Gravity Forms Alternative: 5 Options That Won't Break the Bank

Gravity Forms is one of the most powerful form plugins in WordPress. Complex conditional logic, calculation fields, multi-page forms with save-and-continue, post creation, user registration, developer-friendly API — it handles things that make other form plugins sweat.

But power comes at a price. Literally.

Gravity Forms has no free tier. Not a limited one. Not a demo. Nothing. The cheapest license is $59/year for a single site with basic features. Need all the add-ons? That's $259/year. And if you let your license lapse, you lose updates and support.

If you're looking for a Gravity Forms alternative — whether because of the cost, the lack of a free tier, or because you don't need a fighter jet to build a contact form — here are five real options with honest pros and cons.

Why people look for Gravity Forms alternatives

No free tier to test

Every other major form plugin offers some kind of free version. WPForms has Lite. Fluent Forms has a generous free tier. Ninja Forms' core is free. Gravity Forms asks you to commit $59 sight unseen.

Yes, there's a demo site. But demoing a form plugin online is nothing like installing it on your actual WordPress site, with your theme, your plugins, and your specific use case.

Overkill for simple forms

Gravity Forms shines when you need calculation fields, conditional payment routing, complex multi-page workflows, or developer-level customization. If you need a contact form, a quote request form, and maybe a newsletter signup — you're paying for capabilities you'll never touch.

The interface feels dated

This is subjective, but Gravity Forms' builder looks like it was designed in 2018 WordPress and hasn't been significantly refreshed since. It works. It's reliable. It's not pretty. After using WPForms or Fluent Forms, Gravity Forms' builder feels heavy.

Expensive add-on model

The $59 Basic license includes... basic features. File uploads, conditional logic, and core fields are included, but payment integrations, CRM connections, Zapier, and most third-party integrations require the Pro ($159/yr) or Elite ($259/yr) tier.

5 Gravity Forms alternatives worth considering

1. WPForms — Best overall builder UX

Price: Free (Lite) / $49–$299/yr Best for: People who want the smoothest form building experience

WPForms is the opposite of Gravity Forms in philosophy. Where Gravity Forms prioritizes power and flexibility, WPForms prioritizes user experience. The drag-and-drop builder is the best in WordPress — period. 1,800+ templates mean you rarely start from scratch.

Strengths:

• Most intuitive builder on the market
• Massive template library
• Excellent onboarding and documentation
• Large ecosystem and community

Weaknesses:

• Free tier is very limited (no entry storage, no conditional logic)
• Premium pricing can exceed Gravity Forms for equivalent features
• Less powerful for complex form logic
• No native CRM integration

Compared to Gravity Forms: Better UX, worse for complex forms. If you switched because Gravity Forms felt dated and you don't need advanced logic, WPForms is a solid upgrade in experience. If you need calculation fields or nested conditional chains, WPForms will frustrate you.

Pricing reality: WPForms Pro ($199/yr) is needed for conditional logic and most integrations — more than Gravity Forms Basic ($59/yr). You're paying for polish, not features.

2. Fluent Forms — Best value for money

Price: Free / $59–$239/yr Best for: People who want a Gravity Forms free alternative with strong capabilities

Fluent Forms occupies the sweet spot between WPForms' UX and Gravity Forms' capability. The free tier includes conditional logic, file uploads, 70+ templates, and entry storage — features that cost $59-$199/year with Gravity Forms or WPForms.

Strengths:

• Genuinely generous free tier
• Clean, modern builder interface
• Conditional logic in free version
• Good performance (38KB page weight)
• Conversational forms (unique feature)

Weaknesses:

• Not as powerful as Gravity Forms for complex calculations
• Smaller developer ecosystem
• Some advanced integrations are paid only
• Fewer third-party add-ons available

Compared to Gravity Forms: Less raw power, but 80% of the functionality at 50% of the cost — or free. If you use Gravity Forms for standard forms with conditional logic, Fluent Forms does the same thing for $0.

Best Gravity Forms free alternative? Arguably yes. The free tier delivers more useful features than any other option on this list.

3. SkunkForms — Best for CRM integration

Price: Free / Pro (bundled with SkunkCRM) Best for: Businesses that need forms feeding directly into a sales pipeline

Full disclosure: we built this one.

