Online forms play an essential role in website functionality, whether it’s capturing leads, gathering feedback, or conducting surveys. Picking the right WordPress form builder can significantly impact your website’s user experience and efficiency. Two popular options, Forminator and Fluent Forms, offer excellent features tailored to different needs.
In this article, we’ll compare both plugins feature by feature to determine which one is better for specific use cases. We’ll cover ease of use, input fields, conditional logic, spam protection, and more. Each section will highlight the strengths of both plugins and declare a clear winner to help you make an informed decision.
Fluent Forms vs Forminator: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Fluent Forms | Forminator | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Intuitive drag-and-drop builder with a clean dashboard | Easy drag-and-drop, but less streamlined | Fluent Forms |
| Input Fields | 50+ fields (25+ in free version) | 28 fields | Fluent Forms |
| Pre-Built Templates | Dozens of templates for various use cases | 6 templates | Fluent Forms |
| Conditional Logic | Advanced options for dynamic forms | Basic conditional logic | Fluent Forms |
| Spam Protection | reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, honeypots, Akismet, Captcha-free options | reCAPTCHA, Akismet, honeypots | Fluent Forms |
| Multi-Column Layouts | Supports up to 6 columns with drag-and-drop flexibility | Limited to basic two-field arrangements | Fluent Forms |
| Entry Management | Robust system with multiple export options (CSV, JSON, Excel, PDF) | Basic management, limited export options | Fluent Forms |
| Conversational Forms | Available for interactive, one-question-at-a-time experiences | Not available | Fluent Forms |
| Third-Party Integrations | Extensive native integrations and Zapier support for 5,000+ apps | Decent integration options with Zapier | Fluent Forms |
| Payment Gateways | Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay (Pro) | Stripe, PayPal | Fluent Forms |
| File Uploads | Customizable file types, sizes, and dedicated image upload fields (Pro) | Basic file upload options in free version | Fluent Forms |
| Pricing | Starts at $79/year for single site; affordable and feature-packed free version | Starts at $180/year for single site | Fluent Forms |
| Best For | Advanced forms, conversational forms, budget-conscious users | Simple forms, quizzes, and polls | Fluent Forms (overall) |
Fluent Forms vs Forminator: Detailed Comparison
Fluent Forms wins in most categories with its advanced features, user-friendly design, and affordability, making it the better choice for most users. Forminator shines for basic needs, quizzes, and polls.
Ease of Use
A form builder should simplify the process of creating forms, especially for users with little to no coding knowledge.
- Fluent Forms: Known for its user-friendly interface, Fluent Forms offers a seamless drag-and-drop experience. Its dashboard is intuitive, making it easy to create, edit, and preview forms in real-time. Comprehensive documentation and 24/7 customer support further enhance its usability.
- Forminator: Forminator also provides a drag-and-drop interface but lacks the polished experience of Fluent Forms. The dashboard can feel a bit cluttered, and finding specific features might be challenging for beginners.
Winner: Fluent Forms takes the lead for its smooth, beginner-friendly experience.
Input Fields
The number and variety of input fields determine how versatile your forms can be.
- Fluent Forms: Offers over 50 input fields, including advanced options like GDPR compliance, color pickers, hidden fields, and more. Its free version includes 25+ fields, which is generous compared to most competitors.
- Forminator: Provides 28 input fields, covering the basics but falling short on advanced options. While it allows customization and duplication, the limited number of fields can be restrictive for complex forms.
Winner: Fluent Forms wins with a wider range of input fields and better free-tier offerings.
Pre-Built Templates
Pre-designed templates save time and effort, especially for common form types.
- Fluent Forms: Offers a diverse collection of pre-built templates for various use cases, such as contact forms, surveys, and order forms. These templates are easy to customize and cater to both beginners and advanced users.
- Forminator: Includes only six pre-built templates, which means users often need to start from scratch for many form types.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its extensive and versatile template library.
Conditional Logic
Conditional logic allows forms to adapt dynamically based on user inputs, improving functionality and user experience.
- Fluent Forms: Provides robust conditional logic options, including email routing, field visibility, and conditional notifications. This makes it highly versatile for creating advanced forms.
- Forminator: Also offers conditional logic, enabling users to show/hide fields and customize notifications. However, it lacks the depth and flexibility that Fluent Forms provides.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its more advanced and customizable conditional logic features.
Spam Protection
Keeping forms secure from spam submissions is a must for any form builder.
- Fluent Forms: Offers a comprehensive spam protection suite, including reCAPTCHA (v2/v3), hCaptcha, honeypots, and Akismet. It also includes unique features like form restrictions and Captcha-free options.
- Forminator: Provides similar spam protection features, such as reCAPTCHA, Akismet, and honeypots, but doesn’t match the additional capabilities Fluent Forms offers.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its advanced spam filtering options.
Layout and Design Options
A well-designed form can enhance user engagement and fit seamlessly into your site’s design.
- Fluent Forms: Allows users to create multi-column layouts with up to six columns. It also supports custom styling, label alignment, and easy navigation through a drag-and-drop container feature.
- Forminator: Offers basic design options but doesn’t include a dedicated multi-column layout feature, limiting flexibility.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its superior layout customization and flexibility.
Entry Management
Managing form submissions efficiently is crucial for maintaining workflows and analyzing data.
