Page builder plugins take the easy-to-use nature of WordPress for which it is known for and kick it up a few notches. These plugins use drag-and-drop interfaces that allow anyone, regardless of their skill-level in code, to build beautiful, highly-effective, and well-optimized websites.
The only downfall these plugins have is the sheer number of them available. Some are available at premium prices while others are available free of charge. Some come with a companion theme while others require you to purchase a theme separately from another developer. Most, however, seem to allow you to save any design you create for later use. In this article, let’s compare the 6 best WordPress page builder plugins, such as Divi Builder, Beaver Builder, Visual Composer, MotoPress Content Editor, Page Builder by SiteOrigin and Elementor with each other.
Let’s go over each plugin briefly before we compare each one against the others.
Divi Builder
The Divi Builder is Elegant Themes’ premium page builder plugin. You can use it alongside the Divi theme for a seamless integration between theme and plugin, but it’s compatible with all themes. It comes with 46 content modules you can arrange inside of a backend editor.
The Divi Builder uses the Divi Library, which allows you to save any module, column, row or template you create. This lets you reuse the same modules over and over again without needing to recreate them each time. You can even make modules global, which means any change you make to it will affect how it looks anywhere it exists on your site. You can even export anything you create in the Divi Library and upload it to another WordPress installation.
This plugin is developer friendly in the way it allows you to add custom code and includes special settings that allow you to dictate who has access to what in the Divi Builder.
Beaver Builder
Beaver Builder is a premium page builder plugin developed and maintained by a group of three WordPress developers. It features a frontend editor that uses a “what you see is what you get approach” to page building. You can click on any row, section or module and make changes. You can use the sidebar menu to add new rows, sections and modules.
This plugin comes with dozens of content modules that can be saved individually. You can even save entire pages you build as templates. You can also export these templates and use them on other sites. All of these features can be used with other themes, but this plugin does come with a dedicated theme to keep things running as smooth as possible.
Beaver Builder is easy to use, but it’s also developer friendly. It lets you add custom code to your designs and turn on a feature called “Editor Mode” where clients are not able to make changes.
Visual Composer
Visual Composer is a premium page builder plugin by WPBakery. It comes with backend and frontend editors you can switch between with ease. Both editors allow you to click on modules and apply changes. It does not use a true live editor in the same sense as the Beaver Builder or Content Editor, however.
This plugin has a steep learning curve, but it’s one of the most powerful page builders available on the WordPress market. It’s compatible with any theme, and it even comes bundled for free with a lot of themes on Themeforest. It comes with over 40 content modules and over 60 pre-made layouts. You can even extend its functionality with a collection of over 200 premium content add-ons.
Visual Composer is yet another page builder plugin that does not leave developers behind. You can add your own custom code to each module and hide specific elements from certain users, such as non-tech-savvy clients who run the risk of breaking their own sites with customizations.
MotoPress Content Editor
Content Editor is a premium page builder plugin by MotoPress, though it does have a free version with fewer features. It uses a frontend editor that lets you make changes and preview your design in real time. It comes with pre-made layouts and themes you can use and customize to streamline the design process.
It comes with over a dozen content modules and offers additional modules in the form of premium add-ons. It works with any theme, but you can also purchase one of MotoPress’ premium themes, which are made to be compatible with this plugin.
Content Editor is a great choice for developers who develop and maintain sites for multiple clients. It lets you duplicate, save and reuse any element, and you can even disable it entirely for certain user groups.
Page Builder by SiteOrigin
Page Builder by SiteOrigin is a free page builder plugin with limited features, though you can add additional features for a premium price. The basic features of the free version include backend and frontend editors.
The free version includes typical modules, such as text, buttons and contact forms. The premium bundle comes with more premium add-ons, such as the ability to use the editor for custom post types, slider widgets and block animations.
You can also download and add the SiteOrigin CSS Editor to your plugin, which allows you to add custom CSS to any element of the editor. The developers also offer a few themes built with the editor to streamline the process of building and designing new sites even further.
Elementor
Elementor is a free and new yet very powerful page builder plugin. It features a live, frontend editor that’s incredibly easy to use, making this new page builder one of the most user-friendly plugins on the market.
The developers have plans to release a premium version in the future, but the free version already comes with dozens of content elements and features. The developers have even added a feature called the Elementor Library, which allows you to save any element or design you create for later use. You can also export your designs and upload them to other websites.
Elementor is compatible with any theme, and it’s developer friendly. It’s readily available for integration with widgets and plugins, and you can add your own code to any element.
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Conclusion
So when it comes to WordPress page builder plugins, you’ve got many choices, free as well as paid. Which page builder plugin is best really depends on your requirements and what you’re trying to build.
If you don’t want to spend anything extra then even the free plugins such as Page Builder by SiteOrigin and Elementor are great choices and work really well. Paid page builders such as Divi builder and Visual Composer offer much more options/features as well as support so that you can contact them in case you are stuck somewhere or need help.
Have you personally tried any page builder from this list, or do you have some other suggestions? Just let us know in the comments section below.
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Your list definitely needs Page Builder Sandwich! It suits almost all the categories you specified, especially the frontend real-time editing.
Well, almost all. We opted to create a Shortcode Mapper — the only Shortcode Mapper effectively working, even tested and mentioned in Pippin’s page builder critique — to include the plugin developers and the favorite plugins of the WordPress community.
Oh yea! Page Builder Sandwich also has a free version and a premium version 😀
Thanks, we will definitely take a look at this plugin