The 5 best Wordpress page builders in comparison

Spoilt for choice - which page builder is really right for you?

If you are planning a WordPress website, sooner or later you will be confronted with this question: Should I use a theme, code everything manually, or should I go for a page builder? And if the latter, which one is the right one?

WordPress page builder plugins offer you the opportunity to build websites visually. Without programming knowledge, but with maximum flexibility. But the market is large, the differences are sometimes subtle, sometimes serious. This is exactly where we want to help you.

You will not only receive an overview of the five best WordPress page builders, but also a well-founded evaluation of their functions, strengths, weaknesses and ideal use cases. Whether you are a beginner, manage agency projects or are looking for maximum performance and scalability - after reading this article, you will know what suits you best.

What is a page builder anyway?

A page builder is a plugin for WordPress that allows you to put together page content using drag & drop without knowing HTML, CSS or PHP. The advantages are obvious:

• Fast website build – you start immediately with templates or blocks
• flexibility – regardless of the chosen WordPress theme
• Optimized user guidance – thanks to responsive display & modern UI
• Fusion of design & content – you see live what you are building

At the same time, page builders do not replace a strategy. They are tools and every tool is only as good as the person using it. To help you choose the right tool, we present the five best WordPress page builders in detail below. Including specific recommendations per use case.

1 Elementor - The visual all-rounder with a huge ecosystem

If you are looking for a WordPress page builder that is intuitive to use, delivers professional results and shines with countless extensions, there is no way around Elementor. The plugin has been the market leader for years, and for good reason.

What makes Elementor special?

Elementor is a pure frontend builder: You can immediately see what your site looks like. No annoying detour via the backend is necessary. Thanks to the huge selection of widgets, templates and add-ons, you can create practically any type of website: Landing pages, portfolios, business websites, or small stores.

The integrated theme builder is particularly interesting: You can design headers, footers, blog layouts and even WooCommerce templates completely without PHP.

Features at a glance

• Live editor with full drag-and-drop control
• Integrated popup builder & form designer
• WooCommerce-Integration
• Dynamic content via custom fields (e.g. ACF, Pods)
• Responsive controls for all breakpoints
• Global Styles & Reusable Sections
• Add-ons & extensions like Crocoblock, Essential Addons, Happy Addons

Price structure (as of 2025)

• Essential – €4.92/month (1 website)
• Advanced – €8.25/month (3 websites)
• Expert – €16.58/month (25 websites)
• Agency – from €33.25/month (1000 websites)

All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee and require annual billing.

Who is Elementor ideal for?

Elementor is especially powerful if you:

• Need quick visual results
• Want to work without developers
• want to combine design and conversion
• Regularly implements various projects or landing pages

Thanks to the many templates and the plug-and-play principle, Elementor is absolutely suitable for beginners. At the same time, it also offers plenty of scope for professionals with dynamic content and custom code options.

A real-life example: agency increases conversion by 27%

The marketing agency Waterfront Digital migrated its main page from a static theme to Elementor. Through targeted use of the image optimizer, simplified sections and the use of the form builder with clear CTAs, the loading time was reduced from 4.8 to 2.1 seconds.

The result: +27% conversion rate within 8 weeks, with identical traffic.

Disadvantages & technical limitations

Elementor is powerful, but not perfect:

• Performance-Probleme: For very large pages without optimization
• Shortcode dependency: If the plugin is deactivated, the layout "disintegrates"
• CSS/JS output not always slim

Another point of criticism: Some premium features are spread across multiple add-ons, which can become confusing as the project scope grows.

Recommendation: When you should use Elementor

Elementor is the perfect choice, if you:

• Value on quick implementationlay
• Design, structure and conversion want to design independently
• One active community, lots of tutorials and strong integrations
• Later you want to integrate funnel forms or other lead tools

However, if you need an extremely lightweight setup (e.g., for a simple blog layout), Elementor might be too much of a good thing. In such cases, Gutenberg might suffice. More on that later.

2. beaver builder - the maintenance-stable professional builder for agencies & companies

At first glance, Beaver Builder may seem less spectacular than Elementor or Divi, but that's exactly what makes it the preferred choice for many. Because behind the simple look is a technically mature, robust and long-term plannable page builder that is particularly suitable for agencies, companies and developers.

