WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Contact Form 7 – Best Form Plugin 2026
Comparing WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Contact Form 7 in 2026? Here's the quick breakdown: Contact Form 7 is completely free but requires technical knowledge; WPForms offers the best balance of features and ease-of-use starting at $49.50/year; Gravity Forms is the most powerful option at $59/year but has a steeper learning curve. Your choice depends on your budget, technical skills, and feature needs.
This detailed comparison covers pricing, features, ease of use, and real-world scenarios to help you pick the right WordPress form plugin for your website.
Quick Overview: The Three Contenders
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's establish what we're comparing. These three plugins dominate the WordPress form builder space, but they serve different audiences.
📝 Contact Form 7
- Users: 5+ million
- Since: 2007
- Best For: Developers & budget sites
- Learning Curve: Steep
🎨 WPForms
- Users: 6+ million
- Since: 2016
- Best For: Beginners to pros
- Learning Curve: Easy
⚙️ Gravity Forms
- Users: 1+ million
- Since: 2009
- Best For: Advanced users
- Learning Curve: Moderate
Feature Comparison: What You Actually Get
Let's be honest – features mean nothing if you don't use them. But here's what each plugin brings to the table.
| Feature | Contact Form 7 | WPForms | Gravity Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drag & Drop Builder | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-built Templates | ✗ | ✓ 200+ | ✓ 30+ |
| Payment Integration | ✗ | ✓ (Paid) | ✓ (All plans) |
| Conditional Logic | Add-on needed | ✓ (Paid) | ✓ (All plans) |
| Spam Protection | Basic | ✓ Multiple | ✓ Multiple |
| Entry Management | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-page Forms | Complex | ✓ (Paid) | ✓ (All plans) |
| File Uploads | ✓ Basic | ✓ Advanced | ✓ Advanced |
Contact Form 7: The Free Veteran
Contact Form 7 has been around since 2007, making it the oldest player here. It's completely free, which explains its massive 5+ million installations.
Here's the reality: CF7 is bare-bones. You create forms using shortcodes and tags rather than a visual builder. Want conditional logic? Need an add-on. File uploads? Basic at best. Entry management? Doesn't exist unless you install additional plugins.
✅ Contact Form 7 Strengths
- Completely free forever
- Lightweight and fast
- Highly customizable for developers
- Works with virtually any theme
- Huge community and add-ons
❌ Contact Form 7 Weaknesses
- No visual form builder
- Requires technical knowledge
- No built-in entry storage
- Time-consuming setup
- Limited spam protection
- Needs multiple add-ons for advanced features
WPForms: The User-Friendly Choice
WPForms launched in 2016 with a simple mission: make form building easy for everyone. It's succeeded spectacularly, now powering over 6 million websites.
The drag-and-drop builder is genuinely intuitive. You pick a template (over 200 available), customize it visually, and you're done. No code, no confusion. The free "Lite" version handles basic contact forms, while paid plans start at $49.50/year.
You might be wondering what makes WPForms special. It's the balance. Not as technical as Contact Form 7, not as overwhelming as Gravity Forms. Just straightforward form building that works.
✅ WPForms Strengths
- Extremely beginner-friendly
- 200+ pre-built templates
- Beautiful, modern interface
- Excellent documentation
- Built-in entry management
- Strong anti-spam features
- Responsive customer support
❌ WPForms Weaknesses
- Premium features require paid plans
- Less powerful than Gravity Forms for complex forms
- Annual licensing (no lifetime option)
- Some advanced features in higher tiers
Gravity Forms: The Power User's Tool
Gravity Forms has been the go-to for developers and agencies since 2009. It's powerful, flexible, and packed with features right out of the box.
Unlike WPForms, which prioritizes simplicity, Gravity Forms gives you every possible option. The form builder is comprehensive but can feel overwhelming at first. However, once you learn it, you can build incredibly complex forms with advanced logic, calculations, and integrations.
Starting at $59/year for a single site, it includes conditional logic, payment processing, and multi-page forms – features that cost extra with WPForms.
✅ Gravity Forms Strengths
- Most powerful feature set
- Advanced conditional logic included
- Excellent for complex forms
- Payment processing built-in
- Extensive developer hooks
- Strong ecosystem of add-ons
- One-year support included
❌ Gravity Forms Weaknesses
- Steeper learning curve
- Interface feels dated
- More expensive than WPForms
- Can be overkill for simple forms
- Support renewal costs extra
Pricing Breakdown: What You'll Actually Pay
Budget matters. Let's break down exactly what each plugin costs and what you get for your money.
Contact Form 7: Free (But Not Really)
Contact Form 7 itself costs nothing. However, to make it functional for most uses, you'll likely need add-ons:
- Flamingo: Free entry storage plugin
- reCAPTCHA: Free spam protection (requires setup)
- Conditional Fields: $29-89 for add-ons
- File Upload Control: Various paid options
Total realistic cost: $0-100+/year depending on needs.
WPForms Pricing Tiers
- Lite: Free (basic contact forms only)
- Basic: $49.50/year (1 site, essential features)
- Plus: $99.50/year (3 sites, payment forms)
- Pro: $199.50/year (5 sites, advanced features)
- Elite: $299.50/year (unlimited sites, priority support)
Gravity Forms Pricing
- Basic: $59/year (1 site, all core features)
- Pro: $159/year (3 sites, priority support)
- Elite: $259/year (unlimited sites, all add-ons)
💰 Real Cost Analysis
For a single site with basic needs: CF7 is cheapest (free) but time-consuming. WPForms Basic ($49.50) offers the best value for most users. Gravity Forms Basic ($59) makes sense if you need complex forms from the start. Don't just look at the price tag – consider the time you'll spend setting up and maintaining each option.
Ease of Use: Which Is Actually Easy?
