GravityView is an indispensable tool for anyone looking to leverage the power of Gravity Forms to build dynamic front-end web applications, such as directories or job boards. 

Its seamless integration with Gravity Forms, coupled with its user-friendly interface and powerful layout templates, positions it as a crucial tool for Gravity Forms users—especially those who don’t want to dive deep into code.

Are you looking for a way to build directories and other types of information systems using Gravity Forms? Or do you need an efficient way to manage user-generated content directly on the front end?

GravityView enables you to accomplish this and more, all with an intuitive, no/low-code builder.

Designed to work hand-in-hand with Gravity Forms, GravityView empowers you to display, export, and edit form entries with ease, all on the front end. Its reputation for flexibility and reliability makes it the go-to plugin for users looking to extend the capabilities of Gravity Forms beyond just data capture.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore how GravityView enables you to harness your form data in creative ways and build powerful web applications without any code.

Join me as we delve into the features and benefits of GravityView, illustrating how it can elevate your online presence and operational efficiency.

GravityView at a Glance

From creating engaging directories and listings to managing user-generated content and interactive databases, GravityView provides a comprehensive suite of layouts and integrations designed to meet a broad spectrum of needs.

Its drag-and-drop interface is perfect for those without coding skills. However, users of all levels, from WordPress beginners, to agencies and developers, can benefit from GravityView’s flexibility and ease of use.

Some of the GravityView features that stood outt o me include:

• A variety of layouts to choose from. You can display Gravity Forms entries in a table, on a map, in a list, or design your own layouts using the DIY option.
• Drag and drop View builder. Positioning fields and widgets is easy thanks to a drag-and-drop builder. This allows you to create diverse layouts for your data.
• Front-end entry editing. GravityView enables logged-in users to edit their own entries directly from the front end. This makes it the perfect tool for creating user directories.
• Easily customizable. GravityView includes hundreds of actions and filters for more advanced users to tap into, making it easy to modify or override anything, including template files.
• In-built searching, sorting, and filtering. A customizable search bar widget enables users to search through entries from the front end. This, combined with advanced sorting and filtering capabilities, allows for complete control over the data.
• Ability to export data. GravityView allows users to export data from the front end in a variety of formats.

What kind of web apps can you build with GravityView?

GravityView takes the power and versatility of Gravity Forms and adds a customizable front-end interface on top. This gives you a complete solution for building versatile web apps and information systems on WordPress without needing coding knowledge.

Here are some examples of different web apps that can be built using Gravity Forms and GravityView.

Business directory

A table of entries where each row represents a business. Users can search, sort and filter the entries to find businesses near them, or ones that offer the services they need.

Real estate directory

A map showing the location of houses for rent or for sale; there is a grid below showing an overview of each listing. Users can click on a specific listing to see more detailed information about it.

Document library

A document library is essentially a table containing downloadable files and documents with basic information about each one. Companies may need this for cataloging or sharing importing files. 

Job board

A list of jobs that have been submitted via a Gravity Form. Users can browse recent job listings and search for jobs based on various criteria.

User-generated content

Any content that users submit through a Gravity Form can be displayed using GravityView. This includes testimonials, guest posts, grant applications, proposals, and more.

The GravityView user experience

GravityView is optimized to deliver a seamless experience for new users. From my experience, the straightforward onboarding and easy plugin management make it simple to get up and running right away.

After installing GravityView, you land on the “Getting Started” screen, which includes a series of videos guiding you through the process of setting up your first View.

Under the “GravityKit” menu item in your WordPress Admin, you’ll find several other helpful links:

• Manage Your Kit: On this dashboard page, you can activate your license key, manage additional layouts and extensions (all of which are installed as separate plugins), run updates, and view changes. 
• Settings: Modify general GravityView settings relating to caching, permissions, and the REST API. 
• All Views: See a list of all your Views.
• New View: Create a new View.
• Grant Support Access: Generate a secure login for GravityKit support technicians, in case you come across an issue that requires their assistance.

Creating new Views

A View refers to an interface that displays your Gravity Forms entry data. You can create your View using the drag and drop builder, and then embed it anywhere on your website with a WordPress block or shortcode.

The first step is to select a data source for your View. This is a form in Gravity Forms with the entry data that you want to display. After that, you’ll be able to select a “View Type”—think of these like templates for displaying data using different layouts. The type you choose will depend on your unique use-case.

Some View Types are only available in the “GravityView Pro” package (we’ll dive into the details on this later).

After selecting your View type, you can begin constructing your View by adding fields and widgets. Fields refer to the user-submitted form content, whereas widgets are tools for navigating a View (e.g. a search bar or pagination links).

The View editor includes three tabs at the top for customizing the different constituents of a View. 

The Multiple Entries layout is the main page where each of your entries will be displayed one after the other; the Single Entry layout displays data about an individual entry, and the Edit Entry layout allows you to configure fields that are editable on the front end.

You can rearrange fields and widgets by dragging and dropping them to new locations. Each field includes a range of settings, enabling you to adjust visibility controls, change the label text, and more.

