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- 8 Best Free WordPress Popup Plugin Options in 2025
8 Best Free WordPress Popup Plugin Options in 2025
-
Nikolett Lorincz
- Conversion
- 6 min read
Table of Contents
Ready to launch high-converting popups on your website?
Finding the best WordPress popup plugin is crucial, as it can be a game-changer in your conversion optimization efforts if it offers the right features, integrations, and customization options.
And the best part? There are fantastic free options (or free plans) out there that won’t break the bank.
The free version of most popup builder plugins includes basic features such as customizations, templates, and compatibility with other plugins.
With the right free WordPress popup plugin, you can start reaping the benefits of higher engagement and conversion rates without having to invest in expensive software.
In this article, we’ll share the top 8 WordPress popup plugins. These plugins have been selected based on their ease-of-use, customization options, targeting capabilities, and more.
Let’s dive in!
What features should you look for in a popup builder plugin?
Before we jump into our top picks, let’s talk about what makes a popup plugin worth your time.
Here are key features to consider!
1. Ease-of-use
A user-friendly interface is essential.
Look for plugins that are easy to install, configure, and integrate into your WordPress site. You shouldn’t need to be a tech guru to create and manage your popups.
Drag-and-drop builders, pre-made templates, and intuitive dashboards can make the process seamless, allowing you to focus on crafting compelling messages rather than wrestling with technical details.
2. Customization options
Flexibility in design and functionality allows you to tailor popups to match your brand and specific campaign needs.
A good popup plugin should offer extensive customization options that let you change colors, fonts, and layouts.
Advanced features like CSS editing and customizable animations can help your popups stand out and create a cohesive look that aligns with your overall branding.
3. Targeting and triggering options
Effective popups are displayed based on user actions and behaviors, targeting the right audience and appearing at the right time. Features like exit intent, time delay, and user behavior triggers are crucial.
For instance, exit-intent popups can capture users who are about to leave your site, while scroll-based triggers can engage users who are actively reading your content.
Advanced targeting options, such as geolocation and device-specific triggers, can further refine your popup strategy, ensuring that your messages reach the most relevant audience.
4. Mobile responsiveness
With more users browsing websites on mobile devices, it’s important to ensure your popups are mobile friendly and look great on all screen sizes.
A responsive design adapts to different devices, providing a smooth user experience whether visitors are on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop.
Mobile responsiveness not only improves the user experience but also boosts your site’s SEO performance, as search engines favor mobile-friendly websites.
5. Analytics and reporting
Tracking performance helps you understand what’s working. Choose popup plugins that offer robust analytics and reporting tools.
Detailed insights into metrics such as conversion rates, click-through rates, and user behavior can guide your optimization efforts.
Also, make sure that your plugin integrates with popular analytics platforms or offers built-in reporting features to track and analyze your popup performance effectively.
6. Support and updates
Regular updates and reliable customer support can save you a lot of headaches down the line.
A good popup plugin should have an active support team to assist with any issues or questions you might have.
Frequent updates ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress versions and security standards. Additionally, updated plugins often come with new features and improvements, keeping your popup strategy fresh and effective.
What's the best free WordPress popup plugin?
Now that we know what to look for, let’s explore the best free popup plugin options available!
These popup plugins make it easy to create and customize popups for your WordPress website, ensuring compatibility with various form-building plugins and email services.
1. OptiMonk
OptiMonk is one of the most popular popup plugins, renowned for its ability to create high-converting, visually appealing popups that enhance the user experience without annoying site visitors.
Even on the free plan, you can create unlimited popups, making it a popular choice for WordPress websites.
Let’s dive into some of its key features!
Key feature #1: 300+ high-converting templates
OptiMonk’s extensive template library makes it easy to get started quickly.
With over 300 professionally designed, mobile-optimized templates, you’ll find options tailored to various use cases.
Whether you’re aiming to build your email list with email popups, reduce cart abandonment with exit-intent popups, or gamify the user experience with lucky wheel popups, OptiMonk has a template for you.
Key feature #2: Flexible drag-and-drop editor
OptiMonk’s drag-and-drop editor allows for easy customization of your popup campaigns.
You can create popups from scratch, adding, editing, or removing any element with a single click.
The editor includes a wealth of elements, from basic text boxes, images, and buttons to advanced features like countdown timers, product elements, and coupon elements.
