If you are designing a WordPress site, then all the terms and options of designing may seem confusing and overwhelming.
There are plenty of WordPress page builders to help you create your site, and each one has its own set of features.
The question is, which one suits you best?
In this article, I’ll compare the four best WordPress page builders n the market, so you can decide which one is perfect for your needs.
Each builder is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, based on my opinion of its features and functionality. Let’s get started!
What is a WordPress page builder?
A WordPress page builder is a plugin that allows you to create custom pages and posts without having to write any code.
You can drag and drop elements onto your page, and then update the settings to change how they look.
For example, you can add a heading, an image, and some text, and then change the font size and color for each element of your brand imagery as per your brand kit guidelines. You can also create footers, content, and sidebars.
Page builders are a great way to create custom pages without having to hire a developer.
There are many WordPress page builders available, but some of the most popular include Beaver Builder, Divi Builder, and SiteOrigin Page Builder.
What is the difference between a theme and a page builder?
A WordPress theme is a completely pre-designed template that can be used to create a website.
You can simply install a theme and customize the details according to your needs. You may choose to install a separate builder to customize the theme, or you can also work with the default Gutenberg editor of WordPress. (I would highly recommend you not to, btw!)
A page builder helps you create each page of your small business website, step-by-step.
WordPress page builders are particularly useful if you want to create complex layouts or designs, or if you want to use advanced features such as columns and tabs. Most page builders come with a drag-and-drop interface, making them easy to use even for those with no coding experience.
A WordPress theme is the design of a website, and a WordPress builder is the tool you use to create a page within that theme. #WordPress #webdesign #wordpressbuilder Click To TweetTo explain it even further metaphorically, a theme is like the interior decoration of your home, how it looks. And a page builder consists of the tools you need to set up the interiors, like drills, screwdrivers, paint, etc.
How does a WordPress website builder work?
Creating a website with WordPress is a relatively simple process, especially if you use a page builder. In just a few steps, you can have a professional-looking business website that is easy to navigate and helps you achieve your goals.
1. Purchase a domain name and hosting plan.
I recommend using an efficient web hosting service like Bluehost or SiteGround
2. Install WordPress on your web server.
3. Choose a theme for your website and install it.
You can find thousands of themes on theme marketplaces like Envato or ThemeGrill.
4. Choose a page builder
Choose a page builder you are most comfortable with, download it in your WordPress plugin directory, and activate it.
5. Customize your pages and add content with your WordPress page builder.
Most WordPress builders (at least the ones mentioned in this list) can work with any theme, but they each also have specially designed themes or templates that work best with that specific page builder.
Pro Tip:
Remember, you can choose NOT to download any page builder.Simply download the theme and edit it and create new pages and content with the default Gutenberg editor of WordPress. But I would highly recommend working with a page builder for easy, quick, and efficient layouts.
Which are the four best WordPress page builders?
There are different kinds of WordPress page builders, but in this post, we will only discuss drag-and-drop builders.
So essentially the page builders where there are lots of pre-existing elements, you just have to drag and drop them on your page to create your design.
Most of these builders don’t require any coding knowledge. So you can use them even if you’re not a graphic designer, and are just developing your own website. However, different builders are suited for different skill levels and some have steep learning curves.
And if you need very specific customization, then you may need to add some code or ask for help from a web designer.
The 4 most popular and best WordPress page builders are:
- Elementor
- Divi
- Beaver Builder
- SiteOrigin
Similarities between Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, and SiteOrigin
1. All builders are available as WordPress plugins.
This means they can be installed on any WordPress site with just a few clicks.
2. All page builders allow you to create custom pages without having to write any code.
They do this by providing a drag-and-drop interface that lets you add, move, and delete elements on the page. This is a huge time saver, as it means you don’t have to hire a developer or mess around with code yourself.
3. All builders also include a wide range of pre-built templates.
These templates can be customized to some degree, but they’re not meant to be completely changed – they’re just meant to save you time by giving you a good starting point.
4. All builders include a live preview feature.
The live preview lets you see what your pages will look like as you’re building them. This is extremely helpful, as it means you can make changes and see those changes immediately in the preview window, without having to save and refresh the page.
SiteOrigin Page Builder also includes a live preview feature, but it’s not quite as user-friendly as the others – it can be slow to load and isn’t always accurate.
5. All builders are suitable for all types of websites
You can use any of these builders irrespective of your website objectives and purposes, whether for blogging, showcasing portfolios, or ecommerce.
