WPForms Pro: 7 Must-Have Features

Having a contact form on your site is, in my opinion, essential. On WordPress, there are not many options: you have to use a plugin. Among the best-known form plugins, WPForms stands out. Indeed, the feature that is found on almost all websites is the contact form. Whether it is for a showcase site, an online store, a portfolio or a blog, the goal is to share information and make yourself known, sell services or products, or even talk about your passions...

This is all well and good, but if no one can contact us, it’s a real shame. This is where a plugin to create one or more contact forms becomes essential. WPForms is one of the most used plugins, with over 6 active installations and a rating of 000/000 on WordPress.

What is WPForms?

WPForms is a freemium WordPress plugin that allows you to design various types of forms (contact, payment, subscription, survey, etc.) without requiring programming skills, thanks to pre-designed templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It stands out for its ease of use and flexibility.

Awesome Motive offers several well-established tools and plugins in the WordPress ecosystem, such as Monster Insights, which allows you to integrate Google Analytics with WordPress; Optin Monster, to create opt-in forms; SeedProd, a useful plugin for creating maintenance pages or "Coming Soon !!", as well as landing pages; All in One SEO, an extension for improve natural referencing (SEO); Smash Balloon, which allows you to integrate news feeds from various social networks (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) into WordPress; and the specialized site WPBeginner (in English).

WPForms comes in two versions: a free version (WPForms lite) that you can install and activate directly from your WordPress dashboard, and a premium version (WPForms Pro) available at from $ 49,50 a year.

WPForms Basic Formula

The most affordable paid plan allows you to create unlimited forms, but is limited to a single website. It includes the essential features: form templates, advanced fields, conditional logic, adding attachments, notifications, spam protection, multi-page forms, thank you pages, and more. As for support, the Basic plan offers access to standard customer service.

WPForms Plus Formula

The Plus plan includes all the features of the Basic plan while offering the same type of support. However, it allows you to use the plugin on up to three different sites. One of the main benefits of the Plus plan is access to integrations with various marketing software such as:

• Mailchimp
• AWeber
• constant Contact
• GetResponse
• Campaign Monitor
• Drip
• Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
• MailerLite

With this plan, you also get automation features like advanced workflows and contact segmentation.

WPForms Pro Formula

According to WPForms, the Pro plan offers the best value for money. It includes all the features of the Plus plan, but extends the installation limit from three to five websites and offers priority support. Some of the most interesting features include the ability to accept payments and subscriptions (via PayPal and Square in addition to Stripe) or coupons without transaction fees. This plan also offers advanced form features: more than 800 models, surveys, electronic signatures, geolocation, compatibility with Google Sheets, etc.

In terms of integrations, WPForms offers integrations with Zapier here, allowing you to connect the plugin to over 5 apps different and create automations. In addition, several very interesting conversion tools are accessible: conversational forms, landing pages, abandoned cart recovery, lead generation, etc.

WPForms Elite Formula

WPForms' most expensive plan removes all installation limitations. It offers premium support and additional integrations:

• Authorize.Net
• Salesforce
• ActiveCampaign
• HubSpot
• Webhooks

Additionally, WPForms Elite plan includes advanced site management tools: multisite support, access management, client management, and more.

Advantages of WPForms

One of the biggest selling points of WPForms is its ease of use. No matter your technical skill level, the drag-and-drop form builder is very accessible. Plus, the free version offers a lot of great features, like Stripe integration for receiving payments.
By opting for the paid version, you will have access to many additional tools, including the most popular email marketing and CRM software. And if you don’t find your favorite tools, you can always use Zapier to create automations and improve your productivity.

Disadvantages of WPForms

Despite its many positives, WPForms does have some drawbacks. The main obstacle, in my opinion, is the cost of the premium paid plans, which is relatively high. Unless you stick to the cheapest plan, expenses can quickly add up.

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How to install and configure WPForms?

