What are Gravity Forms? (+ Alternatives)

Gravity Forms is not just another form builder. 

It’s a solid solution tailored for WordPress sites with unparalleled flexibility and power in capturing data. It engages users and streamlines workflows.

But what exactly makes Gravity Forms stand out in a sea of plugins? 

Let’s check Gravity Forms and explore the features that set it apart, along with some alternatives for those curious minds seeking different flavors.

What are Gravity Forms?

Gravity Forms reigns supreme as a premium form builder plugin designed to create powerful and custom forms with ease. 

With its suite of features, add-ons, and integrations, it allows users to craft everything from simple contact forms to complex multi-page surveys with conditional logic – all without the need for custom code.

Key features of Gravity Forms

Here’s what makes Gravity Forms special. 👇

#1  Intuitive form builder interface

Gravity Forms features a user-friendly drag-and-drop form builder. It enables both novices and professionals to create custom forms tailored to their site’s needs. 

This powerful feature allows for the seamless addition and organization of form fields, and makes building contact forms, surveys, and user submissions a breeze. With an emphasis on usability, the form builder is designed to integrate flawlessly with any WordPress site, providing a straightforward solution for capturing user data.

#2 Advanced conditional logic

The magic of conditional logic within Gravity Forms transforms forms from static to dynamic. It offers personalized form experiences based on user responses. 

Form creators can show or hide fields, sections, or even pages based on user selections. Whether you’re tailoring a survey or creating a nuanced user registration form, conditional logic ensures that your forms are smart, responsive, and highly engaging.

#3 Comprehensive entry management

Gravity Forms excels in managing form entries. Users leverage a powerful backend system to review, edit, and manage data submitted through forms. 

They can be sure that every piece of data captured through your WordPress site is easily accessible, sortable, and actionable. 

#4 Extensive integration capabilities

With a wealth of add-ons and integration options, Gravity Forms connects your forms to a multitude of services and applications. For example, email marketing services like MailChimp, payment platforms, and even Google Sheets. 

Seamless integration extends the functionality of your forms and allows for automated workflows that save time. 

No matter if it’s sending data to sales reports or triggering email notifications, Gravity Forms acts as a bridge between your site and the tools you use every day.

#5 Customization and flexibility

The true power of Gravity Forms lies in its customization capabilities. 

Through an extensive array of form fields, settings, and custom code snippets, users can tailor forms precisely to their needs. 

From designing a unique contact form to creating a bespoke booking system, Gravity Forms provides the tools necessary to make your vision a reality. It also ensures that each form perfectly aligns with your site’s branding and workflow requirements.

#6 Powerful data capture and reporting

Gravity Forms comes with advanced fields and features that collect detailed information and insights. 

Coupled with its ability to integrate with analytics and reporting tools, this form builder plugin becomes an indispensable asset for data-driven decision-making. 

Are you interested in understanding user behavior, gathering market research, or tracking form performance? Gravity Forms may deliver the data you need in an actionable format.

#7 Security and reliability

With regular updates, robust form submission protocols, and a team dedicated to safeguarding your data, Gravity Forms ensures that your form data is protected against threats and vulnerabilities. 

The peace of mind allows you to focus on creating engaging forms, knowing your and your users’ data is secure.

#8 Responsive design and compatibility

Gravity Forms makes every form look great and function well on any device. 

Responsive design principles are baked into the plugin, guaranteeing that your forms are accessible and user-friendly, regardless of how your audience accesses your site. 

Both responsiveness and compatibility with major browsers and WordPress themes, ensure that your forms integrate seamlessly into your website, providing a consistent and professional user experience.

Why look for Gravity Forms alternatives for surveys?

As good as it sounds, the tool also has downsides.

01 Seeking simplicity and user-friendliness

Gravity Forms is a powerful solution for WordPress sites, but its complexity can be overwhelming for users seeking simplicity in survey creation. 

There are many advanced features and add-ons, which are beneficial for comprehensive form building. But they might not be suitable for those who need to quickly create and deploy surveys without a steep learning curve. 

Alternatives may offer a more straightforward, user-friendly interface: quick survey setup, easy gathering of data without delving into complex settings, and the lack of extensive training.

02 Cost-effective solutions with free options

Gravity Forms is a premium plugin that comes with a cost, which may not be ideal for small businesses or individuals on a tight budget. 

Some other tools offer free versions with enough features to conduct effective surveys, providing a cost-effective solution without compromising on the quality of data capture. 

Free plans can also be a great way for users to test and evaluate the tool’s effectiveness before committing to a paid plan. They can check if they want to invest in the right tool for their needs.

03 Diverse range of pre-designed survey templates

One of the reasons to explore alternatives is the access to a wider variety of pre-designed survey templates or question banks. With Gravity Forms you can create custom forms. 

On top of that, users might find it time-consuming to design surveys from scratch. 

SurveyLab is equipped with an extensive library of ready-to-use survey templates tailored to specific industries or purposes, such as customer feedback, employee satisfaction, or market research. 

It speeds up the survey creation process and ensures that the surveys are optimized for higher response rates.

04 Enhanced Integration with email marketing and CRM platforms

Although Gravity Forms offers integrations with platforms like Mailchimp, users looking to maximize their survey potential might seek alternatives with more advanced or specialized integration capabilities. 

For example, seamless integration with a broader range of email marketing services, CRM systems, and other business tools. 

So the ones that enable automate follow-ups, segment contacts based on survey responses, and personalize marketing efforts.

05 Superior analytics and reporting for informed decisions

Understanding survey data is crucial for making informed decisions, and users might look for tools that provide detailed insights into response patterns, completion rates, and respondent behavior. 