Finally, at the bottom of the View editor, you’ll find a settings meta box where you can modify different aspects of your View. When installing additional layouts or extensions, the relevant settings tabs will appear here.

GravityView’s key features

Let’s take a closer look at some of GravityView’s key features, including those only available in their Pro plan.

Drag and drop functionality

GravityView’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy for non-technical users to create complex web applications like directories, document libraries, and more. All layouts are customizable using drag and drop.

Customizable search bar widget

Any form field can be made searchable by adding it as a search input. It’s also possible to adjust the search mode, change the input types, and more.

Entry approval

GravityView includes a built-in approval system, allowing Admins to approve or reject new form submissions on either the backend or frontend. This makes it easy to screen new form entries (think directory listings, job applications, etc) before they show up on your website.

Google Maps integration (Pro)

The GravityView Maps layout adds the ability to display form submissions with an “Address” field as markers on a Google Map. This functionality makes it possible to build business directories, store locators, and other geolocation applications.

DataTables integration (Pro)

With the DataTables layout, you can display Gravity Forms entries in a table with advanced sorting, filtering, and exporting capabilities. The table also updates in real-time as you receive new entries. DataTables is perfect for conducting data analysis on more complex datasets.

Only display entries created by the logged-in user (Pro)

GravityView’s Advanced Filtering Extension enables users to filter entries in a View using conditional logic. A popular use-case for this is ensuring that logged-in users only see the entries that they created.

Responsive layouts

All View types are designed with different screen sizes in mind. This ensures that your Views look good on desktop, mobile, and everything in between!

Layouts and Extensions

GravityView ships with the table and list layouts. GravityView Pro includes a further 3 layouts: DIY, Maps, and DataTables.

Moreover, GravityView Pro includes access to 6 premium extensions that add new functionality:

• Multiple Forms: Join entry data from multiple different forms and display it in a single View.
• Ratings and Reviews: Allow visitors to rate, review & comment on your Gravity Forms entries.
• A-Z Filters: Make it easy for users to filter entries alphabetically using a list of links from A-Z.
• Featured Entries: Mark entries as “featured” so they show up at the top of your View.
• Social Sharing & SEO: Add social sharing buttons to Views and boost your SEO.
• Advanced Filtering: Use conditional logic to gain finer control over which entries are displayed in a View.

Layouts and extensions are modular and can be activated and deactivated as needed. This helps to reduce bloat.

What users have to say

GravityView users include WordPress beginners, freelance web designers, web agencies, small business owners, and developers. User reviews point to its flexibility, ease of use, and attentive support.

In particular, users have highlighted GravityView’s ability to streamline development, allowing for the completion of complex projects without needing custom coded solutions.

You can check out more of these examples in their case studies.

GravityView Pricing

GravityKit (the developers of GravityView) maintain a simple pricing model that includes three different tiers. Users can upgrade their license as their website needs grow.

• GravityView. Starts at $99/year for a single site license. Includes the table and list layouts.
• GravityView Pro. Starts at $249/year for a single site license. Includes all extensions and layouts (DataTables, Maps, and DIY).
• GravityKit All Access. Starts at $499/year for a single site license. Includes GravityView, all extensions, all layouts, and all other GravityKit plugins.

All plans offer unlimited use on local and staging sites. The All Access Pass also includes priority support, meaning you’re likely to receive quicker responses to your queries.

GravityKit also offers special discounted pricing for nonprofits. Eligible organizations need to apply first, demonstrating proof of their nonprofit status.

Lastly, while GravityKit doesn’t offer a free trial, they do offer access to your own free demo site where you can try out all of their plugins and extensions for free for 30 days.

Support and resources

GravityView offers 24/7 support via email or live chat (when available). They also maintain a growing library of documentation, video guides on their YouTube channel, in-depth blog tutorials, and full-length courses.

Additionally, GravityKit’s demo site includes a showcase of live applications that users can play around with to see what’s possible with GravityView.

Final thoughts on GravityView

And there you have it, our thorough exploration of GravityView and how it works.

For those of you looking to display basic form data on your WordPress site, or organizations aiming to transform their form submissions into dynamic, interactive web applications—ranging from user directories and job boards to complex data systems—GravityView stands out as a top choice.

Its integration with Gravity Forms, coupled with its pre-built customizable layouts, drag-and-drop functionality, and a wealth of advanced features, ensures that GravityView is not just a plugin but a powerful framework that brings your data to life. 

Whether you’re a WordPress novice or a seasoned developer, GravityView offers the tools needed to create engaging, efficient web applications without diving into code.

Interested in taking GravityView for a spin? Here’s how you can get started:

• Purchase a GravityView license suitable for your project and enjoy the plugin’s full capabilities. Every purchase comes with a reassuring 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Sign up for a free, fully-functional demo site to experiment with GravityView and discover its potential firsthand.

If you still have questions about GravityView or wish to share your experiences, we’d love to hear from you in the comments.