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  • 9 Best WPForms Alternatives Compared (Free and Paid)

    Are you looking for the best WPForms alternatives? 

    WPForms is the powerful drag and drop WordPress forms plugin out there. It lets you quickly create contact forms, payment forms, surveys, and more without any coding at all. However, there are a lot of other forms plugins out there, and we want to help you find the one that works best for your site.

    In this post, we’ll explore some of the best alternatives to WPForms. 

    Best WPForms Alternatives

    Is There a Free Alternative to WPForms?

    Yes, there’s a free version of WPForms! WPForms Lite gives you the most important features you need to get started with creating forms. 

    With WPForms Lite, you can access ready-made templates and create unlimited forms right in the form builder. 

    That said, let’s look at the best WPForms Pro alternatives. 

    1. WPForms Lite

    WPforms lite

    We do think that WPForms is the best form builder available, and if you’re not ready to purchase a license just yet, we suggest that you give WPForms Lite a shot.

    It is the best alternative WordPress form plugin to WPForms Pro and offers plenty of features for free. With over 6 million professionals using the product on their websites, it’s one of the most popular plugins available. 

    You can use WPForms Lite to: 

    • Build unlimited forms without writing a single line of code
    • Get unlimited responses 
    • Protect your forms against spam 
    • Receive entry notifications by mail 
    • Create payment and subscription forms with Stripe integration 

    Building forms only takes a few minutes, too. WPForms Lite lets you build many types quickly with its user-friendly drag and drop interface.

    Simply choose your template and drag any field you want from left to right. 

    WPforms drag and drop builder

    The Lite version alone has plenty of field options, including multiple choice, dropdown, reCAPTCHA, payment fields, and a GDPR agreement.

    Also, with the free version, you can email users when forms are completed for confirmation or direct them to the next steps.

    WPForms Lite can connect with Constant Contact for lead generation, too. Once users submit their information through a newsletter form, the new contact will be added to your email list. Newsletter signup and user registration forms are a powerful way to get more leads from your WordPress site

    Constant contact

    You will want to use WPForms Pro to connect with other email marketing services like Mailchimp, GetResponse, AWeber, Drip, and others. 

    WPForms Lite also easily integrates popular page builders SeedProd and Divi so that you can create and embed contact forms without complex shortcodes. 

    But what if you want to connect your forms to a service that doesn’t have an addon? WPForms Lite connects with Uncanny Automator, which allows you to send WPForms submissions to other plugins and services. 

    Unlike most free plugins which lack proper customer support, WPForms Lite provides support in the WordPress.org forums, and you can expect a typical response time of 1 to 3 business days.

    If you’re a Pro member, you get help even faster since you can open a support ticket and expect a response within 1 business day. 

    While it’s missing some advanced features like conditional logic and multi-page forms, WPForms Lite is the perfect tool for freelancers, creatives, or other business owners who only need simple forms. 

    Pricing: WPForms Lite is completely free to use. If you want to upgrade to the Pro version, WPBeginner users can enjoy an exclusive 50% OFF discount on all plans by using our WPForms coupon

    2. Formidable Forms

    Formidable forms

    Formidable Forms is an advanced WordPress form builder and a great alternative to WPForms if you’re looking to create complex forms. 

    WPForms and Formidable Forms share many similarities. For instance, both have user-friendly drop form builders to create forms. 

    That said, Formidable Forms tends to favor developers and brands requiring complex forms with advanced functionality, while WPForms specializes in powerful forms that are easy to design and embed. 

    Formidable Forms lets you create calculation forms, which is very useful for businesses like real estate or finance businesses.

    You also get unique templates like car payment, paycheck, and mortgage calculations (along with many others), making Formidable Forms really stand out. 

    Besides that, you can turn your form results into user-generated content. They create eye-catching reports, graphs, and charts using form submission data. The plugin can also export the data into many different formats, such as proposals, invoices, certifications, and more. 

    Pricing: Formidable form plans start at $39.50 per year. However, you can also use the free version of the plugin as an alternative to WPForms. 

    3. WP Simple Pay

    WP simple pay

    WP Simple Pay is a plugin that makes creating and accepting payment forms on your WordPress site super easy. 

    Your forms can capture one-time payments or recurring subscriptions to fit your needs. This is perfect for business owners, freelancers, and agency owners who want to accept payments on their site without the fuss of creating an online store

    With WP Simple Pay, you can accept over 10 different payment methods, including credit or debit cards, ACH, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and other payment methods. This is more than just any other payment form builder, including WPForms.

    If you need to take payments or donations on your site, then WP Simple Pay is a great alternative to using WPForms payment forms.

    Pricing: Pricing plans start at $49.50 per year, giving you access to unlimited payment forms and no monthly fees. Higher plans offer features like Buy Now, Pay Later installment plans, and dedicated landing pages to help boost conversions. 

    4. WP Charitable

    WPCharitable

    WP Charitable is the best plugin for building non-profit donation forms and fundraising campaigns. 

    Collecting and managing donations in WordPress can be difficult since most donation and fundraising plugins are either too pricey or too limited. Expensive platform fees can quickly add up and eat into your fundraising efforts. 

    If you’re building donation forms, WP Charitable is the best choice. Since the platform doesn’t charge transaction fees, you can be assured that your donors’ generous donations won’t be taxed on your website.

    With WP Charitable, you can create unlimited fundraising campaigns and set goals for each cause. 

    The free version of WP Charitable supports PayPal donations and offline payments. With the paid plans, you can add other payment gateways like Authorize.net and Stripe. 

    Pricing: Plans start at $99 per year with access to unlimited campaigns and donors. With higher plans, you will get addons such as recurring donations, peer-to-peer fundraising and crowdfunding, and newsletter software integration.  

    5. Typeform

    Typeform

    Typeform is a popular form builder that allows you to create forms, applications, quizzes, and even surveys or polls. 

    Like WPForms, there’s no coding involved. There are over 120+ integration options, and everything from logos to videos can be edited in the Typeform software, so you can build an appealing form. 

    You can also choose from 100+ templates based on different industries and use cases, including ecommerce sites, medical institutions, and more.

    That said, Typeform does have some drawbacks. The biggest downside is the cost. The Basic plan starts from $25 per month to create unlimited forms. That’s something WPForms Lite can do for absolutely free. 

    There’s also a cap on how many monthly responses you can receive based on the type of plan you choose. The Basic plan only captures a mere 100 responses, which isn’t enough for most small businesses. 

    Plus, the most expensive plans run $996 USD per year, which drives up the cost of running a website by a lot. 

    Also, it’s a SaaS (software as a service) tool, meaning it stores data onto external services. This can be a security threat since you’ll be leaving your customer’s personal data in someone else’s hands. 

    Pricing: Typeform’s Basic plan starts at $300 per year with a small limit of 100 responses. The most advanced plan costs $996 per year and gives you extra features like conversion tracking, custom branding, and priority support. 

    6. HubSpot Form Builder

    Hubspot form builder

    HubSpot Form Builder allows you to create simple contact forms. It is a great alternative to WPForms if you already use other HubSpot products like the HubSpot customer relationship management (CRM), email marketing, or live chat tool.

    What’s unique about HubSpot Form Builder is that you can create custom forms that meet your website need and automatically sync your new contacts collected from your forms into the HubSpot CRM.

    You can create embedded forms, popup box forms, forms as standalone pages, or as dropdown banners. As a result, you can place lead generation forms at the right time and place in the customer journey. 

    Also, the plugin has an automation feature, allowing you to send emails to the user once they’ve submitted your forms. However, it’s only available as part of paid plans. 

    One of the biggest disadvantages is that the HubSpot Form Builder is quite limited in form templates, giving users only a handful of templates to work with. So if there isn’t a template to match your needs, you’ll have to create the form from scratch. 

    HubSpot Form Builder is part of a larger ecosystem of tools, meaning you don’t have to use third-party tools like Google Analytics for insights. You will have a built-in analytics dashboard to see how your forms are performing. And best of all, you can create a HubSpot form right in WordPress.

    Pricing: The HubSpot Form Builder is free. However, if you want to access some of the other tools along with the form builder, pricing starts at $216 per year. 

    7. Gravity Forms

    Gravity forms

    Gravity Forms is a powerful solution to create custom forms in WordPress. 

    With this plugin, you can build contact forms, surveys, and quizzes for your website with ease. 

    It comes with plenty of advanced features like conditional formatting, which shows or hides certain questions based on the user’s previous answer. 

    Gravity Forms also offers many addons to help you get the most out of the plugin. You can track users by geolocation, allow signatures, and collect partial form entries. 

    That said, Gravity Forms does fall short when compared to WPForms. It only comes with 15 templates and lacks a free version. If you’re using Gravity Forms on multiple sites, the licenses still provide a decent value for money. 

    Pricing: The Basic license starts at $59 per year, providing only access to 1 site and a few integrations. 

    8. Ninja Forms

    Ninjaforms

    Ninja Forms is another WPForms alternative you can start using for free. It features a drag and drop form builder so you can build interactive online forms without coding. 

    The plugin offers a wide range of addons for purchase, such as conditional logic, file uploads, Excel export, and multi-step forms. Unfortunately, you have to buy each one separately, which can quickly rack up, especially when buying more than one or two addons. 

    Out of this list, Ninja Forms offers some of the most integrations out of any tool. For example, you can connect them with different payment apps like Stripe and PayPal, CRMs like Salesforce, and other tools like webhooks and Slack. 

    Pricing: The base plugin is free to download in the official WordPress repository. However, you can buy a subscription with additional features starting at $99 per year or purchase individual addons. 

    9. Contact Form 7

    Contact form 7

    Contact Form 7 rounds out our list because it is the oldest and most downloaded contact form plugin in the official WordPress plugin directory.

    It is a WPForms alternative, but we don’t recommend that you use it. The only real benefit of using Contact Form 7 is that it’s free to use, and you can create simple forms. WPForms Lite does everything it can and more.

    That said, Contact Form 7 is not user-friendly. There are no drag and drop builders or templates to use. Instead, you have to copy shortcodes to embed forms and toggle with dynamic merge tags to build the most basic contact forms. 

    Additionally, all forms are styled plainly. You can’t customize the style of your forms, making it hard to match the form’s design to your WordPress theme

    If you’re looking for a free WordPress contact form plugin, then WPForms Lite, Ninja Forms, and Formidable Forms Lite are all considerably better solutions than Contact Form 7. 

    Pricing: It’s a free plugin. However, it lacks many basic features, no real customization is available, and you get limited support. 

