I went hands-on with eight different WordPress page builders to help you make your decision. Yes – I used every single one of these – this isn't just a list based on the marketing copy.
I'm going to objectively compare these eight WordPress page builders in five categories:
- Interface – how does the interface work and does it make it easy to build beautiful pages?
- Included widgets/templates – what options do you get to build your pages?
- Styling options – how can you style the elements on your page?
- Other notable features – does the page builder offer any notable unique features?
- Lock-in – what happens if you ever want to disable the plugin? You'll always lose your custom styling, but some page builders leave behind otherwise clean code, while others don't.
For each category, I'll give the page builder a score out of 5.
Then, at the end, I'll put everything together and recommend what I think is the best WordPress page builder.
Here are the eight WordPress page builders that I'll look at – you can click to jump to a specific page builder:
- Elementor
- Beaver Builder
- Divi Builder
- Thrive Architect
- SiteOrigin Page Builder
- WPBakery Page Builder
- Themify Builder
- Brizy
Or you can head straight to the comparison table.
1. Elementor
Originally launched in 2016, Elementor is one of the younger page builders on this list. But even though it got a late start, Elementor has quickly racked up over 1,000,000 active installs at WordPress.org, making it one of the most popular WordPress page builders in existence.
Its claim to fame is a quick, glitch-free visual interface, flexible styling options, and powerful other features like full theme building.
Read our Elementor Pro review.
Price: Free core version. Elementor Pro starts at $49 for use on a single site.
Interface – 5/5
The Elementor interface is divided into two core parts, with a third area for some smaller settings:
- 1 – this is the live preview of your design. It looks exactly like your visitors will see it. You can also type text directly in this interface, as well as drag and drop various elements to rearrange them.
- 2 – this shows a list of elements you can use. You just drag them over. And when you select an individual element or section, this is where you'll style it.
- 3 – these help you access responsive previews, undo/redo changes, and other smaller features.
For example, here's a look at how you can drag over a text widget and then simply type on the page (inline editing) to change the text:
Included Widgets/Templates – 5/5
In the free version, Elementor includes 28 free widgets. And you can also use all of the core WordPress widgets. The Pro version adds another ~30 widgets, giving you a total of 58 widgets in the Pro version:
The free version also comes with ~40 free templates. And the Pro version adds hundreds of additional templates.
Templates come in two formats:
- Pages – full-page designs that you just need to edit.
- Blocks – individual sections that you can put together like Legos.
You can also save your own designs as templates to reuse later.
Styling Options – 5/5
When you click on any section, column, or widget, Elementor offers three styling tabs in the left-hand sidebar.
The exact options depend on which element you're editing, but generally Elementor offers one of the deepest sets of styling options of any page builder.
Beyond basic stuff like colors, backgrounds, and typography, you can also control more advanced settings like:
- Custom margins/padding.
- Custom CSS classes/IDs. With Elementor Pro, you can directly add actually CSS styles to individual elements.
- Responsive controls. You can show/hide elements on specific devices.
Other Notable Features – 5/5
These features are available in Elementor Pro:
- Full theme building. You can use the same Elementor interface to build template parts like headers, footers, singles, and archives. Basically, you can build your entire theme with Elementor.
- Global widgets. These let you reuse a common element across multiple pages and edit all instances of the global widget by just updating the global widget.
- Embed anywhere. Use Elementor templates in other areas via widgets or shortcodes.
Lock-in – 5/5
If you ever deactivate Elementor, it leaves behind clean code. For example, if you had an <h3> header with Elementor, you'll still have an <h3> header after deactivating Elementor – it will just use your theme's styling.
2. Beaver Builder
Beaver Builder has been a stalwart in the page builder market for quite some time now. It outputs clean code (for a page builder), is popular with end users and implementers alike, and receives regular attention in the form of new features and updates.
There are also some official add-ons that you can pair with it for more flexibility – notably an optional Beaver Builder theme and the Beaver Themer extension.
Price: Limited free version. Starts at $99 for use on limited sites.
Interface – 5/5
Beaver Builder offers a unique interface for its frontend visual builder. You do most of your work from a sidebar on the right. But these sidebar options only appear when you click on a button in the top bar, so it's possible to view a fullscreen preview at any time:
- 1 – you click this to open the sidebar area
- 2 – this is a live preview of your design
Beaver Builder recently added inline text editing, which means you can either type directly on the page to edit your text or use the popup that appears:
Using inline editing with the popup is a little awkward, to be honest. But you can easily pin the editor to the sidebar to fix that.
Included Widgets/Templates – 4/5
In the free version, Beaver Builder only gives you access to 6 modules, though you can also use standard WordPress widgets.
