Are you looking for an easy way to build and customize your WordPress website? If so, a drag and drop page builder could be the perfect solution. The only challenge is finding the right one!
All of these powerful page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and others will make creating pages on your WordPress site easier than ever before. And with a few clicks, you can create new elements, change layouts, and create stunning pages for your website.
Alternatively, Spectra is one of the few advanced page builders that help you design beautiful pages with the default WordPress block editor and Astra theme.
But the question is – Should you use a page builder and, if you want to use one, how do you choose the best?
So before we jump into the list of the best drag and drop page builders, let’s answer these questions.
- Should You Use a WordPress Page Builder?
- How Can I Decide Which WordPress Page Builder Is Right for Me?
- What Type of Websites Can I Build With a WordPress Page Builder?
- Best WordPress Page Builders
- 1. Elementor – The Best Free Choice
- 2. Beaver Builder – For Awesome Human Support
- 3. Oxygen Page Builder
- 4. Thrive Architect
- 5. SeedProd
- 6. Divi
- 7. Visual Composer
- 8. Brizy
- BONUS – Spectra – Build fast loading pages easily
- Conclusion – Which Drag and Drop Page Builder Should You Choose?
Should You Use a WordPress Page Builder?
Rather than suggest you go with a page builder or avoid it, we’ll share a few reasons why it makes sense to use page builders. We’ll also mention when you can skip using page builders and just stick to the default block editor of WordPress.
Here are 3 reasons why people use page builders:
- To create a custom landing page for your website without hiring a developer
- To build fully customized opt-in pages
- Save a lot of time while you design your website
Here are 3 reasons why you don’t need a page builder:
- You want a super-fast website that isn’t slowed down by a page builder
- You only want custom background colors or images, text styles, or need images, and videos on your pages
- You are a minimalist and prefer to remain design light
While these reasons will give you an understanding of the purpose of a page builder, there could be many more reasons to use a page builder or avoid it.
But when it comes to designing websites, less is better.
With the default WordPress block editor becoming more advanced with every release, you should be able to design most of your pages without additional plugins.
This will also ensure that your website remains fast and is free of the heavy HTML code added by some page builders.
If you want more advanced design elements, try using a simple block editor addon like Spectra
The plugin simply adds new advanced blocks to the WordPress editor while keeping the website lightweight and fast.
If you’re still not sure, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I want to create complex layouts without having to code anything?
- Do I want to be able to change the look of my site without editing theme files?
- Do I want to save time with web designing?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then a WordPress page builder is definitely for you!
How Can I Decide Which WordPress Page Builder Is Right for Me?
There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when deciding which WordPress page builder is right for you.
First, identify what kind of features you need and whether or not the page builder offers them.
Second, consider how easy the page builder is to use and whether or not it’s intuitive for you.
Finally, take into account the price of the page builder and whether or not it’s worth the investment.
Here are 9 factors that come into play when choosing a page builder for your web design projects:
- Ease of use: The page builder should be easy to use and allow you to create pages without having to code.
- Functionality: The page builder should offer all the features you need to create beautiful pages.
- Flexibility: The page builder should be flexible and allow you to create pages that look exactly how you want them to.
- Price: The page builder should be affordable and offer a good value for the money.
- Support: The page builder should come with good support in case you run into any problems.
- Compatibility: The page builder should be compatible with the theme and plugins you are using.
- Updates: The page builder should be regularly updated to keep up with the latest WordPress version.
- Documentation: The page builder should come with good documentation so you can easily learn how to use it.
- Bonus: The page builder should offer a money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.
Once you’ve considered all of these factors, you should have a good idea of which page builder is right for you.
If you’re still not sure, fret not. We’ll help you find a drag and drop page builder that suits your needs the best!
What Type of Websites Can I Build With a WordPress Page Builder?
WordPress page builders are a great way to quickly and easily create beautiful, responsive websites. But what kind of sites can you build with them?
