What is the Best WordPress Page Builder?
A WordPress page builder makes creating your dream website easy.
The best drag-and-drop editors give you full control over the look and function of your WordPress site – all without writing a single line of code.
For full customization over your WordPress site’s layout, the following page builders just can’t be beaten.
Best WordPress Page Builders
Here are our top choices for the 11 best WordPress page builders:
- Divi
- Beaver Builder
- Elementor
- Genesis
- Thrive
- WP Bakery
- Visual Composer
- SiteOrigin
- Themify Builder
- Live Composer
- Brizy
We based our selections on their ease of use, compatibility with popular WordPress themes, useful features, the ability to see changes in real-time, and overall versatility.
Jump to the WordPress page builder you believe suits you best or continue reading our in-depth reviews below.
Why You Need a WordPress Page Builder
As a beginner with little to no knowledge of HTML or CSS, the thought of creating an eye-catching and unique WordPress site that still functions seamlessly can feel downright overwhelming.
That’s where WordPress page builders come into play – with the right plugin, you can drag and drop countless page elements to create your ideal layout in just minutes. You’ll be able to build sites that rival those of professionals without spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars or waiting weeks or months for them to be fine-tuned.
In the past, page builders have often been criticized for creating cookie-cutter websites. But, today, the best of these tools are powerful and versatile enough to create pretty much any site you wish with any look/layout you please with remarkably few exceptions.
Whether your old site needs a facelift or you want your brand-new to come out of the gates swinging, the best WordPress page builders will help you customize your website to perfection.
Divi – Best Overall
In our opinion, the Divi builder takes the title as the best WordPress page builder. Not only is this plugin incredibly intuitive with a user-friendly interface, but it also blends its drag-and-drop controls with front-end editing, a live visual editor, and numerous pre-designed content elements to round out your site. Best of all, this tool is offered by Elegant Themes, creators of some of the best WordPress themes available.
Pros
- Intuitive Interface
- Front-End Visual Editor
- Includes 46 Modules
- Over 300 Pre-Built Templates
- Built-In A/B Testing
Cons
- Shortcode-Based Builder
- Huge Number of Features Can Be Overwhelming
Ease of Use
All in all, Divi is an incredibly user-friendly page builder plugin. It boasts an intuitive interface that enables you to edit your site with a front-end visual editor (most popular) or a back-end editor for even more control. That said, the huge number of features and options that Divi offers can feel overwhelming at first.
Top Features
The Divi builder offers a huge number of modules to create the perfect layout. For example, these include an accordion, audio player, blog, contact form, countdown timer, map, shop, social media follow, video, and so much more.
In addition, there are a huge number of pre-built templates separated among 40 main layout packs for the utmost in personalization. Additional styling options give you yet more control – you can even add custom CSS for even further customization.
Because the Divi builder is offered by Elegant Themes, you can pair the plugin with the Divi theme for full control. However, the page builder works seamlessly with pretty much any theme available anywhere.
Another feature of note is the user access controls. These controls are perfect for group projects if others must use the page builder for your website but you don’t want to give them full control. You’re able to easily select who gets access to what.
Overall Value
The Divi builder costs $89 per year for unlimited sites as part of an Elegant Themes membership.
Elegant Themes also offers a lifetime membership for a $249 one-time payment, which grants you unlimited access to their themes, plugins, and other tools for all of your sites.
Because an annual membership grants you access not only to the Divi builder and all the powerful features it provides but also to the full range of themes and other plugins offered by Elegant Themes, this WordPress page builder is of excellent overall value.
Beaver Builder – Most User Friendly
You could argue that Beaver Builder is, in fact, the best WordPress page builder – and you might be right. However, we rank it slightly (and, we mean, slightly) behind Divi in our overall rankings. That said, this powerful plugin is notable for its incredible user-friendliness, especially its front-end live visual editor complete that allows you to see changes in real-time.
