Gravity Forms vs Fluent Forms: Which is Better?

Confused between Gravity Forms vs Fluent Forms? Let’s find out Which is the Best WordPress form Builder plugin in 2025.

When it comes to WordPress form builder plugins, Gravity Forms and Fluent Forms are two standout choices. While both tools offer a robust set of features, they cater to different needs depending on your budget, technical skills, and the complexity of forms you want to create. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll delve deeper into their features, usability, pricing, and more to help you make an informed decision.

Gravity Forms vs Fluent Forms (Quick Comparison)

Feature	Fluent Forms	Gravity Forms
Overview	Fluent Forms is a rising star in the WordPress community. It has quickly gained popularity for its intuitive interface, affordability, and feature-packed free version. With more than 300,000 active installations, Fluent Forms has proven its ability to cater to users of all skill levels. It’s particularly favored by small businesses, freelancers, and anyone looking for a cost-effective, user-friendly solution without sacrificing functionality.	Gravity Forms has been a dominant force in the WordPress form-building space for years. Known for its powerful features and flexibility, it is often the go-to choice for developers and businesses with complex form requirements. However, Gravity Forms comes at a premium, and its lack of a free version means users need to invest from the start. For businesses needing advanced integrations and customizations, it’s a strong contender, but it may not be as beginner-friendly.
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly, intuitive drag-and-drop, prebuilt templates, real-time preview.	Easy for experienced users, no prebuilt templates, limited real-time preview.
Features	70+ templates, 45+ input fields, conversational forms, surveys, multi-column layouts (included in all licenses).	Advanced features available, but most locked behind Pro/Elite licenses.
Third-Party Integrations	40+ integrations (e.g., Trello, Slack, Mailchimp) and Zapier compatibility in all licenses.	40+ integrations, but add-ons required for most features, limited in lower tiers.
Payment Gateways	PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay, Mollie (available across all licenses).	Extensive options like Authorize.net and Square (Pro/Elite plans only).
Advanced Features	Partially completed forms, entry management, advanced post creation, and visual reporting (included in all licenses).	Similar features but often tied to Elite license or third-party add-ons.
Mobile Responsiveness	Fully mobile-optimized with no extra configuration required.	Mobile-responsive but may need CSS adjustments for complex layouts.
Customization	Built-in CSS and design flexibility, multi-column layouts without add-ons.	Requires third-party plugins (e.g., Styles & Layouts) for advanced customization.
Spam Filtering	Built-in tools like reCAPTCHA, Honeypot, and conditional submission.	Strong spam protection features but lacks Fluent Forms’ conditional rejection feature.
GDPR Compliance	Easy with built-in consent fields and data retention settings.	Requires manual configuration for GDPR compliance.
Pricing	Starts at $59/year, includes all features in all licenses, free version available.	Starts at $59/year, advanced features only in Pro/Elite plans, no free version.
Data Visualization	Built-in tools for charts and graphs based on form submissions.	No built-in visualization; requires exporting data to external tools.
Developer Tools	Webhooks, APIs, custom CSS, and frequent updates based on user feedback.	Robust API support, but relies heavily on third-party add-ons for customization.
Support	24/7 support, detailed documentation, active community, support available across all licenses.	Tiered support (priority for Elite users), extensive documentation.
Overall Value	High value for beginners and advanced users alike with budget-friendly options.	Great for advanced users but expensive and less accessible for beginners.

Gravity Forms vs Fluent Forms (Detailed Comparison)

1. Ease of Use

Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms shines with its modern, beginner-friendly interface. The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive and requires minimal technical expertise, making it easy for users to create forms without prior experience. Features like prebuilt templates and real-time previewing streamline the design process, allowing users to experiment and adjust forms effortlessly. The plugin also offers extensive documentation, video tutorials, and 24/7 customer support, ensuring that help is always available.

Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms also includes a drag-and-drop editor, but the interface feels dated compared to Fluent Forms. One drawback is the lack of prebuilt templates, requiring users to start from scratch for every form. Additionally, Gravity Forms doesn’t offer a real-time preview on the same page, which can make the form creation process more time-consuming and less intuitive, especially for beginners.

Verdict: Fluent Forms offers a smoother, more user-friendly experience for beginners and non-technical users, while Gravity Forms may feel cumbersome for those new to form building.

