The Ninja Forms Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Ninja Forms in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Ninja Forms
The Insider’s Guide
WordPress form builder with a free core and paid add-ons
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among form and survey tools, read from Ninja Forms’s own pages.
Made by Saturday Drive, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Ninja Forms’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Ninja Forms’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 41 of the 60 other form and survey tools we grade
Ninja Forms is a WordPress form plugin whose core builder is free and open source. Paid yearly plans bundle add-ons for conditional logic, file uploads, email marketing, payment gateways, CRMs and automation, and each plan covers a set number of sites.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Ninja Forms, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You build each form inside the WordPress admin.
- 1
Best for a free WordPress form core with paid add-ons
Ninja Forms is a WordPress form builder with a free core and paid add-ons.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $99 per year for 3 sites, after a first year at $59.40.
- 3
There is a free plan
Core plugin is free: unlimited submissions, spam protection and 28+ form fields; add-ons are optional.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Free open-source core
The plugin on WordPress.org is the complete free form builder, with unlimited forms and submissions and 28+ form fields.
- 6
Add-on based plans
Plus, Pro and Elite bundle add-ons; buyers on lower plans can add others at 20% or 40% off the list price.
- 7
Conditional logic and multi-step forms
Conditional Logic, File Uploads, Multi Step Forms, Layout and Styles and Conversational Forms come with the Plus plan.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 41 of 60
That is against the other form and survey tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Ninja Forms you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Ninja Forms at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $99 per year for 3 sites, after a first year at $59.40
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Saturday Drive, Inc., since 2011
- Category
- Forms & Surveys
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free WordPress form core with paid add-ons
Ninja Forms is a WordPress form builder with a free core and paid add-ons. Plus is $99 a year for 3 sites, but payments, CRM and automation connections need Pro or Elite, and licenses renew at full price.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Plus is $99 a year for 3 sites, about $8.25 a month, but payments and CRM connections sit on Pro at $199 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The core plugin is free with unlimited submissions, spam protection and 28+ fields, though add-ons cost extra. |
| Features | C | Conditional logic, multi-step forms, payment gateways and email add-ons exist, but payments, CRM and automation are gated to higher plans. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You build each form inside the WordPress admin. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, inside WordPress, with PayPal, Stripe, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier and Slack. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Ninja Forms is for
- Fits if you run WordPress and want to start free and add only what you need
- Works for agencies that manage 3, 20 or unlimited sites
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't use WordPress, as there is no hosted version
- Watch out: the first-year discount is for the first year only, and licenses auto-renew at full price
- Tight if you want payments or CRM links on Plus, because they need Pro at $199 a year
- Watch out: add-ons have no demo or trial, only a 14-day money-back guarantee
Good to know
Good for
- WordPress sites that need a free form plugin to start with
- Owners who want to buy only the add-ons they need
- Agencies covering many sites under one Pro or Elite license
Worth knowing
- It runs only inside WordPress; there is no hosted version.
- The first-year discount is for the first year only; licenses renew at full price each year unless cancelled.
- Add-ons have no demo or trial, though each purchase has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Payments, CRM and automation connections need Pro or Elite.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.25
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Ninja Forms has a free plan. Paid plans start at $99 per year for 3 sites, after a first year at $59.40.
Core
$0
Free plugin with unlimited submissions, spam protection, submission restrictions and free support.
Plus
$99
per year for 3 sites
16 add-ons: conditional logic, file uploads, multi-step forms, PayPal, email marketing. First year $59.40.
Pro
$199
per year for 20 sites
28 add-ons, adding Stripe, Authorize.net, CRMs, Zapier and Slack. First year $119.40.
Elite
$499
per year for unlimited sites
Every add-on, including future releases, with priority support. First year $299.40.
The free plan
Core plugin is free: unlimited submissions, spam protection and 28+ form fields; add-ons are optional.
Read from ninjaforms.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
40% off the first year of a paid plan
A first-time discount takes 40% off the first year: Plus $59.40, Pro $119.40, Elite $299.40. The subscription then renews at full price.
Stated on ninjaforms.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
WordPress form builder with a free core and paid add-ons. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, public API, templates, workflow automation, forms.
Conditional logic, multi-step forms, payment gateways and email add-ons exist, but payments, CRM and automation are gated to higher plans.
- Free open-source core
- The plugin on WordPress.org is the complete free form builder, with unlimited forms and submissions and 28+ form fields.
- Add-on based plans
- Plus, Pro and Elite bundle add-ons; buyers on lower plans can add others at 20% or 40% off the list price.
- Conditional logic and multi-step forms
- Conditional Logic, File Uploads, Multi Step Forms, Layout and Styles and Conversational Forms come with the Plus plan.