    What to Look for in an Online Form Builder 

    When you’re on the hunt for an online form builder for your WordPress website, there are many features and factors to consider. 

    Fortunately, WPForms offers all of these features and then some. This makes it the most comprehensive form builder plugin on the market.

    Let’s look at a few of them. 

    Pre-built Templates

    The best online form builders have pre-built form templates, allowing you to set up the forms you need in minutes. You never have to start from scratch as you do with plugins like Contact Form 7. 

    Instead, look for a form builder with a template gallery that includes the most popular forms needed for WordPress websites, like contact forms, newsletter signup forms, application forms, donation forms, order forms, and more. 

    In fact, the WPForms Lite version alone has 900+ form templates, meaning there’s a form to fit almost anything you could need. 

    WPforms templates

    Conditional Logic 

    In some cases, you may want to show or hide specific fields to users based on their responses. 

    That way, your visitors won’t see tons of empty fields that don’t apply to them. 

    Conditional logic

    You can use conditional logic to create dynamic forms that adapt as your visitor fills out the form. For example, you may want to: 

    • Filter your survey questions based on a demographic question
    • Process payments only when certain conditions are met
    • Provide customized support based on the type of issues your customers are experiencing  

    Surveys & Polls 

    A good form builder should also include the ability to create survey forms, polls, and quizzes. 

    Unlike most professional survey tools, WPForms Pro lets you easily embed surveys and polls onto your site. This helps you share and distribute them to a wider audience. 

    Everything is housed and stored within WordPress, meaning all your survey responses will be stored on your website, so you don’t have to log into different platforms and you can ensure your users’ data is secure.

    Also, you’ll see survey charts to visually see how responses are segmented. You can also download MonsterInsights, the best Google Analytics plugin, to measure your form completion rates as well. 

    Conversational Forms 

    Static forms can feel plain, which increases the likelihood of form abandonment. Online form builders should be able to create conversational forms. 

    This is a more interactive layout that only focuses on one question at a time rather than showing all of the questions at once. 

    Conversational forms

    Also, conversational forms can be completed using a keyboard only, making them more suitable for mobile users.

    Multi-Page Forms 

    Long forms can be overwhelming, causing users to abandon the form altogether. However, creating multi-page forms splits your single-page form into smaller sections with a progress bar to help reduce fatigue. 

    Page break

    Respondents are more likely to finish the form when separated into pages rather than seeing one long form.  

    Spam Protection 

    Online forms are vulnerable to spam bots that crawl through websites to find ways to email you through a non-secure form. 

    Since website owners often don’t give out their email addresses, forms are an easy way for hackers to add spam comments, send phishing links, and spread malware. 

    That’s why you need built-in security features in your online form builder to prevent spam emails. 

    WPForms features the latest spam defense methods. For example, you can add a CAPTCHA to bypass spambots so that only humans can submit your forms. 

    Which WPForms Pro Alternative is the Best? 

    In our experience, the best alternative to WPForms Pro is WPForms Lite. For many users, the options in the free version can get them started with their website or business.  

    It is a powerful and easy-to-use plugin that lets you build just about any type of form. The Lite version can do all of the basic functions users need without any of the bloat other contact form plugins have. 

    There simply is no other free forms plugin that has the same ease of use and number of features as WPForms Lite. 

    However, if you need direct CRM integration, HubSpot Form Builder is the way to go.

    For more complex forms or calculations, Formidable Forms is the clear winner.

    If you want to be able to choose and pay for only the features you will use the most, then we think that Ninja Forms is your best option.

    We hope this article helped you decide on the best WPForms alternative so you can create the forms you need on your WordPress site. While looking at these alternatives, you may want to check out our guide on the “must-have” WordPress Plugins & tools for business sites and the best WordPress popup plugins

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post 9 Best WPForms Alternatives Compared (Free and Paid) first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • How to Add a Shipping Calculator to Your WordPress Site

    Do you want your visitors to easily calculate the cost of shipping on your website?

    Using a shipping calculator, customers can accurately estimate the total cost of a product they’ll have to pay with delivery. It helps keep your business transparent and builds trust with potential customers.

    In this article, we will show you how to add a shipping calculator to your WordPress site.

    How to add a shipping calculator to your WordPress site

    What is a Shipping Calculator & Why Use It?

    A shipping calculator helps estimate the total cost of shipping automatically. It shows delivery charges and other relevant fees to customers, so they don’t have to manually figure out shipping rates and expenses.

    There are different factors that come into play when calculating shipping costs. Some of these include the price of the product, destination, origin of a shipment, weight, dimensions, type of shipping service, and other variables during the calculation.

    Manually calculating shipping costs can be time-consuming if there are multiple orders on your online store. Plus, the manual calculation would also lead to mistakes, which can impact customer satisfaction.

    You’ll save a lot of time and simply automate the process by using a shipping calculator plugin for your WordPress site or WooCommerce site.

    Customers can simply select their location and see what the product will actually cost after delivery. This helps strengthen your relationship with your customers and builds trust.

    That said, let’s see how you can easily add a shipping calculator to your WordPress site. We’ll also show a way of adding it to your WooCommerce store.

    You can click the links below to jump ahead to your preferred section:

    Adding a Shipping Calculator to WooCommerce

    The best way to add a shipping calculator in WooCommerce is by using the Product page shipping calculator for WooCommerce plugin. It is a free plugin that allows customers to calculate the cost of shipping before adding a product to the cart.

    First, you’ll need to download and install the Product page shipping calculator for the WooCommerce plugin. If you need help, then please see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

    Upon activation, you can go to WooCommerce » Shipping Calculator to configure the plugin.

    Configure shipping calculator settings

    The plugin works out of the box, and you can use default settings to get started. However, there are options to edit them and customize your shipping calculator.

    It’s important to note that the plugin will use the information from the shipping zone settings in WooCommerce when calculating shipping fees.

    Setting Up Shipping Zones in WooCommerce

    If you haven’t set up shipping zones, then you will need to go to WooCommerce » Settings from your WordPress dashboard and switch to the ‘Shipping’ tab.

    Add a shipping zone

    Under the Shipping zones section, simply click the ‘Add shipping zone’ button.

    Next, you’ll need to enter a zone name and select regions from the dropdown menu. You can add multiple countries or cities under a single zone.

    Enter shipping zone details

    After that, you can click the ‘Add shipping method’ button.

    A popup window will now open.

    WooCommerce offers 3 shipping methods to choose from. You can select a ‘Flat rate’ and then enter an amount that will be charged for shipping. Or you can choose ‘Free shipping’ and ‘Local pickup’ options.

    Select a shipping method

    When you’re done, simply click the ‘Add shipping method’ button.

    You can add multiple shipping methods for the zone and set up conditions when they’ll apply.

    Next, you’ll need to click the ‘Edit’ option under your shipping methods.

    Edit shipping method

    After that, a small window will open where you can change the title of the method, select whether you’d like the shipping method to be taxable or not, and enter a cost.

    For costs, you can enter a flat rate that will be charged when a customer adds a product to a cart. There is also an option to multiply the shipping cost by the quantity.

    Enter details of shipping method

    Once you’re done, click the ‘Save changes’ button.

    You can now head back to the shipping zone section to view your zones, regions, and shipping methods.

    View shipping zone details

    Edit Shipping Calculator Settings

    After setting up shipping zones, you can head back to WooCommerce » Shipping Calculator to change the settings of the Product page shipping calculator for the WooCommerce plugin.

    In the Basic setting tab, you can edit the position of the calculator on the product page and the position of the calculator results.

    If you scroll down, you’ll see more settings. For instance, the plugin lets you edit the messages used in the plugin, auto-load the shipping method, and more.

    Save changes to shipping calculator

    When you’re done, simply click the ‘Save Changes’ button on the side or at the bottom of the page.

    Next, you can switch to the ‘Remove fields’ tab. Here, you’ll see options to remove any field from the shipping calculator.

    For instance, the plugin will show country, state, town/city, and postcode/zip fields by default. You can disable any of the fields that don’t match your shipping zones.

    Remove fields from shipping calculator

    After that, head to the ‘Design’ tab. The plugin gives you multiple options to edit the appearance of the shipping calculator.

    For example, you can change the background color and text color to show shipping methods. Or you can choose colors for the buttons that appear in the calculator.

    Edit design of shipping calculator

    Don’t forget to click the ‘Save Change’ button to store your settings.

    Next, you can visit your WooCommerce store to see the shipping calculator in action.

    In the screenshot below, customers will first need to select a delivery location and click the ‘Update Address’ button.

    Select your delivery location

    Once that’s done, the plugin will automatically calculate the shipping cost that you set up in the shipping zone section and will add it to the total cost.

    This way, customers will know the shipping charges they’ll have to pay in addition to the cost of the product.

    View shipping charges

    Adding a Shipping Calculator to WordPress Site

    If you don’t have a WooCommerce store and want to add a generic shipping calculator to your WordPress site, then you can use Formidable Forms.

    It is a popular contact form plugin for WordPress that lets you create advanced and complex forms. For instance, you can add a contact form, calculators, surveys, directories, and web applications using the plugin.

    For this tutorial, we will use the Formidable Forms Pro plan because it includes pricing fields and more customization options.

    First, you’ll need to install and activate the Formidable Forms Lite and Formidable Forms Pro plugins. The Lite plugin is free to use, and the premium plugin adds more advanced features to it.

    If you need help, then please see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

    Upon activation, you’ll need to go to Formidable » Global Settings from the WordPress dashboard. From here, you can click the ‘Click to enter a license key manually’ link.

    The Formidable Forms license page

    Next, you’ll need to enter the license key and click the ‘Save License’ button.

    You can find the license key in your Formidable Forms account area.

    Enter Formidable Forms license key

    After that, you must go to Formidable » Forms to add a new form.

    Simply click the ‘+ Add New’ button at the top.

    Create a new form

    Next, Formidable Forms will show different templates to choose from. You can choose from multiple categories, like business operations, calculator, conversational forms, and more.

    Formidable Forms doesn’t offer a pre-built template for a shipping calculator. However, you can create one using a blank form template.

    Go ahead and select the ‘Blank Form’ template.

    Select formidable forms template

    On the next screen, you’ll need to enter a name for your form.

    There is also an option to insert the template into an application. However, you can leave this to the default setting for this tutorial.

    After entering the form name, click the ‘Create’ button.

    Enter a name for new form template

    Next, you’ll see the drag-and-drop form builder.

    You can simply drag any form field from the menu on the left and drop it on the template.