2. Features and Functionality

Fluent Forms: Packed with over 70 prebuilt form templates, Fluent Forms makes it easy to create everything from basic contact forms to complex surveys or multi-step forms. It includes 45+ input fields, spam filtering, multi-column layouts, and advanced conditional logic—even in the free version. Unique features like conversational forms and advanced post creation add value, especially for websites that prioritize user engagement and content automation.

Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms also offers robust functionality, but many features are locked behind higher-tier licenses. While it includes conditional logic, file uploads, and entry management, users often need to rely on third-party add-ons or higher-priced plans for advanced features like conversational forms, surveys, or quizzes. This can lead to higher costs over time.

Verdict: Fluent Forms offers more value with its extensive free version and all-inclusive licensing structure. Gravity Forms is a better choice for those willing to invest in premium add-ons for highly specialized needs.

3. Third-Party Integrations

Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms integrates seamlessly with over 40 popular tools like ActiveCampaign, Slack, and Trello. It also offers Zapier integration, allowing users to connect with more than 3,000 apps. Many integrations, such as Mailchimp and CRM tools, are available even in the free version, making it an attractive choice for users with diverse workflows.

Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms supports a similar number of integrations but requires users to purchase add-ons for most functionalities. While it supports tools like Stripe, PayPal, and HubSpot, these are not available in the basic license, limiting accessibility for users on a budget.

Verdict: Both plugins excel in integration options, but Fluent Forms wins for offering key integrations at a lower price point or for free.

4. Advanced Features

Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms excels in advanced features, offering tools like partially completed form tracking, advanced post creation, and conversational forms. These features are included in all licenses, making them accessible to users across all budgets. Additionally, Fluent Forms allows admins to generate visual reports from form submissions, such as pie charts and bar graphs, providing actionable insights.

Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms offers similar advanced features, but they are often tied to its Elite license, which costs significantly more. While the functionality is strong, users may find it less accessible due to the higher cost and reliance on third-party add-ons for some capabilities.

Verdict: Fluent Forms provides advanced features at a fraction of the cost, making it the better choice for users who need sophisticated functionality without breaking the bank.

5. Payment Gateways

Fluent Forms: Includes payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, Mollie, and Razorpay across all license levels. This makes it an excellent option for small businesses and nonprofits that need a cost-effective way to accept payments or donations online.

Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms offers a broader range of payment gateway integrations, including Authorize.net and Square. However, access to these gateways requires at least a Pro or Elite license, which significantly increases the cost for users.

Verdict: Fluent Forms is more budget-friendly for users with basic payment needs, while Gravity Forms is better for businesses that require a wider range of payment options.

6. Pricing

Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms offers competitive pricing, starting at $59 annually for a single site. All features are included across all plans, with the only differences being the number of sites and license duration. Lifetime licenses provide excellent value for long-term users, starting at $349 for a single site.

Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms has a tiered pricing model, starting at $59 for a basic license. However, most advanced features require the Elite license, which costs $259 annually. There is no free version, making it a more expensive option overall.

Verdict: Fluent Forms offers more value for money with its transparent, feature-rich pricing structure.

7. Customizability and Design Flexibility

Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms offers extensive design flexibility. It includes features like multi-column layouts, custom CSS support, and a user-friendly container system for creating visually appealing forms. Labels, asterisks, and help messages can be positioned as desired, giving users full control over the form’s design. Fluent Forms also allows for detailed styling without requiring additional plugins, making it easy to align forms with your website’s branding.

Gravity Forms: While Gravity Forms allows for basic customization, achieving advanced design flexibility often requires third-party plugins or custom CSS. Users need to install add-ons like “Styles & Layouts for Gravity Forms” to enable multi-column layouts or detailed form designs, which adds to the cost and complexity.

Verdict: Fluent Forms wins for offering built-in design flexibility without relying on external plugins.

8. Mobile Responsiveness

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms is fully optimized for mobile responsiveness. All forms are designed to look great on any device without requiring additional configuration. You can test mobile compatibility within the form editor, ensuring a seamless experience for users accessing your forms from smartphones or tablets.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms is also mobile-responsive but requires some manual adjustments for certain layouts. Custom CSS may be needed to ensure forms look perfect on smaller screens, especially for complex designs or multi-column layouts.

Verdict: Fluent Forms provides a more hassle-free mobile experience, making it ideal for non-technical users.