Here are some examples:
- Forum or community sites
- Magazine or news sites
- Business websites
- Portfolio websites
- Online stores
The possibilities are endless! If you can dream it, chances are you can build it with a WordPress page builder.
Let’s now look at the 9 best drag and drop page builders for WordPress so you can get an overview of each plugin and choose the one that’s best for you.
Best WordPress Page Builders
If you have a do-it-yourself mindset, you can build amazing websites for your business with a good WordPress page builder.
Let’s now take a look at the best WordPress page builders that you can use to create beautiful websites without learning to code.
Page Builder | Pricing | Site Builder? | Templates |
Elementor | Basic: FreePersonal: $49 | ✔ | ✔ |
Beaver Builder | Lite: FreeStandard: $99 | ✔ | ✔ |
Oxygen Page Builder | Lifetime pricing. Plans start at $129 | ✔ | ✔ |
Thrive Architect | Single License: $67 | ✔ | ✔ |
SeedProd | Yearly plans starting at $79 | ✔ (limited) | ✔ |
Divi | Yearly at $70Lifetime at $199 | ✔ | ✔ |
Visual Composer | Single license starts at $49/year | ✔ | ✔ |
Brizy | Starts at $49/year | ✔ (limited) | ✔ |
1. Elementor – The Best Free Choice
When it comes to building a website, sometimes the cheapest option can also be the best option. Elementor’s free version is one of the best out there.
Even though it has fewer features than its premium version (Elementor Pro), it allows you to build amazing websites.
So if you’re on a budget, don’t worry – Elementor has you covered.
What is Elementor?
Elementor is a powerful WordPress page builder (Check our Elementor review) that enables you to create beautiful websites with ease.
With over 4 million active installs, it is one of the most popular WordPress page builders available. Thanks to its user-friendly interface and advanced features, Elementor is a preferred choice for WordPress designers.
Whether you’re a web design novice or a seasoned pro, Elementor makes it easy to create stunning websites that look great and perform even better.
Elementor ease of use
Elementor can help you quickly create beautiful pages without learning to code. If you’re a developer, you’ll appreciate the plugin’s extensible architecture that allows you to create custom widgets and addons.
Elementor’s developers are highly proactive and consistently release new widgets to offer the most up to date experience. It features a live front end editor, allowing you to make and review your updates in real-time.
It is also one of the fastest page builders, which means it won’t slow down your website too much.
Every element that you add to your page is crafted with absolute attention to detail, ensuring that your pages look great without being bloated.
With the free version, you will have access to the Elementor documentation such as the knowledge base, FAQ, and video tutorials. You can access premium support by purchasing Elementor Pro.
Elementor templates
Elementor’s templates and blocks library is one of the largest you’ll find with over 100 free templates and 300 pro templates.
While this can be overwhelming for some, it’s perfect for those who want a lot of options to choose from. If you’re looking for a simplified experience, Beaver Builder might be a better choice.
However, if you’re willing to spend some time sifting through the templates, Elementor is the way to go.
Elementor SEO
Elementor produces clean, efficient code as you build out your website, resulting in an incredibly SEO friendly website.
Elementor community
With over 4 million active installs come great resources in the form of an extensive knowledge base and a very active Facebook community.
The Elementor community group on Facebook has a whopping 54,000 members. Elementor does a terrific job of facilitating their community engagement, including hosting consistent community meetups that happen all over the world.
They also have translating communities and a dedicated community for developers.
Elementor third-party ecosystem
Third parties have built some impressive addons to make Elementor even more powerful than it already is.
Examples include Starter Templates, Ultimate Addons for Elementor, Essential Addons for Elementor, and Premium Addons for Elementor. Combined, these options have over 600,000 installations with an average 5-star rating.
Now before you get too overwhelmed, some functionality and widgets of these various addons do overlap, so it won’t be necessary for you to install these plugins.
