Generating leads is more critical than ever for the success and growth of your online business. With more and more content being published every day and attention spans shrinking, you need effective strategies to capture your website visitors‘ contact information before they leave – possibly for good.
Fortunately, WordPress makes growing your email list easier than ever thanks to the many powerful lead generation plugins now available. These tools allow you to create high-converting optin forms, target messages to the right people at the right time, and automate the process of collecting leads and syncing them to your email marketing software.
But with so many lead gen plugins out there, which one should you choose? In this post, we‘ll take an in-depth look at the 12 best WordPress lead generation plugins for 2024. For each one, we‘ll explore the key features, pricing, and the main pros and cons to help you decide which is the best fit for your specific needs and budget.
Before we dive into the plugins, let‘s quickly recap what lead generation plugins actually do and why they are so essential for your website.
What Do Lead Generation Plugins Do?
In a nutshell, lead generation plugins give you the tools to collect visitors‘ email addresses and other information so you can stay in touch, build relationships, and ultimately convert them into customers down the line.
The main way they do this is through optin forms, which are signup forms that offer a "lead magnet" or other incentive in exchange for an email address. Common types of optin forms include:
- Popups that appear after a certain time or action
- Signup bars at the top or bottom of the page
- Inline forms embedded within your content
- Slide-in forms that come in from the side of the screen
- Gamified optins like spin-to-win wheels
- Exit-intent popups that detect when a visitor is about to leave
Most lead generation plugins include templates for each of these optin types that you can easily customize to match your site using a drag-and-drop builder. You can control when and where your forms appear, set up triggers and targeting rules, and run A/B tests to optimize your results over time.
Another key feature is integration with popular email marketing services and CRMs. This allows any leads you capture to be automatically passed to your email list so you can manage and communicate with them at scale.
Some of the more advanced plugins also offer unique features like content locking, 2-step optins, exit-intent, and advanced targeting and personalization options that can really move the needle.
Now that we‘ve covered the basics, let‘s take a closer look at the top WordPress lead generation plugins available today.
1. Thrive Leads
Thrive Leads is our overall top pick for a WordPress lead gen plugin in 2024. It‘s one of the most comprehensive solutions with all the features and optin types you need to build your list rapidly.
The main types of forms you can create with Thrive Leads include lightbox popups, sticky ribbons, in-line forms, slide-ins, screen filler overlays, content locks, scroll mats, and multiple choice forms. There are tons of pre-designed templates to choose from, plus a visual editor for customizing every detail to fit your branding.
Where Thrive Leads really shines is its targeting and trigger options. In addition to standard time delays and scroll triggers, you can use multi-step funnels, SmartLinks, and SmartExit+ technology to display targeted optins to users based on their past behavior and interactions with your site. You can even set up exit-intent popups on mobile devices.
Other notable features include a drag-and-drop editor, advanced A/B testing and reporting, webhook support for integrating with any service, and a lead generation university for becoming a pro.
Thrive Leads starts at $99/year for use on a single site, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Thrive Leads Pros:
– Highly customizable forms with tons of template options
– Advanced targeting rules and personalization
– Unique features like SmartLinks and SmartExit+
– A/B testing for ongoing optimization
Thrive Leads Cons:
– Higher one-time cost than some other plugins
– No free version or trial available
2. OptinMonster
OptinMonster is another leading lead generation solution that‘s incredibly powerful and user-friendly. Used by over 1.2 million websites, it has all the tools you need to turn your traffic into subscribers and customers.
The types of campaigns you can build include lightbox popups, fullscreen welcome mats, slide-in scroll boxes, floating bars, coupon wheels, content locks, and more. There are 100+ templates to choose from and a drag-and-drop builder for customizing your designs.
To maximize your conversions, OptinMonster offers advanced page-level targeting, exit intent, timed display control, scroll triggers, location-based targeting, referrer detection, cookie retargeting, adblock detection, device-based targeting, and real-time behavior automation. In short, you can precisely target your offers to users based on any criteria imaginable.
Other highlights include a smart success feature to avoid showing duplicate forms to existing leads, A/B testing and smart traffic tools, and integration with over 2000 popular apps via Zapier.
OptinMonster pricing starts at $9/month (paid annually) with the most popular plan coming in at $19/month. They offer a 14-day money-back guarantee.
OptinMonster Pros:
– Advanced targeting and trigger options
– Comes with cart abandonment and lead nurturing tools
– Intuitive campaign builder with mobile previews
– Competitive and scalable pricing
OptinMonster Cons:
– Doesn‘t include a free version
– Charges based on page views as well as features
3. HubSpot WordPress Plugin
HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM platform that offers a free WordPress plugin with an impressive set of lead generation and marketing features. This makes it a great option if you want to go beyond basic optin forms and manage the entire lead lifecycle from one place.
In terms of lead capture, you can create inline forms, overlays, slide-ins, top banners, and exit intent popups. There are a variety of templates to choose from and you can trigger your campaigns based on time delays, exit intent, scroll percentage, and device type.
But where HubSpot really stands out is its built-in free CRM. This gives you a centralized database to store and manage your contacts, track every interaction they have with your website and emails, and set up automated marketing workflows to turn them into customers.
You also get free live chat and chatbot tools, a drag-and-drop landing page builder, email marketing, and more. All of these tools seamlessly work together, giving you a full picture of your lead generation funnel.
The HubSpot WordPress plugin is 100% free with unlimited forms and leads. As your needs grow, you can upgrade to the paid Marketing Hub which starts at $45/month.