- Payment gateways
- PayPal is included from Plus, and Stripe, Authorize.net and Elavon from Pro.
- CRM and automation connections
- Pro lists HubSpot, Salesforce and Zoho CRM, plus Zapier, Slack and Trello add-ons.
- Email marketing add-ons
- Plus lists ActiveCampaign, AWeber, Campaign Monitor, Constant Contact, Mailchimp, MailPoet and other email service add-ons.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Mailchimp
- ActiveCampaign
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Zapier
- Slack
Ninja Forms is made by Saturday Drive, Inc., and has been around since 2011.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
41/60
Other form and survey tools it is graded above
Ninja Forms's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 41 of the 60 other form and survey tools we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 43 of 60) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $19.50 for the category: 9 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 4 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 61 form and survey tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Ninja Forms’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 42 of 60
- BFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 60
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 60
- CEase of useAbove 3 of 60
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 12 of 60
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 53 form and survey tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Ninja Forms is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Ninja Forms you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 41 of the 60 other form and survey tools we grade. It costs $99 a year. Ninja Forms is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Forms and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
What this rests on. Ninja Forms’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
WPForms, Gravity Forms, Formidable Forms, Fluent Forms and Jotform
The 5 tools Ninja Forms is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
WPForms
Free plan · from $49.50/yr
Drag-and-drop form builder plugin for WordPress sites.
- Ninja Forms is open source, according to its own site.
- WPForms also covers surveys.
- 2.0GPA
Gravity Forms
From $59/yr
WordPress form builder plugin sold as a yearly license.
- Ninja Forms has a free plan. Gravity Forms does not.
- Ninja Forms is open source, according to its own site.
- Ninja Forms also covers workflow automation.
- 2.8GPA
Formidable Forms
Free plan · from $79/yr
WordPress form builder that also displays entries as Views.
- Ninja Forms is open source, according to its own site.
- Ninja Forms also covers workflow automation.
- Formidable Forms also covers databases and surveys.
- 2.8GPA
Fluent Forms
Free plan · from $79/yr
WordPress form plugin with annual and lifetime licenses.
- Ninja Forms is open source, according to its own site.
- Fluent Forms also covers surveys.
- 3.0GPA
Jotform
Free plan · from $34/mo
No-code form builder with payments, e-signatures and workflows.
- Only Jotform lists iOS and Android apps.
- Ninja Forms is open source, according to its own site.
- Jotform also covers AI agents and app builder.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Ninja Forms free?
Ninja Forms has a free plan. Core plugin is free: unlimited submissions, spam protection and 28+ form fields; add-ons are optional.
How much does Ninja Forms cost?
Ninja Forms lists 4 plans. Core: $0.
What platforms does Ninja Forms work on?
Ninja Forms is available on Web.
Does Ninja Forms offer any discounts?
Ninja Forms publicly lists the following: 40% off the first year of a paid plan.
Does Ninja Forms have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Ninja Forms is listed for Web.
Does Ninja Forms have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Ninja Forms is listed for Web.
Is Ninja Forms open source?
Yes. Ninja Forms is open source, according to its own site.
Does Ninja Forms have an API?
Yes. Ninja Forms offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Ninja Forms integrate with?
Ninja Forms's listing names PayPal, Stripe, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier and Slack.
Who makes Ninja Forms?
Ninja Forms is made by Saturday Drive, Inc. It dates from 2011.
What are the alternatives to Ninja Forms?
The closest alternatives to Ninja Forms in our directory are WPForms, Gravity Forms, Formidable Forms, Fluent Forms and Jotform.
How does Ninja Forms compare with other form and survey tools?
Ninja Forms's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 41 of the 60 other form and survey tools we grade, and level with 8.
Is Ninja Forms good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Ninja Forms B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.25 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $19.50 for the category: 9 of the 51 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Ninja Forms?
To replace Ninja Forms you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Ninja Forms’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Ninja Forms's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Saturday Drive, Inc. Prices change, so check ninjaforms.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Ninja Forms, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ninja-forms
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Ninja Forms: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ninja-forms
Know someone choosing between form and survey tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ninja-forms/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded form and survey tools after Ninja Forms, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Forms & Surveys Insider's GuideEvery one of the 61 form and survey tools we grade, compared
- Google Forms Insider's GuideForm, survey and quiz builder that comes with a Google Account3.2 GPA
- Jotform Insider's GuideNo-code form builder with payments, e-signatures and workflows3.0 GPA
- Fillout Insider's GuideForm builder with unlimited seats, payments and scheduling2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Ninja Forms’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Ninja Forms is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Saturday Drive, Inc. Prices and plans change: check ninjaforms.com before you buy.