Strengths at a glance

Beaver Builder scores with a modular structure, clean code and, above all, a shortcode-free system.

This means that even if you deactivate or change the plugin at a later date, the basic structure of your site remains the same. An enormous advantage for the future-proofing of your web project.

The builder is also multisite-compatible, fully white-label-capable and excellently documented - features that are crucial for large customer projects.

Technical features

• Frontend editor with structured column and module management
• No lock-in effect: Content remains intact even without a plugin
• Compatible with almost any WordPress theme
• Eigene Template-Engine + Drag-and-Drop Builder Theme
• Globally stored modules & templates
• Developer Hooks, REST API, CSS classes and export functions

Price structure (as of 2025)

• Standard – $99/year (~€90): for unlimited pages, including Page Builder Plugin
• Pro – $199/year: includes multisite support & Beaver Builder Theme
• Agency – $399/year: incl. white labeling, premium support
• Lifetime options currently not available

Who is it suitable for?

Beaver Builder is clearly aimed at:

• Agencies that manage many sites with identical setup
• Companies that prioritize long-term maintainability
• developer who want to extend, integrate or control via API

Due to its solid architecture and focus on performance, Beaver Builder is also particularly well-suited for larger corporate projects or strong page platforms.

Weaknesses & Limitations

What Beaver Builder doesn’t offer:

• No built-in animations or “wow” effects
• No own theme builder (only with additional Beaver Themer)
• Fewer visual templates compared to Elementor or Divi
• No built-in A/B testing mechanism

In short: If you want to “sell design” quickly, you may be faster with other tools. If you want to implement technically maintainable projects in the long term, this is the right place for you.

Practical example: 40 customer websites, 1 codebase

The WordPress agency Kontext Studio manages over 40 customer projects with a single Beaver setup - combined with the “Assistant Pro” tool for cloud storage of templates. The reusability saves around 60% production time and reduces support costs to a minimum, as the system is extremely stable.

Recommendation: When you should rely on Beaver

1. You are planning many pages, e.g. client solutions or landing pages for customers.

2. You want to ensure that pages do not fall apart when deactivated.

3. You value clear, fast loading times and clean code.

4. You need white label functions or REST API for further development.

Beaver Builder is not sexy, but extremely reliable. If you work professionally with WordPress and have high demands on maintainability and performance, this is perhaps the most stable tool on the market.

3. Divi - For visual design, conversion optimization & license-free

Divi is more than just a page builder, it's a visual design system with a built-in conversion focus. Elegant Themes, the provider behind Divi, has been pursuing a clear vision for years: a tool that is intuitive for beginners and offers almost limitless creative possibilities for professionals.

What sets Divi apart from other tools is the combination of live editor, global design system and integrated split testing, a rarity in the WordPress environment.

Why Divi is the “best” builder for many

• Extremely visual workflow with instant preview
• Integrated A/B testing (“Divi Leads”) – without additional plugins
• Globally stored styles, modules, layouts & assets
• Unlimited use: Pay once – use on any number of websites
• Hundreds of design templates + AI-powered layout generator (since 2024)

Divi is particularly popular with agencies and freelancers who not only want to build websites for their clients, but also actively test and optimize them, for example, landing pages, sales funnels, or portfolios.

Price structure (as of 2025)

• Yearly Access – $89 (~€82/year): includes updates, support & access to all products
• Lifetime Access – $249 (~€230 one-time): unlimited use, no follow-up costs
• Also includes the “Extra Theme”, Divi AI, Bloom (Email Opt-ins), Monarch (Social Sharing)

Notice: The license is validnot only for your own pages, but may also be used for customer projects.

Where Divi convinces and where it doesn’t

Advantages:

• Ideal for visual, CI-compliant design
• One license model for any number of sites (also for customers)
• Live preview for each element & all breakpoints
• Internal testing & conversion optimization without external tools
• Huge community & resource library

Disadvantages:

• Learning curve steeper than with Elementor (especially for beginners)
• Performance can suffer, especially with highly animated layouts
• Not shortcode-free – switching to other builders difficult
• Less compatible with third-party themes or custom code structures

Practical example: UX design meets A/B testing

The design agency BrightNode used Divi for a campaign landing page for a SaaS product. Four variants were tested against each other through targeted variations in text, button color and placement of the form. After 3 weeks it was clear: Variant B generated +38% more inquiries without additional traffic.

