Most blog visitors leave and never come back. An email list is how you get a second chance. The opt-in form is where that starts, and the difference between a form nobody notices and one that converts at 3% is mostly about placement, timing and targeting.
That is what separates opt-in plugins. Almost all of them can show a popup. The good ones let you show the right offer, on the right page, at the right moment, without annoying everyone else. Let us see the 8 best opt-in form plugins for WordPress compared by price, targeting and speed.
Short answer: OptinMonster has the best targeting and testing, but it is a subscription. Convert Pro gives you most of that for a one-off or low yearly fee. Bloom is great value if you already have Elegant Themes. On a zero budget, use Hustle, Popup Maker or the free forms from your email provider.
Best WordPress Opt-in Form Plugins Compared
| Plugin | Type | Price | Exit intent | A/B testing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OptinMonster | SaaS | From $9/mo billed yearly (intro) | Pro plan | Plus plan | Serious list builders |
| Convert Pro | Plugin | $89/yr or $349 lifetime | Yes | Yes | Best value |
| Bloom | Plugin | Elegant Themes $89/yr or $249 lifetime | Yes (on exit trigger) | Yes | Divi users |
| Thrive Leads | Plugin | Part of Thrive Suite | Yes | Yes | Thrive users |
| Hustle | Plugin | Free | Yes | No | Free all-rounder |
| Popup Maker | Plugin | Free, paid extensions | Paid extension | Paid extension | Flexible free popups |
| Elementor Pro Popups | Builder feature | Elementor Pro from $49/yr | Yes | No | Elementor sites |
| Email provider forms | Embed | Free with Kit, MailerLite, etc. | Varies | Varies | Just starting |
What Makes An Opt-in Plugin Good
- Form types: popup, slide-in, floating bar, inline (inside content), full-screen welcome mat.
- Triggers: exit intent, scroll depth, time on page, click-to-open (two-step opt-ins convert well).
- Targeting: by page, category, device, referrer and whether someone is already subscribed.
- Integrations: native connections to your email tool (Kit, MailerLite, Mailchimp, Brevo, etc.).
- Performance: popups load JavaScript, so a lightweight script matters for INP.
How I Picked These
I compared the available triggers and targeting rules, the editor, integrations with common email platforms, A/B testing, the cost for one site over three years, and how much each adds to page weight.
8 Best Opt-in Form Plugins for WordPress

OptinMonster
Best for: List builders who want the best targeting. Price: Basic $9/mo, Plus $27/mo, Pro $37/mo, Growth $67/mo (billed yearly, intro 40% off). Sites: 1 to 5
OptinMonster is the most complete lead generation tool here. Its targeting rules can show a different offer per category, hide forms from existing subscribers, and trigger on exit intent or inactivity.
A/B testing and revenue attribution help you see what actually works. It is a hosted service, so there is little load on your server.
The downsides: it is a recurring subscription, the Basic plan is limited (exit intent needs Pro), and renewals are higher than the intro price.
Best features: exit intent, page-level and on-site retargeting, A/B testing, countdown timers.
Pros
- Best targeting available
- Proven templates
- Hosted, light on your server
Cons
- Expensive at higher tiers
- Key features gated to Pro
Convert Pro
Best for: the most features for the money. Price: $89/yr or $349 lifetime, unlimited sites. Sites: unlimited
Convert Pro, from the team behind Astra, is a WordPress plugin with a drag-and-drop designer, exit intent, scroll and inactivity triggers, A/B testing and multi-step forms.
Unlimited sites on every plan makes it excellent value for people with several blogs. Development is slower than OptinMonster, and the template library is smaller and looks a bit dated.
Best features: exit intent, A/B testing, multi-step opt-ins, lifetime license.
Pros
- Great value
- Unlimited sites
Cons
- Slower updates
- Smaller template set
Bloom
Best for: Elegant Themes members. Price: included with Elegant Themes ($89/yr or $249 lifetime). Sites: unlimited
Bloom comes with an Elegant Themes membership alongside Divi. It offers popups, fly-ins, inline forms, below-post forms and content lockers, with triggers and split testing.
If you already own Divi, it is effectively free. On its own, it is less advanced than OptinMonster or Convert Pro, and development has been slow.
Best features: six display types, content locker, split testing.
Pros
- Free with Divi membership
- Unlimited sites
Cons
- Few recent updates
- Basic targeting
Thrive Leads
Best for: Thrive Suite users. Price: part of Thrive Suite ($299/yr intro, 5 sites). Sites: 5
Thrive Leads is a powerful opt-in plugin with advanced targeting, A/B testing, SmartLinks (show different content to subscribers) and detailed reports.
