---
title: Best Form Builders for WordPress in 2026 | Paperform
description: "The best form builders for WordPress compared: native plugins (Gravity Forms, WPForms) vs embedded tools (Paperform, Jotform, Typeform), ranked on customization, integrations, payments, and maintenance for 2026."
url: "https://paperform.co/form-builders/best-form-builders-for-wordpress"
type: static
generatedAt: "2026-07-26T00:52:05.841Z"
---

![](/images/og/form-builders/best-form-builders-for-wordpress.png)

# Best Form Builders for WordPress in 2026

The best form builder for most WordPress sites is **Gravity Forms**, the native plugin that outputs forms as part of your theme with the deepest developer hooks and add-on ecosystem in the WordPress world. If you'd rather embed a modern, payment-ready form without adding another plugin to maintain, **Paperform** is the strongest hosted choice. Below we rank both routes, native plugins and embedded builders, on customization, integrations, payments, and upkeep.

WordPress form tools split into two camps, and picking the wrong one is the most common mistake. **Native plugins** (Gravity Forms and WPForms) install in your admin, store submissions in your own database, and render forms inside your theme. They give you data ownership and tight WordPress integration, but you take on the updates, spam filtering, and security. **Embedded builders** (Paperform, Typeform, Jotform) host the form themselves and drop it into a page via shortcode, block, or script. They handle hosting, scaling, and compliance, and they follow you to other platforms, at the cost of living on a third-party server.

We ranked these tools by genuine WordPress fit: **integration model** (native plugin vs embed/shortcode), **design and customization** (does it inherit your theme, or does it look like a designed landing page?), **integrations and API depth**, **payments**, and **maintenance burden**. Search-volume context for 2026: native plugins dominate the WordPress form conversation, but a growing share of site owners want a hosted form that doesn't add plugin bloat.

| Feature | Gravity Forms | WPForms | Paperform | Jotform | Typeform | Cognito Forms | Formstack | Wufoo |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Form Building |
| Drag-and-drop builder | Yes  Basic | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | Yes  forms | No |
| AI form creation | No | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| 30+ field types | Yes  Basic | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Guided mode (one question at a time) | Yes  Elite | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | No | Yes  forms | No |
| Calculations field | Yes  Basic | Yes  pro | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | Yes  plus | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Design & Customization |
| Template gallery | Yes  Basic | Yes  pro | 30,000+ | 20,000+ (starter) | 1,500+ | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes |
| Rich media (images, GIFs, videos) | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Unsplash and Giphy integration | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Image editor | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Language translation | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | No | No |
| Integrations & API |
| 50+ official add-ons | Yes  Basic | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Make (Integromat) | No | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | No | No |
| Standard API | Yes  Basic | No | Yes  pro | No | No | No | Yes  forms | No |
| Business API | No | No | Yes  business | No | No | No | Yes  enterprise | No |
| oEmbed support | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |

## ![](/images/form-builders/gravity-forms/logo.png)
 #1 Gravity Forms — The Native WordPress Powerhouse

 ![Gravity Forms](/images/form-builders/gravity-forms/screenshot-homepage.png)

*Gravity Forms installs as a WordPress plugin and renders forms inside your theme, with no embed and no third-party host.*

Gravity Forms is a native WordPress plugin rather than a SaaS product: it runs entirely on your own self-hosted WordPress and outputs forms as standard themed HTML, and that's why it tops this list. You add a form with the `[gravityform]` shortcode or the block editor, submissions land in your own database, and the form inherits your theme's styling without an iframe or external request. Founded in 2008 by Rocketgenius and bootstrapped ever since, it's one of the few WordPress tools with both a long track record and no outside investors steering it.

For developers and agencies, the depth is the appeal. Gravity Forms exposes PHP action and filter hooks at every stage of the form lifecycle, an add-on framework for building custom field types and integrations, and a REST API at `/wp-json/gf/v2/` for headless WordPress patterns. The Elite license ($259/year) covers unlimited sites, which is economical across many client installs. The catch is real: it's WordPress-only, payments and CRM connections live in paid add-ons, and it carries no HIPAA or SOC 2 certification because compliance shifts to your hosting. See [Gravity Forms alternatives](/form-builders/gravity-forms-alternatives/) if you outgrow WordPress.