SkunkForms takes a completely different approach from Gravity Forms. Instead of a proprietary builder, it uses the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg). Instead of focusing on form complexity, it focuses on what happens after submission.

Strengths:

• Native CRM integration — submissions auto-create contacts, tags, deals, and pipeline stages via SkunkCRM. Free.
• Lightest page weight (22KB vs Gravity Forms' 52KB)
• Block editor native — no new interface to learn
• Form analytics built in (views, conversions, conversion rate)
• Entry storage and management in free tier

Weaknesses:

• No conditional logic in free tier yet (coming soon)
• Small template library (11 templates)
• No calculation fields
• No multi-page forms yet
• Younger plugin, smaller community

Compared to Gravity Forms: It's not a like-for-like replacement. If you need Gravity Forms' advanced logic, calculations, or developer API — SkunkForms isn't the answer. But if you use Gravity Forms for lead capture forms and then spend $200+/year on a separate CRM and Zapier to process those leads, SkunkForms replaces the entire stack for free.

The math: Gravity Forms Pro ($159/yr) + HubSpot CRM (free, but limited) + Zapier ($240/yr) = $399/year. SkunkForms + SkunkCRM = $0.

4. Formidable Forms — Best for data applications

Price: Free / $39–$299/yr Best for: Building front-end applications, directories, and data-driven views

Formidable Forms is the most underrated form plugin in WordPress. While everyone competes on builder UX, Formidable quietly built the best system for turning form submissions into front-end views — directories, filterable listings, searchable tables, and calculators.

Strengths:

• Views feature turns submissions into front-end content (unique)
• Strong calculation and logic engine
• Good developer API
• Entry storage in free tier
• Lower starting price than Gravity Forms ($39/yr vs $59/yr)

Weaknesses:

• Steeper learning curve than WPForms or Fluent Forms
• Builder interface is functional but not modern
• Views feature is powerful but complex to configure
• Smaller user community

Compared to Gravity Forms: Similar power, different focus. Gravity Forms is better for complex form logic (nested conditionals, multi-step routing). Formidable is better for complex data display (directories, filtered views, front-end applications). If you use Gravity Forms to collect data and then display it, Formidable does that natively.

5. Ninja Forms — Best free core with à la carte add-ons

Price: Free / Add-ons from $29/yr each Best for: People who want a solid free base and only pay for specific extras

Ninja Forms takes the à la carte approach. The core plugin is free and includes entry storage, basic conditional logic, and a visual builder. Need file uploads? Buy the add-on ($29/yr). Need Stripe? Buy that add-on ($49/yr). You only pay for what you use.

Strengths:

• Solid free core with entry storage and basic conditional logic
• Only pay for the features you actually need
• 40+ individual add-ons available
• Good builder with drag-and-drop
• Active development and community

Weaknesses:

• Add-on costs add up quickly (3-4 add-ons ≈ Gravity Forms license cost)
• Heaviest page weight in this list (61KB)
• Builder can feel sluggish on complex forms
• Some features feel fragmented across too many add-ons

Compared to Gravity Forms: Ninja Forms' free core gives you basic form building that Gravity Forms charges $59/yr for. But if you need 4+ add-ons, you might spend more than a Gravity Forms license while getting less integrated functionality. The sweet spot is 1-2 specific add-ons.

Quick comparison table

Which Gravity Forms alternative is right for you?

"I want a better UX for standard forms" → WPForms. Best builder, worst free tier. Budget $199/yr for Pro.

"I want the best free alternative to Gravity Forms" → Fluent Forms. Conditional logic, file uploads, and entry storage for $0.

"I want forms that feed a CRM without extra tools" → SkunkForms. Not a Gravity Forms replacement for complex forms — but replaces the form + CRM + Zapier stack for lead capture.

"I build data-heavy applications and directories" → Formidable Forms. Its views feature does things no other form plugin can.

"I only need a couple of extra features beyond basics" → Ninja Forms + 1-2 targeted add-ons. Cheaper than Gravity Forms if you're disciplined about add-on purchases.

The honest truth: if you genuinely need Gravity Forms' power — the complex calculations, the nested conditionals, the developer API — none of these are drop-in replacements. Gravity Forms earned its reputation.

But most people don't need that power. Most people need a contact form, a quote request form, maybe a booking form — and a way to do something useful with the submissions. For that, you have excellent options at a fraction of the cost.

Try SkunkForms free →