Ninja Forms vs WPForms
Ninja Forms and WPForms are both leading WordPress form builders, but they use different business models. Ninja Forms allows you to buy add-ons individually for cost control. WPForms provides a smoother experience and superior customer service in premium bundles. The choice rests on whether you prioritize pricing flexibility or guaranteed reliability.
Robust Builder, Inconsistent Service
We appreciate Ninja Forms for its robust core plugin and highly modular payment structure, offering genuine value for growing businesses. However, external feedback shows severe inconsistency in technical support responsiveness, particularly regarding critical bug fixes. Overall, the product is feature-rich and reliable for core functions, but we urge caution for users dependent on immediate priority support for premium add-ons.
Pros
- Generous free Core plan includes unlimited forms and submissions.
- Flexible modular pricing lets users purchase individual add-ons as needed.
- The drag-and-drop builder makes form creation straightforward.
- Strong commitment to compliance (GDPR/HIPAA) and accessibility (WCAG2).
Cons
- Technical support can be inconsistent or slow to address critical bugs.
- Users report a lack of transparency regarding timelines for fixes to paid add-ons.
Exceptional support backs powerful forms.
We find WPForms is the definitive choice for WordPress users prioritizing usability and customer service. Its expansive feature set, including deep payment and CRM integrations, makes it suitable for complex needs ranging from simple contact forms to sales portals. Overall, this is a premium, dependable solution offering excellent long-term value.
Pros
- Extremely intuitive drag-and-drop form builder requiring no code.
- Customer support is exceptionally fast, helpful, and often provides personalized video assistance.
- Access to 2,000+ pre-built templates for rapid form deployment.
- Reliable payment acceptance via Stripe, PayPal, and Square (Pro plan and up).
Cons
- Core payment and advanced conversion features are locked behind the higher-tier Pro license.
- Pricing scales up significantly from the Basic plan ($49.50) to unlock full functionality.
- Some long-term users noted that the recurring subscription price had increased over time.
AboutNinja Forms
Ninja Forms is a robust, reliable WordPress forms plugin. Over 50,000,000 downloads show it is a foundation of the WordPress platform. This tool is built to handle anything from simple contact forms to advanced industrial applications. The drag-and-drop builder makes form creation straightforward and highly customizable. It’s perfect for growing businesses, organizations, and professional developers doing client work. 💡
AboutWPForms
WPForms is the ultimate drag & drop WordPress form builder. It’s designed to allow anyone to create professional online forms without needing extensive development skills. This plugin serves millions of professionals across every industry, including eCommerce, non-profits, and educational institutions. Whether you need a simple contact form or a powerful payment portal, WPForms offers the flexibility you need. It even provides over 2,000 pre-built templates to get you started quickly. 💡
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Pricing Model
Ninja Forms offers granular control over costs; WPForms forces you into larger, all-inclusive bundles.
Ninja Forms lets users purchase individual premium add-ons as needed. This flexibility is great for highly specialized, budget-conscious users. The generous free Core plan includes essential calculations and unlimited submissions. WPForms uses traditional bundled tiers to gate advanced features tightly. You must jump to the Pro plan for nearly all payment and conversion tools. The lower WPForms plans quickly become limiting for feature-hungry users. The trade-off is flexible, modular spending (Ninja Forms) versus guaranteed access to a feature package (WPForms). Ninja Forms is often cheaper if you need limited features. However, if you require a large suite of add-ons, the WPForms Pro package may offer better overall value and simpler billing.
Customer Support
WPForms has stellar, reliable support; Ninja Forms support quality is inconsistent and often slow.
Ninja Forms provides support for free users, which is a commendable and rare benefit. Unfortunately, reviews mention long delays and transparency issues for premium bug fixes. Paid Ninja Forms users report inconsistent critical support. WPForms receives universal praise for its consistently fast and expert support staff. Reviewers note personalized help, including video walkthroughs and remote assistance often provided. This premium level of care minimizes business downtime. If business operations rely on forms, the proven reliability of WPForms support is crucial. Ninja Forms users must weigh the risk of delayed critical help. WPForms is the definitive choice for users who prioritize rapid resolution and peace of mind for their complex systems.
Ease of Use / Templates
WPForms deploys forms faster with 2,000+ templates; Ninja Forms requires more custom building.
Ninja Forms offers a solid drag-and-drop builder for custom form creation. Its focus is more on granular control and building forms from its 28+ field options. You rely heavily on saving favorite fields for speed. WPForms significantly speeds up creation with access to over 2,000 professional, pre-built templates. These templates handle complex designs like RSVPs or surveys instantly. WPForms also offers AI Form creation. WPForms is undeniably faster for users who need to deploy various complex forms often. Ninja Forms makes you build more design elements yourself. For users wanting sophisticated functionality right away, the WPForms template library provides maximum speed and convenience.