 - **Best for WordPress:** Native plugin for developers and agencies building complex, theme-integrated forms with deep custom logic
 - **WordPress fit:** Installs in your admin; forms render in your theme; data stays in your database; `[gravityform]` shortcode and Gutenberg block
 - **Watch out for:** WordPress-only; payments and integrations require add-ons; compliance and security are your responsibility on self-hosted WordPress

## ![](/images/form-builders/wpforms/logo.png)
 #2 WPForms — The Most Popular Native Plugin

 ![WPForms](/images/form-builders/wpforms/screenshot-homepage.png)

*WPForms is a drag-and-drop WordPress plugin with 6M+ active installs, built so non-technical site owners can manage forms themselves.*

WPForms is the most-installed WordPress form plugin anywhere, with 6,000,000+ active installs and a 4.8 average across 14,000+ WordPress.org reviews. Like Gravity Forms it's a native plugin (GPL-licensed, running on your own WordPress, storing data in your database), but it's built around approachability. The drag-and-drop builder, 2,100+ templates, and a genuinely usable free Lite tier make it the right native pick when the person editing forms is the site owner rather than a developer.

Gravity Forms rewards technical depth; WPForms rewards speed. A non-technical user can ship a contact, survey, or payment form in minutes, and Stripe payments are available even on the free tier. Paid licenses run $99 to $599/year and unlock more processors, conditional logic, and integrations. Its limits track Gravity Forms closely: it's WordPress-only, there's no standalone REST API (form data exports via CSV/XLSX/PDF), and it carries no HIPAA or SOC 2 certification. On simpler sites where the client maintains their own forms, WPForms is the lighter native option; if you need to take forms off WordPress, an embedded tool is the better starting point. See [WPForms alternatives](/form-builders/wpforms-alternatives/).

 - **Best for WordPress:** Native plugin for non-technical site owners who want a beginner-friendly drag-and-drop builder
 - **WordPress fit:** Native plugin; drag-and-drop builder; 2,100+ templates; Stripe on the free tier; block and shortcode embedding
 - **Watch out for:** WordPress-only; no standalone API; no HIPAA/SOC 2; advanced logic and integrations gated behind higher licenses

## ![](/images/form-builders/paperform/logo.svg)
 #3 Paperform — The Best Embedded Form for WordPress

 ![Paperform](/images/form-builders/paperform/screenshot-homepage.png)

*Paperform embeds on any WordPress page from a single snippet (inline, popup, slider, or popover) with no plugin to maintain.*

Paperform embeds into WordPress without installing a plugin: you paste an embed block or a one-line script into any page or post, and the form renders inline, as a popup, slider, or popover. The trade is deliberate. Rather than adding PHP, database tables, and another plugin to keep patched, you load a single asynchronous script that doesn't block your theme's render. For site owners worn down by plugin-update churn and the spam-and-security overhead of self-hosted form plugins, that's the lighter setup.

Embedding buys you design and capability that themed plugins can't match. The document-style editor produces forms that read like designed landing pages rather than themed widgets, and the Excel-style calculation engine drives conditional logic, dynamic pricing, and quoting across questions, pages, emails, and integrations with no add-on required. Payments run through five gateways natively (Stripe, PayPal, Square, Braintree, Google Pay) with subscriptions, coupons, and tax handling, so a WordPress page can sell a product or take a deposit without WooCommerce. With 2,000+ integrations, 30,000+ templates, SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance, and bundled Papersign e-signatures and Stepper workflows, Paperform replaces a stack of plugins with one hosted tool, and because the same form embeds on Shopify, Squarespace, or a static site, it follows you off WordPress. Bootstrapped and profitable since 2016, it's a stable bet for forms you don't want to rebuild later.

 - **Best for WordPress:** Embedded (no-plugin) forms when you want modern design, native payments, and calculations without WordPress bloat or maintenance
 - **WordPress fit:** Embed block or single script — inline, popup, slider, popover; no plugin install; same form works on any other platform
 - **Watch out for:** Form data lives on Paperform's hosted platform, not in your WordPress database; not a native plugin if data residency in WordPress is a hard requirement

## ![](/images/form-builders/jotform/logo.png)
 #4 Jotform — Embedded Forms With a Plugin Bridge

 ![Jotform](/images/form-builders/jotform/screenshot-homepage.png)

*Jotform embeds on WordPress via iframe, source-code embed, or an official plugin, with a HIPAA-compliant tier for regulated forms.*

Jotform is a hosted builder that reaches WordPress through an iframe embed, a full source-code embed, or an official WordPress plugin that bridges its forms into your site. Founded in 2006, it's the most established tool here, and that age shows in scale: 20,000+ templates and a HIPAA-compliant plan make it a practical embed when you need a regulated WordPress form (patient intake, medical surveys) without self-hosting compliance on a plugin.