    Add form fields to blank form

    For instance, you can add form fields like name, email, phone number, and more to the template.

    To create a shipping calculator, you can scroll down to the Pricing Fields section on the left and add a ‘Product’ form field.

    Add a product form field

    Next, you can select the product form field and further customize it.

    For instance, we changed the label of the field and product type. Formidable Forms also lets you show products as checkboxes, dropdowns, radio buttons, single products, or user-defined.

    Edit product form field

    Besides that, you can add your products and their prices under the Product Options on the menu on the left.

    Now that you’ve added your products, the next step is to add your shipping regions and charges. To do that, you can again add a Product form field under the Pricing Fields section in the menu on the left.

    After that, you’ll need to edit its label and product type, and then enter each region individually and its shipping cost.

    Add shipping regions to form

    In the screenshot above, we changed the label to Shipping Regions and changed the Product Types to Checkboxes. From here, we added different shipping zones and their cost under the Product Options section.

    Once this is done, you’ll need to show a total for your shipping calculator. To do that, simply add the Total form field under the Pricing Fields section to the template.

    Add a total form field

    Next, you can select the Total form field and edit its label, add a description, and more.

    Formidable Forms also lets you add conditional logic to the form fields and show them based on user responses.

    Edit total form field

    After that, you can switch to the ‘Style’ tab from the top.

    Formidable Forms offers pre-built styles for your form. Simply select one or create a new style. For this tutorial, we will use the default Formidable Style.

    Select form style

    Next, you can also change form settings in Formidable Forms.

    Simply switch to the ‘Settings’ tab at the top. Here, you’ll find general settings for changing the form title, adding a description, and more.

    Change form settings in formidable

    There are also options for actions and notifications, form permissions, and scheduling your shipping calculator form.

    After you’ve configured the settings, save your changes. You’re now ready to embed your calculator anywhere on your site.

    To start, you can click the ‘Embed’ button in the form builder at the top. This will give you multiple options, like add the form to an existing page, create a new page, or insert manually.

    Embed your shipping calculator form

    For the sake of this tutorial, we will choose the ‘Create new page’ option.

    Next, you can enter a name for your new page and click the ‘Create page’ button.

    Enter a name for new page

    From here, you’ll see a preview of the shipping calculator form in the WordPress content editor.

    Go ahead and publish your page and visit your site to see the shipping calculator in action.

    Shipping calculator preview

    We hope this article helped you learn how to add a shipping calculator to your WordPress site. You may also want to see our guide on how to set up form tracking in Google Analytics and the best WooCommerce plugins.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post How to Add a Shipping Calculator to Your WordPress Site first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • How to Create a Searchable Database in WordPress (Step by Step)

    Do you want to create a searchable database in WordPress?

    A searchable database allows you to easily store, manage, and update all the data on your website in a central location. This can be helpful for sorting through information from contact form submissions or other user data.

    In this article, we will show you how to easily create a searchable database in WordPress.

    Create a searchable database in WordPress

    What Is a Searchable Database?

    A searchable database is a collection of all the data on your website that you can filter to find the information that you need. It allows you to organize and view all the data that is coming into your WordPress blog.

    For example, you can use a searchable database to easily sort and view user information submitted via your contact form.

    This ensures that you don’t waste time manually searching through pages or posts to access the data you need. Plus, viewing data in a central location can also help you see data trends and use them to your advantage to generate more leads for your business.

    Searchable databases also have a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and interact with the back end of your WordPress website, even if you are a beginner.

    Having said that, let’s see how you can easily add a searchable database in WordPress step by step. You can use the quick links below to jump to the different parts of the tutorial:

    How to Add a Searchable Database in WordPress

    You can easily add a searchable database in WordPress using Formidable Forms.

    Formidable Forms is an all-in-one WordPress form builder plugin that comes with a drag-and-drop interface to create different forms, including quizzes, contact forms, surveys, payment forms, and more.

    It also comes with a built-in searchable database feature that lets you easily search, edit, add, display, hide, sort, and view all your WordPress form data in one location.

    First, you need to install and activate the Formidable Forms plugin. For more detailed instructions, you may want to see our beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

    Note: Formidable Forms also has a free version that you can use to create a searchable database. However, we will be using the Pro version to unlock more features.

    Step 1: Create a Form Using The Plugin

    Upon activation, you need to head over to the Formidable » Forms page from the WordPress admin sidebar. From here, click the ‘Add New Form’ button to start creating a form for your WordPress site.

    Click the Add New Form button

    This will open up a ‘Create new form’ prompt on the screen, where you have to select a form template.

    For this tutorial, we will be creating and adding a contact form to our website.

    Select contact form template

    Once you have done that, you will be asked to name your form.

    After that, just click the ‘Create’ button to launch the form builder.

    Click Create button to launch the form builder

    This will open up the drag-and-drop builder interface, where you can drag form fields of your choice from the left column onto the form.

    You can even customize your form by switching to the ‘Style’ tab at the top and choosing a theme for it.

    Once you are done, simply click the ‘Update’ button at the top to store your changes.

    Save your form by clicking the Update button at the top

    Now, to add the form to your WordPress website, you need to head over to an existing or new page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

    Once there, click the ‘+’ button in the top left corner of the screen to open up the block menu.

    From here, find and add the Formidable Forms block to the page.

    Add Formidable Forms block

    Next, you must click the ‘Select a form’ dropdown menu in the block and choose the form that you want to add to the page.

    Once you are done, simply click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button at the top to store your settings.

    Now that a form has been added to a page, a searchable database will automatically be created for it.

    Contact form preview

    Step 2: View And Edit Data Using a Searchable Database

    Once users start submitting their information in the form, all of this data will be collected and stored in the database.

    You can easily view it by visiting the Formidable » Entries page from the admin sidebar. Here, each entry for the form will be displayed on the screen.

    Simply click the ‘View’ link under an entry name to see it.

    Alternatively, if you want to edit the form entry, then you can click the ‘Edit’ link under it.

    View or edit form entries

    This will take you to a new screen, where you will be able to view all the user information, entry id, entry key, submission data, and more.

    You will also be able to edit and update the form details.

    Edit entry

    Step 3: Visualize Searchable Database as a Table

    Formidable Forms is one of the best WordPress table plugins to display data, and it makes it super easy to create a database table.

    If you want to easily visualize all the form data as tables, grids, or calendars, then you must visit the Formidable » Views page from the admin sidebar.

    Keep in mind that the Views feature is only available in the Pro version of the plugin.

    From here, click the ‘+Add New’ button in the top right corner of the screen.

    Click Add New button

    This will open up a prompt where you have to select a view type, such as a grid, table, calendar, or ready-made solutions.

    For this tutorial, we will be picking ‘Table’ as the data view type.

    Choose View type

    After that, you need to provide a name for your view type. This name won’t be displayed on the front end and is only for your identification purposes.

    Next, select your form from the ‘Select Datasource’ dropdown menu. The plugin will then fetch entries for the data from the form you choose.

    Once you have done that, just click the ‘Create a view’ button to move forward.

    Choose data source for View

    Next, you will be asked to customize the view. From here, you have to select all the columns that you want to be displayed in the database table.

    For example, if you want to have a column with the email addresses of all the users that have submitted the form, then you need to select the ‘Email’ option.

    You can also use the search bar at the top to find a form field not displayed on the screen. Keep in mind that the plugin can only fetch data for the form fields that are already added to the form.

    After that, click the ‘Create a view’ button to continue.

    Customize Views

    This will take you to the ‘Views’ page, where you will be able to see and search through all the data for your form entries.

    From here, you can even look for a specific entry using the ‘Filter entries’ and ‘Sort entries’ features at the top.

    Views page

    You can even edit each column in the table individually by clicking on it to launch the ‘Edit Listing Page Content’ prompt on the screen.

    For example, if you want to change the entry update date of each user to the same current date, then you can click on the ‘Entry Updated Date’ field in the user table and enter a new value.

    Edit form entry data

    Once you are done, just click the ‘Update’ button at the top to save your changes.

    You can now easily view and search through your form database.

    Step 4: Export the Searchable Database to Your Computer (Optional)

    If you want to export your searchable database to your computer, you must head over to the Formidable » Import/Export page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

    Once there, scroll down to the ‘Export’ section and choose ‘XML’ as the export format.

    After that, select the data you want to be included in the XML file by checking the box next to the options. If you want to export all the data in the View you created, then check the box next to that option.

    Select data to export

    Next, select the form with the data you want to export from the ‘Select Form’ section.

    Finally, click the ‘Export Selection’ button to download the file. You have now successfully exported the database to your computer.

    Click Export Selection button

    We hope this article helped you learn how to create a searchable database in WordPress. You may also want to see our comparison of WPForms vs. Gravity Forms vs. Formidable Forms to find the best WordPress form plugin or our expert picks for the best WordPress database plugins.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post How to Create a Searchable Database in WordPress (Step by Step) first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • How to Validate Customer Phone Numbers (2 Ways)

    Are you looking for ways to validate your customer’s phone numbers?

    Phone number verification helps filter invalid leads before they’re added to your database. This way, you’ll save time and cost by only removing fake or inactive numbers.

    In this article, we will show you how to validate customer phone numbers using different ways.

    How to validate customer phone number

    Why Validate Customer Phone Numbers?

    If you collect customer phone numbers as part of lead generation, then it is important to validate the contact information.

    Sometimes, a user might make an error when entering the phone number, providing a fake number, or the number is no longer active. It’s important to verify this information and make sure that your efforts don’t go to waste.

    That’s because you can use a valid phone number to provide customer support through a business phone service, deliver shipping details, order information, marketing and sales-related activities, and more.

    Plus, you’ll also reduce costs by removing invalid contact information. This is really useful when you’re using marketing tools to send SMS messages, emails, and other messages, as you’ll save credits.

    That said, let’s see how to validate customer phone numbers in WordPress. We’ll cover different methods, so you can click the links below to jump ahead to any section.

    Method 1: Validate Phone Numbers using WP Simple Pay

    If you’re selling digital products online, then you can verify the customer’s phone number using WP Simple Pay. It is the best Stripe payment plugin for WordPress and allows you to accept online payments without setting up a shopping cart.

    The plugin offers a phone number validation feature that confirms if a user has entered the phone number correctly. This way, you can reduce the likelihood of typos and errors.

    For this tutorial, we will use the WP Simple Pay Pro plan because it includes the phone number validation feature. However, there is also a free version of WP Simple Pay available.

