced anti-spam service that can be used as paid enhancement.

It’s also noteworthy that Forminator’s compatibility with the OOPSpam WordPress plugin extends its spam protection capabilities, giving it a potentially more layered defense against spam.

Both plugins offer effective spam protection, but Forminator’s array of options gives users the flexibility to tailor their spam defense according to varying needs and preferences.

Pricing and Versions

In evaluating FormCraft and Forminator, it’s essential to understand the options and costs involved for their respective free and pro versions, as well as the payment options and features offered.

Free Version vs Pro Version

FormCraft
Free Version: We find that FormCraft offers a limited free version that can be accessed through the WordPress.org repository.
Pro Version: The Pro version is recommended for those who need advanced features and is priced at $35—a one-time fee as suggested by the search results.

Forminator
Free Version: Forminator also provides a free version via WordPress.org, which is generously functional for basic needs.
Pro Version: Forminator Pro, known as Forminator Pro, elevates the functionality and features for those requiring more robust solutions.

Comparing Payment Options

When considering payment options, both FormCraft and Forminator offer straightforward purchasing processes. Payment options typically include:

• PayPal
• Credit/Debit card payments
• Stripe integration for accepting payments through forms

For Forminator, as part of the WPMU DEV suite, users may find varied payment options catering to WPMU DEV membership services.

Free Features and Paid Add-Ons

FormCraft

Free Features:

• Basic form building functionality

Paid Add-Ons:

• Advanced form fields
• Integrations with email marketing services
• Additional templates and customization options

Forminator

Free Features:

• Robust form building capabilities
• Basic integrations

Paid Add-Ons (in the Pro version):

• Additional form fields
• Enhanced payment options, including PayPal and Stripe
• Advanced marketing integrations
• Priority support from WPMU DEV

Both plugins work on a freemium model, allowing users to start for free and upgrade as their needs grow. It’s important for us to consider both the immediate and long-term costs, including any potential add-ons or integrations that may be necessary for our projects.

User Support and Documentation

When comparing FormCraft and Forminator for WordPress, we consider the level of user support and documentation each provides as it’s crucial for smooth user experience.

FormCraft is known for its robust support infrastructure. It offers comprehensive self-help documentation, tutorials, and a migration guide for users transitioning to FormCraft 3. For direct assistance, users are able to submit a support ticket if they are not satisfied or require personalized help.

• Documentation: Self-help guides, tutorials, step-by-step articles
• User Support: Support tickets

Forminator, a product of WPMU DEV, also excels in this area. The documentation for Forminator is extensive, offering insights on creating forms, polls, and quizzes, with added information on eCommerce integration. WPMU DEV provides a guide that navigates users through the various functionalities of their plugin.

• Documentation: Detailed usage guide by WPMU DEV
• User Support: Support through WPMU DEV’s ecosystem

Both plugins prioritize user support and have established channels for their users to access help when needed. The key difference lies in the fact that Forminator’s backing comes from the larger framework of WPMU DEV, potentially offering a more extensive range of support options due to their broader scope of services.

Data Management and Security

In analyzing data management and security between FormCraft and Forminator, we emphasize the importance of how these WordPress plugins handle data storage and form submissions, including file uploads.

FormCraft offers robust data management capabilities. Its focus is on providing an organized dashboard for easy tracking of form submissions. Security is also taken seriously, with options to store data on the user’s server for added control. However, FormCraft does not explicitly mention end-to-end encryption in their documentation, which is something to consider if you are dealing with highly sensitive information.

• Data Storage: Utilizes user server for storage
• File Uploads: Allows multiple file uploads with control over file types and sizes

Forminator, on the other hand, has recently integrated with FortressDB, a tool focused on data privacy and security. This integration suggests an enhanced level of data protection, specifically tailored to safeguard personal and sensitive information.

• Data Storage: Integration with FortressDB for improved security
• File Uploads: Secured through the WordPress media library and FortressDB

For both plugins, data encryption while in transit is a standard practice. However, we recommend users to also ensure that SSL encryption is in place on their site to enhance the security of form submissions.