Those same two decades of accumulation are the downside. The builder has grown sprawling, the interface feels heavy and dated next to newer tools, and forms carry a recognisable Jotform look that's hard to fully customise away, which on a brand-conscious WordPress site can read as a third-party widget. Jotform earns its place for template volume and HIPAA on an embed; if you want a form that disappears into your brand, an embed with stronger design control fits better. See [Jotform alternatives](/form-builders/jotform-alternatives/).

 - **Best for WordPress:** Embedded forms needing a huge template library or a HIPAA-compliant tier without self-hosting compliance
 - **WordPress fit:** Iframe, source-code embed, or official WordPress plugin; HIPAA plan available
 - **Watch out for:** Heavy, dated builder; recognisable Jotform styling; per-user pricing scales on team plans

## ![](/images/form-builders/typeform/logo.png)
 #5 Typeform — Embedded for Polished, Conversational Forms

Typeform embeds in WordPress through an official plugin and embed snippets, rendering its signature one-question-at-a-time experience inside your page. When a WordPress page needs a short, high-engagement survey, quiz, or lead capture that feels premium, Typeform's conversational format is the most polished on this list. It's also the most certified of the embedded options, with HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS all in place.

The same format that works so well on a quiz works against longer or multi-section WordPress forms: order pages, detailed intake, anything that benefits from showing context alongside the questions. Customisation is limited to theme colours and fonts, and you can't override the embedded layout. Pricing is steep, too: payments require the $129/month Business plan and reach only Stripe, so a WordPress page that takes payment costs far more than a five-gateway alternative. Typeform suits short, polished embedded forms; for complex or payment-heavy WordPress pages, look elsewhere. See [Typeform alternatives](/form-builders/typeform-alternatives/).

 - **Best for WordPress:** Embedded short surveys, quizzes, and lead capture where a premium, conversational feel is the goal
 - **WordPress fit:** Official WordPress plugin and embed snippets; strong compliance (HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS)
 - **Watch out for:** Conversational layout struggles with long forms; minimal customisation; payments are Stripe-only on the $129/mo Business tier

### Other WordPress-Compatible Options

**Cognito Forms** is a hosted builder that embeds in WordPress via shortcode or script, with a strong free tier, robust calculations, Stripe payments, and HIPAA compliance. It's a solid embedded pick for budget WordPress projects that still need computed fields and payment-enabled forms. See [Cognito Forms alternatives](/form-builders/cognito-forms-alternatives/).

**Formstack** is an embedded enterprise platform (forms, document generation, and e-signatures) with HIPAA compliance and a native Salesforce connector. It starts at $83/month, so it suits larger WordPress sites with regulated or document-heavy workflows rather than small-business pages. See [Formstack alternatives](/form-builders/formstack-alternatives/).

**Wufoo** is one of the oldest hosted builders (now part of SurveyMonkey), embedding in WordPress via a simple snippet. It's easy to use but dated and limited; fine for a basic contact form, but quickly outgrown by sites that need logic, design control, or payments.

## How We Ranked These for WordPress

Rather than score generic "best form builder" criteria, we weighted everything by what actually matters on a WordPress site:

 - **Integration model (30%):** Native plugin (data in your database, forms in your theme) vs embed/shortcode/script (hosted, no plugin to maintain). Both are valid; the right answer depends on whether you prioritise data ownership or low maintenance.
 - **Design & customization (25%):** Does the form inherit your theme cleanly, and can it look like part of the site rather than a bolted-on widget?
 - **Integrations & API (20%):** Native connectors, Zapier/Make coverage, REST/PHP hooks, and how easily form data reaches your other tools.
 - **Payments (15%):** Number of gateways supported and whether collecting payment on a WordPress page needs an add-on, a store plugin, or an expensive tier.
 - **Maintenance & compliance (10%):** Update churn, spam and security burden, and whether the tool carries certifications (HIPAA, SOC 2) or pushes that responsibility onto your hosting.