Key feature #3: Many triggering options
OptiMonk’s triggering options ensure your popups appear at the perfect time.
The tool automatically monitors your visitors’ behavior, allowing you to display popups to visitors based on specific actions such as:
- Exit-intent technology (on desktop and mobile)
- Timer-based triggering
- Scroll-based triggering
- On-click triggering
- Post-JavaScript event triggering
With such precise control over timing, you can effectively optimize the conversion rates of your popups.
Key feature #4: Advanced targeting
OptiMonk allows you to target website visitors with specific messages based on numerous factors, ensuring your popups are highly relevant and more likely to convert.
You can target visitors based on their location, the pages they visit, and what they have in their cart.
Additionally, you can create sales funnels linking various campaigns together and even develop custom variables to determine who sees your popups.
Key feature #5: A/B testing
OptiMonk’s A/B testing capabilities allow you to test different versions of your campaigns and track their performance.
It has the ability to gauge the statistical confidence of your results, ensuring the reliability of your data.
When a variant achieves over 90% statistical confidence, it becomes the “champion variant,” and you can automatically deactivate lower-performing variants using the “Keep only the winner variant running” feature.
Key feature #6: Advanced analytics system
OptiMonk’s advanced analytics system lets you monitor the performance of all your campaigns.
You can track the number of visitors, impressions, conversions, conversion rates, and even total orders or average order value.
Other key features:
- Smart Headline Generator: Use the AI-powered Smart Headline Generator to craft catchy headlines and increase conversions.
- Ecommerce-specific features: Enjoy features like dynamic product recommendations and auto-generated coupon codes.
- Performance-friendly: OptiMonk popups load after your website, ensuring they don’t interfere with the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), an important metric in Google’s Web Vitals.
- Compliance and security: OptiMonk campaigns are fully GDPR compliant, Google-friendly, and safe from AdBlock.
Pricing:
OptiMonk offers a free plan for smaller websites, which includes all features and unlimited campaigns. Paid plans start at $39/month.
2. Sumo
Sumo is a popular choice for businesses looking to grow their email list and improve user engagement.
Known for its simplicity and effectiveness, Sumo offers a range of features that make it easy to capture leads and keep your audience engaged.
Key features:
- Easy drag-and-drop editor: Easily design popups that match your website’s aesthetic and brand identity.
- Exit-intent technology: This feature detects when a visitor is about to leave your site and triggers a popup at just the right moment, encouraging them to stay or complete a desired action.
- Integrations: Seamlessly integrate Sumo with major email marketing services like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and Campaign Monitor.
Pricing:
Sumo offers a free version. For those looking for advanced capabilities and higher limits, paid plans start at $15/month.
3. Popup Maker
The Popup Maker plugin offers a comprehensive set of tools to create all types of popups, including subscription forms, videos, and iframe elements, making it a versatile choice for any WordPress site.
Whether you’re looking to build your email list, promote special offers, or guide users through your site, the Popup Maker plugin is a good option.
Key features:
- Unlimited popup forms: Create as many popups as you need without any restrictions.
- Customizable themes and triggers: Choose from a variety of themes and configure triggers to display your popups at the ideal time.
- Built-in analytics: Monitor key metrics such as views, conversions, and conversion rates to gain insights into what’s working and where there’s room for improvement.
Pricing:
Pricing starts from $99/year.
4. Icegram
Icegram is known for its robust functionality and easy-to-use interface, making it a favorite among marketers and website owners looking to create effective popup campaigns.
Whether you want to capture leads, drive conversions, or engage users, Icegram has the tools you need.
Key features:
- Multiple campaign types: Run a variety of campaign types, including popups, slide-ins, welcome bars, and more.
- Advanced targeting and triggering options: Precisely target your audience and set triggers to display your campaigns at the optimal time.
- Detailed analytics: Monitor key metrics like views, clicks, conversions, and conversion rates.
Pricing:
Icegram offers a free plan with essential features to get you started. For more advanced capabilities, premium plans are available starting from $129/year.
5. Ninja Popups
Ninja Popups is celebrated for its range of customization options and stylish designs, making it a top choice for those who want to create visually appealing and effective popups.
Key features:
- Visual editor: Add, arrange, and style elements with just a few clicks, making the design process straightforward and enjoyable.