Lastly, both plugins provide the capability to manage and export submitted data, albeit physical storage security, will depend on your hosting provider’s practices.

In conclusion, while both FormCraft and Forminator prioritize data management and security, Forminator’s partnership with FortressDB provides an edge in terms of data privacy and specialized security, especially for sensitive data collection.

Popularity and Community Feedback

When assessing the popularity of FormCraft and Forminator, we examine their presence in the WordPress plugin ecosystem and digest community feedback.

FormCraft: This plugin has made a strong impression thanks to its user-friendly interface and customizable form-building capabilities. It attracts users who seek an efficient way to create contact forms, surveys, and other forms without requiring coding knowledge. However, its presence in community discussions and reviews seems to be more niche compared to more ubiquitous plugins.

Forminator: Forminator, consistently mentioned in plugin roundups and discussions, appears to have a loyal following. It is commended for its comprehensive feature set, which extends beyond contact forms to include surveys, quizzes, and more.

User Reviews:
In our investigation, we’ve noticed that:

• FormCraft users often highlight the plugin’s ease of use and flexibility.
• Forminator’s reviews frequently praise its drag-and-drop builder and robust free version.

To convey the popularity and community feedback more effectively, we’ve summarized the key points below:

We continually adapt our understanding of these plugins through active monitoring of new reviews and feedback within the WordPress community. Our aim is to provide accurate and current insights into the reputation and reception of both FormCraft and Forminator.

Licensing and Usage Terms

When discussing the licensing and usage terms for FormCraft and Forminator, it’s essential to differentiate the specifics offered by each plugin. We’ve carefully considered how each product approaches licensing to provide clarity and guidance in choosing the right form solution for WordPress users.

FormCraft:

• License: FormCraft provides a premium plugin with a license that needs to be purchased. Their licensing offers single-site use, as well as multi-site options, depending on the package you choose.
• Unlimited Sites: As per their pricing model, an unlimited sites license is typically not available; licenses are often sold based on a tiered structure limiting the number of sites.
• Usage Terms: With FormCraft, the usage terms are tied to the kind of license purchased. While updates and support are included, they are often for a limited time depending on the tier of the license.

Forminator:

• License: Forminator, on the other hand, has both a free version and a pro version. The free version comes with substantial features that can be used on unlimited sites without any cost.
• Unlimited Sites: Their pro version also allows for usage on unlimited sites, which is a significant advantage for developers or businesses managing multiple WordPress installations.
• Usage Terms: For the pro version, Forminator usually includes all updates and premium support as long as the subscription is active. The free version also receives updates, but the support might be more limited compared to the Pro version.

Understanding the licensing and usage terms helps in making an informed decision that aligns with your website’s needs and your business model. We ensure our discussions are informed by current and accurate information regarding each plugin’s offerings.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In our comparison between FormCraft and Forminator, we’ve meticulously examined each plugin to guide you towards an informed decision. We understand that selecting the right form plugin is crucial for your WordPress site, as it significantly impacts user interaction and data collection.

FormCraft stands out with its:

• Built-in analytics
• Advanced reporting features
• Optimization capabilities through conversion rate tracking and user behavior analysis

Forminator, on the other hand, shines with its:

• Ability to manage and view submitted data efficiently
• Development by WPMU DEV, known for premium WordPress solutions

When considering both plugins, our final thoughts are grounded in their respective strengths. For those prioritizing form analytics and detailed reporting, FormCraft might be the more appropriate choice. Conversely, users who value robust data management and support from a renowned developer might lean towards Forminator.

Here’s a quick rundown to aid in your decision-making process:

• FormCraft:

  • Suitable for users needing deep insights and analytics
  • Advanced features for optimizing form performance

• Forminator:

  • Ideal for ease of data management
  • Reliable support from WPMU DEV

In essence, we encourage you to reflect on your specific needs and preferences. Both plugins are capable contenders in the WordPress ecosystem, but your unique requirements will dictate the best fit for your project. By aligning plugin features with your goals, you can ensure a choice that enhances both user experience and functionality on your site.