Fluent Forms vs Formidable: Ultimate Form Builder Showdown

Choosing the Right WordPress Form Builder: Fluent Forms vs Formidable Forms

Hey there, fellow WordPress enthusiast! If you’re on the hunt for the perfect form builder plugin, you’ve probably come across two heavy hitters: Contact Form Plugin by Fluent Forms for Quiz, Survey, and Drag & Drop WP Form Builder and Formidable Forms – Contact Form Plugin, Survey, Quiz, Payment, Calculator Form & Custom Form Builder. Both of these plugins are powerhouses in their own right, but which one is the right fit for your website? Let’s dive in and compare these form-building titans!

A Tale of Two Form Builders

First things first, let’s get one thing straight: both Fluent Forms and Formidable Forms are more than just your run-of-the-mill contact form plugins. They’re full-fledged form building ecosystems that can handle everything from simple “”get in touch”” forms to complex surveys, quizzes, and even payment forms. But as with anything in life, the devil’s in the details. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get into the nitty-gritty!

Features Face-Off: The Good, The Better, and The Awesome

Both plugins come packed with features that’ll make any form-building enthusiast drool. But how do they stack up against each other? Let’s break it down:

*Data collected as of July 11, 2024. Features may have changed since then.

Now, don’t let this table fool you into thinking these plugins are carbon copies of each other. Each has its own unique flair. For instance, Fluent Forms boasts about its conversational forms feature, which can be a game-changer if you’re looking to boost engagement. On the flip side, Formidable Forms flexes its muscles with a whopping 175+ form templates, which is like having a form-building Swiss Army knife in your pocket.

Popularity Contest: Who’s Winning the Hearts of WordPress Users?

When it comes to popularity, both plugins are like the cool kids in the WordPress playground. But let’s crunch some numbers:

Fluent Forms:

• Active Installs: 400,000+
• Total Downloads: 7,351,202
• Rating: 5 stars

Formidable Forms:

• Active Installs: 400,000
• Total Downloads: 21,178,215
• Rating: 5 stars

Talk about a photo finish! Both plugins are neck and neck in active installs and ratings. However, Formidable Forms has been around longer, which explains its higher total download count. But here’s an interesting tidbit: in the last 7 days, Fluent Forms saw 22,319 downloads compared to Formidable Forms‘ 129,563. Is Formidable Forms having a moment, or is Fluent Forms the steady tortoise in this race?

Getting Started: Is It a Cakewalk or a Climb?

Let’s face it, nobody wants to spend hours figuring out how to install a plugin. The good news? Both Fluent Forms and Formidable Forms have made the installation process as easy as pie. It’s the standard WordPress drill: upload, activate, and you’re off to the races.

But what about the learning curve? This is where things get interesting. Fluent Forms prides itself on being user-friendly, with a clean, intuitive interface that even your tech-phobic aunt could navigate. Formidable Forms, while still user-friendly, offers a bit more complexity out of the gate, which can be a pro or a con depending on your needs.

Performance: Will These Plugins Slow You Down?

In the world of WordPress, speed is king. Nobody wants a form builder that’s going to make their site crawl like a snail on a lazy Sunday. Good news! Both plugins have put on their running shoes.

Fluent Forms boasts that a standard form built with their plugin only loads less than 30KB of CSS and JS combined. That’s lighter than a feather in the digital world!

Formidable Forms doesn’t provide specific numbers, but they do emphasize their focus on speed and optimal server performance.

In my experience, both plugins are pretty zippy, but if you’re building a site where every millisecond counts (I’m looking at you, e-commerce gurus), Fluent Forms might have a slight edge in the speed department.

Show Me the Money: Pricing and Support

Now, let’s talk turkey. Both plugins offer free versions with paid upgrades, but the specifics can get a bit murky. Since pricing can change faster than you can say “”WordPress update,”” I’d recommend checking their respective websites for the most up-to-date info.

What I can tell you is that both offer solid support channels. Fluent Forms provides documentation, video tutorials, and a support ticket system. Formidable Forms offers similar support options, with the addition of a community forum.

The Good, The Bad, and The Form-idable

Let’s break it down into pros and cons:

Fluent Forms:
Pros:

• Super lightweight and fast
• User-friendly interface
• Unique conversational forms feature
• Actively growing and improving

Cons:

• Fewer form templates compared to Formidable Forms
• Newer in the market, which might mean less extensive third-party integrations

Formidable Forms:
Pros:

• Extensive library of form templates
• Powerful data display options with Formidable Views
• Long-standing reputation in the WordPress community
• Robust third-party integrations

Cons:

• Can be overwhelming for absolute beginners
• Might be overkill for simple form needs

Which One’s Right for You?

Choosing between Fluent Forms and Formidable Forms is like choosing between chocolate and vanilla ice cream – they’re both delicious, but your preference depends on your taste.

Go for Fluent Forms if:

• You’re new to form building and want an easy-to-use interface
• Website speed is your top priority
• You’re excited about conversational forms

Choose Formidable Forms if:

• You need a wide variety of form templates to start with
• You’re looking to build complex, data-driven applications
• You want a plugin with a long-standing reputation in the WordPress community

The Verdict: It’s Your Call!

At the end of the day, both Fluent Forms and Formidable Forms are stellar plugins that can handle pretty much any form-building task you throw at them. They’re like two star players on the same team – you can’t go wrong with either one.

My advice? Take them both for a spin with their free versions. See which one feels more intuitive to you, which one jives with your workflow, and which one makes you go “”Aha! This is it!””

Remember, the best form builder is the one that meets your specific needs and makes your WordPress life easier. So go forth, build those forms, and may your conversion rates be ever in your favor!