## Full Feature Comparison

| Feature | Gravity Forms | WPForms | Paperform | Jotform | Typeform | Cognito Forms | Formstack | Wufoo |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Form Building |
| Drag-and-drop builder | Yes  Basic | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | Yes  forms | No |
| AI form creation | No | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| 30+ field types | Yes  Basic | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Multi-page forms | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Guided mode (one question at a time) | Yes  Elite | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | No | Yes  forms | No |
| Conditional logic | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Calculations field | Yes  Basic | Yes  pro | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | Yes  plus | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| AI calculations assistant | No | No | Yes  essentials | No | No | No | No | No |
| Scoring | Yes  Elite | Yes  pro | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | Yes  plus | Yes | No | No |
| Answer piping | Yes  Basic | No | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Pre-filling and hidden fields | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Save and resume | Yes  Basic | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | No | Yes  pro | Yes  forms | No |
| Auto-close by number | No | Yes  basic | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | No | Yes  starter |
| Auto-close by date | No | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | No | Yes  starter |
| Appointment/booking field | No | No | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | No | No | No |
| Signature field | Yes  Elite | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes  team | Yes  suite | No |
| Color picker field | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| API-powered dropdowns | No | No | Yes  business | No | No | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Google address search | No | Yes  pro | Yes  business | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Document-style editor | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Field types | No | Yes  basic | 26+ | 30+ (starter) | 20+ | 20+ | 15 | Yes |
| File uploads | No | No | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | No | Yes  starter |
| Form widgets | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| Template gallery | No | No | No | 20,000+ (starter) | No | No | No | No |
| AI follow-up questions | No | No | No | No | Yes  business | No | No | No |
| AI extended thinking & memory | No | No | No | No | Yes  growth | No | No | No |
| Workflow / automation builder | No | No | No | No | Yes  growth | No | No | No |
| AI-moderated research (Research Flow) | No | No | No | No | Yes  enterprise | No | No | No |
| Video questions | No | No | No | No | Yes  basic | No | No | No |
| 400+ templates | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Payments |
| Stripe payments | Yes  Pro | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes  professional |
| PayPal payments | Yes  Pro | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | No | Yes  team | Yes  forms | Yes  professional |
| Square payments | Yes  Pro | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | No | Yes  team | No | Yes  professional |
| Braintree payments | No | No | Yes | Yes  starter | No | No | No | Yes  professional |
| Google Pay | Yes  Pro | No | Yes | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| Product sales (eCommerce) | Yes  Basic | No | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | No | Yes | No | No |
| Subscriptions | Yes  Pro | Yes  pro | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | No | No | No |
| Coupons and discounts | Yes  Elite | Yes  pro | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | No | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Custom pricing rules | No | Yes  pro | Yes  essentials | Yes  starter | No | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Tax calculations | No | No | Yes | Yes  starter | No | Yes | No | No |
| Quotes/invoices | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes  team | No | No |
| Refunds | Yes  Pro | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 3D Secure | Yes  Pro | No | Yes | No | Yes  basic | No | No | No |
| 40+ payment gateways | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| No transaction fees | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| Authorize.net payments | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes  professional |
| Design & Customization |
| Template gallery | Yes  Basic | Yes  pro | 30,000+ | 20,000+ (starter) | 1,500+ | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes |
| Rich media (images, GIFs, videos) | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Unsplash and Giphy integration | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Image editor | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Language translation | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | No | No |
| Advanced theming | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | Yes  starter | Yes  plus | Yes  pro | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Custom form URL | No | Yes  pro | Yes  pro | No | Yes  plus | No | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Custom domains | No | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | Yes  enterprise | No | No | Yes  forms | No |
