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BSK Forms Blacklist

By bannersky

Forms & Data Collection / Contact Forms

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

BSK Forms Blacklist Review - In-Depth Analysis

This plugin helps avoid spam submissions by blocking form submissions based on a blacklist of keywords. It works with popular form plugins like Gravity Forms and WPForms.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.73/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 12+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

4.5 / 10 (Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin helps you avoid spam submissions from Gravity Forms, Formidable Forms, WPForms, Contact Form 7 and Forminator. It checks the form field content and blocks submissions based on your keywords.

This is the free version and you can set it up to use a blacklist. If the field value contains or matches an item in the applied blacklist, the form submission will be blocked. It is easy to use; you just need to create a blacklist, enable settings for the form, and apply the blacklist to the form fields.

Validation messages can be customized for the form. The Pro version can also be used as a whitelist, IP address, email, or invitation code to validate visitor input. It supports blocking email domains and allows or blocks submissions based on IP addresses by country.

Comparing to Alternatives

BSK Forms Blacklist is a specialized plugin for blocking unwanted entries in Gravity Forms, with a focus on blacklist management. It has a direct alternative that offers similar email blacklist functionality.

Top alternatives

Gravity Forms Email Blacklist ( WPS: 7.02)

Strengths

Generous free version limits with 50 blacklists and 100 items each
Effective spam blocking for Gravity Forms
Responsive and helpful support, especially for Pro users
Pro version adds advanced features like invitation lists
Easy to use and integrates well with Gravity Forms

Weaknesses

Some advertised features like IP blocking by country are only in Pro, causing confusion
Known past security vulnerabilities, though fixed in recent versions
Limited free features compared to Pro version
Smaller user base and fewer reviews than some competitors

User Sentiment Analysis

With a strong majority of 5-star and 4-star reviews, users appreciate the plugin's effectiveness and support. However, a minority of users express dissatisfaction mainly due to misleading feature advertising.

Positive highlights

"Nice plugin for Gravity Forms to block harassing creeps" - TekGirlyMama
"Really surprised by the personal, swift and helpful support" - vonkles
"Excellent plugin and great support for the Pro version" - pinkish1
"Sanity saving plugin, great support" - carollynn
"Super plugin for Gravity Forms/Contact Forms 7 with excellent support" - penkalad

Common complaints

False advertising of IP blocking by country feature in free version - Jon Fuller

Weaknesses

Past security vulnerabilities including SQL injection and XSS, though fixed
Limited free version features compared to Pro
Some users find the advertising of Pro features in free version misleading

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who need a robust blacklist management plugin specifically for Gravity Forms and value strong support and advanced Pro features.

Not ideal for

Users looking for free plugins with all advertised features included or those concerned about past security issues without updating to the latest version.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers substantial blacklist capacity with 50 blacklists and 100 items each, sufficient for many basic needs.

Pro version

Adds advanced features such as IP blocking by country, invitation lists, and enhanced spam filtering capabilities.

Final Verdict

BSK Forms Blacklist is a powerful and well-supported plugin for managing blacklists in Gravity Forms, with a generous free tier and valuable Pro features. Its past security issues have been addressed in recent updates, making it a reliable choice when kept current.

While some users have noted misleading advertising regarding free vs Pro features, the plugin's effectiveness and support make it a strong contender for those needing advanced spam protection integrated with Gravity Forms. Alternatives exist but may not offer the same level of support or features.