9. Performance and Speed

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms is lightweight and optimized for speed, ensuring that it doesn’t slow down your website. It uses minimal server resources, even for complex forms with multiple fields and advanced features. This makes it an excellent choice for websites prioritizing performance.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms is also a well-optimized plugin, but it may slightly impact website speed when combined with multiple third-party add-ons. Users with resource-heavy websites might need additional optimization to maintain performance.

Verdict: Fluent Forms edges ahead for its lightweight design and performance-focused approach.

10. Data Export and Import Options

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms provides robust data export and import features. You can export form entries in multiple formats, including CSV and JSON, making it easy to integrate form data with external tools. Additionally, Fluent Forms allows users to import and export form templates, enabling easy duplication of forms across different sites.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms also supports data export in CSV format, but it lacks direct options for importing forms or templates. This can make migrating forms between sites more challenging, especially for large-scale projects.

Verdict: Fluent Forms offers more flexibility in exporting and importing forms and data.

11. Conditional Email Notifications

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms allows users to set up conditional email notifications based on specific user inputs. For example, you can send different email responses to users depending on the options they select in your form. This feature is particularly useful for customer support, surveys, and lead generation.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms also includes conditional email notifications but reserves this feature for higher-tier licenses. Setting up advanced email conditions may require more effort compared to Fluent Forms’ streamlined interface.

Verdict: Fluent Forms wins for providing this feature across all licenses, making it more accessible.

12. GDPR Compliance and Data Privacy

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms makes it easy to ensure GDPR compliance with built-in features like consent checkboxes and data retention settings. Users can customize forms to collect consent explicitly, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. It also includes features to delete or anonymize form entries after a set period.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms supports GDPR compliance but relies on users to manually implement consent fields and data privacy settings. It doesn’t include built-in data retention controls, which could be a drawback for businesses focused on privacy compliance.

Verdict: Fluent Forms leads with more straightforward GDPR compliance features.

13. User Management and Access Control

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms includes built-in options for managing user roles and access permissions. You can control who can view, edit, or manage forms within the WordPress dashboard, making it suitable for team-based projects or organizations with multiple administrators.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms also allows for user role management but ties advanced permissions to higher-tier licenses. This can limit access for smaller teams or businesses operating on a tight budget.

Verdict: Fluent Forms offers better accessibility for user management without requiring a premium license.

14. Real-Time Data Visualization

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms includes built-in tools for data visualization, allowing users to generate charts and graphs based on form submissions. This feature is incredibly useful for businesses that want to analyze data trends directly within their WordPress dashboard.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms does not include built-in data visualization tools. Users need to export data to external tools like Excel or Google Sheets to create charts and graphs, adding extra steps to the analysis process.

Verdict: Fluent Forms simplifies data analysis with built-in visualization tools.

15. Support for Developers

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms provides a comprehensive set of developer-friendly tools, including webhooks, API access, and custom CSS options. The plugin’s documentation also includes guides for advanced customizations, making it a good choice for developers who want flexibility.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms is widely used by developers and offers extensive documentation and API access. However, the reliance on third-party add-ons for certain features may add complexity to custom development.

Verdict: Both plugins offer strong developer support, but Fluent Forms is more cost-effective for custom projects.

16. Community and Ecosystem

• Fluent Forms: Fluent Forms has a growing community of users who actively contribute feedback and suggestions. The development team regularly introduces new features based on user requests, ensuring the plugin evolves to meet modern needs.
• Gravity Forms: Gravity Forms has a more established ecosystem with a wide range of third-party add-ons. However, the plugin itself has seen fewer updates and innovations in recent years, leading some users to explore alternatives.

Verdict: Fluent Forms wins for its responsive development and customer-focused updates.

Final Verdict: Which is Better?

Both Gravity Forms and Fluent Forms are excellent tools, but they serve different audiences:

• Choose Fluent Forms if you are a beginner, freelancer, or small business owner looking for a cost-effective, feature-packed solution that’s easy to use and doesn’t require extensive technical expertise.
• Choose Gravity Forms if you need highly specialized features and are willing to pay for premium add-ons or licenses to meet complex business needs.

In most scenarios, Fluent Forms emerges as the better choice due to its affordability, beginner-friendly interface, and comprehensive feature set. However, Gravity Forms remains a powerful tool for advanced users and developers who prioritize flexibility and scalability.