| Custom HTML & CSS | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | Yes  starter | Yes  business | Yes  pro | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Remove branding | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | Yes  bronze | Yes  plus | Yes  pro | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Custom email domains | Yes  Elite | No | Yes  business | No | No | No | No | No |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Form themes | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| Theme designer | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Analytics |
| Submission results and reports | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes |
| AI report insights | No | No | Yes  pro | No | Yes  business | No | No | No |
| Paperform analytics | No | No | Yes  pro | No | No | No | Yes  forms | No |
| Google Analytics & Facebook Pixel | Yes  Elite | No | Yes  essentials | No | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | Yes  forms | No |
| Custom analytics scripts | Yes  Basic | No | Yes  pro | No | Yes  basic | No | No | No |
| Partial submissions | Yes  Elite | Yes  pro | Yes  pro | No | Yes  plus | No | Yes  forms | No |
| Drop-off analysis | No | No | Yes  pro | No | Yes  business | No | No | No |
| Form analytics | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| Google Analytics integration | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | Yes  professional |
| Collaboration |
| Multi-user accounts | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes  pro | Yes  bronze | Yes  plus | Yes  pro | Yes  forms | Yes  professional |
| User permissions and management | Yes  Basic | Yes  pro | Yes  pro | Yes  enterprise | Yes  plus | Yes  team | Yes  forms | Yes  professional |
| Advanced permissions & admin | No | Yes  elite | Yes  enterprise | Yes  enterprise | Yes  enterprise | Yes  enterprise | Yes  enterprise | No |
| Form sharing (templates) | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Spaces and tag management | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes  forms | No |
| Form sharing | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | Yes |
| Assign forms | No | No | No | Yes  enterprise | No | No | No | No |
| Workspace organization | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Security |
| SOC 2 Type II | No | No | Yes | Yes  enterprise | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| GDPR compliant | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes |
| SSL encryption | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes |
| Two-factor authentication | No | No | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | No |
| Enforce 2FA for all users | No | No | Yes  business | No | No | No | Yes  enterprise | No |
| SSO (SAML) | No | No | Yes  business | Yes  enterprise | Yes  enterprise | Yes  enterprise | Yes  enterprise | No |
| reCAPTCHA | Yes  Basic | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  business | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes |
| Local data residency | Yes  Basic | Yes | Yes  enterprise | No | No | No | No | No |
| Custom S3 storage (BYO) | No | No | Yes  business | No | No | No | No | No |
| Custom S3 storage | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| HIPAA compliant | No | No | No | Yes  gold | Yes  enterprise | No | No | No |
| 256-bit SSL | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| Data residency | No | No | No | Yes  enterprise | No | No | No | No |
| Form encryption | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| PCI DSS | No | No | No | Yes  starter | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Field encryption | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes  professional |
| Password protection | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes  professional |
| Integrations & API |
| 50+ official add-ons | Yes  Basic | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Zapier | Yes  Pro | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Make (Integromat) | No | Yes  pro | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | No | No |
| Webhooks | Yes  Elite | Yes  elite | Yes  pro | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes  starter |
| Standard API | Yes  Basic | No | Yes  pro | No | No | No | Yes  forms | No |
| Business API | No | No | Yes  business | No | No | No | Yes  enterprise | No |
| WordPress plugin | Yes  Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes  starter | Yes | Yes | Yes  forms | Yes |
| oEmbed support | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Stepper workflow automation | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 2000+ integrations | No | Yes  pro | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Native integrations | No | No | 2,000+ | 150+ (starter) | 120+ (basic) | No | No | Yes  starter |
| API | No | No | No | Yes  starter | Yes  basic | No | No | Yes |
| Salesforce AppExchange | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| Embed options | No | No | No | Yes  starter | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Mobile apps | No | No | No | Yes  starter | No | No | No | No |
| Claude / MCP server | No | No | No | No | Yes  basic | No | No | No |
| AI data enrichment | No | No | No | No | Yes  growth | No | No | No |

