If you’re new to creating websites, you’re likely wondering what is a page builder in WordPress? 👨💻
Well, page builders are WordPress plugins that allow you to design, modify, and publish a website without coding. These tools integrate a new editor interface into WordPress, allowing for more streamlined, intuitive, and versatile page layout customizations. They’re made to be simple to use and typically feature a drag-and-drop interface, premade layouts, and design components.
Understanding page builders in WordPress
Page builders and other DIY website creation tools have inspired many people to develop their own sites without the help of designers or programmers. With the help of a page builder, you can give your website a one-of-a-kind appearance, feel, and functionality without having any prior knowledge of web design.
👉 Here are some of the most significant benefits of using a page builder compared to the built-in WordPress Gutenberg block editor:
- Frontend editing: The block editor’s backend editing capability is similar to that of the frontend; however, you will need to see the preview to check the final design. In contrast, frontend editing has been a standard feature of many page builders for some time. With frontend editing, you can view your changes in real time.
- Predesigned templates: Using a page builder, you have access to a generally wider variety of premade layouts and designs. They usually work right away after the page builder is set up. On the other hand, the block editor currently lacks the variety of ready-made elements that most page builders offer.
- Styling options: While Gutenberg’s blocks can be styled and customized, they still can’t compare to what page builders offer. A page builder allows you to make changes to widgets, columns, or the entire page. These customizations are also not as simple as a color swap or the addition of a drop shadow. If you want complete creative freedom in your design, a page builder is the way to go.
👉 Despite these advantages, using a page builder over the native WordPress block-building interface still has its drawbacks:
- Heavy page builders can cause your site to load slowly: Your site’s performance will suffer if you overload it with forms and elements or if the template you’re using to build it requires a great deal of memory.
- Security: As a third-party plugin, page builders can experience security issues. To keep your website secure, you should look for a page builder that has been designed using good coding practices and is frequently maintained and updated.
- Most good page builders aren’t available for free: You can expect to pay anything from $30 to $150 for a good page builder.
The best page builders
👉 There are plenty of different page builder plugins for WordPress. Here are some of the best ones available:
- Elementor: Elementor is an advanced WordPress page builder with many features. With little practice, you can tweak just about every component of your site and create near-perfect pages.
- Divi Builder: The Divi Builder allows for front and backend customization of any page, features a wide range of drag-and-drop features, and comes with several highly adaptable design templates.
- SeedProd: SeedProd includes a wide variety of templates, modules, and assets aimed to simplify the process of creating conversion-focused landing pages.
- Beaver Builder: Among WordPress page builders, Beaver Builder is highly regarded for its intuitive interface and widespread use. This plugin will allow you to preview your entire website as you change it.
- WP Bakery: Many premium WordPress themes come pre-loaded with WP Bakery, making it a rather popular page builder. It’s simple to use and works well with various sites thanks to its intuitive frontend editor.
- Brizy Builder: This react-based solution has all the bells and whistles you need to create a professional WordPress site for free. Use the built-in widgets like sliders, tabs, and form fields to design a user-friendly interface.
Conclusion: What is a page builder in WordPress? 🤔
Creating a website can be a daunting task, and given the vast customization options available, WordPress can present unique challenges. With the ideal page builder tool, you won’t have to hire an expensive developer, waste time designing pages from scratch, or spend hours learning your site’s backend.
📚 In this article, we’ve answered the question of “what is a page builder in WordPress?” We presented the pros and cons of using one, and the best ones available today. With this knowledge in hand, creating a website should be a breeze.