You may not take my word for it. I’m going to provide you with a step-by-step guide to installing and using WPForms. We’ll explore all the features of the version together. Start by installing and activating the plugin. The quickest way is through your WordPress dashboard. In Extensions> Add, type “WPForms” in the search bar.

Hit “Install Now” and then don’t forget to activate the plugin right after. If you followed these steps exactly, you’ll see a new menu called “WPForms” appear in your admin interface. After this step, you’ll be taken to the plugin’s overview page, which has several sections:

• Testimonials from satisfied customers
• A video tutorial to help you create your first form
• A button to start creating your first form
• Another button to consult the official guide
• A section called “Take the WPForms Challenge” (create a form in less than 5 minutes)
• A list of WPForms features and modules (free and paid)
• A link to upgrade to PRO subscription

Create your first contact form

Generally, use the menu WPForms > Add. WPForms then offers you two options: give your form a name (for example: Contact Form 1) and choose a form template. You can filter by categories in the left column. In the free version, WPForms offers 25 different types of forms. For example, you will find classic templates for creating a contact form, a registration form, or even a newsletter subscription form.

When the button is clicked Create your form, we find ourselves in the full screen editor/builder:

After selecting the desired form template, WPForms directs you to its customization interface. A very appreciable point to note: all the menus are fully translated into French, which makes navigation easier and avoids getting lost in obscure options.

The interface is otherwise clear and easy to read. It can be divided into four areas:

• The left sidebar (area 1 in the screenshot below) allows you to make general settings for your form (configuration, fields, settings, marketing, payments);
• Right next to it, in blue (zone 2), you have access to two tabs to add fields to your form and customize them in more detail (“Field Options” tab);
• In the center of the screen (area 3), you can see a preview of how your form will render. All your changes (adding or modifying a field) are visible in real time;
• At the top of the page (area 4), a bar allows you to save, preview, and embed your form into your content.

Adding a field is very simple: select the one you want, then drag and drop it to the preview of your form. Drag and drop also allows you to change the order of all your fields and reposition them as you wish.

A simple click on the field of your choice allows you to edit it. WPForms then redirects you to the “ Field Options ", which includes three sub-tabs:
« General » : this is where you can change the wording and format of each field to translate them into French (unless your target audience is English-speaking, of course).

You can also choose whether filling in the field is mandatory to submit the form (by disabling the small “ Necessary ", it will not be anymore); " Advanced » allows you to adjust the size of the field, add CSS classes, or even hide the label; « Intelligent logic » is a feature reserved for Pro users, allowing you to add logical conditions to your form.

Customize email notifications

Once the fields are defined, we focus on the form settings. The settings section includes several tabs:
General: Form name and description, submit button text, form CSS classes, etc.

Spam protection and security: enable or disable protection, save spam in the database, impose a minimum delay before validating a form (to counter bots that are faster than humans), add CAPTCHA personalized, etc.
Notifications
Confirmations

PRO versions offer many additional options: conversational forms, abandonment forms, surveys, webhooks, etc.
However, it is on the Notifications tab that we will spend the most time. This tab allows you to customize the automatic emails sent by the plugin when a user fills out a form.

Embed the form into the content

The last step in this process of creating a form with Contact Form by WPForms is to integrate it into your WordPress site. By clicking on the “Integration” button at the top of the page, WPForms will allow you to either choose a page to integrate your form into, or to create a new page. You can of course opt for this method. In what follows, I will explain how to do this using a Gutenberg block or a shortcode, through two common scenarios.

You have a nice Contact page and want to include a form on it? Go to the page in question and choose the location where you want to insert your form. At this point, you have two options: either add the “WPForms” block and choose the appropriate form; or add the “Shortcode” block by filling in the shortcode associated with your form (eg: [ wpforms id="5"]).

WPForms User Reviews

WPForms has a very good reputation among both Lite and PRO users. On WordPress, the plugin has a rating of 4,9/5 based on over 14 reviews.