    First, you’ll need to install and activate the WP Simple Pay plugin. If you need help, then please see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

    Upon activation, you’ll see the WP Simple Pay setup wizard. Simply click the ‘Let’s Get Started’ button to continue.

    WP Simple Pay

    On the next screen, you’ll need to enter the license key. You can easily find the key in your WP Simple Pay account area.

    After entering the license key, you can click the ‘Activate and Continue’ button.

    You’ll Be Asked to Enter Your WP Simple Pay License Key

    Next, you must connect your Stripe account with WP Simply Pay.

    Go ahead and click the ‘Connect with Stripe’ button to move forward.

    Connecting WP Simple Pay to Stripe

    You’ll now need to login to your Stripe account and follow the onscreen instructions to connect your account.

    Do note that Stripe only works with sites with SSL encryption. Most WordPress hosting services provide free SSL certificates. However, you may also want to see our guide on how to move a website from HTTP to HTTPS.

    Once you’ve connected your Stripe account, the setup wizard will ask you to configure the email settings. You can enable options to receive payment receipts, upcoming invoices, and payment notifications.

    Configure Your WP Simple Pay Emails

    Go ahead and click the ‘Save and Continue’ button when you’re done.

    Now, you’re ready to create a payment form in WP Simple Pay. Simply click the ‘Create a Payment Form’ button.

    WP Simple Pay Setup Is Complete

    WP Simple Pay offers multiple form templates to choose from. You can simply add a payment button, donate button, or set up all types of payment forms.

    For this tutorial, we will select the ‘Payment Form’ template. You can hover over the template and click the ‘Use Template’ button.

    Select the Payment Form Template

    Next, you can edit your payment form.

    In the General settings tab, you’ll see options to change the form title, description, form type, payment success page settings, and more.

    Edit payment form general settings

    After that, you can switch to the ‘Payment’ tab.

    Here, you will see different settings to edit the pricing options.

    Change the pricing options

    You can scroll down to add prices for your products. Plus, there are also settings to choose the subscription type. For instance, you can make it a one-time payment or a recurring subscription.

    WP Simple Pay also lets you add different payment methods. You can accept payments through credit/debit cards, ACH direct debit, Aplipay, Klarna, and more.

    Add prices and payment methods

    After that, you can switch to the Form Fields tab to add or remove different fields in your payment form.

    By default, WP Simple Pay won’t add the phone number field.

    To add the field, simply click the Form Fields dropdown menu and select the ‘Phone’ field. Once you’ve selected it, click the ‘Add Field’ button.

    Add phone number form field

    Next, you can expand the Phone field and further customize it, like editing its label and making it a required field.

    For phone number verification, make sure that you enable the ‘Offer Smart Phone Number Validation’ option and select the default country.

    Edit phone number field

    Aside from that, you can edit other form fields and rearrange their order by simply dragging them up or down.

    Once you’re done editing, go ahead and click the ‘Publish’ button.

    Publish your payment form

    Next, you can add the payment form on any page or post on your WordPress site.

    Simply edit or add a new post or page. Once you’re in the content editor, click the ‘+’ icon and add the ‘WP Simple Pay’ block.

    Add a WP Simple Pay block

    Now, click the dropdown menu in the block to select your payment form. Once that’s done, simply publish or update your page.

    You can now visit your website to see the payment form with the phone number validation option.

    Payment form with phone validation

    When a user enters an invalid phone number, they will not be able to move ahead in the form.

    Method 2: Validate Phone Numbers using Formidable Forms

    Another way to verify your customer’s phone numbers is using Formidable Forms. It is one of the best contact form plugins for WordPress. It offers powerful features and helps you create complex forms, like mortgage calculators.

    Formidable Forms lets you add a phone number field to your forms and helps validate the numbers. You can also select a format, so users enter the correct information without making any mistakes. This is really useful if you’re collecting leads or gathering user information on a WordPress blog.

    For this tutorial, we will be using the Formidable Forms Pro version because it includes advanced settings for phone validation.

    First, you’ll need to install and activate the Formidable Forms Lite plugin, which acts as a base for advanced premium features. For more details, please see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

    Upon activation, you can head to the Formidable » Global Settings. Here, you will need to click the ‘Click to enter a license key manually’ link.

    Formidable Forms license key

    After that, simply enter the license key in the box and click the ‘Save License’ button.

    You can find the license key in your Formidable Forms account area.

    Enter Formidable Forms license key

    Now, you’re ready to create a new WordPress form.

    Next, you can go to Formidable » Forms from the WordPress dashboard and click the ‘+ Add New’ button.

    Creating a new form sing Formidable Forms

    After that, Formidable Forms will ask you to select a form template. There are multiple templates to choose from.

    For this tutorial, we will use the ‘Contact Us’ form template.

    Select formidable forms template

    Next, you’ll see the drag-and-drop form builder, where you can edit your contact form.

    From the panel on your left, simply drag the ‘Phone’ field and drop it onto the template.

    Add the phone form field

    You can now select the Phone form field and further customize it.

    For instance, there are options to change its label, make it a required field, and enter CSS classes.

    Edit the phone form field

    Next, you can open the ‘Advanced’ tab from the panel on your left.

    Here, you can set the format for your phone number. This will help users to fill in the contact information correctly. Besides that, there are other options to add placeholder text, edit the field size, add max characters, and more.

    Edit advanced form settings

    Lastly, you’ll need to switch to the ‘Validation Messages’ tab from the left panel.

    In this section, you can enter the message that customers will see when they enter an invalid format.

    Enter validation message

    Other than that, Formidable Forms also offers different settings for your WordPress form.

    You can switch to the ‘Setting’ tab from the top to view them. For instance, there are options to edit the actions and notifications for your form.

    By default, Formidable Forms will send a confirmation message when a user submits a form. Plus, your website admin will also receive an email that a new form has been submitted.

    Edit formidable form settings

    After making changes to the form settings, you can embed in any page or post.

    Simply click the ‘Embed’ button at the top. A new window will now open where you’ll need to select an existing page, create a new page, or manually insert the form on your website.

    Embed your form

    For this tutorial, we will select the ‘Create new page’ option.

    Next, you’ll need to enter a name for the new page. Once that’s done, click the ‘Create page’ button.

    Enter a name for your form page

    You should now see a preview of your form in the WordPress block editor.

    Go ahead and publish your page. You can visit your website to see the contact form with the phone number validation field.

    View contact form with phone number

    Now, if someone enters the phone number with an invalid format, they won’t be able to submit the form and will see the validation message.

    We hope this article helped you learn how to validate customer phone numbers. You may also want to see our guide on the best live chat software for small businesses and our ultimate guide to WordPress SEO.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post How to Validate Customer Phone Numbers (2 Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • 9 Best WordPress Conditional Logic Plugins for 2023

    Are you looking for the best conditional logic plugins for your WordPress website?

    Conditional logic plugins allow you to show or hide information based on users’ responses and behavior. They help collect relevant leads, boost conversions, and provide a better user experience.

    In this article, we will show you the best WordPress conditional logic plugins.

    Best WordPress conditional logic plugins

    What is Conditional Logic in WordPress?

    In simple words, you can think of conditional logic as if-then statements. It is a technique where you can automatically display relevant information, snippets, or scripts to users based on their actions.

    For instance, a user may want to connect with the support team. If they select a support team as an option on your WordPress site, then you can show relevant contact information or a landing page.

    Similarly, let’s say a customer is looking for hiking shoes. You can use conditional logic to only show those products and addons that a customer is looking for.

    Where Can You Use WordPress Conditional Logic Plugins?

    You’ll find conditional logic in WordPress forms, automated email workflows, conversion optimization methods, and more.

    Here are some ways you can use conditional logic on your WordPress website:

    • Use conditional logic on your WordPress forms and dynamically change form fields based on the selection users make while filling out your forms.
    • Create optin campaigns and show popups based on different rules, like the user spending a certain time on the page or clicking a link.
    • Load code snippets and scripts based on conditional logic and user roles.
    • Ask different questions in online quizzes based on the user’s previous answers.
    • Display or hide products, addons, and other items based on customer choices on your eCommerce store.
    • Set up visibility rules using conditional logic to show menu items for your visitors.

    That said, let’s see the best WordPress conditional logic plugins you can use today for your website.

    1. WPCode

    WPCode - Best WordPress Code Snippets Plugin

    WPCode is the best WordPress code snippet plugin. You easily add custom code snippets to your website and manage them using the plugin.

    The best part, WPCode offers a conditional logic feature that lets you set up rules for running code snippets without editing code. It is super easy to use and offers a beginner-friendly interface.

    For example, you can load code snippets for logged-in users, run PHP code snippets for specific user roles and page URLs, and insert header and footer pixel scripts for certain pages.

    WPCode Smart Conditional Logic

    You can also hide custom code from running on pages like the homepage or for different user roles.

    2. Conditional Blocks

    Conditional blocks

    Conditional Blocks is a free WordPress plugin for hiding or showing different blocks in the content editor. You can control the visibility of each block without writing a single line of code.

    The plugins let you set up conditions where WordPress blocks will appear for different user roles or membership levels. For instance, you can show the image block to only logged-in users. It also allows you to show certain blocks based on screen size.

    Conditional Blocks offers a premium version as well. You get to unlock more conditions for showing WordPress blocks. For example, you can control block visibility based on post type, time, server requests, and more. There are also conditions for WooCommerce users in the pro version.

    3. WPForms

    WPForms

    WPForms is the best contact form plugin for WordPress. It is beginner friendly plugin that offers a drag-and-drop form builder, lots of templates, and a smart conditional logic feature.

    You can easily hide or show different form fields, display payment options, dropdown menus, and more based on the user’s responses.

    All you need to do is select the form field in the template and enable conditional logic. After that, you can set up the rules to show different form fields.

    For example, let’s say you’re running a net promoter score (NPS) survey on your website. If a user rates 8 or higher, then you can hide other questions in the survey using conditional logic. If they rate a lower score, then you can ask more questions to improve your performance.

    Enter conditional logic conditions

    Besides that, WPForms offers lots of other features and addons. You can integrate different payment services and create forms to collect online payments.

    It also works with some of the most popular email marketing tools, so you can easily collect leads and grow your email list.

    Other than that, there are addons for recovering form abandonment, tracking user journeys, adding save and resume features, learning about the user’s geolocation data, and more.

    4. OptinMonster

    The OptinMonster lead generation tool

    OptinMonster is the best WordPress popup and lead generation plugin. It helps you get more conversions, grow your email list, and increase sales.

    OptinMonster offers powerful display rules that you can use to display your campaigns to the right people at the right time.