Advanced Conversion Tools
WPForms offers specialized tools for lead capture; Ninja Forms focuses on processing and calculation.
Ninja Forms’ strength lies in complex calculations and robust data management features. It does not explicitly market dedicated lead recovery or conversion tools. Its tools ensure data integrity. WPForms Pro unlocks powerful conversion boosters like Form Abandonment technology. This recovers valuable data from users who leave the form incomplete. WPForms also provides dedicated Form Landing Pages. WPForms offers Conversational Forms, which present questions one at a time for higher engagement. These specialized features are designed specifically to boost lead volume. Marketers needing to maximize form completion rates should select WPForms' specialized lead optimization tools for better results.
CRM Integration Value
Ninja Forms offers major CRM integration at a lower price point; WPForms restricts it to the top tier.
Ninja Forms includes native HubSpot, Salesforce, and ZohoCRM integration at the Pro level. This tier costs $119.40 per year for 20 sites. This is excellent value for robust CRM connectivity. WPForms restricts these premium integrations, including Salesforce and HubSpot, to the Elite plan. The WPForms Elite plan costs $299.50 per year for access. This represents a significant price jump for the same features. If CRM connection is vital but you have a limited budget, Ninja Forms Pro offers superior feature value. WPForms forces small agencies into the most expensive plan for these links. Both companies fully support Zapier integration for connecting to thousands of other services at lower tiers.
Advanced Data Calculations
Ninja Forms gives users free access to advanced calculations; WPForms' calculations require higher tiers.
Ninja Forms includes its powerful Advanced Calculations feature in the free Core plugin. This easily handles pricing quotes, quizzes, and complex estimates. This provides immediate value to budget users. WPForms focuses on Smart Conditional Logic in its basic plans for dynamic field visibility. Calculation features are included but are not advertised as freely accessible or as robust as Ninja Forms'. For educators or service providers needing math-heavy forms, Ninja Forms provides immediate, powerful calculation capability. This is a huge advantage for free users. Ninja Forms allows virtually any user to build functional, interactive pricing and assessment forms without spending any money.
Our Verdict
Choosing between Ninja Forms and WPForms means picking between flexibility and reliability. Both are excellent WordPress form builders, but WPForms generally wins for most growing businesses. This is often because WPForms provides a more professional, reliable user experience out of the box. Ninja Forms shines due to its highly modular approach, giving you cost control. You can start with the generous free Core plugin, which includes powerful calculations for scoring forms. If you only need one or two specific add-ons, Ninja Forms lets you purchase just those individually, saving money. However, WPForms excels in user experience, speed, and reliability of service. It provides 2,000+ instant, high-quality templates and specialized conversion tools like form abandonment. Crucially, WPForms has legendary, fast support that users consistently rate as exceptional service. The deciding factor should be your structure for critical features. Pick Ninja Forms if you need low-cost CRM access or leverage its free advanced calculation tools extensively. Choose WPForms if payments, conversion optimization, and guaranteed A+ support are critical business requirements. Ultimately, WPForms is the safer, faster, and more professional choice for high-volume operations. Ninja Forms offers better initial value if you manage costs strictly via its flexible, a la carte pricing model or need free calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the better free version: Ninja Forms or WPForms?
Ninja Forms offers a significantly better free version called Core. The Ninja Forms Core plugin includes unlimited forms, unlimited submissions, and advanced calculations. The WPForms Lite version is much more limited in features and functionality.
Is WPForms worth the extra cost over Ninja Forms?
Yes, if you need marketing tools or guaranteed support, WPForms is worth the cost. WPForms Pro includes form abandonment and digital signatures, missing in Ninja Forms' mid-tiers. Users also report that WPForms offers more reliable and faster customer support.
Do both tools limit the number of forms or submissions?
No, both Ninja Forms and WPForms offer unlimited forms, submissions, and users on all plans. Pricing differences between both tools are based solely on the number of licensed websites and the included features. You won't face volume restrictions.
Which one is better if I need to connect to Salesforce or HubSpot?
Ninja Forms offers superior value for CRM connection. Ninja Forms includes native HubSpot, Salesforce, and ZohoCRM integration in its Pro plan. WPForms restricts those same premium CRMs to its most expensive Elite plan.
Why does Ninja Forms have a lower user rating than WPForms?
Ninja Forms' 4.1 rating is due to consistent reports of inconsistent support quality. Users praise the WPForms support team consistently for being fast, expert, and highly responsive. WPForms maintains a near-perfect 4.8 rating.
Does WPForms offer the same modular add-on pricing as Ninja Forms?
No, WPForms utilizes a traditional, feature-bundled tiered pricing structure. Ninja Forms is unique because it allows users to buy specific features individually. You must buy the entire bundle with WPForms to access a single gated feature.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.