The main advantages that stand out are the ease of use, the variety of form templates and the efficiency of customer service. On the other hand, among the negative feedback, several users express their dissatisfaction with not being able to access user data (Entries section) with the Lite version.

However, this information is available in confirmation emails, requiring you to manually enter it. Additionally, several people have reported receiving spam after installing the extension.

Best WPForms Plugin Add-ons

1. Form Templates Pack

The Form Templates Pack is an essential tool for anyone looking to create forms quickly and efficiently. With a vast collection of pre-designed templates, this add-on allows users to choose from designs that suit a variety of needs, such as contact forms, registration forms, survey forms, and more. Each template is designed to be user-friendly and is easily customizable, meaning even those without design experience can create attractive forms in just a few clicks.

One of the main advantages of this add-on is the time-saving it offers. Instead of starting from scratch, you can simply select a template that suits your needs and modify it according to your preferences. This is especially useful for businesses or bloggers who need to create multiple forms for different purposes. Moreover, the templates are conversion-optimized, meaning they are designed to entice visitors to fill out the form.

By using the Form Templates Pack, you can also ensure that your forms are responsive, adapting perfectly to all devices, whether it’s a desktop, tablet or smartphone. This is crucial in a world where more and more users access the internet via their mobile devices. In short, the Form Templates Pack is an invaluable addition to WPForms, making form creation not only quick, but also efficient and aesthetically pleasing.

2. Payment Integrations

L'Payment Integrations add-on WPForms turns your site into an eCommerce platform by allowing you to accept payments directly through your forms. Whether you want to sell products, accept donations, or offer services, this add-on makes the payment process easy with integrations with popular platforms like PayPal and Stripe.

One of the main advantages of this add-on is its ease of use. You don’t need to be a tech expert to set up payments. With an intuitive interface, you can easily add payment options to your existing forms or create new payment forms in a few simple steps. This allows businesses to start accepting online payments without any hassle.

Additionally, payment integrations are secure, giving your customers the peace of mind they need when entering their financial information. Customization is also a strong point, as you can adjust payment fields to your specific needs, whether it’s fixed amounts, variable amounts, or recurring subscriptions.

By integrating payment options into your forms, you can also track transactions and manage orders directly from your WordPress dashboard, making it easier to manage your business. All in all, the Payment Integrations addon is a powerful tool that allows you to leverage your WordPress site to generate revenue while providing a smooth and secure user experience.

3. Survey and Polls

WPForms Survey and Polls addon is a valuable tool for businesses, bloggers, and researchers who want to collect feedback and opinion data. With this addon, you can create interactive surveys and polls that engage your visitors and allow them to share their thoughts on various topics.

Creating surveys is a breeze with a user-friendly interface that guides you through the process. You can choose from different question types, such as multiple choice, rating scales, or open-ended responses, to get detailed information. Plus, you can customize the look of your surveys to fit perfectly with your site’s aesthetic.

One of the great advantages of this add-on is the ability to analyze the results in real time. You can visualize the responses in the form of graphs and tables, which makes it easier to interpret the collected data. This is especially useful for companies that want to understand their customers' preferences or for researchers who need accurate data for their studies.

By using Survey and Polls, you can also encourage your visitors to participate by offering incentives, such as discounts or sweepstakes. This increases the participation rate and allows you to collect a larger volume of data. In short, this add-on is a must-have tool for anyone who wants to understand their audience and improve their services or products through valuable feedback.

4. Email Marketing Integrations

WPForms’ Email Marketing Integrations add-on is a must-have for any business looking to grow their subscriber list and improve their email marketing efforts. By connecting your forms to popular services like Mailchimp, AWeber, and Constant Contact, you can easily collect email addresses and manage your marketing campaigns.

Setting up this add-on is quick and easy. Once you’ve connected your email marketing account, you can choose which lists you want to add subscribers to directly from your forms. This means that every time a visitor fills out a form, their information is automatically added to your list, saving you the hassle of doing it manually.

