WordPress Page Builder Compared: A Detailed Overview
WordPress has established itself as one of the most popular content management systems (CMS), accessible not only to experienced developers but also to beginners. One of the main reasons for this popularity is the variety of plugins and tools that WordPress offers to make websites fast and efficient. Among these tools, page builders stand out because they make it possible to create websites without in-depth coding knowledge.
In this blog post, we compare the most popular WordPress page builders and present their advantages and disadvantages. We’ll take a closer look at the following popular tools:
- Elementor
- WPBakery Page Builder
- Gutenberg (the block editor of WordPress)
- Beaver Builder
- Divi Builder
- Thrive Architect
1. What are WordPress page builders?
A page builder is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create and design websites visually. Unlike WordPress’ classic block editor, which only gives you a limited selection of design elements, page builders allow you to design completely individually. They offer drag-and-drop interfaces that allow you to place elements such as text, images, buttons, and other components on the page simply by moving your mouse.
2. Why use a page builder?
There are several benefits to using a page builder:
- Usability: You don’t need any knowledge of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript to create engaging web pages.
- Flexibility: You can customize the design of your website exactly to your liking.
- Speed: The drag-and-drop approach allows for faster web page creation.
- Variety of templates: Many page builders offer a variety of pre-built templates that can serve as the foundation for your pages.
Now that we know what page builders are and why they’re useful, let’s take an in-depth look at each tool.
3. Elementor: The Most Popular Page Builder
Elementor is one of the most well-known page builders and has made a name for itself due to its ease of use and feature set. There is both a free and a pro version, with the pro version offering advanced features such as additional widgets, templates, and theme builder features.
Advantages:
- User-friendly: Elementor offers a drag-and-drop interface that is very easy to use.
- Live Preview: You’ll see changes immediately, which makes the design process more efficient.
- Lots of widgets: Elementor offers a wide range of widgets for texts, images, buttons, forms, and much more.
- Global Settings: The Pro version allows you to set global theme settings that are applied to all pages.
- Theme Builder: The theme builder allows you to fully customize headers, footers, archives, and single-post pages.
Disadvantages:
- Performance issues with complex pages: For very large pages or many widgets used, Elementor can affect the loading speed.
- Risk of collision with other plugins: Since Elementor uses many of its own CSS and JavaScript files, it can conflict with other plugins.
Conclusion:
Elementor is especially suitable for beginners who want to design a website quickly and easily. The Pro version offers many advanced features that are necessary for professional websites.
4. WPBakery Page Builder: The Classic
WPBakery Page Builder (formerly Visual Composer) was one of the first page builders for WordPress and has become a classic. It’s especially common in themes like ThemeForest .
Advantages:
- Complete control over the design: WPBakery offers both frontend and backend editors, so you can edit the layout in the view of your choice.
- Lots of elements and templates: You have access to a wide range of design elements and ready-made templates.
- Compatibility: WPBakery is compatible with many other WordPress themes and plugins.
Disadvantages:
- User interface: Compared to Elementor, WPBakery’s interface seems a bit outdated and less intuitive.
- Performance issues: Like Elementor, WPBakery can also negatively affect load times for large pages.
- Additional costs: Many features that are already included in the free version of Elementor have to be added to WPBakery for a fee.
Conclusion:
WPBakery is well suited for users who are looking for a proven solution and are already working with themes that support this page builder. It’s a solid, if not quite as intuitive, builder as Elementor.
5. Gutenberg: The WordPress Block Editor
Gutenberg, WordPress’ block editor, was originally introduced as a replacement for the classic editor and has evolved over time to act as a page builder. Gutenberg allows you to create content using “blocks” that represent different types of content, such as text, images, videos, and more.
Advantages:
- Free and integrated: Gutenberg is integrated directly into WordPress, which means you don’t need to install an additional plugin.
- Easy to use: Gutenberg’s block structure is simple and logical, which makes content creation quick and easy.
- Extensibility: With additional plugins like Kadence Blocks or Stackable , you can make Gutenberg even more powerful.
Disadvantages:
- Limited design options: Compared to dedicated page builders like Elementor or WPBakery, Gutenberg offers fewer design options.
- Lack of advanced features: Features like theme design and in-depth customization are missing from the free version.
Conclusion:
Gutenberg is a good choice for simple websites that are all about content creation. However, if you need a comprehensive design, you will quickly reach your limits with Gutenberg.
6. Beaver Builder: The Reliable All-Rounder
Beaver Builder is another very popular page builder that comes in both free and paid versions. It stands out for its reliability and user-friendly interface.
Advantages:
- Intuitive user interface: Beaver Builder is easy to use and suitable even for beginners.
- Flexibility: The builder offers many customization options and a wide range of widgets.
- Reliability: Beaver Builder is known for working well with other plugins and themes and not causing performance issues.
Disadvantages:
- Cost: The free version offers limited features. The Pro version is more expensive than some other page builders.
- Limited widgets: Compared to Elementor and WPBakery, Beaver Builder offers fewer widgets and customization options.
Conclusion:
Beaver Builder is a very solid choice for users who are looking for a reliable solution without big design demands. The Pro version offers advanced features, but the basic version is rather limited.
7. Divi Builder: The Powerful Design Builder
Divi by Elegant Themes is more than just a page builder. It is a complete WordPress theme that comes with a powerful visual builder in its Pro version.
Advantages:
- Powerful builder: Divi offers a wide range of design options and a powerful drag-and-drop interface.
- Versatility: It’s not just a page builder, it’s a complete theme with lots of layouts and templates.
- Global Design: You can set global theme settings for your entire site.
Disadvantages:
- Complexity: The Divi Builder has a steeper learning curve than Elementor or WPBakery.
- Performance: Like many other page builders, Divi can also affect loading speeds.
Conclusion:
Divi is an excellent choice for designers who want complete control over their website’s design. It offers many features that make it one of the most powerful page builders.
8. Thrive Architect: The Conversion-Focused Builder
Thrive Architect is a page builder that focuses on optimizing conversion rates. It’s great for users who want to create landing pages or sales pages.
Advantages:
- Conversion optimization: Thrive Architect offers many tools and templates that are specifically geared towards improving the conversion rate.
- Flexibility: You can make detailed adjustments and tailor the builder to your exact needs.
- Versatile templates: Thrive Architect offers a variety of pre-made templates for different types of pages.
Disadvantages:
- Costly: Thrive Architect is more expensive than many other page builders and also requires a Thrive Theme plugin for certain features.
- Complexity: The variety of options and features can lead to a steeper learning curve.
Conclusion:
Thrive Architect is ideal for users who are focused on conversion optimization and marketing. If you want to create a page for a product or service, this builder is a great choice.
Conclusion: Which page builder is right for you?
Choosing the right WordPress page builder depends heavily on your needs. Here are some recommendations:
- Elementor: Ideal for beginners and anyone looking for a flexible, easy-to-use builder.
- WPBakery: Good for users who work with existing themes and need a simple solution.
- Gutenberg: Perfect for simple content pages without big design requirements.
- Beaver Builder: A reliable solution for websites where performance and ease of use are paramount.
- Divi: For designers who want complete control over the design and need a complete theme.
- Thrive Architect: Best choice for marketing-oriented websites that focus on conversion optimization.
Each of these page builders has its own strengths, so choose the one that best suits your project and requirements!
I hope this comparison helps you find the best page builder for your WordPress website!