The features can help identify trends, gauge customer satisfaction, and tailor future surveys. 

Superior analytics tools can turn survey data into actionable insights, and empower businesses to make strategic adjustments based on solid data rather than assumptions.

Best alternatives to Gravity Forms

As you can see, Gravity Form is not ideal. It just might not work with everyone and their needs. That’s why we’ve provided you with the most powerful alternatives.

#1 Surveylab

When scouting for the best alternatives to Gravity Forms, Surveylab emerges as a beacon for those seeking powerful data capture and the finesse of building custom forms. 

Unlike the traditional complexities associated with Gravity Forms add-ons, Surveylab offers a streamlined experience that simplifies the form entry and submission process.

Why choose Surveylab?

• Ease of use ➡️ Jump straight into creating new forms with Surveylab’s intuitive form editor. It’s designed for efficiency, allowing you to start creating with minimal fuss.
• Integration capabilities ➡️ Integrate WordPress seamlessly, connecting with essential services like Mailchimp for email marketing and automating email notifications—a key feature missing from many Gravity Forms add-ons.
• Advanced customization ➡️ With Surveylab, customize your surveys to reflect your brand, leveraging premium features without needing a Gravity Forms team. The block editor and powerful add-ons empower you to tailor every detail.
• Dynamic data handling ➡️ Experience powerful data capture fueled by advanced analytics. Surveylab not only makes handling Gravity Forms data and entries simpler but also enhances your ability to send data and generate actionable insights.
• Comprehensive support ➡️ Whether it’s setting up payment forms or crafting a Gravity Forms newsletter, Surveylab provides extensive support and resources to ensure you’re never left in the dark.

Overview

In the quest for a most powerful solution that embodies the spirit of what using Gravity Forms aims to achieve, Surveylab stands out. 

It represents a blend of simplicity, power, and integration prowess, marking it as a top choice for those looking to connect, control, and customize their online forms without the intricate dance of Gravity Forms add ons. 

Surveylab encourages you to rethink what’s possible, pushing the boundaries of building custom forms on your WordPress site.

#2 Wufoo

Wufoo positions itself as an alternative to Gravity Forms, bringing to the table its own set of form settings and powerful features. 

However, it’s essential to approach this tool with a critical eye, especially for those deeply entrenched in the Gravity Forms ecosystem.

Points to consider

• Integration and flow ➡️ While Wufoo offers a Mailchimp Gravity Forms integration, its connectivity with other services, especially within WordPress, doesn’t always match the seamless Gravity Flow achieved by Gravity Forms. Users may find the integration process more manual and less intuitive.
• Customization limitations ➡️ Wufoo allows you to create a new form with ease, but when it comes to customization, the platform may fall short. The Gravity Forms add on system provides a broader range of options for tailoring form appearance and functionality.
• Feature set ➡️ Although Wufoo comes with a variety of powerful features, it may not fully satisfy those looking for the advanced capabilities that Gravity Forms entries manipulation and form settings control offer.
• User experience ➡️ Submitting a form should be straightforward for the end-user. However, some users might find Wufoo’s submit form process to be clunkier compared to the smooth experience Gravity Forms makes possible.

Overview

Wufoo provides a viable solution for those seeking an easy-to-use email marketing service and form builder. 

Despite this, for WordPress users accustomed to the depth of customization and integration Gravity Forms add on provides, Wufoo might feel like a step back. 

Its strength lies in simplicity and basic form creation. But for those needing deeper forms entries management, complex email notifications, and a richer set of add ons, Wufoo may prompt considerations for what you might be compromising on.

#3 SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey strides into the arena as a heavyweight contender against Gravity Forms, particularly lauded for its powerful data capture fueled by intuitive survey creation and analysis tools.

While not a direct WordPress plugin, SurveyMonkey’s versatility in creating custom forms and gathering Gravity Forms entries—figuratively speaking—offers a unique perspective on data collection outside the WordPress ecosystem.

Points to consider

• Platform independence ➡️ Unlike Gravity Forms, which is tethered to WordPress, SurveyMonkey provides a platform-agnostic solution. This means broader access for users to create a new form or edit existing ones without being limited to a single CMS. However, this independence also means a lack of direct integration into WordPress, potentially complicating workflows for those committed to the WordPress environment.
• Integration capabilities ➡️ SurveyMonkey’s ability to connect with a range of services, including Mailchimp for email marketing and Google Sheets for data analysis, is commendable. While it may not offer the same gravity flow of data directly within WordPress, it provides powerful add-ons to automate and streamline data management.
• User Experience and accessibility ➡️ SurveyMonkey shines in user experience, offering a free tier that allows individuals and small teams to create, edit, and distribute surveys with ease. Its interface is designed for quick adoption, allowing any person or user to jump in and start creating surveys without a steep learning curve.
• Email notifications and data analysis ➡️ For those used to the email notification system and detailed entries analysis within Gravity Forms, SurveyMonkey offers robust alternatives. Its automatic notification system and advanced analytics tools provide deep insights into survey responses, making it easier to understand and act on collected data.
• Payment forms and advanced features ➡️ SurveyMonkey’s capabilities extend into collecting payments and donations, although it may not offer the same level of integration with payment gateways as seen in Gravity Forms. For those looking for simple payment forms, it serves as a practical, albeit less integrated, alternative.

Conclusion

As you can see, Gravity Form is a decent plugin, but it’s not the best. 

If you don’t have time to learn the tool and how it works, Surveylab would be an excellent choice. It’s simple and powerful, and it provides a free trial, so if you don’t need the extensive survey capabilities, it’s a tool for you.

Sign up for Surveylab and grab your free trial.

FAQ on Gravity Forms