## Pricing Comparison

WordPress pricing models don't line up neatly: native plugins (Gravity Forms, WPForms) charge an annual per-site or unlimited-site license, while embedded builders charge monthly SaaS subscriptions. A $259/year Gravity Forms Elite license looks cheap next to a monthly SaaS plan until you add the cost of hosting, maintenance, and payment add-ons. This table shows the headline numbers so you can weigh license-plus-overhead against all-inclusive hosted pricing.
  ComparevsWith
#### Paperform
Free plan14 days trialFreeFreeforms: Unlimitedsubmissions: 30/monthstorage: 100 submissionsusers: 1file uploads: 100 MBEssentials$29/mo$24/mo billed annuallyforms: Unlimitedsubmissions: 100/monthstorage: 1,000 submissionsusers: 1file uploads: 1 GBPro$59/mo$49/mo billed annuallyforms: Unlimitedsubmissions: 1,000/monthstorage: 10,000 submissionsusers: 3file uploads: 10 GBBusiness$129/mo$99/mo billed annuallyforms: Unlimitedsubmissions: 10,000/monthstorage: 100,000 submissionsusers: 5file uploads: 100 GBVerified 2026-03-21
#### Gravity Forms
Basic—$59/mo billed annuallyforms: Unlimitedsubmissions: Unlimitedstorage: WordPress database (self-hosted)users: Unlimited (WordPress users)Pro—$159/mo billed annuallyforms: Unlimitedsubmissions: Unlimitedstorage: WordPress database (self-hosted)users: Unlimited (WordPress users)Elite—$259/mo billed annuallyforms: Unlimitedsubmissions: Unlimitedstorage: WordPress database (self-hosted)users: Unlimited (WordPress users)Nonprofit—$129/mo billed annuallyforms: Unlimitedsubmissions: Unlimitedstorage: WordPress database (self-hosted)users: Unlimited (WordPress users)Verified 2026-06-04
| Product | Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price (per month) | Free Plan | Free Trial | Limits |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Gravity Forms | Basic | Not listed | $59/mo billed annually | No | No | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, storage: WordPress database (self-hosted), users: Unlimited (WordPress users) |
| Gravity Forms | Pro | Not listed | $159/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, storage: WordPress database (self-hosted), users: Unlimited (WordPress users) |
| Gravity Forms | Elite | Not listed | $259/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, storage: WordPress database (self-hosted), users: Unlimited (WordPress users) |
| Gravity Forms | Nonprofit | Not listed | $129/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, storage: WordPress database (self-hosted), users: Unlimited (WordPress users) |
| WPForms | Lite (Free) | Free | Free | Yes | 14 days | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, users: Unlimited |
| WPForms | Basic | Not listed | $8.25/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, users: Unlimited |
| WPForms | Plus | Not listed | $16.58/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, users: Unlimited |
| WPForms | Pro | Not listed | $33.25/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, users: Unlimited |
| WPForms | Elite | Not listed | $49.92/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, users: Unlimited |
| Paperform | Free | Free | Free | Yes | 14 days | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 30/month, storage: 100 submissions, users: 1, file uploads: 100 MB |
| Paperform | Essentials | $29/mo | $24/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 100/month, storage: 1,000 submissions, users: 1, file uploads: 1 GB |
| Paperform | Pro | $59/mo | $49/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 1,000/month, storage: 10,000 submissions, users: 3, file uploads: 10 GB |
| Paperform | Business | $129/mo | $99/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 10,000/month, storage: 100,000 submissions, users: 5, file uploads: 100 GB |
| Jotform | Starter | Free | Free | Yes | No | forms: 5, submissions: 100/month, storage: 100 MB, users: 1 |
| Jotform | Bronze | $39/mo | $34/mo billed annually | forms: 25, submissions: 1,000/month, storage: 1 GB, users: 1 |
| Jotform | Silver | $49/mo | $39/mo billed annually | forms: 50, submissions: 2,500/month, storage: 10 GB, users: 1 |
| Jotform | Gold | $129/mo | $99/mo billed annually | forms: 100, submissions: 10,000/month, storage: 100 GB, users: 1 |
| Typeform | Free | Free | Free | Yes | No | forms: 10, submissions: 10/month, users: 1 |
| Typeform | Basic | $39/mo | $28/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 100/month, users: 1 |
| Typeform | Plus | $79/mo | $56/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 1,000/month, users: 3 |
| Typeform | Business | $129/mo | $91/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 10,000/month, users: 5 |
| Typeform | Growth Flow | $379/mo | $266/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Expanded, users: Expanded |
| Typeform | Talent | $169/mo | $119/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, users: HR teams |
| Cognito Forms | Individual (Free) | Free | Free | Yes | 14 days | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 100/month, storage: 100 MB, users: 1 |
| Cognito Forms | Pro | $19/mo | $16/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 2,000/month, storage: 1 GB, users: 2 |
| Cognito Forms | Team | $39/mo | $33/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 10,000/month, storage: 10 GB, users: 5 |
| Cognito Forms | Enterprise | $129/mo | $109/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: Unlimited, storage: 100 GB, users: 20 |
| Formstack | Forms | $99/mo | $83/mo billed annually | No | 14 days | forms: 25, submissions: 1,000/form, storage: 2 GB, users: 1, file uploads: 2 GB |
| Formstack | Suite | $299/mo | $250/mo billed annually | forms: 100, submissions: 5,000/form, storage: 10 GB, users: 3, file uploads: 10 GB |
| Wufoo | Free | Free | Free | Yes | No | forms: 5, submissions: 100/month, storage: N/A, users: 1 |
| Wufoo | Starter | $16.25/mo | $16.25/mo billed annually | forms: 10, submissions: 1,000/month, storage: 1 GB, users: 1 |
| Wufoo | Professional | $33.25/mo | $33.25/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 5,000/month, storage: 5 GB, users: 5 |
| Wufoo | Advanced | $83.25/mo | $83.25/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 25,000/month, storage: 10 GB, users: 20 |
| Wufoo | Ultimate | $210.25/mo | $210.25/mo billed annually | forms: Unlimited, submissions: 200,000/month, storage: 20 GB, users: 60 |

