Best Website Builders for Wordpress

best website builders for wordpress: Choosing the right builder affects design flexibility, speed, cost, and long-term maintenance. This comparison looks at five widely used WordPress builders and approaches: Elementor, Divi (Elegant Themes), Gutenberg paired with a modern block theme (example: Kadence), Beaver Builder, and Brizy. I compare each option on ease of use, design control, performance, plugin and theme compatibility, developer features, and pricing.

Key decision criteria include: visual design flexibility, site speed and code cleanliness, theme and plugin compatibility, learning curve and maintenance, and total cost of ownership. Quick summary: Elementor is best for designers who want a rich visual toolkit and templates; Divi is best for cost-conscious agencies who want an all-in-one lifetime option; Gutenberg + Kadence is best for lean, high-performance sites and long-term WordPress native compatibility; Beaver Builder is best for developers who prioritize stability and clean code; Brizy is best for beginners who want a simple visual builder at a lower price. Below I detail features, tradeoffs, pricing (as of June 2024), and specific use cases to help you decide.

Elementor

Overview and Positioning

Elementor is a market-leading visual page builder plugin for WordPress with a strong ecosystem of templates, third-party add-ons, and a dedicated cloud hosting option. It offers both a free version that covers basic layout tasks and Elementor Pro for advanced widgets, theme building, dynamic content, and marketing integrations.

Key Features and Strengths

Drag-and-drop visual editor with responsive controls and motion effects.
Theme Builder: header, footer, single post, archive templates.
WooCommerce builder for product pages and templates.
Rich widget library: forms, sliders, carousels, posts, galleries, popup builder.
Large template library and ecosystem of third-party add-ons.
Elementor Cloud Website (hosting + builder) for an all-in-one solution.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

Output can be heavier than native Gutenberg, impacting load times unless optimized.
Reliance on Elementor-specific shortcodes and structure can make switching away harder.
Some advanced features are locked behind Pro tiers; third-party add-ons vary in quality.
The visual environment can encourage over-design, increasing complexity for small sites.

Pricing and Value

Free version available.
Elementor Pro (annual, as of June 2024): Personal $59/year (1 site), Plus $99/year (3 sites), Expert $199/year (25 sites).
Elementor Cloud Website: $99/year (includes hosting for 1 site and Elementor Pro).

Value: Strong template and widget set, good for designers and small agencies. Cost-effective for single-site use with the Personal plan.

Best For

Freelance designers and small agencies building client sites.
WooCommerce stores requiring visual product page design.
Teams who want a large marketplace of templates and addons.

Divi (Elegant Themes)

Overview and Positioning

Divi, from Elegant Themes, is both a visual builder plugin and a theme. Divi emphasizes an all-in-one package with global design settings, a robust visual builder, and a strong emphasis on layout packs. Elegant Themes sells access to the entire suite (Divi builder, Extra theme, Bloom, Monarch) rather than a single-product subscription.

Key Features and Strengths

Visual drag-and-drop builder with inline text editing.
Global styles and design system for consistent site-wide appearance.
Large library of prebuilt layouts and design packs.
Lifetime license option unique among major builders.
Strong role for split-testing and built-in conversion tools in higher tiers.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

Divi uses shortcodes and proprietary markup, making migration away more difficult.
Some users report occasional compatibility quirks with niche plugins or custom themes.
Performance can be heavier than lean block-based solutions; requires optimization for speed.
Learning curve for advanced global styles and bulk editing.

Pricing and Value

Elegant Themes (as of June 2024): Yearly $89/year (unlimited websites), Lifetime $249 one-time (unlimited websites).

Value: Excellent for agencies and freelancers who build many sites and want a predictable unlimited use license. Lifetime option can be cost-efficient long term.

Best For

Agencies and freelancers building multiple client sites.
Teams wanting global design controls and a library of layouts.
Businesses that prefer paying once for long-term use.

Gutenberg Plus Kadence (Block-First Approach)

Overview and Positioning

Gutenberg is WordPress core’s block editor. When paired with a modern block-oriented theme and block plugin like Kadence Theme and Kadence Blocks, it becomes a full site design system with native WordPress compatibility, lean output, and long-term maintainability.

Key Features and Strengths

Native WordPress experience with blocks for content and layout.
Lightweight code output, typically faster page speed than heavy page builders.
Kadence Theme and Kadence Blocks add row, advanced gallery, tabs, and dynamic content blocks.
Full Site Editing (FSE) and block-based theme support for header/footer and template editing.
High compatibility with third-party plugins and WordPress core updates.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

Design freedom is improving but still less fluid than pixel-perfect visual builders.
Some advanced widgets (complex sliders, popups, built-in forms integrations) require third-party plugins.
For nontechnical users, building complex layouts may feel less intuitive initially.

Pricing and Value

Gutenberg: free (part of WordPress core).
Kadence: Theme and Blocks free versions available. Kadence Pro Bundle (as of June 2024) starts at about $79/year for a site bundle with unlimited sites on most plans; pricing tiers may vary. Kadence also offers a Lifetime option at higher one-time cost.

Value: Best long-term value if you want performance, extensibility, and minimal lock-in. Free core tools are powerful; paid pro bundles are modestly priced.

Best For

Businesses prioritizing speed, SEO, and long-term maintainability.
Projects that want native WordPress features and fewer dependencies.
Developers and site owners who value clean markup and easy migration.

Beaver Builder

Overview and Positioning

Beaver Builder is a mature, developer-friendly page builder with a reputation for clean output, stability, and developer tools like Beaver Themer. It focuses less on flashy gimmicks and more on dependable site building, making it popular among agencies and developers building client sites.