    For example, you can show optin popups to users that spend a certain time on a page, visit a particular page, or scroll X% of the page.

    OptinMonster also offers an Exit-Intent technology, which triggers your campaigns as a user is about to leave your website. This helps recover abandoning visitors and converts them into subscribers and customers.

    Enter exact URL for exit intent display rule

    Other than that, you can display campaigns to users from a particular location or when they click a link. There are also display rules for eCommerce sites. You can show popups when customers have a specific cart total or when they view a product.

    OptinMonster also offers a drag-and-drop builder, which makes it very easy to create attractive campaigns. There are lots of templates for different types of campaigns and various customization options. You can also integrate it with leading email marketing tools to collect leads.

    5. YITH WooCommerce Product Add-Ons & Extra Options

    YITH WooCommerce product addons and extra options

    YITH WooCommerce Product Add-Ons & Extra Options is a WooCommerce plugin that lets you add extra options and addons to your products.

    The plugin is very easy to use and allows you to add options and extra services, like warranty, insurance, special transfer services, express shipping, customizations, and more.

    For example, if you’re selling jewelry and rings, then you can add an option to engrave the customer’s name. Or if you’re selling tech products in WooCommerce, then you can offer additional services like warranty, product customization, and device checkup.

    With YITH WooCommerce Product Add-Ons & Extra Options, you get a conditional logic feature that automatically shows or hides addons and options based on the customer’s selection.

    You can define rules, and when the conditions are met, users will be able to see extra services and addons on your WooCommerce products.

    6. Thrive Quiz Builder

    Thrive Quizzes

    Thrive Quiz Builder is the best WordPress quiz plugin and is part of Thrive Theme suite. It is beginner friendly to use, and you can create complex quizzes for your website without editing code.

    The plugin offers different quiz styles, which include a right/wrong, number, percentage, personality, and survey. Thrive Quiz Builder also provides pre-made quiz templates that you can use to get started quickly.

    Using the plugin, you can create conditional quizzes. The drag-and-drop quiz builder lets you display questions based on the user’s previous answers. Simply set the conditions where the next question will only appear if a person enters a particular answer.

    When they’re finished, you can direct them to a page or product based on their answers.

    Besides that, you can create badges for users, customize the quizzes, track results, check the quiz flow and see where users dropped off, and get detailed analytics of how your quizzes perform.

    7. Formidable Forms

    The Formidable Forms plugin and Signature addon

    Formidable Forms is the next WordPress conditional logic plugin on our list. The plugin allows you to create simple contact forms to advanced and complex WordPress forms, like mortgage calculators.

    Formidable Forms offers a conditional logic feature built into its drag-and-drop form builder. You can easily set up conditions for each form field and show or hide them based on the user’s answers.

    If you have a multi-step form, then you can use conditional logic to automatically skip pages and lead users to the relevant section. Similarly, you can send email confirmation or redirect users to respective pages based on their answers.

    Other features offered by Formidable Forms include pre-built templates for web applications. It also lets you create apps for real estate listings, product reviews, restaurant menus, and more.

    The plugin also has a visual views feature that allows you to display data from form entries on the frontend of your site.

    8. If Menu

    If Menu

    If Menus is the next conditional logic plugin for WordPress on our list. It is a free WordPress plugin that you can use to create dynamic menus and control their visibility on your site.

    The plugin lets you use conditional logic to show or hide different menu items. For instance, it lets you display certain menu items only if a user is logged in, hide menu items on mobile devices, show specific menus to admin and editors, and more.

    Similarly, you can also show menu items to users from different locations or show any entirely new menu to members.

    9. FunnelKit

    FunnelKit Automations

    FunnelKit is the best WooCommerce sales funnel and automation plugin. It lets you create high-converting landing pages, order bump pages, upsells, checkout pages, and more.

    FunnelKit Automation offers multiple triggers that you can for automating workflows. You can set up different conditions, and based on the user’s actions, you can initiate different tasks.

    For example, if a customer adds products to the cart but doesn’t checkout, then you can trigger the cart abandonment recovery workflow.

    Similarly, you can automatically show different products to customers as upsells or order bumps. This way, you’ll increase sales without spending on paid ads.

    Which WordPress Conditional Logic Plugin Should You Use?

    Choosing the right conditional logic plugin for WordPress depends on your requirements and what you want to achieve.

    If you want to create dynamic forms that show different fields to users based on their selection, then WPForms is the best plugin. It is super easy to use and offers lots of customization options.

    Similarly, if you are looking to run different code snippets based on certain conditions, then WPCode is the perfect solution. It lets you set up rules and conditions without editing code.

    On the other hand, you can use OptinMonster to display different campaigns based on user actions or create conditional quizzes using Thrive Quiz Builder.

    You can also use conditional logic in WooCommerce and use FunnelKit to trigger workflows based on customers’ selections and actions.

    We hope this article helped you find the best WordPress conditional logic plugins. You may also want to see our list of best WooCommerce plugins and how to start your own podcast.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post 9 Best WordPress Conditional Logic Plugins for 2023 first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • How to Create a Searchable Member Directory in WordPress

    Are you looking to add a member directory to your WordPress website?

    Adding a directory to your membership site can help boost your community engagement. It encourages new members to join and make it easy for them to reach out to each other.

    In this article, we will show you how to create a searchable member directory in WordPress.

    How to Create a Searchable Member Directory in WordPress

    Why Create a Searchable Member Directory in WordPress?

    A membership site often brings together users who share common interests. You can create a sense of community on your WordPress website by making it easy for your members to communicate with one another about their shared interests.

    You can do this by creating a membership directory. This is a searchable list of the members on your site. It allows your members to see other members’ profiles and contact details.

    Member Directory Example

    This will boost your website’s credibility and make it more valuable to your members. It may even help your members feel important and recognized.

    However, to protect their privacy, you may want to require each member to opt in before their personal information is displayed in the directory.

    If you haven’t yet created your membership site, then you can follow our ultimate guide on creating a WordPress membership site.

    While you can use any method to create a membership site, we recommend the MemberPress plugin. It offers advanced membership features and integrates well with the Formidable Forms Directory addon used in this tutorial.

    How to Create a Searchable Member Directory in WordPress

    The best way to create a member directory is by using the Formidable Forms plugin. It comes with advanced features that let you format, filter, and display user-submitted data on the front end of your website, including your members’ profile information.

    It is one of the best user registration plugins for WordPress on the market and can help you easily create a member directory using an addon. Plus, it integrates with MemberPress to give you complete control over your directory’s appearance and functionality.

    Formidable Forms

    You can use Formidable Forms to create a profile form where members can enter their information and opt in to the directory. You can also use it to display the searchable member directory itself.

    Besides that, you will also be able to use Formidable Forms for all sorts of other purposes on your website, such as creating a booking form or web directory, allowing your clients to request a quote, and more.

    With that in mind, let’s see how to create a searchable member directory using the Formidable Forms plugin.

    1. Installing Formidable Forms on Your Membership Site

    The first thing you need to do is install and activate Formidable Forms Lite, which is the free version of the plugin. Formidable Forms Lite acts as the base for the advanced features of the Pro version.

    For more details, you can read our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

    Next, you will need to visit the Formidable Directory page and click the ‘Get Formidable Directory’ button. You will then be prompted to purchase the Elite plan, which includes the Directory addon.

    The Formidable Forms Directory Page

    Before leaving the Formidable website, you will need to copy your license key. You can find it by clicking ‘Account’ at the top of the page.

    Now return to your website and navigate to Formidable » Global Settings. Once there, simply click the link that says ‘Click to enter a license key manually’ to paste your license key and then click the ‘Save License’ button.

    Enter Formidable Forms license key

    You are now ready to create a member directory in WordPress.

    2. Creating the Formidable Member Directory Application

    Next, you must navigate to Formidable » Applications from the WordPress admin sidebar. This page will show you the available application templates.

    Once there, you need to find the Member Directory application and click the ‘+ Add’ button to install it.

    Adding the Member Directory Application

    This will open a popup that describes the Member Directory application.

    Simply click the ‘Install Application’ button to continue.

    Installing the Member Directory Application

    Next, you will be asked to give the application a name.

    For this tutorial, we will leave the default name, ‘Member Directory’, and then click the ‘Install Application’ button to continue.

    Naming the Member Directory Application

    Formidable Forms will now create the pages, forms, and views needed for your member directory. The pages are saved as drafts, so you can customize them before they go live.

    Opening the Member Directory Application

    Now you need to click the ‘Open Application’ button. This will open the Member Directory application page, where you can customize and publish your directory.

    You have now created a ‘User Directory Profile’ form that your members can fill out on the ‘Add a Member’ page.

    There is also a ‘Member Directory’ page where you can view the directory in a table view or grid view.

    3. Customizing the Member Profile Form and ‘Add a Member’ Page

    Next, you may wish to add or remove some fields from the ‘User Directory Profile’ form. This is the form that your members must fill in to be included in the directory.

    You may also want to add some instructions to the page where the profile form is displayed before you publish it.

    Customizing the ‘User Directory Profile’ Form

    The ‘User Directory Profile’ form contains all of the fields needed for most member profiles. You can customize it by clicking the ‘User Directory Profile’ link or hovering your mouse over it and then clicking on ‘Edit’.

    Customizing the User Directory Profile Form

    This will open the form editor. You will see a preview of the form on the right and the available fields on the left.

    The form includes contact details, social links, and more. Some of the fields will be filled in automatically using information from the member’s WordPress user profile. This includes their name, email address, and bio.

    The Formidable Form Editor

    To add new fields, simply drag them onto the form from the ‘Add Fields’ column on the left.

    You can change the options of a field by clicking on it. This will open the ‘Field Options’ tab on the left, where you can customize the field by changing its settings.

    Customizing the Email Address Field Options

    You will find options for the field’s default value in the ‘Advanced’ section. Here you can choose the default value from a list of smart tags. This will take information that the user has already added to their WordPress profile so that it doesn’t have to be entered twice.

    When you scroll to the bottom of the form, you will notice it already includes fields for social links and an option where the member can choose to be included in the directory.

    Click the Save Profile Button When Finished

    Once you have finished customizing the form, simply click the ‘Save Profile’ button to store your changes.

    Customizing the ‘Add a Member’ Page

    Next, you will need to customize and publish the ‘Add a Member’ page that will display the profile form on your website.

    You may need to navigate back to Formidable » Applications » Member Directory to see the page. Then, simply click the ‘Add a Member’ link, or hover over it and click ‘Edit.’