Pros
- Extremely User Friendly
- Live Front-End Visual Editor
- 30 Top-Quality Templates
- Huge Variety of Design Features
- Fully Mobile Responsive
Cons
- No Undo/Redo Function
- Lacks Some Features Others Page Builders Provide
Ease of Use
The top reason to choose Beaver Builder is its ease of use. It’s incredibly user friendly with an amazingly intuitive user interface.
The live front-end editor is perhaps the best available today and lets you see changes in real-time. Just drag and drop the ready-to-use modules to create or edit your site without breaking a sweat.
Thanks to the ability to add custom CSS, clean codes, and regular updates, the plugin is also a favorite among developers.
Top Features
With a drag-and-drop front-end editor, tons of content modules, and dozens of great templates, you can get your website up and running in just minutes with Beaver Builder.
Although it’s user friendly enough for beginners to use, the powerful features make it more than robust enough for more advanced users. This plugin supports the use of shortcodes and widgets for further customization.
Beaver Builder works seamlessly with almost every theme out there. You can even switch between themes without missing a step. Or, if you decide this page builder isn’t for you, any content created with it is ported back into the standard WordPress editor, so you don’t lose a thing.
Overall Value
Beaver Builder costs $99 per year for unlimited sites.
Repeat annual users receive a 40% discount upon renewal of their subscription. More advanced packages are also available, including “Pro” for $199 per year and “Agency” for $399 per year.
Beaver Builder provides much in the way of overall value thanks to its affordable pricing, powerful features, user-friendly interface, and world-class customer support.
Elementor – Best Free Version
Not only is Elementor high among the most popular WordPress page builders, but it’s also our choice for the best free page builder plugin. The drag-and-drop editor is highly intuitive with an extensive array of templates and blocks to customize your website at will. It even features a much-loved undo/redo function! Although the free version is powerful on its own, upgrade to the paid version for even more great features.
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Live Front-End Editor
- Undo/Redo Function
- Includes Templates
- Powerful Popup Builder
Cons
- Free Version Lacks Some Templates/Blocks
- Lacks Some Useful Features Competitors Provide
Ease of Use
It doesn’t get much easier to use than Elementor. This highly intuitive page builder was developed with beginners in mind. Pre-made templates, tons of content modules and blocks, and a unique right-click menu make creating your site easy.
Top Features
Elementor boasts somewhat basic features, although they’re all quite powerful. Both the free and paid version get the job done (and the free version makes quite nice layouts), but the paid version gives you access to more tools and features.
The popup builder is one of the top features. It’s robust and powerful with tons of useful tools to customize the look and function of your popups. The plugin is fully responsive, a must in the modern-day, so you can rest assured your site works just as seamlessly across all devices.
One nitpicky negative regarding Elementor’s features and the plugin as a whole is that the free and paid templates are mixed together in the library with no easy way to differentiate between the two.
Overall Value
The free version of Elementor is fantastic.
However, many users might find it useful to upgrade to “Personal” for $49 per year for a single site, “Plus” for $99 per year for three sites, and “Expert” for $199 per year for 1,000 sites.
The free version of Elementor is the best free WordPress page builder. The overall value of the paid versions is harder to quantify since, unlike other top plugins, they do not offer a low-cost version for use on unlimited sites. Needless to say, Elementor still brings a lot of value to the table no matter which version you select.
Genesis
Not convinced by our top three choices for the best WordPress page builders? Then Genesis Framework by StudioPress might be for you. Although not as popular as other plugins (but still quite popular all told), it will enable you to quickly and efficiently build a top-quality WordPress site with ease.
Pros
- Pre-Designed Templates
- Pair with a StudioPress Theme
- Lots of Content Elements
- Customizable Headers
- Mobile Responsive
Cons
- Lacks Some Useful Features
- Coding Knowledge Required for Certain Applications
Ease of Use
At its most basic, Genesis is easy enough to use. It incorporates drag-and-drop functions and a visual editor to appeal to beginners and pros alike. The majority of tools are intuitive and a variety of templates are available to further speed things up. That said, basic knowledge of CSS and PHP might be needed, especially if you hope to further customize child themes due to a lack of built-in formatting options.