Features and pricing mean nothing if you can't figure out how to use the plugin. Let's talk about real-world usability.
Contact Form 7: For Code-Comfortable Users
If you're comfortable with HTML and shortcodes, CF7 is manageable. If not, prepare for frustration. Creating a simple form requires understanding tags like [text* your-name] and manually configuring mail settings.
Setup time for a basic contact form: 30-60 minutes for beginners.
WPForms: Genuinely Beginner-Friendly
WPForms lives up to its "easy" claim. Pick a template, drag fields, customize labels, publish. The interface is clean, options are clearly labeled, and there's minimal confusion.
Setup time for a basic contact form: 5-10 minutes even for complete beginners.
Gravity Forms: Powerful But Busier
Gravity Forms' interface shows you every possible option, which is both its strength and weakness. It's not confusing, but it's not as streamlined as WPForms. You'll spend more time clicking through tabs and settings.
Setup time for a basic contact form: 15-20 minutes for beginners.
Which Should You Choose?
Here's where we help you actually make a decision based on your specific situation.
Choose Contact Form 7 If:
- You're comfortable with code and shortcodes
- Budget is absolutely zero
- You only need very basic contact forms
- You enjoy tinkering and customization
- You have time to set things up properly
- You're okay installing multiple add-ons
Choose WPForms If:
- You want the easiest form builder available
- You're a beginner or small business owner
- You need forms up and running quickly
- You value great support and documentation
- You need payment forms but want simplicity
- Budget is moderate ($50-200/year)
Choose Gravity Forms If:
- You need complex forms with advanced logic
- You're building forms for clients/agencies
- You want all features included from the start
- You need extensive calculation capabilities
- You're comfortable with a learning curve
- You need developer-friendly hooks
Real-World Scenarios
Let's look at specific situations to make this more concrete:
Scenario 1: Personal Blog
Recommendation: WPForms Lite (Free)
For a simple contact form on your blog, the free WPForms Lite version is perfect. It's easier than Contact Form 7 and you don't need paid features yet.
Scenario 2: Small Business Website
Recommendation: WPForms Basic ($49.50/year)
You get multiple form types, spam protection, and entry management. It's professional without being complicated.
Scenario 3: E-commerce Store with Product Forms
Recommendation: Gravity Forms Basic ($59/year)
The built-in conditional logic and calculations make product forms easier. Plus, payment processing is included.
Scenario 4: Agency Building Client Sites
Recommendation: Gravity Forms Pro/Elite
The developer hooks, advanced features, and multi-site licensing make it worth the investment when building for clients.
Scenario 5: Non-Profit on Zero Budget
Recommendation: Contact Form 7 + Flamingo
If budget is truly zero and you have someone tech-savvy, CF7 works. It's not ideal, but it's functional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which form plugin is best for beginners in 2026?
WPForms is hands-down the most beginner-friendly option. Its drag-and-drop builder and pre-made templates make creating forms incredibly easy, even if you've never built a website before. Contact Form 7 requires technical knowledge, while Gravity Forms has a steeper learning curve.
Is Contact Form 7 still good in 2026?
Yes, if you're technical and on a tight budget. Contact Form 7 remains functional and lightweight. However, it hasn't evolved much compared to competitors, lacks a visual builder, and requires add-ons for most advanced features. For $50/year, WPForms offers significantly better value for most users.
Can I switch from Contact Form 7 to WPForms or Gravity Forms?
Yes, both WPForms and Gravity Forms offer migration tools to import your Contact Form 7 forms. The process is relatively straightforward, though you'll need to verify that everything works correctly after migration, especially if you're using complex forms or custom code.
Which plugin is better for payment forms?
Gravity Forms includes payment processing in all plans, making it the better choice if payments are your primary need. WPForms requires at least the Plus plan ($99.50/year) for payment features. Both integrate with Stripe and PayPal effectively once you have the right plan.
Do these plugins slow down my website?
All three are reasonably well-optimized. Contact Form 7 is the lightest since it has fewer features. WPForms and Gravity Forms load more resources but shouldn't noticeably slow your site on decent hosting. The impact is minimal compared to heavy themes or image optimization issues.
Which form plugin has the best spam protection?
WPForms and Gravity Forms both offer multiple spam protection methods including reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and honeypot. WPForms also includes Akismet integration. Contact Form 7 has basic spam filtering but requires manual setup and additional plugins for robust protection.
Can I use WPForms or Gravity Forms for surveys?
Yes, both handle surveys well. Gravity Forms includes survey features in all plans, while WPForms requires the Pro plan ($199.50/year) for full survey functionality. If surveys are your main use case, consider dedicated survey tools like WPForms Surveys add-on or Gravity Forms Survey add-on.
Making Your Final Decision
After comparing WPForms vs Gravity Forms vs Contact Form 7 in 2026, here's my honest take: most WordPress users will be happiest with WPForms.
It strikes the perfect balance between ease of use and functionality. The free version handles basic needs, and paid plans are reasonably priced for what you get. Setup is fast, support is responsive, and you won't spend hours troubleshooting.
That said, Contact Form 7 still has its place for budget-conscious developers who don't mind getting their hands dirty with code. And Gravity Forms remains the power user's choice for complex forms and advanced requirements.
The "best" plugin isn't universal – it depends on your budget, technical comfort level, and specific needs. A simple contact form? CF7 or WPForms Lite work fine. Payment forms? Look at WPForms Plus or Gravity Forms. Building for clients? Gravity Forms' developer features shine.
Whatever you choose, remember that all three plugins are capable tools used by millions of websites. You can't really go wrong – you're just picking which trade-offs matter most to you. Start with your actual requirements, not theoretical features you might need someday.
Good luck with your forms, and may your conversion rates be ever in your favor!