Formstack Online Forms
by mmattax · Forms
This plugin allows you to easily embed Web forms built with Formstack's online form builder into your sidebar, pages, and posts.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
D 43/100
Stale · Likely abandoned · Few reviews · Open vulnerability
Active installs
1K+
≈1.5K estimated
Momentum
+5%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: “form builder”, “forms” and “lead generation” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
43 health vs 65 average across 2,510 Forms plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.2%
of downloads still active
At least 1K of 85.4K lifetime downloads are still running, in line with its category: the median Forms plugin keeps 1.3%, across 1,666 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Forms plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
High removal-risk signals
63/100Maintenance and integrity signals that tend to precede a WordPress.org removal. Not an official status, a heads-up to act.
- Long abandoned. No update in 7+ years — the top precursor to removal once a vulnerability is found.
- Compatibility drift. Tested only up to WordPress 5.1.28, well behind 6.8.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Under-optimized
Most to gain: Update recency
Updated 2759 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 5.1.28; the current branch is 6.8
2.5★ over 8 reviews, smoothed to 3.88★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Last updated 2759 days ago — ship an update; wp.org decays a listing's search weight after ~180 days.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
Not enough tracked days yet to call a direction. Momentum needs at least three keywords measured a week or more apart.
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| form builder your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| forms your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| lead generation your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| online forms your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| web forms your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
2 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 0 listed. 2 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 5 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- “form builder”, “forms” and “lead generation” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 624 · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
No release in a yearHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
0
releases in the last 12 months
7.6y ago
latest release · v2.0.2 · 12 Apr 2019
17
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 100% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “1K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 22 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 21 Apr 2015
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ therealmoptop4.8y ago
For a system that asks a lot of money for their service, you would think they would keep their features up to date. Nope. Can’t use this plugin, it just errors out. Can’t even use their embed javascript because you get a 403 server error.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Joe Bloggs7.6y ago
It seem like you guys are trying to do too many things, but nothing works properly. Signed up with Formstack, your Drupal extension doesn’t work, this WordPress extension doesn’t work either. It sends people to Formstack for confirmation instead of staying on the same page. This plugin hasn’t been updated for 2 years. .. wtf! The only thing I’m stuck with are iFrames. These suck, but at least work. Get a grip guys. You charge a lot of money for your service. This topic was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by Joe Bloggs.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ cbalth9.2y ago
The previous plugin worked fine. This won’t authenticate and won’t allow me access to my forms. When saving new API and client ID it gives me this: Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home2/ogom/public_html/wp-content/plugins/formstack/plugin.php on line 288 Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home2/ogom/public_html/wp-content/plugins/formstack/plugin.php on line 288 Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent by (output started at /home2/ogom/public_html/wp-content/plugins/formstack/plugin.php:288) in /home2/ogom/public_html/wp-includes/pluggable.php on line 1210
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Nethers Web Design10.3y ago
Form cache can be refreshed immediately to pull in new forms rather than wait an unknown period for the new form to appear in your list. With 300+ forms the old plugin was quite slow, this one loads the forms from a cache, thus loads relatively immediately compared to the APIv1. Overall huge improvement. I would have given it 4/5 stars because the forms aren’t ordered, but Michael who made the plugin is amazing and provided a workaround via the support thread. Quite easy fix with roughly 4 lines of code (not sure why they haven’t pushed the changes as 2.0.2). Formstack is a great product overall, integrating with major players. If I had to give a cost to formstack in general (not the plugin) higher than average cost would be the biggest drawback for most small businesses. Ignore the 1 star reviews, this plugin works just fine if you can handle 5 minutes of setup. This topic was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Nethers Web Design. This topic was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Nethers Web Design. This topic was modified 8 years, 8 months ago by Nethers Web Design. Reason: Plugin got better This topic was modified 8 years, 8 months ago by Nethers Web Design. Reason: Provided clarification This topic was modified 8 years, 8 months ago by Nethers Web Design. Reason: added details
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Anonymous10.6y ago
From Formstack’s own website… “compatible with up to WordPress 4.0” It wants you to use Formstack’s API v1 which is now deprecated and discouraged BY FORMSTACK! Do not install this plugin!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ zwilson10.6y ago
I’m not sure wrapping if this is just this version or all versions, but wrapping your site in an iframe doesn’t constitute as a functioning plugin. Doesn’t work on WP 4.5 as far as i’m concerned.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ TravisJamison12.9y ago
It works like it’s supposed to. Makes it easy.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ douglaskarr13.8y ago
There are some good form plugins but the advantage of having a plugin that integrates Forms into your WordPress instance while it can also be on landing pages, sites, mobile and other installations is a great advantage. The Formstack team has done an incredible job integrating third parties as well!
Read on wp.org ↗
Security history
via Wordfence Intelligence1 open vulnerability affects the current version (2.0.2). 0 of 1 disclosed are patched.
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.2.16 · WP 5.3
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
4 of 8 pass · checked 29 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "This plugin allows you to easily embed Web forms built with Formstack's online form builder into your sideb..."
- ! Has a FAQ Only 1 question in the FAQ; 3 or more gives an assistant something to match.
- ! FAQ asks real questions 0 of 1 FAQ entries are headings, not questions ("undefined").
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Mailchimp, PayPal, Salesforce.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 1 list; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,047 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-01-21 2K+ → 1K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-01-20 1K+ → 2K+ up after 21 days in tier
- 2024-12-30 2K+ → 1K+ down after 1989 days in tier
- 2019-07-21 1K+ → 2K+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Lead Form Builder & Contact Form 8K+ installs · 4.0★ · 3 shared tags A -
Formsite | Embed online forms to collect orders, registrations, leads, and surveys 800+ installs · 4.0★ · 3 shared tags C -
Lead Generation Form – Form Builder, Contact Form, Survey & Inquiry Forms 600+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A -
Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A -
Ninja Forms – Contact Form Builder with Calculators, Quizzes, Signatures & AI Form Builder 500K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Formstack Online Forms into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/formstack" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Formstack Online Forms — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Formstack Online Forms: 1K+ active installs, 2.5★ (8 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/formstack
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