Elementor pricing
In order to have access to all the widgets offered by Elementor, you’ll need to purchase a license, which starts at $49/year for one website (which is typically all a DIY-er will need anyway).
That said, you can build a perfectly good website with the free version, and, especially when coupled with a powerful theme like Astra.
Here is a summary of Elementor’s license options:
Free:
- 30 basic widgets
- Free page templates and blocks
Personal: $49/year
- For 1 Site
- Everything offered in free
- 100+ Basic and pro widgets
- 300+ Basic and pro templates
- 60+ Pro website kits
- Theme builder
- Premium support
Expert: $199/year
- For 25 sites
- Everything offered in personal
- 20 Expert website kits
- “Experts Network” profile to showcase your designs and get hired through Elementor
Studio: $499
- For 100 sites
- Everything offered in expert
- VIP support
The free version of Elementor is very powerful, which means you can build your initial site without having to pay for the premium version. As your site expands, you can upgrade to the paid option if needed.
This makes Elementor a great choice for those who want to create a professional website on a budget.
Final verdict on Elementor
So Elementor sounds amazing (and it is), so what is the catch?
Overall Elementor is the most powerful page builder, and while it is user-friendly, it is not the most user-friendly.
There are two considerations that should lead you to choose Elementor:
- If zero cost is the biggest factor for you and you are okay with troubleshooting and researching fixes on your own via Google or searching for answers in a Facebook group.
- If you are willing to sacrifice a little hand-holding and support for sheer power.
For many of you, choosing a page builder will come down to either Beaver Builder or Elementor.
2. Beaver Builder – For Awesome Human Support
What is Beaver Builder?
If you’re just getting started with WordPress and building websites, Beaver Builder is a great option.
With an estimated 500,000+ users and installations on over one million websites, it’s popular among both developers and do-it-yourselfers.
Beaver Builder ease of use
Beaver Builder is a powerful and easy-to-use page builder for WordPress. It was created by a former WordPress web building agency with the aim of making it fast and efficient to build pages for their clients.
This client-first attitude has led Beaver Builder to be incredibly intuitive and they receive high marks for customer support, which really makes them stand out amongst other WordPress page builders.
Beaver Builder features a live, front-end editor that works in real-time. This makes it easy to see what your changes will look like as you make them, without having to refresh the page or preview mode.
You can even test out their modules and user interface for yourself with their hosted demo.
So if you’re looking for a powerful yet easy-to-use page builder for WordPress, Beaver Builder is definitely worth checking out!
Beaver Builder templates
Beaver Builder’s impressive library of responsive and customizable templates makes it easy to have a website up and running in no time. Just swap out the content with your own to get started.
This library, along with Beaver Builder’s collection of modules (aka widgets), positions the builder as an industry-agnostic page builder. Whether you are a lawyer, artist, restaurant, or small eCommerce shop, you can build your site with Beaver Builder.
Beaver Builder SEO
Beaver Builder is built with beautiful code and produces very neat code as you build out your website with it. You can definitely build out an SEO-friendly site using Building Beaver.
Beaver Builder community
If you’re looking for a comprehensive community of like-minded individuals to help you with Beaver Builder, look no further than their hosted forum or Facebook group.
With over 500,000 users and 1,000,000 installations worldwide, you’re sure to find the answers and support you need from other experienced users.
Plus, with 15,000+ members in the Facebook group, you can tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Beaver Builder third-party ecosystem
When considering a WordPress page builder, a huge vote of confidence is looking at the success of third-party addons to the builder.
If third-party addons are having success, it means two things:
- The user base of the builder is large and active
- The builder is built on solid, clean code and integrates well
Beaver Builder is a shining example of a tool that has great third-party addons that extend its power through extra modules and templates.
Examples include Starter Templates, Ultimate Addons for Beaver Builder, and PowerPack for Beaver Builder. Combined, these addons have over 330,000 installations with an average rating of over 4.5 stars.
Not only that, there are many popular addons available for the beaver builder.