- Social network integration: Integrate your popups with popular social networks to increase your social following and engagement.
- Mobile-friendly designs: Provide a seamless user experience whether website visitors are browsing on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
Pricing:
Ninja Popups offers a free plan. For those needing advanced features and greater flexibility, premium plans are available starting from $99/year.
6. Elementor Popup Builder
Elementor’s Popup Builder is a standout feature of the popular Elementor page builder plugin, offering a seamless way to create dynamic and visually appealing popups.
If you’re already using Elementor for your site, this integrated tool is a perfect addition to your marketing arsenal.
Key features:
- Seamless integration with Elementor: Leverage all the design elements and widgets available in Elementor to create your popups, ensuring a cohesive look and feel across your entire website.
- Advanced design capabilities: Use the drag-and-drop editor to add images, videos, buttons, forms, and other elements with ease.
- Responsive popups: Preview and adjust your popups for different devices within the editor.
Pricing:
Elementor Popup Builder is included with the Elementor Pro plan, which starts at $99/year.
7. WP Popups
WP Popups is a lightweight, versatile popup plugin designed to help you create effective popups with multiple customization options without slowing down your website.
Its simplicity and versatility make it a popular choice for users who want to implement popups quickly and efficiently.
Key features:
- Easy to use drag-and-drop builder: Easily add and arrange elements such as text, images, buttons, and forms to design popups that match your brand’s look and feel.
- Multiple display options: Choose from options like lightbox, slide-in, top or bottom bar, and full-screen overlays to capture your visitors’ attention effectively.
- A/B testing capabilities: Create multiple versions of a popup and test them against each other to see which one performs best.
Pricing:
WP Popups offers premium plans starting from $70/year.
8. Hustle
Hustle, by WPMU DEV, is a versatile plugin designed for building customizable and responsive popup boxes, slide-ins, and social sharing bars.
Known for its comprehensive feature set and ease-of-use, Hustle makes it simple to engage your visitors and grow your audience.
Key features:
- Pre-designed templates: Create attractive and professional-looking popups easily.
- Integration: Seamlessly integrate Hustle with popular email marketing services like Mailchimp, AWeber, and Constant Contact.
- Advanced behavior triggers: Utilize triggers such as exit intent, time delay, scroll depth, and click-based activation to engage users when they are most likely to convert.
Pricing:
Hustle provides a free version. For more advanced capabilities, pro plans are available starting from $15/month.
FAQ
How do I create a free popup in WordPress?
Creating a free popup in WordPress is easy with the right plugin. Simply choose one of the plugins listed above, install it, and follow the setup instructions to design and publish your popup. Most plugins offer drag-and-drop editors and pre-designed templates, making the process straightforward.
What is the best popup plugin for WordPress?
The best popup plugin for you depends on your specific needs. OptiMonk and Sumo are great for advanced targeting, while Elementor Popup Builder is perfect if you’re already using Elementor. Evaluate the key features of each plugin to determine which aligns best with your goals.
What are popup triggers?
Popup triggers are specific conditions that control when and where a popup appears on your website. Common triggers include:
- Exit intent: Shows a popup when a user is about to leave the site.
- Time delay: Displays a popup after a visitor has been on the site for a certain amount of time.
- Scroll depth: Triggers a popup when a visitor scrolls to a specific point on a page.
- Click-based: Activates a popup when a user clicks a particular element.
- Page-level targeting: Shows popups on specific pages or posts.
How to track popup conversions?
Tracking popup conversions involves monitoring how many visitors complete a desired action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase, after interacting with a popup. Most popup plugins offer built-in analytics tools that provide data on views, clicks, conversions and conversion rate.
Wrapping up
Engaging popups can significantly enhance your website’s user experience and drive conversions when used correctly.
The good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune to get these benefits! With the right popup plugin, you can start engaging your visitors more effectively today.
Consider your specific needs and try out a few options to find the perfect fit for your WordPress website.
Want to get started with OptiMonk’s free plan? Click on one of the templates below and set up your first popup campaign in just a few minutes:
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Written by
Nikolett Lorincz
Nikolett is the Head of Content at OptiMonk. She is obsessed with content marketing and loves creating educational content for ecommerce store owners. She truly believes in the importance of quality over quantity.
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