- Fluent Forms: Features a powerful entry management system that allows admins to view, sort, and export entries in formats like CSV, Excel, and JSON. It also supports metadata display, visual reports, and PDF generation.
- Forminator: Includes basic entry management with options to export data in CSV format. While it provides some visualization options, it doesn’t offer the same level of flexibility or export formats as Fluent Forms.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its robust entry management tools.
Conversational Forms
Interactive forms can increase engagement and reduce abandonment rates.
- Fluent Forms: Offers conversational forms that present questions one at a time, creating a more user-friendly and engaging experience.
- Forminator: Lacks dedicated conversational form functionality, which is a significant drawback for users seeking modern, interactive designs.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its innovative conversational form feature.
Pricing
Affordability is a critical factor for businesses and developers alike.
- Fluent Forms: Offers a free version packed with features and competitively priced premium plans, starting at $79/year for a single-site license.
- Forminator: While feature-rich, its premium plans are more expensive, starting at $180/year for a single-site license.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its budget-friendly pricing and feature-rich free tier.
Third-Party Integrations
Integrations allow form builders to connect with email marketing tools, CRMs, and other platforms.
- Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms supports a wide range of integrations, including Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, and more. Its Pro version offers access to over 30 native integrations and extends compatibility to 5,000+ apps via Zapier. These integrations are seamless and often come at no extra cost.
- Forminator: Forminator provides integrations with popular tools like Mailchimp, Google Sheets, and Trello. While these integrations work well, they are fewer compared to Fluent Forms, and some require additional setup effort.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its extensive and cost-effective integration options.
Payment Gateway Integration
For eCommerce sites and donation forms, payment gateway compatibility is crucial.
- Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms supports popular payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Razorpay. These integrations are available in the Pro version and allow easy setup for receiving payments directly through forms.
- Forminator: Forminator also supports Stripe and PayPal but doesn’t offer as many payment gateway options as Fluent Forms. Additionally, its setup process for payment forms can feel less intuitive.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its wider payment gateway support and smoother setup.
File Upload Capabilities
File upload fields are useful for applications, resumes, or image submissions.
- Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms allows users to upload files and supports various file types. The Pro version lets you limit file size, restrict file types, and even use a dedicated image upload field.
- Forminator: Forminator also includes file upload capabilities, but its free version is more limited in customization options for file restrictions and handling.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its advanced customization options in file uploads.
Partial Entries
Partial entry saving ensures that incomplete submissions are not lost, which is helpful for longer forms.
- Fluent Forms: This feature can be enabled easily in Fluent Forms, allowing users to save progress and return to complete forms later. It’s an excellent feature for minimizing abandoned forms.
- Forminator: Unfortunately, Forminator lacks a partial entry feature, which can result in lost data if users leave forms incomplete.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for offering a highly valuable feature that Forminator doesn’t support.
Surveys, Polls, and Quizzes
These tools are critical for audience engagement and data collection.
- Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms includes survey and poll creation options with visual reports for analyzing responses. It also supports advanced customization and conditional logic for creating dynamic quizzes.
- Forminator: Forminator is well-known for its quizzes and polls, which are easy to set up and visually appealing. It also provides basic visual reporting.
Winner: Tie. Both plugins excel in surveys, polls, and quizzes, but Fluent Forms may have a slight edge due to better reporting options.
Advanced Reporting and Analytics
Understanding form performance is vital for data-driven decisions.
- Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms provides visual reporting with bar charts, pie charts, and other formats, making it easy to analyze form submissions and trends. These reports are customizable and can be exported for further analysis.
- Forminator: Forminator offers basic analytics and visual data representation, but it lacks the depth and customization Fluent Forms provides.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its advanced reporting capabilities.
Documentation and Support
Reliable support and thorough documentation can save users time and frustration.
- Fluent Forms: Known for excellent customer support, Fluent Forms provides detailed documentation, video tutorials, and a responsive support team. Pro users get priority support, but free users also receive timely assistance.
- Forminator: Forminator offers decent documentation and support, but response times and depth of support don’t match Fluent Forms’ standards.
Winner: Fluent Forms, for its superior customer support and comprehensive documentation.
Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?
Both Fluent Forms and Forminator are excellent form builders for WordPress, but their differences make them suited to different types of users. Here’s a breakdown of who should choose which one:
Choose Fluent Forms If:
- You want a feature-rich form builder with a generous free version offering extensive input fields, templates, and integrations.
- You need advanced features like conversational forms, partial entry saving, and multi-column layouts.
- Your focus is on creating dynamic, engaging forms with conditional logic and interactive layouts.
- You require robust entry management, visual data reporting, or seamless export options in multiple formats.
- You’re looking for a cost-effective plugin with affordable premium plans and high-quality support.
- You want extensive third-party integrations and compatibility with payment gateways like Stripe, Razorpay, and PayPal.
Choose Forminator If:
- You’re primarily looking for an easy-to-use form builder to create basic forms, quizzes, or polls.
- You need a tool with strong quiz-building capabilities and basic data visualization.
- You prefer Forminator’s integration with WPMU DEV services and don’t mind its premium pricing.
- Your form-building needs are limited, and advanced features like conversational forms or multi-column layouts aren’t essential.
In summary, Fluent Forms is ideal for users who need versatility, advanced functionality, and great value for money. Forminator suits users looking for simplicity or those already using WPMU DEV tools. Select based on your project’s complexity and budget.