In addition, this page builder works with almost any theme, and they even mention on their site: “If for any reason it doesn’t work, we will work with you to ensure it does!”
Just another example of their world-class support.
Beaver Builder pricing
Beaver Builder is a user-friendly page builder that comes with a price tag to match its quality. Starting at $99 for a standard license, it is one of the more expensive page builders on the market.
However, its features and ease of use make it well worth the investment for anyone looking to create a beautiful website.
Beaver Builder features the following licensing options:
Standard: $99
- Unlimited sites
- 1 Year of support
- Premium modules and templates
Pro: $199
- Everything offered in standard
- Beaver Builder theme
- Multisite capable
Agency: $399
- Everything offered in Pro
- White labeling
There’s a free version of Beaver Builder called Beaver Builder Lite that’s available as a plugin on the WordPress.org repository.
However, this has limited features and is more meant to be used as a trial than to fully build out your site.
Final verdict on Beaver Builder
If you’re looking to build your own WordPress website and know that you could use some super helpful human support along the way, Beaver Builder is the way to go.
3. Oxygen Page Builder
What is Oxygen Page Builder?
Oxygen Page Builder is a powerful WordPress plugin that allows you to create custom pages and posts with drag-and-drop simplicity.
With Oxygen, you can design your own layouts using a wide variety of elements, and then use the built-in WordPress editor to add your own content.
Its drag and drop lets you easily add new elements to your pages and posts. You can also customize the appearance of your elements using the built-in WordPress Customizer.
Oxygen also includes support for popular WordPress plugins like Advanced Custom Fields Pro, Gravity Forms, and Jetpack.
Pricing
Oxygen page builder offers tiered lifetime licenses without a continual subscription.
Basic: $129 one-time
- Lifetime unlimited license
WooCommerce: $199 one-time
- Lifetime unlimited license
- WooCommerce integration
Agency: $279 one-time
- Lifetime unlimited license
- WooCommerce integration
- Gutenberg block builder
- Simplified client UI
Ultimate: $349 one-time
- Lifetime unlimited license
- WooCommerce integration
- Gutenberg block builder
- Simplified client UI
- Composite elements
Verdict
Oxygen is a great alternative to other WordPress plugins like Visual Composer, Divi Builder, and Beaver Builder. If you’re looking for a plugin that will allow you to easily create custom pages and posts, then Oxygen is the perfect choice.
4. Thrive Architect
What is Thrive Architect?
While you can certainly build conversion-focused websites using Elementor and Beaver Builder, Thrive Architect really shines in this niche. With its focus on conversion-oriented design, Thrive Architect provides the tools you need to create high-converting websites.
However, while Thrive Architect is a great tool for building conversion-focused sites, it falls short of Elementor and Beaver Builder when it comes to ease of use and flexibility.
As such, if you’re looking for a tool that’s easy to use and provides plenty of flexibility, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
But, if you’re specifically interested in building conversion-focused websites, Thrive Architect is definitely worth checking out.
Thrive Architect pricing
A single site lifetime license will set you back only $67, which is very possibly the best value you will find with any website builder. This lifetime license will include unlimited lifetime updates, whereas most WordPress page builders only offer one year of updates at a time before you have to renew.
Their premium support only lasts one year, however, and in order to keep it, you would have to renew at a cost of $40 per year thereafter. Here is a summary breakdown of all of Thrive Architect’s license options:
Thrive Architect: $97/year
- Install Thrive Architect on 1 website
- 2 Plugins (Thrive Architect + Thrive Automator)
- Templates for every page building need
- Unlimited support for 1 site
- Unlimited updates for 1 site
- 30 Day money back guarantee
Thrive Optimize Bundle: $167/Month
- 1 License
- 3 Plugins (Thrive Architect, Thrive Optimize and Thrive Automator)
- Templates for every page building need
- Landing page A/B testing
- Unlimited support for 1 site
- Unlimited updates for 1 site
Thrive Suite: $299/year
- 5 Licenses
- 9 Plugins (Thrive Apprentice, Thrive Architect, Thrive Quiz Builder, Thrive Leads, Thrive Optimize, Thrive Comments, Thrive Ultimatum, Thrive Ovation, Thrive Automator)
- Includes Thrive Theme Builder
- 1300+ templates for every element and page on your site
- Unlimited support for 5 sites
- Unlimited updates for 5 sites
- Exclusive training and webinars
Thrive Architect does not offer a free version. However, you do get a refund if you return the product within 30 days.
