Formidable Forms vs Forminator: The Ultimate WordPress Form Builder Showdown
Hey there, fellow WordPress enthusiast! If you’re on the hunt for the perfect form builder plugin, you’ve probably come across two heavyweights in the ring: Formidable Forms – Contact Form Plugin, Survey, Quiz, Payment, Calculator Form & Custom Form Builder and Forminator – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder. Both of these plugins are packing some serious punch when it comes to creating forms, but which one should you choose? Let’s dive in and break it down, shall we?
A Tale of Two Form Builders
First things first, let’s get one thing straight – both of these plugins are pretty darn impressive. They’re not your run-of-the-mill contact form plugins. Oh no, we’re talking about full-fledged form building powerhouses here.
Formidable Forms bills itself as the “”most advanced WordPress forms plugin,”” and boy, do they mean it. This bad boy can handle everything from simple contact forms to complex multi-page forms with file uploads, conditional logic, and even calculations. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of form builders.
On the other side of the ring, we’ve got Forminator, which proudly proclaims it’s “”not your typical form-making plugin.”” And they’re not kidding. This plugin goes beyond just forms – it’s got polls, quizzes, and even payment integrations baked right in. It’s like they took a form builder and gave it superpowers.
Features Face-Off
Alright, let’s get down to brass tacks. What can these plugins actually do? Buckle up, because this is where things get interesting.
Feature | Formidable Forms | Forminator |
---|---|---|
Drag & Drop Builder | ✅ | ✅ |
Conditional Logic | ✅ | ✅ |
Multi-Page Forms | ✅ | ✅ |
File Uploads | ✅ | ✅ |
Payment Integration | ✅ (Stripe, PayPal) | ✅ (Stripe, PayPal) |
Calculations | ✅ | ✅ |
Quizzes | ✅ | ✅ |
Polls | ❌ | ✅ |
User Registration Forms | ✅ | ✅ |
Email Marketing Integration | ✅ | ✅ |
Entry Management | ✅ | ✅ |
GDPR Compliance | ✅ | ✅ |
API Access | ✅ | ✅ |
*Data collected as of July 11, 2024. Features may have changed since then.
As you can see, these plugins are neck and neck when it comes to core features. But here’s where things get spicy – Formidable Forms really shines when it comes to advanced calculations and data management. If you’re looking to build complex applications or data-driven websites, Formidable might just be your new best friend.
On the flip side, Forminator has a few tricks up its sleeve that Formidable doesn’t. For one, it’s got built-in poll functionality, which is pretty neat if you want to engage your audience with quick, interactive content. It also seems to have a bit more focus on the quiz-building aspect, which could be a game-changer if you’re into creating viral content or lead-generating quizzes.
Popularity Contest
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “”That’s all well and good, but which one are people actually using?”” Well, my friend, let’s look at the numbers.
Formidable Forms is sitting pretty with over 400,000 active installs and a perfect 5-star rating. Not too shabby, right? It’s been downloaded over 21 million times, with about 130,000 of those in the last week alone. Talk about momentum!
But hold onto your hats, because Forminator is no slouch either. It’s rocking over 500,000 active installs, also with a 5-star rating. It’s been downloaded over 7.6 million times, with a whopping 169,000 downloads in the past week. Looks like Forminator might be the new kid on the block that’s quickly gaining ground!
User-Friendliness: The Battle of the Interfaces
Let’s face it, no matter how powerful a plugin is, if it’s a pain to use, it’s going to end up collecting digital dust in your WordPress dashboard. So, how do these two stack up when it comes to ease of use?
Formidable Forms prides itself on its drag-and-drop form builder. It’s pretty intuitive, and you can whip up a basic form in no time. But here’s the kicker – when you start diving into the more advanced features, things can get a bit… well, let’s say “”involved.”” It’s not rocket science, but you might need to crack open the documentation once or twice.
Forminator, on the other hand, seems to have put a lot of emphasis on user experience. Their interface is sleek and modern, and they’ve got a bunch of pre-built templates to get you started. Plus, they’ve got this nifty feature where you can see real-time changes as you’re building your form. It’s like having a crystal ball for form design!
Performance: Speed Demons or Resource Hogs?
Now, I know what keeps you up at night – “”Will this plugin slow down my site?”” Well, grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, because we’re about to get into it.
Both plugins claim to be optimized for performance, but without running extensive tests (which, let’s be honest, would probably put us all to sleep), it’s hard to declare a clear winner. However, Formidable Forms does mention being “”fine-tuned for outstanding speed and optimal server performance,”” which is a pretty bold claim.
Forminator, while not making specific speed claims, does emphasize its modern, clean code. Plus, being developed by WPMU DEV, a company known for performance-focused plugins, it’s likely they’ve put some serious thought into optimization.
The Pricing Puzzle
Alright, let’s talk turkey. How much are these plugins going to set you back?
Both plugins offer free versions with premium upgrades. The free versions are pretty robust, but as always, the real magic happens when you go pro.
Formidable Forms has a tiered pricing structure, starting from their Basic plan all the way up to their Elite plan. The prices range quite a bit, so you’ll want to check their website for the most up-to-date information.
Forminator takes a different approach. While it has a robust free version, the pro features are part of WPMU DEV’s membership, which gives you access to all their premium plugins and services. Again, you’ll want to check their site for current pricing.
Both offer money-back guarantees, so you can try them out with peace of mind.
The Verdict: Which One Reigns Supreme?
After all this, you’re probably wondering, “”Just tell me which one to choose already!”” Well, here’s the thing – it depends on what you need. (I know, I know, not the clear-cut answer you were hoping for, but hear me out!)
If you’re looking to build complex, data-driven forms or even full-blown applications, Formidable Forms might be your best bet. Its advanced calculations and data management features are hard to beat.
On the other hand, if you want an all-in-one solution that covers forms, polls, and quizzes, with a focus on user-friendliness and modern design, Forminator could be the way to go.
Both plugins are solid choices with active development and strong user bases. My advice? Take advantage of those free versions or money-back guarantees and give them both a spin. After all, the best form builder is the one that works best for you and your specific needs.
And there you have it, folks! The ultimate showdown between Formidable Forms and Forminator. Whichever you choose, you’re in for a treat. Happy form building!