The premium version, on the other hand, gives you access to 30 modules. These modules are also all modular, so you can enable or disable them as needed.
In the premium version, you also get access to ~56 page templates, as well as the ability to save your own designs as templates.
Styling Options – 5/5
To style your modules and sections, you can either:
- Use the default popup window
- Pin the window to the side to create a sidebar (you can see this in the example below).
The exact options depend on the module, but generally Beaver Builder gives you pretty good control over your elements, including custom spacing and responsive controls.
And Beaver Builder also offers a very unique toggle that lets you show or hide individual modules based on whether or not a user is logged in:
Other Notable Features – 4/5
- Beaver Themer. Though this is a separate extension, it adds full theme building functionality like Elementor.
- White labeling. You can easily white label Beaver Builder if you're building sites for clients.
- Beaver Builder theme. This optional theme gives you even more control over how your website looks.
While the unique features are good, I'm dinging a point because you have to pay more to get them.
Lock-in – 5/5
Like Elementor, Beaver Builder leaves behind 100% clean code with the proper HTML formatting.
3. Divi Builder
Divi Builder is a popular premium page builder from Elegant Themes. While it's most commonly used as part of the Divi theme, Divi Builder is also a standalone plugin that you can use with other themes, as well.
Unlike the previous two page builders, Divi Builder lets you edit your content using both a visual front end interface as well as a back end interface, though most users will probably prefer the front end interface.
Read our Divi Builder review.
Price: Available as part of the $89 Elegant Themes membership
Interface – 4/5
Divi Builder's backend interface looks like this:
But most of the time, you'll use the frontend visual interface. The Divi Builder is definitely unique. I'm not personally a fan, but I know plenty of people who love it, so I'm not going to ding any points for that reason.
Basically, instead of any type of sidebar, everything is popups and floating buttons. You can see an example of adding a module below:
Like the previous two page builders, you can also use inline editing to edit your text directly on the page:
Included Widgets/Templates – 5/5
Divi Builder includes 46 modules that you can use to build your designs:
You also get access to a massive 316 pre-built templates spread across 40 different layout packs, as well as the ability to save your own designs as templates:
Styling Options – 5/5
Like Beaver Builder, Divi Builder lets you style elements from a popup that you can, if desired, pin to the side.
One of the hallmarks of Divi has always been how much styling control it gives you. Across three different tabs, you can configure a variety of settings, including responsive controls, custom spacing, and lots more.
You can even add custom CSS to the main element or before/after the main element. The CSS editors even include basic validation and autocomplete! And you can also open a color picker right from the editor:
All in all, Divi Builder is really pushing the boundaries with its styling options – it's good stuff.
Other Notable Features – 5/5
- A/B testing. One of the best extra features is Divi Builder's built-in A/B testing system. No other page builder makes it this easy to split test in the core.
- Divi theme. Pairing the Divi Builder with the Divi theme gives you full control over your site's appearance.
- User access controls. Divi Builder includes strong role-based access controls.
- WordPress Customizer controls. You can customize how some elements look using the native WordPress Customizer.
Lock-in – 3/5
One of the criticisms of Divi Builder has always been that it's shortcode based. That means if you ever deactivate it, it's going to leave behind a bunch of shortcodes in your content.
While that is a bit of a downer, this is less of an issue now that plugins like Shortcode Cleaner exist. You will lose the formatting – like an <h3> tag – but you won't lose the content itself.
4. Thrive Architect
Thrive Architect is the revamped version of what was once Thrive Content Builder. The new interface features a lot of similarities with Elementor's interface, which you'll see in a second.
Though anyone can use it, it's especially popular with bloggers and affiliate marketers because of its focus on conversion rates. And one of the things I personally like about Thrive Architect is that its default styling looks pretty good right out of the box.
Price: Starts at $67
Interface – 5/5
Like I said, you'll see some similarities between Thrive Architect's interface and the Elementor interface (Elementor came first, in case you're wondering):
It's the same idea, you have:
- 1 – this is the live preview of your design. It looks exactly like your visitors will see it. You can also type text directly in this interface, as well as drag and drop various elements to rearrange them.
- 2 – this shows a list of elements you can use. You just drag them over. And when you select an individual element or section, this is where you'll style it.
- 3 – these help you access responsive previews, undo/redo changes, and other smaller features.
Yes – I copy and pasted that from the Elementor section.
One unique thing is the breadcrumb selector when you click on a nested element. This feature actually comes in pretty handy when you want to quickly jump between an element and a section:
And Thrive Architect also offers true inline text editing. In fact, Thrive Architect has the most seamless inline editing functionality of any page builder, in my opinion:
Included Widgets/Templates – 4/5
Thrive Architect offers 40 different widgets, including some neat ones like an evergreen countdown timer.