Who is Divi the best choice for?

Divi is ideal if you:

• Design control without programming want
• Want to test landing pages and campaigns professionally
• For you or your customersmultiple websites want to manage
• Want to invest long-term– through a one-time lifetime license

However, if you need minimal technical structure, clean HTML output or API integrations, Beaver Builder or Gutenberg may be more suitable.

Conclusion: Divi offers you a visual design tool with a strong conversion focus. Perfect for designers, UX specialists, marketers and anyone who not only builds beautiful websites, but Measuring results want.

4. WPBakery - Flexibility for developers & proven compatibility

WPBakery (formerly Visual Composer) has been on the market for over a decade and despite growing competition, it still holds its own today. Why? Because it works with almost any theme, controllable layout structures alowed and is particularly suitable for developers and technically savvy users.

If you buy a theme from Themeforest, chances are WPBakery is already integrated. This makes it the quasi-industrial standard for many legacy projects but also for modular business websites.

Highlights of WPBakery

• Drag-and-Drop Builder – im Frontend and Backend
• Large selection of UI elements, add-ons and template packs
• Clean compatibility with almost all WordPress themes
• Shortcode-based layout system with clear structure
• Support for custom CSS & JS per page/module
• Developer-friendly through inline coding & hooks

While many page builders focus on visual experiences, WPBakery is more of a structural toolbox. You control exactly how something is constructed.

Price structure (as of 2025)

• Regular License – $69 (~€64 one-time): for one website, including lifetime updates
• Extended License – from $249 for commercial products or templates

There are no subscription models – WPBakery relies on the One-time payment principle.

Advantages & limitations at a glance

Advantages:

• Frontend & backend editing can be combined
• Lifetime license – no follow-up costs
• Extremely widespread (especially in themes)
• Ideal for custom workflows with lots of HTML, CSS, shortcode
• Support for many plugins & integrations

Disadvantages:

• No real visual experience like Elementor or Divi
• Shortcode dependency – complicates migration
• Performance depends on the theme
• Somewhat “old-fashioned” in UX & UI (especially compared to modern tools)

Practical example: Agency migrates 10 customer sites

The agency Komplettklar GmbH manages several client sites that were originally based on different themes. The shared WPBakery foundation enabled all sites to be migrated to a unified editorial system, including custom shortcodes, modules, and content blocks.

‍Advantage: Consistent training for editors, less maintenance effort, clear CSS structure.

For whom is WPBakery a sensible choice?

1. You work with themes from Themeforest or older WordPress projects
2. You need full control over structure, markup and shortcodes
3. You want Pay once and be flexible in the long term remain
4. You are technically fit, or work with developers

For bloggers, beginners or highly visually oriented projects, WPBakery is less suitable– Divi or Elementor have a clear advantage there.

Conclusion: WPBakery is like a tried-and-tested craft tool: not pretty, but reliable, especially in complex projects with individual requirements, shortcode dependencies, or high theme diversity.

5 Gutenberg - The native solution for lean design & maximum future-proofing

Gutenberg is WordPress's default editor and is often underestimated. Since its launch in 2018, it has evolved rapidly and now forms the foundation for the modern WordPress ecosystem: Block-Themes, Full Site Editing (FSE), Layouts ohne Page Builder.

Anyone who works with structured content and values ​​maximum performance, compatibility and editorial security will find Gutenberg to be a light, fast and future-proof solution, without any additional plugins.

What Gutenberg offers

• Block-based work directly in the core
• Integration with almost all modern WordPress themes
• Very lean, clean HTML output (SEO & loading time advantage)
• Extensibility through plugins such as Kadence Blocks, Stackable, GenerateBlocks
• Support for reusable blocks, templates & patterns
• Full Site Editing (FSE) mit Block-Themes wie Twenty Twenty-Four

Gutenberg is particularly interesting for editors, bloggers and companies that publish in a structured manner, maintain content and display SEO cleanly, without an overloaded interface.