## User Ratings

Aggregate ratings from G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and the WordPress.org plugin directory. Native plugins draw enormous review volume from the WordPress community (WPForms alone has 14,000+ WordPress.org reviews), while embedded builders are rated across broader SaaS review sites.
    Paperform  4.82 / 5 (498 reviews)        G2  4.8 (78)   Capterra  4.8 (104)   GetApp  4.9 (104)   Trustpilot  4.8 (212)      WPForms  4.79 / 5 (15,911 reviews)        WordPress.org  4.8 (14,337)   G2  4.7 (969)   Capterra  4.3 (26)   Trustpilot  4.7 (579)      Jotform  4.7 / 5 (10,488 reviews)        G2  4.7 (4,849)   Capterra  4.7 (2,891)   GetApp  4.7 (2,748)      Gravity Forms  4.63 / 5 (518 reviews)        G2  4.7 (240)   Capterra  4.6 (91)   GetApp  4.6 (90)   Trustpilot  4.5 (97)      Typeform  4.63 / 5 (2,872 reviews)        G2  4.5 (969)   Capterra  4.7 (967)   GetApp  4.7 (936)      Formstack  4.4 / 5 (1,217 reviews)        G2  4.5 (1,075)   Capterra  4 (120)   Trustpilot  1.6 (22)      Wufoo  4.32 / 5 (717 reviews)        G2  4.2 (295)   Capterra  4.4 (222)   GetApp  4.4 (200)      Cognito Forms  4.24 / 5 (740 reviews)        G2  4.6 (84)   Capterra  4.7 (182)   Trustpilot  4 (474)
## The Bottom Line for WordPress

If your forms should live inside WordPress, with data in your own database and output in your theme, a native plugin is the right call: **Gravity Forms** for complex, developer-led builds, **WPForms** for friendly, owner-managed sites. If you'd rather skip the plugin and embed a modern form that takes payments, runs calculations, and follows you to other platforms, **Paperform** is the best hosted choice. The real question is less about which form builder and more about where the data should sit: inside WordPress, or just on the page. Settle that and the shortlist narrows quickly. For the wider field, see our [complete list of the best form builders](/form-builders/best-form-builders/).

## Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a native WordPress form plugin and an embedded form builder?

A **native plugin** (Gravity Forms, WPForms) installs inside your WordPress admin, stores submissions in your own database, and outputs forms as part of your theme, so nothing leaves your server unless you add an integration. An **embedded form builder** (Paperform, Typeform, Jotform) hosts the form on its own infrastructure and drops it into a page via a shortcode, block, or script tag. The trade-off is control versus maintenance: native plugins give you data ownership but make you responsible for updates, spam, and security patching; embedded tools handle hosting, scaling, and compliance for you but live on a third-party platform. For a deeper look at this divide, see our [open-source vs hosted form builders guide](/form-builders/open-source-vs-hosted-form-builders/).

Will a hosted form builder slow down my WordPress site like a heavy plugin can?