    Opening the 'Add a Member' Page

    This will open the ‘Add a Member’ page in the WordPress content editor. It simply contains the page title and the Formidable form that you were just looking at.

    If you like, you can give the page a different title, such as ‘Join Our Member Directory’.

    If you would like to add some instructions before the form, then you should click on the page title and press the Enter key. This will create a new block where you can type those instructions.

    Publishing the Add a Member Page

    When you are happy with the page, then simply click the ‘Publish’ button at the top of the screen to push the page live on your website.

    4. Customizing the ‘Member Directory’ Page

    Now you can customize and publish the member directory itself. You will need to choose whether to display the members in a grid or table. Then, you must also publish the page so that it is visible on your website.

    Customizing the ‘Member Directory’ Page

    First, just go back to Formidable » Applications and click on your member directory application.

    You will need to publish the draft ‘Member Directory’ page. However, before doing that, you can decide whether that page should display the directory in a grid or table format.

    Editing the Member Directory Page

    Simply click on the ‘Member Directory’ page to open it in the WordPress editor.

    The page contains just the title and the following shortcode that displays the directory:

    [display-frm-data id=dir-two-col-grid]
    
    Shortcode to Display the Directory as a Grid

    By default, the shortcode will display the directory in a two-column grid.

    You can preview the page to see how it will look.

    Member Directory Displayed in a Grid

    Alternatively, you can display your member directory in a table format.

    To do that, you will need to use this shortcode instead:

    [display-frm-data id=dir-table-listing-view]
    
    Shortcode to Display the Directory in a Table

    You can preview the page again to see the changes.

    This time each member will be displayed on a single line with their information in columns.

    Member Directory Displayed in a Table

    Whichever shortcode you choose, clicking on ‘View Profile’ will show you more detailed information about that member.

    Viewing a Member Profile

    If you like, you can add additional content to the page. Just make sure to click the ‘Publish’ button to push your member directory live on your website when you are finished.

    Adding the Member Directory Pages to Your Navigation Menu

    You can make it easier for your members to find or join the directory by adding the ‘Add a Member’ and ‘Member Directory’ pages to your website’s navigation menu.

    Simply follow our guide on how to add specific posts to the WordPress navigation menu.

    Restricting the Member Directory to Members Only

    Also, depending on the type of membership site you have, you may want only your logged-in members to be able to see the ‘Add a Member’ and ‘Member Directory’ pages.

    If so, then you will need to create a rule so that only members get access to the pages.

    We show you how to do that step by step in our ultimate guide on creating a WordPress membership site. You will just need to scroll down and read Step 6 to learn how to create a MemberPress rule and Step 7 to learn how to add members-only content.

    5. Deleting the Sample Data in Your Member Directory

    Your member directory contains the sample data that you can see in the screenshots used in this tutorial. This is helpful when setting up your member directory because it lets you see how the profiles will look.

    But once you have finished setting up the directory, you will need to delete the sample data.

    You need to navigate back to Formidable » Applications » Member Directory and click on the ‘User Directory Profile’ form.

    Once the Formidable editor opens, click on the ‘Entries’ tab at the top of the screen to view the sample entries.

    Most likely, the only entries listed will be the four sample members. In that case, simply click the ‘Delete All Entries’ button at the top of the screen. All members listed will be deleted.

    Deleting Sample Data From the Directory

    However, if some of your real members have already created profiles, you must select the sample entries manually.

    To do this, you will need to click the checkbox next to each sample member. Next, click the ‘Bulk Actions’ button at the top of the list and select ‘Delete’ from the drop-down menu.

    Finally, click the ‘Apply’ button to delete the sample data. Your member directory will now only contain profiles from your real members.

    We hope this tutorial helped you learn how to create a searchable member directory in WordPress. You may also want to see our guide on how to create and sell online courses with WordPress or our expert picks for the best contact forms for WordPress.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post How to Create a Searchable Member Directory in WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms: Which is Best?

    Are you looking for a comparison between WPForms, Gravity Forms, and Formidable Forms?

    These three are the best WordPress form plugins in the market. However, picking the right form builder can be challenging for many website owners.

    In this article, we’ll compare WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms and show which is the best.

    WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms

    Introduction to WordPress Form Plugins

    WPForms, Gravity Forms, and Formidable Forms are among the most popular WordPress form plugins that you can use. Each of them offers unique features and allows you to add different forms to your website.

    WPForms was launched in 2016 by Syed Balkhi (founder of WPBeginner) and Jared Atchison. Since its launch, over 5 million WordPress sites have been using the plugin. The goal of creating WPForms was to offer an easy and powerful form plugin. It takes the pain out of creating online forms by making the process beginner friendly.

    Gravity Forms is created by the team at Rocketgenius. It is a WordPress plugin that lets you add forms to your WordPress site. The plugin also specializes in helping developers build complex form-related solutions.

    Formidable Forms is another powerful WordPress form builder created by Steph Wells and Steve Wells. You can use it to create a wide range of forms from simple contact forms to advanced solutions-focused forms like mortgage calculators, directories, listing forms, and more. Formidable Forms is part of WPBeginner Growth Fund companies.

    That being said, let’s compare these WordPress form plugins and find out which is the best for your use case. In our research, we tried dozens of WordPress form plugins, and have decided to compare these top 3 form plugins in the following criteria:

    Ease of Use

    When it comes to picking a WordPress form plugin, it is essential to choose a tool that is easy to use. The form builder should allow users to easily customize their forms without the need to edit code or hire a developer.

    Let’s see how the 3 plugins compare to each other for ease of use.

    WPForms – Ease of Use

    WPForms is a beginner-friendly form plugin for WordPress. It offers a drag-and-drop form builder that is very super simple to use.

    You can easily customize any form by adding multiple form fields from the menu on your left. All you have to do is drag the field and drop it onto the form template.

    Customize your billing form

    WPForms also makes it very easy to add your forms anywhere on the WordPress website. The best part, you can do all this within the form builder. You can click the embed button, and WPForms will show you options for adding your form.

    For instance, you can create a new page or select an existing one to embed your forms.

    You can also manually add your form to any page or post using the WordPress block. Besides that, the plugin lets you use shortcodes to add a form to your WordPress website.

    Add a WPForms block in wordpress

    Gravity Forms – Ease of Use

    Gravity Forms also offers a drag-and-drop form builder, and it lets you create all types of forms without editing code.

    You can quickly rework your form from inside the WordPress dashboard. The form builder offers different form fields that you can add by simply placing them onto the template.

    Gravity forms builder

    After creating a form, Gravity Forms also lets you easily embed it on your website. Just like WPForms and Formidable Forms, you get an option inside the drag-and-drop builder to add your form.

    Gravity Forms also offers a WordPress block to easily embed your forms on any page or post. Plus, you can use shortcodes or add the forms manually anywhere on your site.

    Formidable Forms – Ease of Use

    Formidable Forms is a user-friendly plugin that to lets you customize your forms using a drag-and-drop form builder, just like WPForms and Gravity Forms.

    You can simply drag any form field from the options on your left and place them on the template. The plugin also lets you rearrange the order of the fields by simply moving them up or down or side to side.

    Formidable Forms builder

    Formidable Forms makes it very easy to embed your forms anywhere on your website. You can use the Formidable Forms block to add the form to any post or page. Or click the embed button in the form builder to embed your forms.

    Winner – Tie

    When it comes to ease, all 3 plugins perform equally well. Each of them offers a drag-and-drop functionality, which lets you edit and customize forms with editing code easily. Plus, each plugin makes it very easy to embed the forms anywhere on the website.

    WPForms has a slight edge because it leans on decisions over options by giving you over 600+ form templates and easy-to-use choices whereas Gravity Forms and Formidable Forms are built more for developers.

    Form Templates

    Form templates are another important factor to consider when choosing a form plugin for WordPress.

    Templates help save time as you don’t have to create a form from scratch. You can quickly edit it according to your requirements or simply use the default template to add a form to your website.

    Let’s see how WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms stack up in terms of form templates.

    WPForms – Form Templates

    With WPForms, you get over 600 prebuilt form templates. Whether you’re looking to create a simple contact form, feedback form, request a quote form, payment form, or registration form, WPForms has you covered.

    The plugin categorizes form templates into different categories in the form builder. For instance, you can find different templates for business operations, customer service, education, entertainment, event planning, feedback, health and wellness, and more.

    WPForms form templates

    Even in the free version of WPForms, you get a lot of form templates to get started.

    Gravity Forms – Form Templates

    Gravity Forms offers limited prebuilt form templates compared to WPForms and Formidable Forms.

    You only get 15 form templates in the form builder. Some of these include a simple contact form, advanced contact form, donation form, eCommerce form, event registration form, survey, newsletter signup form, and more.

    Gravity Forms templates

    Formidable Forms – Form Templates

    Formidable Forms offers over 175 WordPress form templates and examples you can use for your website.

    What makes it different is that you get templates for advanced forms. For instance, you can create an advanced mortgage calculator form, net promoter score (NPS) survey form, car payment calculator form, life insurance calculator form, doctor visit form, signature forms, and more.

    Formidable Forms templates

    Besides that, you can find forms for payment collection, health and wellness, customer service, education, donations, event planning, and more.

    Winner – WPForms

    WPForms is a standout winner compared to Gravity Forms and Formidable Forms. You get the largest form template library in WPForms, with over 600 choices available. There are prebuilt templates for just about any type of form you want to create for your website.

    Customization Options

    A WordPress form plugin should allow you to edit and customize your form with ease. When selecting the right tool, you should look at the customization options the plugin offers.

    Here’s a look at the different features offered by WPForms, Gravity Forms, and Formidable Forms.

    WPForms – Customization Options

    WPForms offers lots of customization options for your form. For starters, it offers different form fields that you can simply drag and drop from the menu on your left onto the template.

    For instance, it offers standard fields like paragraph text, multiple choice, checkboxes, and more. Plus, you can add fancier fields like phone number, address, file upload, date/time, website, and more.

    WPForms Will Pre-load the Form Builder with a Simple Order Form

    If you click on an existing form field, then you’ll see more options for customization.

    You can edit the label of the field, make it a mandatory field, add smart logic, and more. For example, you can choose which payment methods to show in an order form and rearrange their order.

    Multiple Choice Field Options

    Other than that, WPForms also lets you create conversational forms. This makes your forms more interactive.

    Instead of asking multiple questions at once, you can take the one-question-at-a-time approach. It will look like having a conversation face to face with a human, and boost form conversions.

