Contact Form 7 vs WPForms (October 2026)
Updated October 12, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Contact Form Plugins top 10: Contact Form 7 at #1 and WPForms at #2. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Contact Form 7
Just another contact form plugin. Simple but flexible.
WPForms
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More
The best WordPress contact form plugin. Drag & Drop form builder to create beautiful contact forms, payment forms, & other custom forms.
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Contact Form 7 ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Contact Form Plugins.
Contact Form 7 has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 5 million+.
WPForms is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 14,382 reviews, against 4.0 from 2,182 reviews.
WPForms has more reviews behind its score: 14,382 against 2,182.
Contact Form 7 was updated more recently, on October 11, 2026; WPForms on October 6, 2026.
WPForms was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 8,049,137 times against 3,175,673.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Contact Form 7
Pick Contact Form 7 if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WPForms
Pick WPForms if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Contact Form 7 vs WPForms side by side
| Contact Form 7 | WPForms | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Form Plugins ranking | #1 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 2,182 | 14,382 |
| Active installs | 10 million+ | 5 million+ |
| Total downloads | 427,058,720 | 361,701,799 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 3,175,673 | 8,049,137 |
| Last updated | Oct 11, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 2, 2007 | Mar 14, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 8.3 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 38 days
Contact Form 7 ratings
WPForms ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Contact Form 7 nor WPForms can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Contact Form Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Contact Form 7 vs WPForms: common questions
Is Contact Form 7 better than WPForms?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Contact Form 7 ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Contact Form Plugins.
Which has more users, Contact Form 7 or WPForms?
Contact Form 7 ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in Contact Form Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Contact Form 7 or WPForms?
Contact Form 7 has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 5 million+.
Are Contact Form 7 and WPForms free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Contact Form 7 may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WPForms may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Contact Form 7 and WPForms
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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