Advantages of Gutenberg

• Completely free (no plugin required)
• Seamless integration with the WordPress core
• Very fast loading times & high PageSpeed ​​scores
• Secure updates – no plugin conflict risk
• Future-proof – official focus of WordPress.org

Limits and challenges

• Not a classic drag-and-drop builder (in the visual sense)
• Advanced layouts require experience or add-ons
• Less “creative control” without CSS knowledge
• No native support for complex logic or conversion tools

The good news: With plugins like Spectra (Astra), Kadence or GenerateBlocks you can easily turn Gutenberg into a full-fledged page builder expand, without any bloat.

Practical example: WPMet migrates to Gutenberg – PageSpeed ​​99

The plugin provider WPMets witched its entire website to Gutenberg + Block Theme in 2024. By eliminating external builders, reducing plugins and using native blocks, the Google PageSpeed ​​rating increased from 85 to 99At the same time, server costs fell by 22% – while providing an improved user experience.

When to choose Gutenberg

1. You want load quickly, structure cleanly and grow long
2. You need no animations or complex layouts, but clarity
3. You want no plugin dependency and maximum update security
4. You want to manage content clearly and efficiently – e.g., in editorial departments or for SEO projects

However, if you visual Design, Funnel Logic or CI-consistent Branding, Gutenberg is not (yet) a complete alternative to page builders like Elementor or Divi.

Conclusion: Gutenberg isn't a gimmick, but the logical core of WordPress 6+. Anyone looking for performance, update security, and structured growth will find a clean foundation here, especially when combined with lightweight themes and useful block extensions.

Who should use which tool?

You are …

• Beginners with a clear vision:→ Elementor or Divi
• Agency with 10+ client sites: → Beaver Builder
• Designers with CI focus & funnel requirements: → Two
• Technical WordPress professional: → WPBakery
• SEO-oriented blogger or publisher: → Gutenberg

You need …

• Maximum speed & update security:→ Gutenberg + lightweight theme
• Intuitive work without prior knowledge: → Elementor
• Maintainability & Teamwork: → Beaver Builder
• Visuelles A/B-Testing & Lifetime-Modell: → Two
• Classic theme environment with complete control: → WPBakery

Planning a focused landing page? Then read on: Onepage – Everything Simplified on a Single Page

Technical challenges and how to overcome them

1. Loading time problems?

→ Use lean themes (e.g. Hello, Astra, GeneratePress)
→ Compress images (TinyPNG), minify CSS/JS
→ Use caching plugins (WP Rocket, FlyingPress)

2. Compatibility conflicts?

→ Test plugins in a staging environment
→ Work with child themes
→ Keep themes and builders updated regularly

3. Migration & plugin dependency?

→ Use builders with clear code output (Beaver, Gutenberg)
→ Avoid complex add-on structures, regularly back up content
→ Consider early on which data you will need independently later

Bonus: Funnelforms - the perfect conversion upgrade for your page builder

A beautifully designed page is good. A page that generates leads is even better. This is where Funnelforms comes in: The intelligent form builder is the ideal complement to all page builders, from Elementor to Gutenberg.

What Funnelforms offers:

• Multistep forms with conditional logic
• Intuitive integration into any builder structure
• GDPR compliant, responsive and customizable
• Integration mit CRMs, E-Mail-Marketing, Google Sheets u. v. m.

Next steps – How to proceed now

1. Choose the page builder that suits your goal and workflow
2. Try the free version (Elementor, Divi Trial, Gutenberg is available right now)
3. Start with a landing page or your homepage – template or free
4. Integrate a converting form with Funnelforms
5. Measure success, optimize as needed and then scale further

Conclusion: You decide on success

With the right page builder in hand, you can create modern websites quickly, flexibly, and independently. Without an agency or developer. The key lies in conscious choice:

• What do you want to achieve?
• How much control do you need  and what can you do without?
• How important are loading time, maintainability and future-proofing to you?

Use the insights from this article to make a choice that not only looks good today, but will also be sustainable in 12 months.

If you also want to enhance your site with the converting form then combine your Page Builder setup now with Funnelforms. This is how design becomes a true digital lead machine!