Fluent Forms

Fluent Forms has become one of the top choices for building forms in WordPress. In our first look, we got hands-on with both the free and pro versions to see how it holds up from a fresh perspective.

In our detailed walkthrough, we’ll share our authentic user experience, highlight standout features, and give you the clarity you need to decide if Fluent Forms belongs on your WordPress websites.

How to Get the Best Deal on Fluent Forms

InfluenceWP has an exclusive Fluent Forms deal.

Fluent Forms packs an impressive range of form-building power. We created everything from simple contact forms to advanced multi-step forms, conversational forms, registration pages, polls, surveys, and quizzes. The flexibility of this plugin means you can meet almost any form need, whether it’s gathering leads or running event registrations.

What Types of Forms Can Fluent Forms Build?

In just a few minutes, we discovered Fluent Forms could handle far more than standard contact forms. Some of the main types include:

• Contact forms
• Conversational forms for interactive question flow
• Registration forms for events or user sign-ups
• Multi-step forms that improve user experience
• Polls, surveys, and quizzes, including personality and satisfaction tests
• Payment forms for online sales and donations
• User-generated content submissions
• Custom calculators and advanced data collection tools

With pre-built templates and a drag-and-drop interface, setup is fast, even for complex workflows.

Exploring the Fluent Forms Website: Features, Integrations, and Support

The Fluent Forms website is the central hub for everything you need, from core features to user guides.

Features Overview

Right from the homepage, we accessed a deep features page. Fluent Forms highlights these core benefits:

• Drag-and-drop form builder that keeps things simple and fast
• 60+ input fields for all sorts of data capture (names, dates, image uploads, multi-choice, payment fields, and more)
• Pre-built form templates to jumpstart projects
• Numeric calculations for quotes, orders, or calculators
• File and image upload support
• Multi-step forms for improved usability
• Conversational forms to engage users step by step
• Custom CSS and JavaScript for deeper design control
• Spam protection with honeypot fields and token-based security
• Quizzes and surveys with instant scoring options
• Integrations with OpenAI’s ChatGPT
• Landing page builder, export/import tools, and PDF add-ons

For the full, up-to-date feature list, visit the Fluent Forms features page.

Integrations

We found more than 60 integrations with major third-party services. This includes CRMs like HubSpot and Mailchimp, marketing platforms, payment gateways, and other leading plugins. Linking with these services is usually as simple as toggling the integration and adding an API key.

Documentation and Changelog

Documentation is clear and full of value. Each help article features step-by-step instructions, screenshots, and even embedded videos. We also appreciated the active changelog. It lists updates by version and date, which boosts trust and shows ongoing development.

Add-ons and Competitive Comparisons

Fluent Forms offers several add-ons and calculators, plus useful comparison charts with similar plugins. These resources highlight where Fluent Forms matches or surpasses competitors.

Fluent Forms Free vs. Pro: What Do You Get?

Fluent Forms offers both free and pro versions. The free version covers the basics for many WordPress users, but the Pro unlocks features that power users and businesses need.

Key Pro-Only Features:

• Advanced form styler: Custom designs beyond the basics
• Numeric calculations: For price quotes, ordering, and math-based forms
• Multi-step forms: Break up lengthy forms into steps
• Advanced post creation: Turn submissions into WordPress posts
• Coupons and inventory management: Useful for payment forms
• Address autocomplete: Boost accuracy and speed for users
• Quizzes and surveys: Build knowledge tests and satisfaction surveys
• Personality quizzes: Collect fun or useful insights

For a full breakdown, check Fluent Forms’ complete Free vs. Pro table.

The Fluent Forms Pro Interface and Global Settings

Navigating the Dashboard

The Fluent Forms menu in WordPress lets us access:

• Forms: List, edit, preview, or create new forms. Demo forms are included for exploration.
• Entries: View and manage all user submissions. Filter by read/unread or a specific form.
• Global Settings: Configure plugin-wide behavior (more on this below).

Global Settings Deep Dive

Fluent Forms’ settings help us tailor every form to our needs and brand. Here’s what stood out:

• Form Layout and Label Position: Control where labels appear and set up default layout options.
• Help and Error Messages: Customize messages for users when they miss a required field or enter invalid data.
• Email Summary Reports: Set weekly or daily summaries to be sent to chosen recipients, perfect for staying on top of responses.
• Integration Failure Notifications: Get alerts if any connected service fails to process entries.
• Spam Protection: Enable honeypot fields, token-based protection, and other anti-spam measures.
• Privacy and Analytics: Disable IP logging and analytics for privacy-sensitive projects.
• Miscellaneous: Options for classic editor users, enable or disable no conflict mode, and auto tab index for easy keyboard navigation.
• Geolocation: Set up providers and API keys to capture where users are submitting from.
• File Upload Destinations: Choose between saving uploads to the WordPress Media Library or a private Fluent Forms folder.
• Automatic reCAPTCHA Loading: Set Captcha to auto-load on all forms, reducing manual setup.
• Admin Bar Integration: Add shortcuts to the WordPress admin top navigation for fast access.
• Email Footer: Personalize the email footer text sent out with every form notification.
• Date and Time Formats: Match entries to your site’s time zone and preferred format.

With so many options, it’s a good idea to review each section and decide what best matches your workflow. We recommend turning on integration failure and spam notifications by default, for both convenience and security.

Built-In Payment and Coupon Management

Fluent Forms Pro transforms regular forms into online shopping or donation engines by supporting built-in payment methods.

