Gravity Forms vs Ninja Forms: Choose Your Fighter
How’re you doing, guys? If you are reading this article, then you consider inserting some forms in your WordPress website. The contact form is an integral part of any webmaster-user communication. Yet, the number of form builders is insane, so you can get lost easily. You might choose some free solutions, like JetFormBuilder by Crocoblock (which is really great, check it on jetformbuilder.com), or look at paid plugins if money isn’t an issue for you. Today, I’ll tell you about the most popular commercial options — Gravity Forms and Ninja Forms.
Gravity Forms exists longer than Ninja Forms, and during this time, it managed to gain a reputation as a first-class WordPress form builder. But anyway, starting from its very first release in 2011, Ninja Forms not only constantly developed and released many handy features but also improved the UI/UX, which made it a very worthy rival. Although both Gravity Forms and Ninja Forms are multifunctional tools for working with all possible varieties of forms, I can still talk about some key differences here. Keep reading to come up with the right decision!
Main Features Comparison
Gravity Forms and Ninja Forms offer a bunch of upgrades, but until you start using them, you will have a very vague idea of what you get in the end. Both plugins allow you to create limitless forms to use on your site. There is also no limit on the amount of data sent/received by the form. These inputs are stored in the WordPress database, and you access them easily from the admin panel.
Besides, you can also send them to any number of email addresses. Both plugins provide the ability to export this data in various file formats, including CSV, PDF, and Excel. Also, if you want to display them in more interesting ways, GravityView will suit you more.
Types of Form Fields
Gravity Forms and Ninja Forms similarly get various form field types. Probably, using any of these plugins, you will always be able to add any required field. Form builders provide standard fields such as email, text and date, and pro options, like price type or payment options.
With Ninja Forms and Gravity Forms, you can create forms with the required set of fields, use field validation, and apply calculations based on the user input. Besides, a smart form option is available; it allows you to create the forms that can determine which fields to display when the user fills it. And, of course, both plugins provide anti-spam protection in the form of security questions.
Types of Forms
In terms of form types, Ninja Forms and Gravity Forms are also similar: you can create a variety of form types. Protected forms that are available only to some users or only under certain conditions, multi-page forms, questionnaires, or surveys are only a small part of their powers. You can also receive posts or other content for your site sent by users through forms created by Gravity Forms and Ninja Forms. Such a post from the user part of the site will be useful to those site owners who welcome the user-generated content. It saves time significantly because your visitors don’t need to dive into the WP interface.
Forms Integration
Here some noticeable differences begin. Both plugins perfectly realized the possibility of integration with other services, like email marketing services, payment systems, CRM, eCommerce, alert services, etc.
When we are talking about functions, there is no winner plugin. But, since each plugin has some variations, e.g, there are different pricing plans, possibility to use third-party addons, the form you create will depend on how much money you are ready to pay.
Let’s dive into some differences:
- In the Ninja Forms plugin, scheduled forms are only available for a specific period.
- Gravity Forms cannot open your forms in a modal lightbox window.
- Gravity Forms seems to provide great support for pre-filled forms and fields.
You’ll probably find more differences between these plugins when you start using them, creating forms for a particular project. But, so far, it seems that plugins offer a very similar set of functions if we talk about third-party add-ons and extensions.
User Interface Comparison
Both Gravity Forms and Ninja Forms have a UI designed in the style of a core WordPress UI. It implies that in the admin part, the interfaces of both plugins are merged with the interface of WordPress itself. Thus, they are felt more like core elements rather than as third-party add-ons.
The form creation page displays the available fields. Each plugin organizes these fields into groups for greater convenience. But the names that Ninja is used for these groups are more useful: they facilitate the form creating.
You can simply add a field to the form by clicking on the required box located in the floating panel. Both plugins offer a drag-and-drop interface for placing fields in the right positions.
When you try to organize your fields correctly inside the form, both plugins expand the field box so that all the options are visible. Depending on the field type you’re working with, you can customize the shortcut, set the initial value, make the field required, etc.
Once your form gets the necessary sizes, both Gravity and Ninja Forms suggest making use of the inoculation function, which allows you to test the form and see how it will look on the front-end. Both plugins require that the form be saved for preview and further updates.
You can paste the final form into the desired content using a specific shortcode. Forms can also be added to theme files using the appropriate template code. Gravity Forms facilitates the process of adding forms to your posts and pages by providing an additional button in the WordPress editor. Overall, I see that the Ninja Forms interface is a little more convenient due to the more advanced preview function.
Pricing Comparison
While Gravity Forms is a fully commercial plugin, the Ninja Forms plugin core is free and available in the WordPress plugin repository. This free version gives you access to the basic functionality you need to create forms.
Besides, you can already use such popular WordPress plugins as WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads, which will increase the capabilities of the basic Ninja Forms for online stores.
Some of the Ninja Forms extensions are available for free, but many others are premium add-ons. You can purchase them in the set and save some money. Such bundles are collections of extensions used to create specific sites.
Unlike Ninja Forms, Gravity Forms doesn’t have a free version, so you need to choose from the following plans:
- Basic License — $59/year (1 site)
- Pro License — $159/year (3 sites)
- Elite License — $259/year (Unlimited Sites)
Ninja Forms pricing is as follows (with 50% discount):
- Personal — $49.50/year
- Professional — $99.50/year
- Agency — $249.50/year
The main difference between these plans is the number of sites on which you can create.
As with Ninja Forms, using Gravity Forms, you can choose any number of add-ons available: you will get access not only to those add-ons that are available for your plan but also to third-party extensions. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to define the most profitable option. You should choose considering your project’s goals.
Ninja Forms vs Gravity Forms: Verdict
Vague difference, right? Both plugins are really nice and functional, and allow you to create any form for the WP website. Ninja Forms and Gravity Forms offer an extremely similar set of functions, so you have to choose it after you consider the needs precisely. The main difference between the plugins is their pricing policy: Gravity Forms doesn’t offer the free version, unlike Ninja Forms.
The UI differences are so tiny that it is also impossible to name the winner or loser. I recommend you to try some demos to choose the form builder for WP that suits you best.
Stay safe sound and share your feedback if you use these form builders!
xoxo, Lana
