Ninja Forms is a flexible WordPress form builder with a drag-and-drop interface and a modular add-on system. The core plugin is free and includes standard form fields, email notifications, and basic form management. The add-on system lets you add features as needed — payment processing, conditional logic, file uploads, multi-step forms, and integrations with email marketing services like Mailchimp and ConvertKit. Each add-on is purchased separately, so you only pay for what you need. For users who want a free core plugin with pay-as-you-go add-ons, Ninja Forms offers more flexibility than WPForms Pro or Gravity Forms.
The plugin stores form data in custom database tables for efficient querying. It supports Action Hooks for extending form processing and Filter Hooks for customizing form display. The developer API is well-documented with examples.
Competitive Features
- Drag-and-drop builder — build forms with a visual interface and live preview
- 30+ add-ons — modular add-ons for payments, CRM, email marketing, and more
- Conditional logic — show/hide fields based on user input (add-on)
- Multi-step forms — split forms into steps with progress indicator (add-on)
- File uploads — accept file submissions with type and size limits (add-on)
- Front-end posting — create WordPress posts from form submissions (add-on)
- Payment integration — Stripe, PayPal, and Elavon for one-time payments (add-on)
Key Features
- Field types — text, email, textarea, number, select, checkbox, radio, date, file, and more
- Form templates — pre-built form templates for contact, registration, survey, and order forms
- Email notifications — automated emails with form data in customizable templates
- Success messages — customizable confirmation messages or redirects after submission
- Spam protection — built-in honeypot and Google reCAPTCHA integration
- Entry management — view, search, filter, and export all submissions from the WordPress admin
- Developer API — hooks, filters, and custom action support for extending functionality
Comparison with Competitors
Ninja Forms vs WPForms Pro
| Aspect | Ninja Forms | WPForms Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Conditional logic | Add-on | Built-in |
| Multi-step forms | Add-on | Built-in |
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal, Elavon | Stripe, PayPal, Square |
| Pre-built templates | 20+ | 300+ |
| Entry management | Yes | Yes |
Bottom line: WPForms Pro offers more features in the base subscription. Ninja Forms is more flexible if you only need specific add-ons and want to pay less overall.
Recommended Stack: Ninja Forms handles form creation. For email automation based on form submissions, integrate with FluentCRM.
Official Changelog
Version 3.15.3
Release Date: September 7, 2026
- Security: Strengthened input validation for unserialize() operations.
- Fixed: Preserve newsletter action list selection when provider connection is temporarily unavailable.
- Fixed: Encode special characters correctly in CSV submission exports.
- Fixed: Allow optional and hidden Date/Time fields to pass validation.
- Fixed: Keep rich text editor scrollbar visible and functional in all views.
Version 3.15.2
Release Date: August 31, 2026
- Security: Enforce granular two-tier permission model in Abilities API, responsibly reported by ChinhNguyen.
- Security: Neutralize shortcode brackets in IP address and referer URL merge tags, responsibly reported by Jakub Herman.
- Security: Validate repeater child field entries against server-side definitions.
- Security: Apply context-correct output escaping in legacy submissions admin.
- Security: Ensure shortcode neutralization callback is accessible for array inputs.
- Fixed: Fatal error when Date/Time field is included in a CSV email attachment.
- Fixed: Show correct Developer Mode status notice in form builder settings drawer.
Version 3.15.1
Release Date: August 24, 2026
- Security: Strengthened input validation for list field option imports.
- Fixed: Allow non-Latin characters and special symbols in list field option values.
- Fixed: Preserve HTML formatting in checkbox and radio list option labels after editing.
- Fixed: Capture time values correctly when Date/Time field is inside a Repeater.
- Fixed: Preserve user-authored HTML in rich text editor without restructuring on toggle.
- Fixed: Preserve HTML comments in Email Message field through Source/Visual toggles.
- Fixed: Keep heading-formatted text inside table cells in rich text editor.
- Fixed: Preserve nested div elements in HTML field editor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ninja Forms free?
The core plugin is free and includes standard fields, email notifications, and basic entry management. Premium add-ons for conditional logic, payments, and file uploads are sold separately.
How does the add-on system work?
Each feature is a separate add-on that you purchase individually. This means you only pay for the features you need, rather than a bundled subscription.
Does Ninja Forms support payments?
Yes. The Stripe and PayPal add-ons support one-time payments with customizable amounts and currency settings.
Can I create multi-step forms?
Yes. The multi-step form add-on lets you split forms into pages with progress indicators and per-step validation.
Is Ninja Forms developer-friendly?
Yes. Ninja Forms has extensive hooks, filters, and a documented API for custom action development.
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