HubSpot WordPress Plugin Pros:
– Offers an end-to-end lead generation and nurturing solution
– Generous free plan with robust CRM and marketing features
– Provides a full contact activity timeline for each lead
– Seamless integration with the rest of HubSpot‘s tools
HubSpot WordPress Plugin Cons:
– More complex and time-consuming to set up than other plugins
– Some key features limited to paid plans which can get pricey
4. Bloom
Bloom is a beautifully designed lead generation plugin from Elegant Themes. It focuses on creating attractive and engaging optins that maximize your conversions.
With Bloom, you can create 6 different types of optin forms, including popups, fly-ins, in-line forms, widget area forms, below content forms, and content lockers. There are over 100 templates to choose from, each carefully crafted and optimized by Elegant Themes‘ designers.
To target your offers, you can use triggers like time delays, scroll percentages, and after commenting or purchasing. One unique feature is the ability to show special offers to users after they‘ve been inactive on your site for a set period.
Integrations include 19 popular email marketing services, success and error message settings, and custom HTML form support for flexibility.
Bloom is included for free with the Elegant Themes membership, which costs $89/year. This also gets you access to the ultra-popular Divi WordPress theme and other plugins.
Bloom Pros:
– Beautiful design templates
– Unique trigger options like user inactivity
– Comes bundled with a powerful theme and plugins
– Affordable flat-rate pricing
Bloom Cons:
– Lacks some features like A/B testing and exit intent
– Can‘t purchase as a standalone plugin
5. Convert Pro
Convert Pro is a flexible lead generation plugin that makes building high-converting optins fast and simple.
It offers a wide range of campaign types including modals, slide-ins, in-content forms, widget boxes, and full screen overlays. You also get pre-built templates for welcome mats, coupon codes, free shipping, ebook downloads, and other lead magnets.
One standout feature is the ability to create multi-step popup funnels with conditional logic. For example, you could ask a question, then display a targeted message or offer based on the user‘s response.
Other notable features include a user-friendly visual builder, 40+ animations and effects, integrated A/B testing, and advanced triggers like exit intent, time on page, scroll percentage, and more.
Convert Pro is very affordable, with lifetime pricing starting at $99 for use on up to 10 websites.
Convert Pro Pros:
– Offers unique campaign types like multi-step popups
– Powerful drag-and-drop builder with 150+ templates
– Lets you white label and export your campaigns
– One-time fee with lifetime updates
Convert Pro Cons:
– Lacks some advanced personalization features
– Charges more for removing Convert Pro branding
How to Choose the Best WordPress Lead Generation Plugin
As you can see, there are a lot of great options when it comes to lead generation plugins for WordPress. While the "best" one ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget, here are some factors to consider:
Optin Form Types
While most of the plugins offer similar types of forms, some go further with unique options like gamified wheels, multi-step funnels, and content upgrades. Consider which types would work best for your audience.
Customization Options
Being able to customize the look and feel of your optins is key for matching your branding and maximizing conversions. Look for a plugin with plenty of templates and a user-friendly visual editor.
Targeting and Trigger Options
The more you can personalize and trigger your optins based on user behavior, the higher your conversion rates will be. Seek out a plugin with advanced options like exit intent, scroll triggers, referrer detection, cookie retargeting, etc.
A/B Testing
A/B testing lets you test different versions of your optins to see which converts the best. While not essential, this feature can make a big difference in your results over time.
Email Marketing Integrations
To make the most of your leads, you‘ll want a lead gen plugin that integrates with your email marketing service. Check to make sure your platform is supported before buying.
Pricing Structure
Lead generation plugin prices vary widely from free to hundreds per year. In general, you can expect to pay at least $99/year for a solid solution – though keep in mind that more expensive doesn‘t always mean better. Be sure to take advantage of any free trials or money-back guarantees to test the software before committing.
Tips for Maximizing Your Lead Generation with WordPress
Having a great lead generation plugin is just the start. To really grow your email list, you need to implement proven strategies. Here are some tips:
Offer a Highly Relevant and Valuable Lead Magnet
Your optin forms are only as effective as the offer behind them. Be sure to provide a relevant resource that solves a specific problem for your target audience, such as a checklist, cheat sheet, mini course, template, etc.
Use Exit-Intent Popups
Exit intent is one of the most effective ways to capture leads. By detecting when a visitor is about to leave your site and displaying a targeted message at that moment, you can convert abandoning traffic into subscribers.
Leverage Content Upgrades
Content upgrades are lead magnets created specifically for an individual blog post or page. Because they are so precisely matched to the content the user is engaged with, they tend to convert extremely well.
Run A/B Tests Regularly
A/B testing should be an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Continuously experiment with different copy, designs, offers, and triggers to see what works best, then implement the winners across your site.
Don‘t Forget About Mobile
Make sure your optin forms are fully mobile responsive and provide a great user experience on smaller screen sizes. Some plugins like Thrive Leads even let you create separate mobile-only forms that are finger-friendly.
Follow Email Marketing Best Practices
Generating leads is only half the battle. To nurture your leads into customers, you need to nail the rest of your email marketing strategy, including welcome emails, ongoing value-packed newsletters, segmentation, marketing automation, and more.
Final Thoughts
Building an email list is one of the most important things you can do to grow your online business. With the right WordPress lead generation plugin and proven strategies, you can turn your website into an automated list-building machine.
In this post, we‘ve covered everything you need to choose the perfect plugin for your needs and skyrocket your conversions in 2024.
Whether you go with a comprehensive tool like Thrive Leads or OptinMonster, or a more lightweight option like Convert Pro, you‘ll be well on your way to more leads and customers.
The only thing left to do is take action. So install a lead generation plugin today and start growing your most valuable business asset – your email list!