Key Features and Strengths

Front-end drag-and-drop builder with reliable, clean code output.
Beaver Themer for theme building (headers, footers, archives).
Strong compatibility with custom post types and advanced custom fields (ACF).
White-label and multisite friendly (especially on higher plans).
Lite version available for basic layouts.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

Smaller template and third-party ecosystem than Elementor or Divi.
Some premium features require higher-tier plans.
Interface is less flashy, which some designers may find less modern.

Pricing and Value

Beaver Builder (as of June 2024): Standard $99/year (1 site), Pro $199/year (3 sites + Themer?), Agency $399/year (unlimited sites, multisite support, white labeling).
Free “Lite” version available in WordPress.org repository.

Value: Strong for agencies and developers who want predictable behavior, good multisite support, and cleaner markup.

Best For

Agencies and developers building client sites who prefer stability and clean code.
Multisite networks and white-label projects.
Projects that need good ACF and custom post type support.

Brizy

Overview and Positioning

Brizy is a newer visual builder that focuses on simplicity and speed for non-technical users. It provides a clean, intuitive interface with a modern design library and both a plugin and a cloud-hosted builder option.

Key Features and Strengths

Intuitive visual editor with inline editing and smart styling.
Brizy Cloud: hosted solution for building and publishing websites quickly.
Prebuilt blocks and global styling presets for fast site assembly.
Lightweight interface and beginner-friendly workflow.
Free core plugin for basic use.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

Smaller third-party ecosystem and fewer advanced developer features compared with Elementor or Divi.
Some advanced marketing and dynamic content features require Pro or add-ons.
When scaling to many client sites, licensing can become more expensive than unlimited options.

Pricing and Value

Brizy (as of June 2024): Free plugin available. Brizy Pro tiers approx: Personal $49/year (1 site), Freelancer $99/year (3 sites), Studio $199/year (100 sites), Agency $399/year (unlimited). Brizy Cloud has separate hosting plans starting around $9/month depending on features.

Value: Good for small businesses and individuals who want an easy builder with modern templates at an affordable entry price.

Best For

Solopreneurs and small businesses that want simple, fast site creation.
Users who prefer a clean, minimal interface and Brizy Cloud for hosting.
Sites that do not require heavy custom developer tooling.

How to Choose

Prioritize performance and long-term portability: Choose Gutenberg plus a lightweight block theme like Kadence. This reduces lock-in and yields faster page speed.
Need visual flexibility and big template marketplace: Choose Elementor for its widgets, templates, and third-party add-ons.
Build many client sites and want unlimited use or lifetime pricing: Choose Divi for strong value, especially if lifetime license appeals.
Require stability, clean output, and multisite or white-label: Choose Beaver Builder for predictable behavior and developer-focused features.
Want simplicity and quick setup for a small business: Choose Brizy or Brizy Cloud for an easy onboarding experience.

4-5 point checklist:

Design control vs simplicity: Do you need pixel-perfect layouts or just good-looking templates quickly?
Performance needs: Is page speed and SEO critical for your site?
Developer features and integrations: Will you use ACF, custom post types, or multisite?
Budget and licensing model: Per-site annual fee, unlimited yearly, or lifetime payment?
Future maintenance and portability: Will you want to migrate away later or keep within the same ecosystem?

Quick Comparison

Pricing Breakdown Summary

Elementor
Free: yes
Pro Personal: $59/year (1 site)
Pro Plus: $99/year (3 sites)
Pro Expert: $199/year (25 sites)
Cloud Website: $99/year (1 site hosting + Pro)
Divi / Elegant Themes
Yearly: $89/year (unlimited sites)
Lifetime: $249 one-time (unlimited sites)
Gutenberg + Kadence
Gutenberg: free
Kadence Pro Bundle: ~ $79/year (prices vary by promotions and packages)
Kadence Lifetime: higher one-time fee (check vendor)
Beaver Builder
Lite: free
Standard: $99/year (1 site)
Pro: $199/year (3 sites)
Agency: $399/year (unlimited sites)
Brizy
Free: yes
Personal: ~$49/year (1 site)
Freelancer: ~$99/year (3 sites)
Studio: ~$199/year (100 sites)
Agency: ~$399/year (unlimited sites)

Note: Prices listed are accurate as of June 2024 and may change. Always verify current pricing on vendor websites.

FAQ

Which Builder Gives the Best Page Speed?

Gutenberg paired with a lightweight block theme like Kadence typically produces the best raw page speed because it outputs leaner markup. Any builder can be optimized, but block-native approaches usually need less post-processing.

Can I Switch Builders Later Without Rebuilding the Site?

Switching builders often requires redesigning pages, especially with Elementor, Divi, or other builders that insert proprietary shortcodes. Gutenberg-based designs are the easiest to migrate away from because the content uses native blocks.

Is a Lifetime License Worth It with Divi?

If you build many sites and plan to use the same builder long term, Divi’s lifetime option can be cost-effective. Consider long-term support and how often you expect major product changes before purchasing.

Do These Builders Work with Woocommerce?

Yes. Elementor Pro, Divi, Beaver Builder (with addons), and Brizy provide WooCommerce integration or builders for product and shop pages. Gutenberg also supports WooCommerce blocks, with additional controls provided by block themes and plugins.

Should I Use a Hosted Option Like Elementor Cloud or Brizy Cloud?

Hosted options simplify setup by bundling hosting and builder, which can be good for non-technical users. They can reduce flexibility compared with choosing your own managed WordPress host, but are convenient for fast launches and single-site projects.

Are These Builders SEO Friendly?

All are capable of producing SEO-friendly sites, but performance impacts SEO indirectly. Gutenberg plus a lightweight theme typically helps speed and core web vitals; other builders may require caching, image optimization, and selective widget use to achieve top scores.