Another important benefit is the ability to segment your subscribers. You can create specific forms for different segments of your audience, allowing you to send more targeted and relevant messages. This increases engagement and improves your email open rates because subscribers receive information that actually interests them.

Additionally, the add-on offers customization options for your forms, allowing you to adapt them to your brand and marketing goals. By integrating Email Marketing into your forms, you maximize your lead collection efforts and ensure smooth communication with your subscribers. All in all, this add-on is an essential tool for any effective digital marketing strategy.

5. User Registration

WPForms User Registration addon is ideal for sites that require user registration, such as forums, membership sites, or online course platforms. This addon allows visitors to create an account on your site, providing a personalized and engaging experience.

Creating a registration form is simple and intuitive. You can add custom fields to collect necessary information, such as name, email, and other relevant details. Additionally, you can set up email notifications to notify users of their registration or to welcome them to your site.

One of the great things about this add-on is the ability to manage user roles and permissions. This allows you to control who has access to which parts of your site, which is crucial for membership sites or exclusive content platforms. You can also create login and password reset forms, providing a complete user experience.

By integrating user registration into your site, you can also collect valuable data about your visitors, which helps you better understand your audience and tailor your offers accordingly. In short, the User Registration add-on is a powerful tool that improves interaction with your users and enriches the overall experience on your site.

6. Post Submissions

The WPForms Post Submissions addon is a fantastic tool for sites that want to allow users to submit content, whether it’s blog posts, comments, or other types of user-generated content. This addon makes it easy to collect contributions from your audience while maintaining control over the content that’s published.

With Post Submissions, you can create custom forms that make it easy for users to submit their articles or ideas. You can set required fields, such as title, content, categories, and tags, ensuring that submissions meet your quality standards.

One of the main benefits of this add-on is the ability to moderate submissions before they are published on your site. This allows you to maintain a certain level of quality and relevance in the content you publish. Additionally, you can set up email notifications to be informed as soon as a new submission is made, allowing you to react quickly.

The Post Submissions add-on is also useful for engaging your community. By allowing users to contribute, you foster a sense of ownership and involvement. This can also increase traffic to your site, as contributors are often incentivized to share their content with their own network.

7. Conditional Logic

WPForms Conditional Logic addon is a powerful tool for creating dynamic and interactive forms. With this feature, you can show or hide fields based on users’ previous responses, making your forms more relevant and tailored to each user’s needs.

Setting up conditional logic is simple and intuitive. You can define rules based on user responses, allowing additional questions to be displayed only when necessary. For example, if a user selects “Yes” to a question, an additional field can appear to collect additional information. This simplifies the user experience and reduces the time it takes to complete the form.

One of the great things about this add-on is that it allows you to reduce the number of fields visible at any given time, making the form less intimidating for users. A cleaner, more focused form is often more likely to be completed, which can increase your conversion rates.

Additionally, conditional logic can be used to personalize the user experience. For example, you can display specific confirmation messages or thank yous based on the answers provided, increasing user engagement and satisfaction.

8. Form Abandonment Lead Capture

WPForms Form Abandonment Lead Capture addon is an essential tool for maximizing conversion of your site visitors. It targets a common problem: users who start filling out a form but abandon before submitting it. With this addon, you can capture information from users who abandon the process, allowing you to recover potential leads.

The main feature of this add-on is the ability to save data entered by users, even if they don’t submit the form. This means you can retrieve valuable information, such as names and email addresses, which allows you to follow up with these users later. For example, you can send them a follow-up email to remind them to complete their submission or offer them an incentive to do so.

One of the great things about this add-on is that it helps you understand why users abandon their forms. By analyzing the data collected, you can identify friction points in your form and make improvements to reduce the abandonment rate in the future.

Additionally, this add-on can be integrated with other email marketing tools, allowing you to automate the process of following up and re-engaging users. This increases your chances of converting these leads into customers.