Thrive Architect also includes hundreds of templates divided into ~36 “sets”. And you can also save your own designs as a template.
Styling Options – 5/5
Thrive Architect breaks from Elementor in how it handles styling. Rather than giving you tabs, Thrive Architect includes everything in a single column.
The styling options are fairly detailed, and include responsive controls and custom spacing:
You can also add your own custom CSS at a page level. For individual elements, you can only assign CSS classes or IDs.
Other Notable Features – 3/5
One cool feature is the option to set up Page Events. These let you display a lightbox popup based on certain triggers:
And another cool thing is how well it integrates with other Thrive Themes products. For example:
- If you use Thrive Optimize, you can run A/B tests using Thrive Architect.
- If you use Thrive Leads, you can easily integrate Thrive Leads' detailed opt-ins into Thrive Architect.
Lock-in – 5/5
Thrive Architect leaves behind 100% clean code like Elementor and Beaver Builder.
5. SiteOrigin Page Builder
SiteOrigin Page Builder has been around for what seems like forever. And in that “forever”, it's managed to collect over 1 million active installs at WordPress.org, which makes it the most popular page builder plugin listed at that directory.
While SiteOrigin Page Builder is a little more lightweight than most of the other options on this list, it offers great performance and tons of helpful CSS controls.
Price: Free. SiteOrigin Premium bundle starts at $29
Interface – 3/5
SiteOrigin has two interfaces that you can use to build your design.
You have the original backend editor:
You can drag and drop blocks around or click on a specific block to edit it.
This editor gives you the most space to work, but it lacks any type of live preview.
If you do want that live preview, SiteOrigin Page Builder added a live editor mode:
This isn't the same as the other page builders on this list because you can't actually drag and drop the elements on the live preview. But it's also more than just a preview of your design because there is some interactivity between the abstract boxes on the left and the live preview.
For example, you can hover over a box on the live preview and the relevant box in the sidebar will also show the highlighting. You can also click on an element in the live preview to open its settings:
Included Widgets/Templates – 2/5
Beyond the core WordPress widgets, SiteOrigin Page Builder also offers a free Widgets Bundle plugin that adds a modular set of 23 widgets that you can use. It also includes ~25 pre-built templates that you can use, though these are pretty barebones in comparison to other page builders.
You can't save your designs as templates, but you can easily clone existing pages which gets you similar functionality.
Styling Options – 3/5
SiteOrigin Page Builder's styling options are going to be disappointing in comparison to the other page builders if you don't know CSS. But if you are comfortable using your own CSS, they're actually pretty helpful.
Beyond adding CSS classes and IDs, you can also directly add CSS to individual elements, including a section for mobile-only CSS:
You also do get plenty of non-CSS styling options – just not as many as the other plugins. If you're a developer planning to use your own CSS, you could probably give the plugin a 5 for this category. But I'm knocking it down to a 3 because I think that's where it fits for regular users.
Other Notable Features – 2/5
SiteOrgin Page Builder is pretty lightweight, but you do get a basic custom post type builder in the SiteOrigin Premium bundle.
Lock-in – 4/5
SiteOrigin Page Builder leaves behind a mix of clean HTML and shortcodes. That is, some of the widgets – like the text editor – leave behind clean HTML, while others – like the button widget – leave behind shortcodes.
6. WPBakery Page Builder
WPBakery Page Builder, formerly known as Visual Composer, is another massively popular premium page builder. A big part of this popularity comes from the fact that WPBakery Page Builder is bundled with what seems like 99% of the themes at ThemeForest. But the fact remains that it's used on a huge number of sites.
Price: $46
Interface – 3/5
Like Divi Builder, WPBakery Page Builder gives you both visual front end editing, as well as back end editing.
You can use the back end interface if you want:
But I think most people will be happier on the front end, which looks like this:
You insert new elements and style them using popups – there's no sidebar area, nor is there inline editing.
Personally, I'm not a fan of this approach, but some people like it because there's nothing to get in the way of the live preview when you don't have a popup open.
Included Widgets/Templates – 3/5
WPBakery Page Builder offers 39 elements, plus all the normal WordPress widgets. Some of these elements would be combined in another page builder, though, so the actual number is more like ~33:
You also get ~86 templates. Some templates are full pages, while others are just sections.
Styling Options – 3/5
Compared to something like Elementor or Divi Builder, WPBakery Page Builder's style options are a bit limited.
You do have a good amount of control over rows:
But the styling options for individual elements are a bit more limited.
If you want to use your own CSS, you can add a custom CSS class or ID to individual elements, or you can add actual styles at a page-level:
Other Notable Features – 3/5
I'm not sure WPBakery Page Builder has any especially notable unique features itself. But what it does have is a massive third-party add-on community. While many other page builders have third-party add-ons, WPBakery Page Builder is unique in the number, which is well over 250+ add-ons.