Payment Settings

• Supported Payment Gateways: Stripe, PayPal, and several others.
• Business Info Configuration: Enter business details and customize how payments are branded to users.
• Currency and Display: Choose your currency and how it appears on forms.
• Pages for Payment History and Receipts: Use shortcodes to link payment receipts to specific WordPress pages.

For recurring subscriptions, Stripe support lets users manage their ongoing payments directly from your site.

Coupon Features

A standout feature is the dedicated Coupons Module:

1. Enable Coupons: Easily toggle coupon support in payment forms.
2. Add New Coupons: Name, code, value, rules, and expiration.
3. Detailed Controls: Choose between fixed or percentage discounts, set limits per customer, and specify validity dates.

The coupon system is easy to use but gives us advanced control over discount strategies.

Creating a Form: Templates, Fields, and Embedding

Building our first form in Fluent Forms was refreshingly straightforward.

Fast Setup Using Templates or From Scratch

You can start from a blank form or use one of many ready-to-use templates. Choose from categories such as marketing, support, feedback, or quizzes. The drag-and-drop builder feels snappy and clean.

Step-by-step Form Creation Example

1. Choose “Add New Form.”
2. Select a template, or start with a blank form.
3. Add standard fields:
   • Name: Automatically includes the first and last names.
   • Email: Set as required.
   • Dropdown: For example, “How did you hear about us?” with options like Social media and Google.
   • Message (Text Area): For more details or questions.
4. Rearrange fields by dragging them into the desired order.
5. Edit field labels, set requirements, and customize error messages.
6. Click Save Form.

Preview and Responsive Testing

The built-in preview tool lets you see exactly how your form will appear on desktop, tablet, or mobile screens before publishing.

Embedding Forms in WordPress

Copying the form shortcode to paste in a page is standard. Fluent Forms also has a dedicated block for the WordPress Block Editor, making it even easier — simply select your form from a dropdown and you’re live.

Submitting Test Entries

After adding the form to a page, we submitted a test response. The confirmation message displayed as expected, proving the process is reliable from build to submission.

Advanced Form Settings, Design, and Conversational Forms

Fluent Forms isn’t just about simple forms. It lets us fine-tune every step in the process.

Form-Specific Settings

• Confirmation Messages: Customize thank-you text or redirect users after submission.
• Layout and Scheduling: Limit form entries by date or capacity, or set access restrictions.
• Conditional Logic: Show or hide fields, or take different actions, based on how users respond.

Field-Level Controls

Edit any field:

• Change labels, help text, and placement.
• Set placeholders and required status.
• Default values for faster entry.
• Advanced: Add custom CSS classes or helper messages.

If you make a mistake, revert to an earlier version using revision history — a true time-saver.

Design Customization and Branding

Match every form to your website’s look. Pick button styles, color schemes, and backgrounds. Upload images for more visual impact. We valued the toggle to disable Fluent Forms branding at the bottom of each form, which provides a fully white-labeled experience for your business.

Meta options like a featured image or meta description are available, helping those who embed forms as landing pages with SEO in mind.

Conversational Forms

We converted a regular form into a conversational experience — perfect for high-engagement quizzes, surveys, or onboarding flows. The system warns about unsupported field types during conversion, so you always know what will and won’t carry over.

On the frontend, conversational forms guide users step-by-step, prompting one question at a time, letting users tab through quickly, and validating answers in real time. It’s a more personal experience that stands out for engagement.

Form Sharing and Embedding

Embed forms anywhere via:

• WordPress shortcodes
• The Fluent Forms Block Editor block
• Direct links for sharing
• Social media sharing options

Each form even provides separate shortcodes for traditional and conversational modes, making it simple to test or deploy both.

Entry Management, Reports, and Data Export

We found the entry management tools robust and easy to use.

• View, Search, and Filter: Drill down by form, entry status (read/unread), or submission date.
• Star or Favorite Entries: Useful for flagging important inquiries.
• Detailed View: Check each entry’s data, see entry status, and mark as read.
• Delete or Export: Remove, archive, or export entries as CSV, Excel, or JSON files.

A global entries screen lets us analyze responses across all forms. Visual reporting options help spot trends at a glance.

Integrations, API Logging, and Support Tools

Fluent Forms connects to over sixty third-party tools and services.

Setting Up Integrations

1. Enter the Integrations area.
2. Toggle desired features on (like ChatGPT).
3. Click the gear icon to enter API keys or advanced setup.

API logging lets you track incoming and outgoing data for integrations with CRMs, email lists, and more.

Support Features

Quick access links for:

• Customer support contact
• Issue submission
• Reviews
• Detailed documentation
• Community forums
• Feature requests

Fluent Forms includes tips for improving email delivery, recommending the free Fluent SMTP plugin. Configuring SMTP helps with email deliverability and prevention of emails being marked as spam.

Tools for Form Migration, Export, and Activity Tracking

Fluent Forms demonstrates a strong focus on addressing the practical needs of administrators.

• Export/Import: Move forms and submissions between sites or clone for multi-site projects.
• Fluent Forms Migrator: Import forms/entries from competitor plugins. Both plugins must be on the site for smooth migration, and be aware existing imported data will reset.
• Activity Logs: Review histories of all admin and user actions for transparency.

These features make life easier, especially when managing multiple websites or switching from other plugins.

Final Thoughts

We’re impressed by Fluent Forms’ depth, user-friendliness, and active development after thoroughly exploring all its features. Fluent Forms offers excellent design flexibility, detailed support materials, and an expanding integration list.

Whether you’re building a basic contact form or rolling out advanced workflows with payments and multi-step logic, Fluent Forms stands out.