    Conversational form preview

    Similarly, you can also use the lead forms addon to increase form conversions. It basically allows you to embed conversational forms on any page on your WordPress site.

    WPForms offers more customization features like custom form landing pages similar to Google forms. You can create a distraction-free landing page for your form and get more conversions.

    The plugin lets you add a title and description for the page, a header logo, and edit the page URL. You also get to change the background color of the page and choose a style to make your forms more appealing.

    Form pages settings WPForms

    Other customization options offered by WPForms include a save and continue feature. This lets your users save the progress while filling out a form and continue later to complete it. You can allow users to sign your online forms using their mouse or touchscreen.

    If you have lengthy forms, then you can use the multi-page feature to split them into different pages. Or you can use conditional logic to show different form fields based on the user’s responses.

    Besides that, you can also customize the notification and confirmation settings for your form. In the notification settings, you can edit details like email addresses, subject lines, names, messages, and more.

    Similarly, you can also edit the confirmation message a user will see when they submit a form. You can show a thank you message, show a page, or redirect people to a specific URL.

    Edit form confirmation settings

    Gravity Forms – Customization Options

    Gravity Forms offers different form fields to customize your form template.

    These include standard fields, advanced fields, post fields, and pricing fields.

    Add fields to Gravity Forms template

    Just like WPForms and Formidable Forms, you can click on existing form fields to edit them further.

    However, you’ll see a slight difference in the customization options. There are general settings for a field where you can change its label and add a description.

    Other than that, you can edit the appearance of the field, change advanced settings like enabling field autocomplete, and add conditional logic.

    Edit existing fields in gravity forms

    Other than that, you also get control over different form settings. For example, you can edit the notifications and confirmations settings in the form builder.

    You can also configure ‘Personal Data’ settings similar to WPForms. These allow you to prevent the storage of IP addresses during form submission. Plus, you can enable integration with other tools for exporting and erasing personal data, which is helpful in complying with data regulations like GDPR.

    Personal data settings Gravity Forms

    Formidable Forms – Customization Options

    With the Formidable Forms drag-and-drop builder, you can easily customize your form with options such as prebuilt form fields that you add to your template.

    What makes the plugin different from others is that it offers multiple form fields that will help you create advanced forms. For instance, you can add a user ID field, captcha, hidden field, appointments, lookup field, and more.

    Advanced form fields

    Besides that, you can easily edit each existing field in the template.

    There are general options to change the label, add a CSS class, and more. Or you can view the advanced options to add a placeholder text, and description, edit the field size and allow maximum characters.

    Edit existing fields in Formidable Forms

    What’s different about Formidable Forms compared to WPForms and Gravity Forms is that it also offers different styles for your forms.

    You can use the default style or choose from various options. This way, you can change the appearance of your forms without having to enter CSS code.

    Edit the form style

    Other than that, you can also customize the form settings. For instance, the plugin lets you change the notification settings, and form permissions, and also allows form scheduling.

    Winner – WPForms

    After comparing all 3 plugins, we found WPForms to be the clear winner. It offers more customization features compared to Formidable Forms and Gravity Forms.

    You can add different form fields, change their settings, rearrange them, and more using the drag-and-drop builder. Besides that, WPForms offers tons of features to make your form more appealing and boost conversions.

    Additional Features and Integrations

    Now that we’ve covered ease of use, templates, and customization options, let’s see how WPForms, Formidable Forms, and Gravity Forms compare in terms of additional features and integrations.

    As a website owner, you’d want a WordPress plugin that easily works with third-party tools, payment services, and email marketing services. Here’s what each plugin has to offer.

    WPForms – Additional Features and Integrations

    WPForms offers lots of premium addons and integrations that extend its functionality and benefits.

    For instance, you can accept file uploads with its post-submission addon. This way, users can easily submit content on the front end of your site without requiring access to the WordPress dashboard.

    Similarly, you get addons for geolocation data and see where your form users are from. The user journey addon can show you the pages and posts people visited before submitting a form.

    WPForms addons

    The plugin also offers a form abandonment addon that captures partial entries for a form. You can then recover those entries and encourage users to complete a form.

    Aside from this, WPForms provides more addons for creating custom Captcha, allowing digital signatures, locking WordPress forms, creating interactive form layouts, and more.

    Another advantage of using WPForms compared to other plugins is that it easily integrates with different tools and plugins. For example, you can use it with popular email marketing tools like Drip, Mailchimp, and Constant Contact.

    WPForms integrations

    The plugin also supports payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Authorize.Net. You can also integrate WPForms with CRMs such as Salesforce and HubSpot.

    Gravity Forms – Additional Features and Integrations

    Gravity Forms also offers different addons that can help you get the most out of the plugin. However, the list is not as expansive as WPForms, and you’d have to pay extra to use third-party extensions.

    You get additional features for setting up user registrations, creating surveys and polls, tracking users’ geolocation, collecting partial form entries, allowing signatures, and more.

    Feature enhancement addons

    Besides that, Gravity Forms also offers integrations with different tools and plugins.

    You can easily integrate email marketing tools like AWeber, Constant Contact, Mailgun, and more. Plus, you can add anti-spam solutions like Akismet and reCAPTCHA.

    Other integrations include Google Analytics, Dropbox, Zapier, Trello, ActiveCampaign, HelpScout, PayPal Checkout, 2Checkout, and Stripe.

    Formidable Forms – Additional Features and Integrations

    Formidable Forms offers different addons and integration features. Most of the additional features are similar to WPForms and Gravity Forms.

    However, what makes Formidable Forms different is that you get several powerful features to create advanced forms, set up web applications, show stats on the front end, and more.

    For instance, the plugin offers a form action automation feature to schedule email notifications, SMS messages, and other actions. It also offers API webhooks that let you send submissions to REST APIs.

    Formidable forms addons

    It also offers a visual views addon that lets you display data from form entries on the front end of your website. You can create web apps to display form submissions in tables, grids, calendars, and other views.

    This is great for showing testimonials and product reviews, adding a user-submitted events calendar, and displaying useful statistics.

    Create view calendar in Formidable

    Besides that, Formidable Forms also lets you create applications for your website. It offers prebuilt templates that include different forms, views, and pages for your application. Simply select a template, and the plugin will take care of the rest.

    You can create different applications, such as product reviews, real estate listings, testimonials, restaurant menus, certificates, and more.

    For example, you can offer professional certificates in just a few clicks. Simply choose the certificate application template, and Formidable Forms will automatically add a form with a certificate generator on your website.

    It will also add views for the certificate and certificate of completion, which users can see on the front end.

    Application templates

    Other advanced features offered by Formidable Forms include converting WordPress forms to PDF, mapping form fields to PDF form fields, quizzes, repeater fields, SMS voting, front-end editing, and more.

    Other than that, you can also integrate Formidable Forms with different payment services, email marketing tools, CRMs, and third-party plugins. It even works with Uncanny Automator and Zapier, so you can connect Formidable Forms to services like Asana, Slack, and Dropbox.

    The best part about using Formidable Forms is that you get all the advanced features in one place, with everything included in a single pricing plan. If you were to use Gravity Forms, then you’d need to subscribe to multiple third-party addons.

    For example, you’d need the basic Gravity Forms plan along with other extensions like Gravity PDF, File Upload Pro, Gravity View, Gravity Math, and so on. This can add to your overall cost and make it very expensive to use Gravity Forms.

    Winner – Formidable Forms

    While each plugin offers multiple additional features and integrations, Formidable Forms is the standout winner. It offers more advanced features that you can use to display form results on the front end, create complex forms, convert forms to PDF, create web applications, and use various addons to help users create form solutions for any scenario.

    WPForms gets an honorary mention for marketing-related features, like form abandonment and digital signatures. It also integrates with popular email services, CRM software, tracking tools, payment gateways, and other plugins.

    Pricing Plans

    The next parameter we will compare WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms is that of pricing. Let’s see which plugin offers the most value for money.

    WPForms – Pricing

    WPForms offers 4 different pricing plans suitable for all types of businesses. These include a Basic plan, which costs $49.50 per year, and you can use it for 1 website. It also offers all the essential features like premium templates, entry management, and file uploads.

    If you want to use the plugin on more websites and require marketing integrations, then WPForms offers a Plus plan for $99.50 per year.

    WPForms pricing plans

    On the other hand, there is a Pro plan that includes everything from the Basic and Plus plans. It includes payment addons, conversion tools, and other advanced form features. This will close you $199.50 per year.

    Lastly, there is an Elite plan for $299.50 per year, which has everything. You get to use it on unlimited websites and get all the features and integrations WPForms has to offer. Each premium plan comes with 14-day money back guarantee.

    The best part, there is also a WPForms Lite version you can use for free. You get multiple form templates, standard fields for customization, spam protection, and other features.

    Gravity Forms – Pricing Plans

    Gravity Forms offer 3 premium plans, which include the Basic License, Pro License, and Elite License.

    With the Basic License plan, you can use the plugin on 1 website. You also get addons for email marketing tools and spam protection services. This plan will cost you $59 per year.

    Gravity Forms pricing plans

    Next, there is a Pro License plan that offers more addons. For instance, you get to integrate more email marketing services, CRMs, payment gateways, and third-party services. This plan will cost $159 per year.

    Lastly, Gravity Forms offers an Elite License plan that includes all the features from the Basic and Pro plans. In addition to that, Elite plan users also get access to features like polls, quizzes, digital signatures, surveys, geolocation, and more. The Elite plan is available for $259 per year.

    That said, Gravity Forms doesn’t offer a free version, like WPForms or Formidable Forms. You’d also need to pay extra to use different third-party addons and extensions.

    Formidable Forms – Pricing Plans

    Formidable Forms lets you choose from 4 pricing plans. It starts with a Basic plan, costing $39.50 per year. You get 50+ form templates and basic features like conditional logic and file uploads.

    Besides that, there is a Plus plan for $99.50 per year, and it offers more form templates and features. For instance, you get the Formidable Views feature, landing pages, and integration with Mailchimp, MailPoet Newsletters, and AWeber.

    Formidable Forms pricing plans

    Next, it offers a Business plan that includes over 150 form templates, premium addons, more integrations, and additional features. This plan will cost you $199.50 per year.

    Lastly, there is an Elite plan for $299.50 per year, and it includes all the features and integrations. You get all the templates and support for third-party tools like Salesforce, ActiveCampaign, and HubSpot.

    Formidable Forms also offers a free version. You can get started for free and get features like drag and drop form builder, basic form templates, and standard form fields for customization.