Lock-in – 3/5
Like Divi Builder, WPBakery Page Builder leaves behind a bunch of shortcodes in your content if you ever deactivate it.
7. Themify Builder
Themify Builder is, unsurprisingly, Themify's page builder offering. Themify bundles it with many of their themes to give customers easy customization options. But you can also purchase it as a standalone plugin and use it with any theme.
Price: Lightweight free version. Pro starts at $39 or $59 (depending on add-ons)
Interface – 3/5
Like Divi Builder and WPBakery Page Builder, Themify Builder lets you build your designs using both back end and front end interfaces.
The backend interface looks like this:
But again, most people will probably want to use the front end interface, which works like so:
- 1 – lets you insert new modules (2 different ways)
- 2 – live preview
- 3 – responsive previews, undo/redo, and other settings
There is no inline editing – you'll need to edit your text in a popup:
Included Widgets/Templates – 3/5
Themify Builder offers 21 modules, as well as all the normal WordPress widgets.
You also get ~143 full page templates, as well as a smaller number of Rows, which are basically pre-built sections.
Styling Options – 4/5
If you click on any element, you'll get four different tabs to help style it:
- Content
- Styling (shown below)
- Visibility (lets you hide an element on certain devices)
- Animation
One other nice thing is that Themify Builder lets you customize your responsive breakpoints (though only at a sitewide level).
Other Notable Features – 3/5
One cool thing about Themify Builder is that it still lets you use the regular WordPress Editor, whereas other page builders force you to use the page builder interface for everything. The Themify Builder content is marked in the WordPress Editor so that you can place content around it:
Lock-in – 5/5
Themify Builder has massively improved with respect to lock-in. Now, if you deactivate it, it leaves your content behind with clean HTML.
8. Brizy
Launched in April 2018, Brizy is by far the “youngest” page builder on this list. But it comes from a well-known developer – ThemeFuse – and has quickly racked up 9,000 active installs. Additionally, it plain just offers a unique approach to some parts of page building, which makes it an interesting offering.
Interface – 5/5
Brizy is exclusively a frontend visual page builder.
To build your page, you first have to add a block. You can use a blank block, or you can choose from the pre-built section blocks:
The “unique interface” part is what happens once you start adding elements. Rather than having a sidebar or popup where you customize/style the element, almost everything happens inline (including typing).
Look at what I mean:
The result is a really speedy way of building pages.
Included Widgets/Templates – 3/5
Brizy currently offers 17 elements. This number is small, but Brizy is still new so hopefully it increases over time.
It also includes over 150 blocks (template sections) that you can use.
Styling Options – 5/5
Because of how Brizy's interface works, there's no set formula for styling options like the other page builders.
You can expand a sidebar for advanced settings like spacing and responsive controls:
You can also add basic styling at a page level so that you don't have to manually edit every single element:
But most of the time, you'll use the inline controls to style your elements, which give you a good amount of control.
Other Notable Features – 4/5
Brizy's interface is pretty unique already. But the team is working on a Brizy Pro version for July 2018 that will add:
- Header/footer design using the same Brizy interface
- Global banners that are synced across multiple pages
The score is based on the assumption that those features are indeed released.
Lock-in – 4/5
Brizy leaves behind mostly clean HTML code if you ever deactivate it. But it still leaves a bunch of divs with Brizy CSS classes in the code, which messes up the spacing a bit and would require cleaning.
Which Is The Best WordPress Page Builder?
So which of these eight page builders should you choose? Well, here's how the scores stack up (in order):
| Page Builder | Overall (25 is Max) | Interface | Widgets/templates | Styling | Notable features | Lock-in |
| Elementor | 25 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Beaver Builder | 23 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Divi Builder | 22 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Thrive Architect | 22 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Brizy | 21 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Themify Builder | 18 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| WPBakery Page Builder | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SiteOrigin Page Builder | 14 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
On my own sites, I use a mix of Elementor and Thrive Architect, depending on the site.
If you're looking for the best value of price vs features, here's another table comparing the score to the pricing options:
| Page Builder | Overall (25 is Max) | Free Version? | Starting Price |
| Elementor | 25 | Yes | $49 |
| Beaver Builder | 23 | Yes | $99 |
| Divi Builder | 22 | No | $89 |
| Thrive Architect | 22 | No | $67 |
| Brizy | 21 | Yes | No Pro version |
| Themify Builder | 18 | Yes | $39 |
| WPBakery Page Builder | 15 | No | $46 |
| SiteOrigin Page Builder | 14 | Yes | $29 |
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