Top Features
Genesis has an easy one-click theme setup to get you started. From there, the simple interface is quick to learn with a limited learning curve. Countless theme options can further be customized to your liking. Custom page templates and featured content widgets give you a lot of control over the final look and function of your websites.
Of course, this page builder plugin is completely mobile responsive. Your sites will look and function just as smoothly on all devices. Genesis is suitable for most types of websites. It’s compatible with the vast majority of WordPress themes, even if you don’t choose one from StudioPress.
Overall Value
A $59.95 one-time fee gets you Genesis Framework by StudioPress for life.
That said, StudioPress does suggest using a child theme alongside Genesis which will run you around $99.95 if you buy both together.
All in all, Genesis is a great value WordPress page builder that nets you an efficient website-building tool despite a few small hiccups.
Thrive Architect
Another popular drag-and-drop WordPress page builder, Thrive Architect is a great choice for pretty much anyone, especially those that want a lot of templates to choose from.
Pros
- Over 300 Templates
- True Visual Editor
- Lots of Customizable Modules
- Fully Responsive
- Great for Business Sites
Cons
- Somewhat Complicated
- Some Features Must Be Bought Separately
Ease of Use
We’ll be honest, Thrive Architect isn’t the easiest page builder to use. The user interface is somewhat complicated and requires a bit of a learning curve. Although it’s slightly overwhelming at first, you’ll quickly figure things out if you stick at it.
Top Features
The sheer number of templates is a key feature of Thrive Architect. Hundreds of page templates let you get started quickly and easily. A wide range of customizable elements further lets you finetune your site to your preferences.
Throw the visual editor into the mix and building pages becomes even quicker. In fact, speed is what Thrive Architect is known for. The page builder was built from the ground up to help you get your websites out as quickly as possible. In fact, it was specifically built with business websites in mind.
Overall Value
Thrive Architect costs $19 per month for use on up to 25 websites.
Other pricing options include $67 per year for use on a single website or $97 per year for use on up to five websites.
Thrive isn’t the cheapest nor is it the most expensive of WordPress page builders. For what it brings to the table, however, it is a great value purchase, especially if you plan to use this plugin for business websites.
WP Bakery
WP Bakery is one of the most popular WordPress page builders around. The powerful plugin lets you customize your website with either a front-end or a back-end editor. The drag-and-drop design means that no coding knowledge is required.
Pros
- Intuitive Editor
- Front-End and Back-End Editing
- Use with Any WordPress Theme
- Drag-and-Drop Interface
- Mobile Responsive
Cons
- Content Stored as Shortcodes
- Some Plugins Can’t Be Edited
Ease of Use
WP Bakery is simple to use. Like most of the best WordPress page builders, it features a visual editor that lets you see changes in real-time. Combine this with tons of pre-made content modules and creating the perfect website layout can’t get much easier.
Top Features
Both front-end and back-end content editing give you lots of options. Choose from countless templates and content modules to further speed up the creation process. For those with a bit of coding knowledge, most (but not all) widgets and plugins can be further customized.
This WordPress page builder plugin works well with almost all WordPress themes. Of course, it’s also fully responsive so your site will be completely accessible for desktop, tablet, and mobile users alike. Top-notch customer support is just the icing on the cake.
Overall Value
WP Bakery costs $45 for use on a single site and $245 for use in a single SaaS application. A free version is also available.
Thanks to the wide variety of features available, the easy-to-use interface, and the ability for developers to further customize their content, WP Bakery is undoubtedly a great value WordPress page builder.
Visual Composer
Another top-rated WordPress page builder plugin, Visual Composer is so popular for a reason – it’s relatively easy to use to quickly create eye-catching websites with a lot in the way of customization features.