It is excellent if you already pay for Thrive Suite. Buying the whole suite just for Leads is poor value.
My Thrive Themes alternatives guide shows cheaper combinations.
Best features: SmartLinks, advanced A/B testing, detailed reports.
Pros
- Very capable
Cons
- Suite pricing only
Hustle
Best for: free popups with good targeting. Price: free (Pro with WPMU DEV). Sites: unlimited
Hustle from WPMU DEV gives you popups, slide-ins, embeds and social sharing for free, with exit intent, scroll triggers and visibility rules.
It integrates with the major email platforms. The interface has a lot of steps, and there is no A/B testing in the free version.
Best features: free exit intent, visibility rules, many integrations.
Pros
- Very generous free version
Cons
- Clunky setup
- WPMU DEV upsells
Popup Maker
Best for: flexible free popups. Price: free core, paid extensions and bundles. Sites: unlimited (free)
Popup Maker is one of the most installed popup plugins. The free version handles click-triggered popups, auto-open, scroll triggers and page targeting, and works with any form plugin. Exit intent, analytics and advanced targeting are paid extensions. It is a good choice if you want to show a form from your existing form plugin in a popup.
Best features: works with any form plugin, trigger and cookie controls, free core.
Pros
- Flexible and free
- Works with any form
Cons
- Exit intent costs extra
Elementor Pro Popup Builder
Best for: sites already on Elementor Pro. Price: included with Elementor Pro (from $49/yr). Sites: per Elementor license
If you have Elementor Pro, you already have a capable popup builder with full design control, exit intent, scroll and click triggers, and display conditions.
Pair it with the Elementor form widget and your email integration. There is no A/B testing, and popups inherit Elementor’s page weight.
Best features: full design freedom, triggers and conditions, no extra plugin.
Pros
- No extra cost for Pro users
Cons
- No A/B testing
Your Email Provider’s Free Forms
Best for: beginners. Price: free with Kit, MailerLite, Brevo and others. Sites: unlimited
Most email platforms include embeddable forms, popups and landing pages. They are not as advanced as OptinMonster, but they connect directly to your list with no plugin to configure. For a blog with a few thousand monthly visitors, this is usually the smartest place to start.
Best features: zero setup, direct list connection.
Pros
- Free and simple
Cons
- Limited targeting
Important note: Google can demote pages with intrusive interstitials on mobile, meaning popups that cover the main content right after someone arrives from search. Use exit intent, scroll triggers or slide-ins on mobile instead of instant full-screen popups.
Where to Place Opt-in Forms for the Best Results
- Inline after the introduction of your most popular posts, using your theme’s hooks. The best themes for bloggers post explains which themes make this easy.
- At the end of every post, with an offer related to the post’s topic.
- Exit intent popup on desktop for high-traffic pages.
- A floating bar for a sitewide offer.
- A dedicated landing page you can link from social media and your author bio.
A relevant lead magnet (checklist, template, mini-course) converts far better than “subscribe to my newsletter”. If you are building a list to monetize, my guide on making money on your website without ads shows what to do with it.
Pick By Situation
- Just starting: your email provider’s forms, or Hustle.
- Several blogs, limited budget: Convert Pro lifetime.
- Serious list growth and testing: OptinMonster Pro.
- Already on Divi: Bloom.
- Already on Elementor Pro: its popup builder.
Need a regular contact or survey form instead? See the best WordPress form builder plugins.
FAQs Related to Best Opt-in Plugins for WordPress
What is the best free opt-in plugin for WordPress?
Hustle, for its free exit intent and targeting. Popup Maker is a good alternative if you already use a form plugin.
Do popups hurt SEO?
Intrusive popups that cover content on mobile right after landing from search can. Exit intent, delayed and scroll-triggered popups are generally fine.
Is OptinMonster worth the price?
If you get enough traffic that a 1% conversion lift means real money, yes. For small blogs, cheaper tools are enough.
Do opt-in plugins slow down my site?
They add JavaScript. Hosted tools like OptinMonster load asynchronously. Test your pages after installing, and see how to improve WordPress speed if scores drop.
Final Verdict
That’s all about the list of Best Opt-in Form Plugins for WordPress.
Start with free forms from your email provider and one good inline form after your intro. When traffic grows, move to Convert Pro for value or OptinMonster for power.
The plugin matters less than the offer and the placement, so spend as much time on your lead magnet as on picking the tool.