OptinPop is a free plugin that offers basic opt-in form display with pop-ups on your WordPress blog. It’s quite simple in nature, but there’s also a more powerful, paid version called OptinPop Advanced. In this review we will discuss and compare both versions.

Ease of Use and Installation

Installation is easy, you extract and upload the plugin folder then activate it on your WordPress dashboard. A nice touch is that it has a FAQ page teaching you how to install it, with link to the WordPress Codex for more information.

The plugin’s option page looks like this:

Doesn’t seem much but everything is self-explanatory.

Support and Documentation

The free version comes with little to no support, but if you purchase OptinPop Advanced there’s a 24 hours live support desk. Interestingly, the plugin (along with other products) has its own Help Desk website, one thing I don’t often see with other plugins. I find quick start videos as well, another good point for the plugin’s documentation.

There are a decent FAQ page and troubleshooting page, all in a dedicated blog with plenty of useful and relevant information.

Opt-in e-mail List Support and Compatibility

It’s really surprising that the plugin’s website doesn’t even mention what e-mail list is supported, considering opt-in is all the plugin does! The plugin’s option form only asks you to specify the URL to your opt-in form, which probably is good enough for common solution like Aweber, but you might want to ask the plugin author directly if you’re using others.

Custom Pop-up Contents

This is only supported by the Advanced version. Even so, the support is pretty limited where you are only allowed to put a link to your custom content. There is no way for you to write HTML contents into the pop-up itself, it’s simply a frame to other page.

Types of Pop-up

Both the Free and Advanced version can be used to create:

• Entry pop-up
• Delayed pop-up
• Exit pop-up
• Repeated pop-up

The Advanced version also comes with some unique pop-ups, such as:

• Pop-up window rotations, where you display different pop-up content for different visitors
• Sequential pop-up.

Stylability and Placements

Given the simplicity of the plugin’s option form, there is no easy way to style your pop-ups except for its width and height. There are a bunch of pre-made packages, though, which we will also discuss soon. The Free version only allows you to put the pop-up either on top or in the middle of your screen, while The Advanced version allows for greater level of positioning.

For the Free version there is simply no way to tell the plugin on which page the pop-up should show up. You will need to purchase the Advanced version to do that.

Lightbox and Other Effects

OptinPop allows for lightbox effect both for the Free and Advanced version. Additionally, with the advanced version you can tweak the lightbox’s background color as well.

Design Templates

After you installed the free version, you are given the option to get 7 free opt-in form designs. The Advanced version comes with 40 design templates.

How it Deals with Pop-up Blockers

DHTML coding ensures the pop-up made with OptinPop to be unblockable by most pop-up blockers.

Pricing and Licensing

The OptionPro Free version is, well, free, while the Advanced version costs US$ 47. Click here to read more about the paid version, complete with a comparison table between the Free and Advanced version. Do note that the paid version also comes with plenty of stuff:

• 11 WordPress Breakthrough SEO Training Videos
• 40 Optin Form Templates
• 12 WordPress Power Themes
• The 30 Minute Guide To Blogging (e-book, I suppose)

The Free version is licensed under Artistic License 2.0, which pretty much means you can use it all you want, anytime and anywhere. Surprisingly there is no mention of licensing for the paid, Advanced version, so to be safe better talk with them before purchasing.

Refund Policy

There’s a full, no question asked 365 days (you read that right) refund policy. More than you will ever need, I believe.

Missing Features

• Custom Pop-up Contents (available, but very limited)
• Multimedia support.