Pros
- Drag-and-Drop
- Live Visual Editor
- Front-End and Back-End Editing
- Powerful Design Options
- Compatible with Most Themes
Cons
- Clunkier Interface Than Others
- Some Features Sold Separately
Ease of Use
Visual Composer sits squarely in the middle of the competition in terms of ease of use. It’s not difficult to learn how to use effectively but it’s far from the most intuitive. The interface can be a little clunky at times, although you’ll quickly work out any kinks with the drag-and-drop visual editor.
Top Features
Visual Composer is compatible with the vast majority of WordPress themes. Its powerful design options make customization a cinch.
The plugin comes with front-end and back-end editing for increased control. The real-time live editor lets you visually see changes as soon as you make them. Countless design elements and content modules make developing the ideal site easier, although there are less pre-designed templates than some competitors.
Visual Composer is a good choice for beginners but it’s an effective page builder for those with some coding knowledge as well. You can create custom content elements and edit specific elements for even more flexibility over your designs.
Overall Value
Visual Composer costs $49 per year for a single website.
Or, upgrade to three websites for $99 per year or even 1,000 websites for $349 per year. A free version is also available.
To get down to brass tacks, Visual Composer boasts excellent overall value. You get most of the features you expect from a top-quality page builder at an affordable annual price.
SiteOrigin
Page Builder by SiteOrigin shouldn’t be overlooked. As a free WordPress page builder plugin, it’s very popular among users that don’t want to pay for a premium plugin. But the free cost isn’t the only thing to love about SiteOrigin. It’s also quite robust with powerful features paired with a simple user interface.
Pros
- Free
- Simple Interface
- Powerful Features
- Mobile Responsive
- Drag-and-Drop Editor
Cons
- Not Compatible with Some Widgets
- Lacks Some Features of Premium Plugins
Ease of Use
SiteOrigin is something of an enigma in the sense that it boasts an exceedingly simple interface yet it’s also somewhat complicated to use. In fact, its simplicity is actually what makes figuring out its features somewhat difficult. For example, the live editor doesn’t have as many features as most premium plugins which means it can take a little longer to create the layout you desire.
Top Features
The SiteOrigin Page Builder is grid-based with a drag-and-drop live editor. It works well with almost any WordPress theme. It’s compatible with the most popular widgets, although not all widgets are available/compatible. One really nice feature is the undo/redo function which we’re surprised not all premium page builders include.
Overall Value
Page Builder by SiteOrigin is free.
As a free plugin, it provides unmeasured value. However, as a completely free plugin, it does lack some of the top features that make premium paid plugins really shine.
Themify Builder
Themify Builder is a powerful plugin that is completely free (although a paid add-on bundle is available). The free WordPress page builder provides a drag-and-drop interface with countless useful features that let you create the perfect layout for your site in minutes.
Pros
- Free
- Drag-and-Drop
- Pre-Designed Layouts
- Front-End and Back-End Editing
- Mobile Responsive
Cons
- Not Very Intuitive
- Lackluster Customer Support
Ease of Use
Themify Builder isn’t exactly difficult to use. But it’s not intuitive either. The basic user interface is somewhat clunky and takes some time to figure out. While it does the job for a free page builder, most premium plugins are far more user friendly.
Top Features
As a free WordPress page builder, Themify Builder comes with all the basic features that you’d expect but not much more than that. It does offer front-end and back-end editing, an undo/redo function, and plenty of pre-made modules. Several pre-designed templates are also available.
Do note that many of the most popular widgets are not offered for free. For example, contact forms, Slider Pro, and WooCommerce all require you to pay for the premium add-on bundle.
Overall Value
Themify Builder is free.
However, most users will need to buy the premium add-on bundle for $35 to access all of the features required to create a functional website.
Themify Builder is decent value thanks to its lack of a price tag. And, while we’re not saying that it’s not the right choice for some people, its clunky interface and so-so customer support place it near the bottom of our list of the best WordPress page builders.
