Gravity Forms vs Cognito Forms
Cognito Forms is a standalone, platform-agnostic form builder not tied to WordPress, with a free tier and built-in payment and workflow features.
Gravity Forms is a premium WordPress plugin requiring an existing WordPress site, with deep native integration into WordPress's plugin ecosystem and page builders, appealing to WordPress site owners wanting forms built directly into their existing CMS over Cognito's standalone, platform-independent approach.
Use cases
Use cases include:
- Grant application forms with multi-step logic
- Complex surveys with calculated fields
- Lead forms with conditional visibility
- Payment request forms with validation rules
- Policy or intake forms requiring structured data
Benefits
Cognito Forms may appeal to teams seeking a cloud-first approach with strong calculations and flexible pricing, while Gravity Forms remains attractive for WordPress-based deployments with extensive customization. Assess where form data lives, who will manage the form logic, and how you plan to scale across sites.
- Better fit when cloud-based access and pricing are priorities
- Often used for complex forms with embedded calculations
| Feature | Gravity Forms | Cognito Forms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | License or per-site | Subscription with tiered limits | Value depends on forms and usage |
| Calculations | Advanced conditional logic | Strong calculation capabilities | Depends on plan |
| Data handling | Extensive field types | Rich field set with validation | Implementation varies |
| Integrations | WordPress ecosystem | Cloud integrations | Environment affects options |
| Workflows | Add-on dependent | Native workflow features | Plan dependent |
| Security | Standard WordPress security | Cloud security practices | Context matters |
| Ease of use | Powerful but steeper learning curve | User-friendly | Depends on user background |
| Reporting | Export and basic reports | Built-in reports | Depends on configuration |
| Data residency | On-site control | Cloud hosting | Regulatory considerations |
| Customization | High with addons | Good with templates |