Final verdict on Thrive Architect
If you’re the type of person who has to Google a lot of the vocabulary used above, then Thrive Architect may not be the best page builder for you.
However, if you’re an online marketer by profession and are interested in features like pre-built landing pages, lead generation forms, funnels, and email-marketing integration, then give Thrive Architect a try!
5. SeedProd
What is SeedProd?
SeedProd is a powerful page builder that helps you create beautiful websites with ease.
It offers a drag and drop interface, pre-built themes, and support for many popular marketing tools. SeedProd is a great choice for those who want an easy-to-use page builder with plenty of features.
However, it is important to note that there is no free version of SeedProd and that the templates may not be as high quality as some other page builders.
Pricing
Here’s a summary of SeedProd’s pricing:
Basic: $79/year
- 1 Site
- 50 PRO templates
- 30+ PRO page blocks
- Drag and drop page builder
- Subscriber management
- Access controls
- Standard support
Plus: $199/year
- 3 Sites
- 100 PRO templates
- 30+ PRO page blocks
- 100+ PRO section templates
- Drag and drop page builder
- Email marketing integrations
- Subscriber management
- Access controls
- Standard support
- Free bonus – 2 million stock photos
Pro: $399/year
- 5 Sites
- Theme builder
- 150 PRO templates
- Priority support
- Dynamic text
- 3000+ Zapier integrations
- All other Plus features
Elite: $599/year
- Unlimited sites
- WooCommerce support
- Domain mapping
- All other Pro and Plus features
Verdict
If you’re looking for a powerful yet easy-to-use page builder, SeedProd is a great option. It comes with a wide range of features and blocks, and it’s fast and easy to use.
However, it doesn’t have the same range of options as Beaver Builder or Elementor, so it may not be the best choice if you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution.
Additionally, there is no free version, so you’ll have to purchase it outright before you can try it out.
6. Divi
What is Divi?
One of the original page builders for WordPress built by Elegant Themes, the amount of time Divi has been on the market has given it time to accumulate a large user base.
Their lifetime license, which totals $249 for unlimited websites and lifetime support, is quite a value, and has been around so long, Divi has the most features and templates of any page builder.
In addition, the agility of their development team allows them to crank out new features fast.
Pricing
Yearly: $70/year
- Access To Divi, Extra, Bloom and Monarch
- Hundreds of website packs.
- Product updates
- Premium support
- Unlimited website usage
- Risk-free guarantee
Lifetime: $199 one-time
- Lifetime updates
- Lifetime premium support
- One time fee
- All features from yearly
Verdict
While Divi is an awesome page builder that offers an intuitive design, beautiful user interface, and lets you create just about anything with it, the functionality and settings are all over the place.
Until the library of functionality is organized, you may find Divi very overwhelming and might not be able to use it to the fullest.
7. Visual Composer
What is Visual Composer?
Visual Composer is a drag and drop website builder that lets you create custom pages and posts without having to write any code.
With Visual Composer, you can easily add text, images, buttons, and other elements to your page layout with just a few clicks.
Plus, Visual Composer comes with a library of pre-designed templates and modules that you can use to speed up your workflow. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, Visual Composer is the perfect tool for creating beautiful websites.
