Apply Online vs WPForms
Compare WordPress plugins and tools side by side. Pick products with “Compare” in the software directory.
| Feature | Apply Online v2.7.1.1 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free · ★ 4.1/5 Visit Details | WPForms v2.0.3 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.8/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 5M+ |
| Last updated | September 28, 2026 | October 22, 2026 |
| Editions | ApplyOnline · ApplyOnline add-ons ($) | WPForms Lite · WPForms Pro ($) |
| Pros | Drag-and-drop application form builder with file attachment fields; Several ad types, each with its own shortcode; Dedicated manager role for reviewing applications | Free drag-and-drop builder with ready-made templates; Stripe and PayPal payment forms in the free version; Entries stored and viewable in the admin |
| Cons | Applicant tracking, conditional fields and captcha need paid add-ons; Email notifications rely on the host mail server | Conditional logic, multi-page forms and file uploads need Pro; Calculations need the paid Calculations add-on; Some fields and export options show upgrade prompts |
| Mentioned in our posts | 1 | 2 |
| Features (Form plugins checklist) | ||
| Drag-and-drop builder | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional logic | No | Paid |
| Multi-step forms | No | Paid |
| Payments | No | Yes |
| File upload | Yes | Paid |
| Calculations | No | Paid |
| Entries in admin | Yes | Yes |
| Spam protection | No | Yes |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Multiple ad types with their own filters, Shortcodes for ad archive, single ad and form, Email notification to recipients on new application, Application manager capability set, Security nonce on application forms, Attachment links on applications, Paid add-on updates through a licence key ($) | Ready-made form templates, Stripe payment forms, PayPal payment forms, hCaptcha, reCAPTCHA and Turnstile spam challenges, Gutenberg block to insert a form, Entries page in the admin, AI form creation from a conversation |
| Integrations | ||
| Payment | — | Stripe, PayPal Commerce |
| Plugins | Polylang | — |
| Other | ApplyOnline add-on update server ($) | Google reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, Cloudflare Turnstile |
| Requires WordPress | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| Tested up to | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Phones home | No | Only if you agree |
| External services | — | wpformsapi.com, downloads.wordpress.org, wpformsliteconnect.com, staging.wpformsliteconnect.com, wpformsusage.com, api.wordpress.org, api.cc.email, connect.squareup.com, nominatim.openstreetmap.org, api.stripe.com, www.google.com, hcaptcha.com, challenges.cloudflare.com |
| Blocks | — | 1 |
| Shortcodes | 7 | 1 |