What is the difference between GravityView and Formidable Views?

The core difference is which form data each one displays. GravityView shows Gravity Forms entries on the front end of your site, and Formidable Views shows Formidable Forms (Strategy11) entries. They do not work with each other's data, so your choice usually follows the form plugin you already run. Both let you build directories, listings, and front-end apps from submitted entries, so the decision comes down to your existing forms, the layouts you need, and your budget.

Do I need GravityView if I already use Formidable Forms?

No. Formidable Forms (Strategy11) includes Views through its Visual Views add-on, so if Formidable is already your form plugin, its built-in Views are the natural fit and you do not need GravityView. GravityView only displays Gravity Forms entries, not Formidable entries. Reach for GravityView when you are building on Gravity Forms, or when you are weighing which form ecosystem to commit to in the first place.

Which plan do I need to display form entries in each tool?

With Formidable Forms, Views are not in the free Lite plugin or the entry-level Basic tier. You need at least the Plus license (currently $199/yr), then you install the Visual Views add-on. With Gravity Forms, you buy any Gravity Forms license separately and add GravityView on top, starting at $119/yr (first year $79.33). Map both the form license and the display tool into your budget, since neither product displays entries out of the box at its cheapest tier.

Can I build a searchable directory from form entries?

Yes, both tools are built for this, and directories (staff, member, business, supplier) are one of the most common reasons people use them. GravityView gives you Table, List, Maps, and DataTables layouts plus A-Z navigation and Advanced Filtering for search and sorting, which covers everything from a simple member list to a filterable directory. Formidable Views covers similar ground with its Table, Grid, Classic, Map, Calendar, and Timeline view types. Either works well, so pick based on the form plugin you run and how much layout control you want.

Can visitors edit their own submissions from the front end?

Yes, both tools support front-end editing so users can update an entry without touching the WordPress admin. In GravityView you choose which fields are editable and can limit editing to the logged-in user who created the entry. Formidable Views offers front-end editing as well. This is a good feature to test in a demo with your real form before deciding, since the exact field-level controls differ between the two.

Can I create charts and graphs from my form data?

Formidable Views has an edge here: it generates graphs natively, and you can place a chart on a page with its chart block or shortcodes without buying anything extra. GravityView does not chart data itself. To build charts and dashboards from Gravity Forms entries you add GravityCharts, a separate GravityKit add-on ($99/yr) that turns entries into interactive line, bar, pie, and other chart types. If live charts are central to your project, factor that add-on cost into a Gravity Forms setup.

Can I export the entries shown in a View to CSV or Excel?

Yes in both, with different mechanics. Formidable's Table Views can export to CSV and Excel directly. With Gravity Forms you already get a built-in CSV export in the admin, and GravityView can add a front-end export option to a View; for scheduled exports, Excel and PDF output, and shareable secure links you can add GravityExport (a free Lite version exports to Excel, the paid version automates and adds PDF). If exporting filtered, front-end data is a core workflow, confirm which format and trigger each tool gives you.

Which one is better for approving entries before they go live?

If a built-in approval step matters, GravityView has the clearer answer. It includes a dedicated entry-approval workflow with an Approve/Reject field, front-end and back-end approval, auto-approval on submission, and the ability to hide unapproved entries from a View. Formidable Views has no built-in approval feature, so you would build a manual workaround using a status field, or pair it with a separate workflow plugin. For moderated directories, job boards, or listings where nothing should appear until reviewed, this is a meaningful difference.

Compare / Formidable Views

GravityView vs Formidable Views

Both put form submissions on the front end of your WordPress site, but one is a display layer for Gravity Forms and the other is built into Formidable Forms. Here’s how they compare, and when each is the better fit.

Last updated:

June 9, 2026

What’s the verdict?

GravityView and Formidable Views do the same core job: they turn form entries into front-end listings, directories, and editable tables. They just come from different ecosystems. GravityView is a dedicated display layer for Gravity Forms, with a point-and-click layout builder and a built-in entry approval workflow. Formidable Views is part of Formidable Forms, so forms and views come in one product, with native calculations and charts but a more code-driven approach to layouts. Your form plugin usually decides it: on Gravity Forms, GravityView is the natural fit; on Formidable Forms, Views are already in the box.

Choose GravityView if…

You use Gravity Forms and want point-and-click layouts, a dedicated entry approval workflow, and maps and tables without writing markup.

