Contact Form 7 has been the go-to free form plugin for over a decade. But it's showing its age. Here's why we think it's time for something better.
[text* your-name]| Feature | SkunkForms | Contact Form 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Visual form builder | Block editor native | Code-based shortcodes |
| Drag-and-drop | Yes | No |
| Entry storage | Yes (built-in) | No (email only) |
| View submissions in WP | Yes | Requires add-on |
| Conditional logic | Included free | Requires add-on |
| Multi-step forms | Pro | Requires add-on |
| File uploads | Pro | Basic support |
| Styling options | Built-in | Requires CSS |
| Spam protection | Built-in (multiple options) | Akismet / reCAPTCHA |
| Built-in CRM | Free (Pro CRM included) | No |
| Auto-create contacts | Yes (free) | No |
| Deal pipeline | Yes (free) | No |
| Email campaigns | Pro (CRM Pro included) | No |
| Learning curve | Easy (visual) | Moderate (shortcodes) |
| Price | Free + Pro options | Free |
It's free. It's lightweight. It works. For a simple contact form that emails you when someone fills it out, CF7 does the job. It's been battle-tested on millions of sites. And if you know shortcode syntax, you can build forms quickly.
Visual builders are just easier. Storing entries in WordPress (not just email) is essential for tracking. And the biggest gap: CF7 has no concept of what happens after the form is submitted. The lead goes to email and... that's it. No CRM, no pipeline, no follow-up automation.
If you've been using CF7 for years and it works — maybe don't change. But if you're building new forms, or if you've ever thought "I wish I could see my submissions in WordPress" or "I wish my form leads went somewhere useful" — that's exactly why we built SkunkForms.
No credit card. No trial. Free forever.