6. They work with almost all website themes
All of the website builders listed are great for almost any theme. I would suggest trying out each one to see which you are most comfortable with.
Personally, I like to use Elementor because it is easy to use and has a lot of features. However, I have also used SiteOrigin on some of my websites and they worked just as well. So, it really depends on your personal preference.
7. All four of these plugins are available in both free and premium versions
The premium versions typically include more features and templates than the free versions, but they’re not required – all four plugins can be used effectively even in their free versions.
Four best WordPress page builders compared
1. Elementor
Elementor has been in the market since only 2016, but with 5 million + installs, it is already one of the most popular WordPress page builders.
Like most popular builders, it is a live drag-and-drop builder, with a very visual interface. This means that while designing your website, you can see exactly what your site visitors will see.
It integrates very well with other plugins and tools including email marketing software and WooCommerce.
It is one of the best builders for beginners, especially those first trying their hand out at building sites because unlike any other freemium builder, its free version offers a whole lot of features that other free builders don’t offer.
Elementor does not have any themes of its own, only premade layouts. You can, of course, create your whole WordPress theme with this page builder.
Interface: You can drag and drop the widgets you want from the left-hand side of the screen, and customize them as per your needs.
Premade templates: Elementor includes a minimum of 30 premade templates that you can simply customize as per your needs. You can also build your entire theme on Elementor.
Limitations: Elementor offers a ton of features like integration with other apps, which makes customization super easy. But this also makes the site heavy and slow.
Free or paid: Elementor has both versions. The free version has 30+ existing templates that you can simply click on and add to your site. It also has 40+ widgets.
The paid version has 10x more, i.e., 300+ templates, along with 90+ widgets and 60+ website kits.
Who is the Elementor builder best for?
Anyone who wants to design a WordPress website. It’s fairly easy to get done, but it takes a little bit of trial and error to get the hang of things and become faster at creating the brand design you want.
If you have never designed a website before, and want to dip your toes in it, Elementor is a great way to get started.
Top Features
- Lots of integrations are available with other apps
- Suitable for any skill level
- The free version offers lots of features
Annual Price & No. of Sites
$49 for one site.
$199 for 25 sites
$499 for 100 sites.
$999 for 1000 sites.
Refund Policy
Full refund within 30 days
2. Divi
Divi is one of the most popular visual drag-and-drop editors, with a very intuitive, clean interface. It is a unique builder because it lets you create your page both visually (like Elementor and Beaver), and from the backend (like SiteOrigin).
Unlike the other 3 builders mentioned in this post, though, it does not have a free version. But it has not worked against the builder in any way, as it has already crossed 8 million installs since its launch in 2013.
Divi has both a theme and a builder. These are the differences between the two:
The Divi theme
- It works like any other theme of WordPress, where you can create pages and posts according to the theme template.
- The Divi theme includes the Divi builder by default. So if you want to make changes to the theme, it will do so with the Divi builder.
The Divi builder
- It is just a builder plugin like Elementor or Beaver, which can work with any theme.
- You can use the Divi builder to create any theme you like, including headers, footers, etc.
There is another theme called The Ultimate Magazine WordPress theme which has the Divi builder inbuilt. Divi also comes with its own email option plugin (Bloom), which you can integrate with your email marketing software and social media sharing tool (Monarch).
Interface: It doesn’t really have a popup builder, only a menu at the bottom that you can expand and get the options in a popup. You can, however, make the menu fixed as a sidebar, like in Elementor.
Premade templates: Divi comes with 40+ website elements (widgets), and 800+ premade layouts. The premade layout packs also include templates for individual page layouts, like Contact Us, About Us, Blog, etc. If you are not happy with any of these, you can also go to their marketplace and buy different packs for headers, footers, blogs, etc.
Limitations: The biggest disadvantage of using Divi is that once you use this builder, if you want to uninstall it and switch to a different one, it is super complicated, and definitely needs hours of work by a technical web designer. If you don’t want that, then once you use Divi, you are locked in for life with this builder.
The good news is that there are constantly new layout packs and customization options being added, so unless there is a big problem with your site, you may never need to switch to a different page builder.
Free or paid: The Divi builder only has a premium version. You can choose from a premade layout within the builder. If you want to install a separate WordPress theme, and customize it with Divi, then that theme cost is separate. To keep costs low, you can also install a free theme and edit it with the paid Divi builder.