Live Composer
Live Composer is another free WordPress page builder. Although far from our favorite plugin, it’s certainly nothing to scoff at. In addition to its easy-to-use interface, it’s a completely open-source plugin.
Pros
- Free
- Easy to Use
- Drag-and-Drop Editor
- Over 40 Content Modules
- Responsive Design
Cons
- Somewhat Limited Customizability
- Payment Required for Additional Features
Ease of Use
Live Composer is simple and easy enough to use. You edit your site with a front-end live visual editor so you can see how the layout looks as you make changes. The interface is user friendly, although it’s somewhat lacking in features compared to premium plugins.
Top Features
Live Composer has all the basic features you need without anything extra, at least in the free version. Notable free features are the easy-to-use front-end editing interface, over 40 pre-made content modules, and access to two free themes. For additional features like video, maps, contact forms, and sliders, you must upgrade to the paid “Official Extensions Pack.”
Overall Value
Page Builder: Live Composer is free.
However, most users will need to upgrade to the Official Extensions Pack for $49.00 for one site to access premium add-ons and extensions.
As for overall value, we rank Live Composer firmly in the middle. It’s a decent page builder with a simple interface and useful features but it lacks the powerful functions that the best WordPress page builders provide (especially when using the free version without the premium add-ons and extensions).
Brizy
If ease of use is your most important requirement, then Brizy is worth a look. This free WordPress page builder is about as intuitive as they get, although it lacks some of the necessary features to set it apart from the competition.
Pros
- Intuitive
- Streamlined Interface
- Real-Time Visual Editing
- Hundreds of Pre-Designed Templates
- Robust Free Version
Cons
- New (Relatively Untested)
- Limited Customer Support
Ease of Use
Ease of use is where Brizy really shines. The intuitive user interface is incredibly simple – not to mention lightning fast. The drag-and-drop page builder is one of the best around. Real-time editing lets you see changes as you make them.
Top Features
The free version of Brizy is one of the best free WordPress page builder plugins (after Elementor) thanks to the number of premium features included. Sliders, tabs, animations, and pre-made modules are just a small sampling of the features this free plugin offers.
Overall Value
The Brizy page builder is free.
Or, upgrade to the “Pro” package for $49 per year to access even more premium designs and features for up to three websites. Take it one step further with a “Studio” account that works with unlimited websites for just $99 per year.
Brizy is a great value WordPress page builder whether you select the free or premium version of the plugin.
How to Choose the Best WordPress Page Builder
Despite the dozens of options available (the 11 above are just the tip of the iceberg), choosing the right WordPress page builder for your project doesn’t have to be difficult.
We suggest focusing on the same factors we did in our reviews above: ease of use, compatibility, features, the ability to see changes in real-time (i.e. a live visual editor), and versatility. Customer support and overall value are likewise important to consider.
Ease of Use
The whole point of using a page builder is to make customizing your WordPress site easy.
The best page builders allow you to quickly and easily design your envisioned site and make changes on the fly. Look for a page builder with an intuitive interface that utilizes drag-and-drop functions.
Additionally, the easiest to use page builders offer a variety of pre-designed content templates and content elements to make customization even more streamlined.
Compatibility
The page builder plugin you select must be compatible with your existing WordPress theme.
Although most work well together, this is one reason we prefer plugins such as Divi. This tool is offered by Elegant Themes, allowing you to get your theme and visual page builder from the same place.
Your WordPress page builder should also support a variety of shortcodes and widgets. It must allow you to create mobile-friendly websites.
Of course, the page builder plugin you choose must also be compatible with the latest WordPress editors, such as Gutenberg.
Features
The availability of certain features helps set different page builders apart.
Look for a plugin that offers plenty of styling options, pre-built templates, and a variety of modules and other content elements.