It can actually be the opposite. Every active plugin adds PHP execution, database queries, and update overhead to your WordPress install, and form plugins with large add-on stacks are a common culprit in bloated sites. An embedded tool like **Paperform** loads a single asynchronous script that renders after your page, so it doesn't block your theme's render path or add tables to your database. The trade-off is a third-party request to the form host. If your priority is keeping the WordPress install lean and avoiding plugin-update churn, an embedded form is often the lighter choice; if you need the form data in your own database, a native plugin wins.

Can I collect payments through a form on WordPress without buying WooCommerce?

Yes, and the form builder you pick changes how much that costs. **Paperform** embeds on any WordPress page and processes payments through five gateways natively (Stripe, PayPal, Square, Braintree, and Google Pay) with subscriptions, coupons, and tax calculations built in, no WooCommerce required. **Gravity Forms** handles payments through paid add-ons (Stripe, PayPal, Square) on its Pro and Elite licenses. **WPForms** adds Stripe on its free tier and more processors on paid plans. **Typeform** only reaches Stripe and requires its $129/month Business plan to do so. For a WordPress page that takes a deposit, sells a product, or collects a booking fee, Paperform's five-gateway support is the broadest without bolting a full store onto your site.

Is Gravity Forms or WPForms better for a WordPress site?

Pick based on who maintains the forms. **Gravity Forms** is the heavier, more extensible option, with PHP hooks, an add-on framework, and developer tooling that suit complex builds where a developer owns the site. **WPForms** is the friendlier drag-and-drop option with 2,100+ templates and a free tier, better when a non-technical site owner needs to edit forms themselves. Both are commercial GPL plugins that run entirely on your self-hosted WordPress, so both make you responsible for updates and spam. If you want a form that looks like a designed landing page rather than a themed widget, and you're comfortable embedding rather than installing a plugin, **Paperform** is the alternative to both.

Are WordPress form plugins HIPAA or SOC 2 compliant?

Mostly not, and this catches people out. Neither **Gravity Forms** nor **WPForms** is HIPAA or SOC 2 compliant; because they run on your own self-hosted WordPress, compliance becomes your responsibility (your hosting, your encryption, your safeguards). Among the embedded options here, **Paperform** is SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliant, **Formstack** and **Jotform** offer HIPAA-compliant plans with a signed BAA, and **Cognito Forms** offers HIPAA compliance. If you're collecting patient data, payment data under strict policies, or anything that needs an audited platform, an embedded compliant tool is safer than self-hosting a plugin on shared WordPress hosting.

How do I add a form to WordPress without writing code?

Two routes, both no-code. With a **native plugin** (WPForms, Gravity Forms), you build the form in the WordPress admin and drop it into a page using a block or shortcode like `[gravityform id="1"]`. With a **hosted builder**, you design the form on the platform, then paste an embed block or a one-line script into any page or post; **Paperform**, for example, embeds inline, as a popup, slider, or popover from a single snippet. The hosted route avoids installing and maintaining another plugin; the plugin route keeps the form and its data inside WordPress. Either way you never touch PHP.

Which form builder works on WordPress and on other platforms too?

If you run WordPress today but also manage a Shopify store, a Squarespace page, or a static landing page, a native plugin won't follow you, since Gravity Forms and WPForms only exist inside WordPress. **Paperform**, **Typeform**, and **Jotform** are platform-agnostic: the same form embeds on WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, Squarespace, or a bare HTML page. For agencies and businesses with a mixed stack, standardising on one embedded builder avoids rebuilding the same form in two tools. Paperform is the most versatile of the three because it pairs that portability with design control and native payments. See our [best form builders for agencies](/form-builders/best-form-builders-for-agencies/) guide for the multi-platform angle.

## Sources & References

 1. [The 8 best WordPress form plugins](https://zapier.com/blog/best-wordpress-form-plugin/) — Zapier, 2026
2. [The Best WordPress Form Plugin in 2026 (Tested & Proven)](https://optinmonster.com/best-wordpress-form-builder-plugins/) — OptinMonster, 2026
3. [WPForms — active install and review data](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpforms-lite/) — WordPress.org Plugin Directory, 2026

## Updates

We re-audit the form builders we compare on a regular cadence and log every change here — a public record of what changed and when.

- Updated June 26, 2026 — Initial publication: ranked native WordPress plugins (Gravity Forms, WPForms) and embedded builders (Paperform, Jotform, Typeform, plus Cognito Forms, Formstack, Wufoo) by WordPress-specific fit.

Last updated June 26, 2026

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