Note: The price you pay is not just for the builder, but all the plugins and themes from Elegant Themes, the company that has created Divi.
Who is the Divi builder best for?
Divi can be used by all WordPress users, and the builder adapts to the skill level of the designer. If you are a beginner, you can simply download the builder, choose a prebuilt layout, do some basic customizations, and launch your site.
If you have more experience, you can design the site from scratch by dragging and dropping elements, or using CSS. You can also install a theme and edit it freely with the page builder.
Divi is such a popular builder that it even has its own big communities where people share their experiences and help each other out. For example, on Facebook.
Top Features
- Both frontend and backend editors
- Extremely fast
- Inbuilt email option and social sharing plugins
Annual Price & No. of Sites
$89 annually for one site.
$249 for lifetime access for unlimited websites
Refund Policy
Full refund within 30 days
3. Beaver Builder
Beaver Builder is one of the oldest WordPress page builders, but still one of the most popular. It is a very lightweight builder, and has minimum bugs, which means it is very stable and reliable.
Interface: You design using rows, columns, and widgets (called modules, in Beaver). The page builder and styling elements open up in a popup style. It doesn’t have a sidebar by default, but you can turn the menu into a sidebar one if you want.
Premade templates: The Beaver Builder has 2 kinds of premade templates: landing pages and content pages (like an About Us page). The number of templates, however, are not as many as Elementor or Divi, and they are more generic. There aren’t specific templates for all kinds of content.
Limitations: It doesn’t provide as much customization and flexibility as Elementor or Divi. But on the other hand, that’s what makes it lightweight, which makes your website fast, one of the most important criteria for SEO-friendliness.
Free or paid: Beaver Builder has a free version, but it gives very limited choices, like only 6 modules. The paid one on the other hand, gives access to 30 modules and 56 page templates. You can also build a full theme with the separate addon of Beaver Themer.
Who is the Beaver builder best for?
If you want to design a basic website without all the extra fuss, then Beaver may be a good choice. You can design a simple, efficient, high-speed site, but it does not have as many options for customization as the other builders.
Top Features
- Bug-free, lightweight, stable
- Suitable for any skill level
- Offers a renewal discount
Annual Price & No. of Sites
Renews with a 40% discount.
Refund Policy
Full refund within 30 days
4. SiteOrigin
The most unique feature of Page Builder by Siteorigin is that it is a completely free builder but still offers very advanced options. It has some prebuilt layouts and theme options, but like the other builders, can be used to edit or customize any WordPress theme.
Interface: It is a drag-and-drop builder, but works best as a backend editor. It does have a Live Editor version, but the interface is not as intuitive or easy to use as Elementor or Divi. So it is not the perfect beginner-level builder, though beginners prefer it because it’s free.
Premade templates: SiteOrigin has a few premade layouts, 3 free themes, and 17 paid themes.
Limitations: The Live Editor gives you popup options and doesn’t let you interact directly with the content, and doesn’t have inline editing. So you have to do edits and keep previewing your work every time. The number of premade layouts is also very limited.
Free or paid: SiteOrigin is predominantly a free WordPress builder. It does have an add-on bundle for $29 which gives you more widgets, the ability to add parallax scrolling or animation, and premium support. But even without these, you can have a perfectly designed WordPress site.
Who is the SiteOrigin builder best for?
You should choose SiteOrigin if you are looking for a page builder that lets you create a good website and customize it up to very deep levels. And if you have loads of time to spend on this project! Because unless you have preexisting knowledge about web design, the learning curve of this builder is steep, and you are working mostly on the backend. But hey, it’s free!
Top Features
- Most of the features are available for free
- Suitable for advanced skill levels
Annual Price & No. of Sites
The basic builder is free. Some extra addons are available with SiteOrigin Premium which costs $29 for one site, $49 for 5 sites, and $99 for unlimited sites.
Refund Policy
Full refund within 60 days
Best WordPress Page Builders: Conclusion & the perfect choice
All the WordPress builders mentioned above have their pros and cons. Which one you choose really depends on your needs and skill level.
If you are an absolute beginner at designing WordPress sites, you might be better off choosing a builder like Divi or Elementor, selecting a premade layout, and just customizing it according to your needs.
If you are more advanced and comfortable creating your site on the backend without looking at the frontend, so without a live visual editor, then SiteOrigin is a good option to go with. The good news is that it’s free!
What other factors would you base your decision about the page builder on? How have you chosen the perfect one for you? Would love to hear your comments!