Pricing
Single: $49/year
- 1 website
- Drag and drop builder
- 300+ content elements
- 200+ templates
- Font manager
- Theme builder
- Popup builder
- Insights
- Free stock images
- Premium support
Plus: $99/year
- 5 websites
- All features of Single
Accelerate: $149/year
- 20 websites
- All features from Single
Growth: $349/year
- 100 websites
- All features from Single
Lifetime: $149 one-time
- 1 website
- Two years support
- Lifetime updates
- All features from Single
Verdict
Visual Composer is a great drag and drop page builder that can help you create beautiful pages and posts with ease. It is simple to use and comes with a lot of features that can help you customize your pages to perfection.
8. Brizy
What is Brizy?
Brizy is a new page builder that promises to be intuitive and easy to use, thanks to its React-based interface.
Launched in 2018 Brizy stands out from other page builders for being cutting-edge in terms of usage and functionality. It comes with a number of innovative features that other builders lack, making it an enticing option for those looking for something new.
Pricing
Brizy has both yearly and lifetime pricing options. Along with that, they offer cloud hosting where the page builder is available for free and can be used on unlimited websites.
Personal: $49/year or $149 one-time
- 1 PRO website
- PRO designs and features
- 1 Year updates and support
- Theme builder
- WooCommerce builder
Freelancer: $99/year or $299 one-time
- 100 PRO websites
- Membership functionality
- All features of Personal
Agency: $199/year or $399 one-time
- 500 PRO websites
- 1 Year updates and VIP support
- Whitelabel
- All features of Freelancer and Personal
Verdict
If you’re looking for the next big thing in WordPress page builders, Brizy is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
While it still needs some time to mature, it offers a lot of great features and has the potential to be one of the top builders in a few years. So if you’re looking for something new and exciting, Brizy is definitely worth checking out!
We explored Brizy builder deeply in our Brizy vs. Gutenberg comparison; check that out!
BONUS – Spectra – Build fast loading pages easily
What is UAG? (Rebranded as Spectra)
Spectra is a collection of unique blocks that extend the functionality of the Gutenberg editor. These blocks can be used to create custom layouts, add special effects, and improve the overall user experience when working with the Gutenberg editor.
With Spectra, you can take your WordPress site to the next level by adding powerful and unique features that are not available in the core Gutenberg editor.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your workflow, design beautiful pages, and create awesome content, then Spectra is a must-have plugin.
Pricing
Spectra is a free plugin that helps you build beautiful pages using the WordPress block editor
Verdict
If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution that will add a lot of new features and functionality to the WordPress block editor, then Spectra is a great choice.
Conclusion – Which Drag and Drop Page Builder Should You Choose?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question as the best drag and drop page builder for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
However, we can narrow it down to a few good contenders.
If you’re looking for a powerful and flexible page builder, we recommend Elementor or Beaver Builder.
If you want to design beautiful pages, without unnecessary bloat, you can use Spectra (UAG). It is an addon to WordPress’ default block editor and enhances its functionality even further. With UAG, you get a variety of new blocks that you can use to create advanced page layouts without slowing your site.
Whichever one you decide to go with, it is important to ensure that it meets all your requirements at the beginning.
Switching page builders and redesigning pages can be a hassle if done later. So we hope this article will speed up your decision-making process and help you find the right page builder for your needs.
What are you looking for in the perfect page builder? Do you find any features missing in all of them that you’d love to have? Which page designer did you go with? Let us know in the comments below!
5 comments
Which of these would be the best at handling a landing page using video backgrounds?
I thought this post was your highly anticipated announcement of UAG’s upgrade Spectra. I wonder if you are still willing to turn UAG into Spectra adding flexbox containers. If yes, are you still aiming to release it April 2022?
Many thanks ❤️
I think we’ll have to wait and watch! There’s a lot that seems to be going on at Brainstorm force!
Hello Marina,
Yes, we do have this lined up for the early next month. Our beta is already out. https://wpspectra.com/spectra-2-0-beta/
We have already provided flexbox in the above document, do register and give them a try.
Which one of these Page builders is cheaper for beginners?