Choose Formidable Views if…

You want an all-in-one form-and-view product with native calculations and charts, and you’re comfortable building layouts with shortcodes and a little HTML and CSS.

Core differences and capabilities

Decision factor	GravityView	Formidable Views
Primary purpose	Display and manage Gravity Forms entries on the front end	Display Formidable Forms entries; part of an all-in-one form plugin
Form plugin needed	A separate Gravity Forms license	Built into Formidable Forms (one product)
View / layout types	Table, List, Maps, DataTables, DIY	Calendar, Classic, Grid, Map, Table, Timeline
Building layouts	Point-and-click Layout Builder	Content box driven by shortcodes, HTML, and CSS
Front-end entry editing	Yes	Yes
Entry approval workflow	Yes (dedicated, built in)	No built-in feature; done manually with a status field and filtered views
Native charts / graphs	No (needs the GravityCharts add-on, $99/yr)	Yes, via graph shortcodes
Search, sort & filtering	Yes, incl. A-Z Filters and Advanced Filter	Yes; front-end search and filter, with table sorting via a CSS class
Front-end export	Via the separate GravityExport add-on (paid)	Built in: Table Views export to Excel or CSV
Maps & directories	Maps layout	Map view; directory templates (Elite tier)
Calendar view	Via the GravityCalendar add-on	Built in (Calendar view)
Entry price	$119/yr plus a separate Gravity Forms license	$199/yr (Plus tier; includes the form plugin)
Lifetime license	Yes: $499 (GravityView)	No (annual only)

Decision factors

All-in-one product vs a dedicated display layer

Formidable Views is part of Formidable Forms, so your form builder and your front-end displays live in one product from one vendor, with nothing extra to buy from a third party once you’re on a plan that includes Views. GravityView takes the opposite approach: it’s a specialist display layer that sits on top of Gravity Forms, so you license Gravity Forms and GravityView separately. The trade-off is bundled simplicity versus a best-of-breed display tool plus a separate form plugin.

Building and styling your displays

GravityView builds layouts with a drag-and-drop Layout Builder, so you assemble fields into tables, lists, and detail pages visually. Formidable Views centers on a Content box where you arrange entries with shortcodes, HTML, and CSS, and even front-end table sorting is enabled by adding a CSS class. If you’d rather not touch markup, GravityView’s approach is friendlier; if you want fine-grained control and you’re comfortable with code, Formidable’s is more open-ended.

Charts, calculations, and approvals

Each tool wins something here. Formidable has native graphs and is built around intelligent calculations, so calculators and charted dashboards work without extra plugins. GravityView doesn’t chart on its own (that’s the separate GravityCharts add-on), but it does include a dedicated entry approval workflow, where entries can be held for review before they appear publicly. Formidable has no built-in approval feature, so you build that yourself with a status field and filtered views.

Pricing and cost considerations

Cost factor	GravityView	Formidable Views
Entry cost	$119/yr base, single site (first year $79.33), plus a separate Gravity Forms license	$199/yr (Plus tier; Views are not in the cheaper Basic tier), form plugin included
Ongoing costs	Annual renewal; add GravityCharts ($99/yr) for charts	Annual renewal; forms and Views bundled
Cost predictability	High, flat annual pricing	High, flat annual pricing
Cost scaling	By sites: 1 / 3 / 1,000	By sites: Plus 3 / Business 7 / Elite unlimited
Refund policy	30-day, no questions asked	14-day, no questions asked
Lifetime license available?	Yes: $499 (GravityView) / $799 (Pro)	No, annual subscriptions only

Use cases and best fit

A front-end directory or listing built by a non-coder

If you’re on Gravity Forms and want to assemble a directory, listing, or member profile page visually, without hand-writing shortcodes or CSS, GravityView’s point-and-click Layout Builder and ready-made layouts are the smoother path. Formidable also ships directory templates (on its Elite tier), so the deciding factor here is the no-code building experience, not whether directories are possible.

Best fit: GravityView

An all-in-one data app with calculations and charts

If you’re building something like a calculator-driven quote tool or a charted dashboard and want forms, calculations, graphs, and displays in a single product, Formidable Views covers it natively, where GravityView would need a separate form plugin and the GravityCharts add-on.

Best fit: Formidable Views

Moderated submissions that need review before they go public

When entries must be approved before they appear, for user-submitted listings, testimonials, or community content, GravityView’s built-in entry approval workflow handles it directly. In Formidable you’d assemble the same outcome manually with a status field and filtered views.

Best fit: GravityView