    Winner – WPForms and Formidable Forms

    When it comes to offering the most value for money, both WPForms and Formidable Forms clearly stand out when compared to Gravity Forms.

    Both of them offer 4 different pricing plans for businesses of all sizes. Plus, you get a free version, which helps small website owners, bloggers, and others to create WordPress forms without a considerable investment. You also don’t have to pay more to use multiple addons and advanced features.

    Which is the Best WordPress Form Plugin?

    WPForms, Gravity Forms, and Formidable Forms are some of the best WordPress form plugins you can get your hands on today.

    However, we believe that WPForms is the best plugin for creating forms for your WordPress website. It is super easy to use and offers tons of features.

    You get over 600 form templates, a drag-and-drop form builder, multiple form fields for customization, and additional settings to edit your form. Plus, there are different premium addons that allow you to expand the functionality of WPForms.

    Not to mention, there is a WPForms Lite version available for free. It also includes lots of form templates and customization features. You can quickly create forms for your website using the free plugin.

    On the other hand, if you’re a developer looking to save time on developing complex and advanced WordPress forms, then Formidable Forms is the perfect solution. You can create calculators and web applications, convert forms to PDF, and much more without editing code.

    We hope the comparison between WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms helped you pick the right form plugin for WordPress. You may also want to see our list of best WordPress SEO plugins and tools, and how to get a free email domain.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Formidable Forms: Which is Best? first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • 8 Best Typeform Alternatives for 2023 (Free + Paid)

    Are you looking a Typeform alternative for your website?

    Typeform is a tool that lets you create different types of forms. However, it is expensive software, especially for small businesses. There are other WordPress form plugins and other alternatives that offer more features and are extremely affordable.

    In this article, we’ll show you the best Typeform alternatives. We’ll include free and paid options so that you can choose the best plugin for your business.

    Best Typeform alternatives free and paid

    Why Do You Need a Typeform Alternative?

    Typeform is a popular software for creating different forms for your WordPress website. You can use it to make a survey or a poll for your business. It also allows you to create quizzes, application forms, and order forms.

    While Typeform offers many features and form templates, it has some drawbacks. For instance, because Typeform is a SaaS (software as a service) tool, it stores data on its external servers. This can be a security vulnerability, as you’ll be trusting someone else with your customer’s personal data.

    Another drawback of using Typeform is the cost. The basic plan starts from $25 per month, which can be expensive for small businesses. Plus, you cannot remove the Typeform branding in the basic plan.

    If you want more features and integrations, or if you want to use your own branding, then you’ll need to upgrade to a higher pricing plan. Not to mention that they restrict the number of responses you can collect in a month. For example if you want more than 100 responses a month, you’ll be paying $600 per year, and then the next level up is $996 per year.

    This will significantly drive up the cost of running a website and make Typeform less attractive for WordPress users.

    There is also a free version of Typeform, but it lacks many features. This is why most smart website owners use WordPress plugins as alternatives and get more options for free.

    That said, let’s look at the best Typeform alternatives.

    1. WPForms

    The WPForms form builder plugin and signature addon

    WPForms is the best WordPress contact form plugin and offers a lot more features compared to Typeform. Over 5 million professionals use WPForms on their websites to create all types of forms.

    It is super easy to use and offers a drag-and-drop form builder. Plus, you get many prebuilt form templates and multiple customization options.

    Choose a form template

    Even in the free version of WPForms, you get features like spam protection, basic form fields, email notifications, and more. This is more than what Typeform’s free version offers users.

    Besides that, WPForms comes with powerful addons. For instance, you can create a conversational form in just a few clicks or create stunning surveys and polls with ease. You also get interactive survey reports and advanced fields like the Likert scale, net promoter score (NPS), and star ratings.

    Edit your NPS survey

    Another advantage WPForms offers over Typeforms is that it easily integrates with popular email marketing tools, payment gateways to accept online payments, and other WordPress plugins like OptinMonster.

    For instance, you can add a form from WPForms to an OptinMonster campaign and show it in a popup. Similarly, you can track form conversions and performance by integrating it with MonsterInsights.

    Besides that, WPForms also offers other features that you won’t find in Typeform. For example, WPForms lets you track user journeys, collect geolocation data, track and reduce form abandonment, allow file uploads, and more.

    Pricing: WPForms premium plans start from $49.50 per year. WPBeginner users can avail of an exclusive 50% OFF discount on all plans using our WPForms coupon. There is also a WPForms Lite version you can use for free.

    2. Formidable Forms

    The Formidable Forms plugin and Signature addon

    Formidable Forms is an advanced WordPress form plugin and a great alternative to Typeform. You can create complex and technical forms without editing code, which is not possible in Typeform.

    For instance, Formidable Forms makes it super easy to create calculators like mortgage calculators, quote request calculators, or car payment calculators.

    Besides that, you can use the plugin to collect customer feedback and data by creating polls and surveys. It also makes it super easy to set up automated quizzes with grading, collect online payments, and even display form data on the front end of your website.

    Other features offered by Formidable Forms include an easy-to-use drag-and-drop form builder, conditional logic, multiple form templates, visual form styler, landing pages, and more.

    Pricing: Formidable Forms pricing starts from $39.50 per year. You can also use a free version of the plugin as an alternative to Typeform.

    3. Gravity Forms

    Gravity forms

    Gravity Forms is a popular Typeforms alternative you can use for your website. It is used by some of the biggest brands, like Nike, ESPN, NASA, and UNICEF.

    Gravity Forms offers robust features and helps create complex form solutions at a fraction of the cost compared to Typeforms. For instance, you can use it to create quizzes, surveys, web directories, and accept user-generated content on the front end of your site.

    Besides that, the plugin offers a drag-and-drop visual form builder, prebuilt form templates, and many customization options. You can also set up automated workflows and show or hide form fields, buttons, and form sections based on user behavior.

    Pricing: Gravity Forms is a premium alternative to Typeforms, with prices starting from $59 per year.

    4. HubSpot Forms Builder

    HubSpot

    HubSpot Form Builder is the next Typeform alternative on our list, and it is a powerful all-in-one marketing toolkit. It includes a form builder, live chat, analytics, popups, and other marketing tools.

    Using HubSpot, you get a complete customer relationship management (CRM) platform. This helps to automatically sync your WordPress form with your contacts, easily manage them, create different segments, and more.

    HubSpot Form Builder also makes a great alternative to Typeforms if you’re already using other HubSpot products, like its email marketing tool. Besides that, it easily integrates with other contact form plugins like WPForms and Formidable Forms.

    Another advantage of using HubSpot is that you get to see how your forms are performing. You don’t have to integrate it with a third-party tool like Google Analytics. With built-in analytics reports, you can see which forms are converting the best.

    Pricing: You can sign-up for free on HubSpot and use the CRM, live chat, and other features for free. However, their premium plans start from $45 per month (billed annually).

    5. Jotform

    Jotform

    Jotform is a popular form builder that makes it super easy to create different types of online forms. Whether you want a simple contact form or a form to collect online payments, Jotform lets you build one in just a few minutes.

    What makes Jotform a great Typeform alternative is that you can customize your forms and add your own branding and logo even in all the paid plans.

    Besides that, you get a lot more features in the free version of Jotform compared to Typeform. For example, you can create up to 5 forms, get 100 monthly submissions, 100MB of storage space, and more.

    Jotform also offers other products along with a form builder. You can use its store builder to create an online store, add tables, build online apps, turn form responses into visual reports, edit PDF files for free, and more.

    Pricing: Jotform premium plans start from $34 per month, and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee. There is also a free Jotform version you can use to get started.

    6. Ninja Forms

    Ninja Forms

    Ninja Forms is another Typeform alternative you can use for free. It lets you create interactive online forms with no coding skills required. Plus, the drag-and-drop form builder makes it super easy to design all types of forms without hiring a designer.

    Asides from that, Ninja Forms also offers premium extensions for more features. For instance, you can create conversational forms using conditional logic addon or set up a multi-step form.

    Other paid addons include an advanced date picker, file uploader, PDF form submission option, and more. Ninja Forms also integrates with different payment services like PayPal and Stripe, email marketing tools like MailChimp CRMs like Salesforce, and other tools like Slack and Webhooks.

    Pricing: The base plugin of Ninja Forms is free to use. However, if you want more features, then you’ll need its premium extensions. The Personal plan starts from $49 per year and includes 4 addons.

    7. Zoho Forms

    Zoho Forms

    Zoho Forms is a premium form builder that offers lots of features and seamless integration. It is a great alternative to Typeform if you’re already using Zoho CRM and other Zoho tools.

    Zoho Forms lets you create over 30 different types of forms, including contact forms, surveys, polls, and more. Plus, it offers different form templates for multiple industries, like businesses, medical institutions, eCommerce sites, and more.

    Besides that, Zoho Forms also provide multiple security options. These include SSL, field encryption, form audit, CAPTCHA, and more.

    Pricing: Zoho Forms prices start from $10 per month and offers 10,000 submissions per month, 500MB storage, unlimited forms and reports, and more.

    8. Google Forms

    Google Forms

    Google Forms is a free form building tool by Google and is very easy to use. You can create all types of online forms, surveys, questionnaires, feedback forms, and more.

    It is a great Typeform alternative if you’re looking for a basic form builder that gets the job done. It has a simple interface and offers a drag-and-drop builder.

    You can also add images to your form, break up long forms into multiple steps, get email notifications in Gmail, add skip logic to form fields, and more. Plus, your form responses get organized and stored in Google Sheets.

    That said, it provides limited customization options compared to other form plugins on our list. If you want more features, then do check out our guide on Google Forms alternatives.

    Pricing: Google Forms is free to use.

    Which Typeform Alternative Should You Use?

    After going through multiple WordPress form plugins and tools, we believe that WPForms is the best Typeform alternative. It offers the most customization options and form templates, and it has a very beginner-friendly interface.

    You can create all sorts of online forms for your website using WPForms. Plus, it easily integrates with other plugins, payment methods, email marketing tools, CRMs, and other tools.

    The best part is that WPForms has a free version that has more features and options compared to Typeform’s free version.

    On the other hand, if you’re looking to create complex form solutions like calculators, then we recommend Formidable Forms. It offers pre-built templates and customization options, which aren’t available in Typeform.

    We hope this article helped you find the best Typeform alternative. You can also go through our ultimate WordPress SEO guide and how to choose the best blogging platform.

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    The post 8 Best Typeform Alternatives for 2023 (Free + Paid) first appeared on WPBeginner.