Our favorite page builders give you the ability to edit within the front-end instead of solely in the settings panel and even allow you to add custom code to any element. A revision history with undo and redo functions is also useful.
Many page builders offer free live demos to help you get a feel for the plugin’s features when compared to the competition (this is also a great way to check out the interface and user experience yourself).
While many of our favorite WordPress page builders are offered in free versions, the paid versions boast far more powerful features.
Live Visual Editor
A live visual editor allows you to customize your site and see live edits in real-time with each change you make.
This is a hugely helpful feature for designing your website, especially as a beginner. Although live editors are pretty much standard for drag-and-drop plugins, you’ll still find a handful of page editors with lackluster live editing features.
We strongly prefer those with a comprehensive and well-developed live visual editor. More importantly, it’s essential to select a tool with a glitch-free interface.
Versatility
The best WordPress page builders boast versatile features.
In addition to maintaining a variety of features, those features are also flexible and can be customized to suit your needs.
Versatile templates with lots of different elements are especially important if you plan to use the same page editor to build several websites of different types or styles. Look for a page editor with official add-ons available for even more flexibility and control over your site’s layout and function.
Customer Support
Quick and reliable customer support is a must for any tool or service.
This is especially true for premium versions of page builder plugins, many of which cost upwards of $100 per year. When you pay that much for a plugin, you deserve solid support.
Although the best drag-and-drop WordPress page builders function so smoothly that problems are rare, readily available technical support is a godsend if problems do arise.
Furthermore, we always prefer those services which offer community-based support, often in the form of a community forum.
Overall Value
Is your page builder worth the money you spent on it?
Naturally, the answer is different for every individual and every website. But, it’s important to keep this question in the back of your mind when looking at different plugins and tools. Ensure that you’re getting enough bang for your buck with the page builder you select.
This is a big reason why we often pay a little extra for an annual subscription that allows use on unlimited websites.
Which WordPress Page Builder is Right for You?
Although all 11 of the above WordPress page builders excel in their own ways, Divi stands above the rest.
Divi takes our top spot thanks to its user-friendliness and ease of use. It’s packed with useful features as well as two dozen pre-made templates and countless content elements for easy editing. Since it was created by Elegant Themes, it’s perfect for those that want a WordPress theme and page builder from the same place.
Not far behind Divi is Beaver Builder, our second choice overall, thanks to its top-notch live editor, compatibility with a huge variety of WordPress themes, and overall versatility.
For those not interested in dishing out a little dough for page builder (just $89 per year for Divi and $99 per year for Beaver Builder, both for unlimited sites), we recommend Elementor as the best free WordPress page builder. You can easily upgrade to the paid version ($49 per year for a single site) to unlock even more useful features.
WordPress Page Builder FAQ
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about WordPress page builders:
Q: What are the benefits of a WordPress page builder?
A: Nearly full control over the look/layout of your site without knowing how to code. Make as many changes as you like and see how they look in real-time. Pre-built modules and templates let you create a stunning and functional site in minutes.
Q: What are the disadvantages of a WordPress page builder?
A: Not enough flexibility for the most niche sites, although plenty of customizability for the majority of sites, including blogs, small business websites, and all but the largest online stores.
Q: Do I need coding experience to use a WordPress page builder?
A: No coding experience is required to use a drag-and-drop page builder for your WordPress site, although most plugins allow for further customization via HTML or CSS.
Q: What is the difference between a free and paid WordPress page builder?
A: The best free WordPress page builders are quite robust. Although powerful enough to quickly create high-quality websites, most paid plugins come with even more features and are even easier to use.
Q: Should I use a WordPress page builder for my site?
A: For very basic websites, you’ll likely be fine using WordPress’s built-in block editor, otherwise known as Gutenberg. Although this tool gets the job done, it doesn’t offer the flexibility and customizability of a page builder. On the other hand, some very large, very complex, and very niche sites require professional help. That said, a page builder is the best choice for the vast majority of WordPress sites.
