Blerjan's take on WP Page Builder in 2024

What the WordPress core team attempted to natively integrate into the platform for web design, responding to advancements in platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and others—became possible through the use of page builders and dynamic themes, which expanded the capabilities of what could be built with little to no code in WordPress.

Building a website in WordPress years ago was vastly different from the possibilities we have today, yet we're still far from what it could be! Currently, there are many alternatives on the market, which is a good thing because users will likely choose the one that suits them best and when there are too many competitors it helps on regulating the market. The true ones are here to stay!

Yes, it’s harder now to choose the right one, and that’s why I’m writing this post. Having too many options can lead to the wrong choice, wasting both time and money. I hope to help by recommending what’s best right now and why.

If you’re just looking to create static sites, you can choose between themes or page builders, you’ll get there. But if you're aiming for more, you’ll have to take additional steps.

These are the three key things a page builder should offer:

1. Freedom – You won’t second-guess your tasks because you know there's room to accomplish them.
2. Learning curve – Nothing easy gets you far in life, and the same applies to page builders.
3. Integrations – Long-term safety comes from having an ecosystem around the tool you choose.

There’s always freedom since you can custom code, but people interested in page builders are generally more into no-code or low-code solutions. I felt it only when using Bricks Builder so far (Builderius seems similar, but it's not quite there yet).

The learning curve is not just about using the tool but also understanding web concepts. This is very important because you can't switch tools every day.

Integrations are crucial because, at some point, you'll need a plugin that adds features not native to the page builder you’ve chosen. 

I’ve been using page builders for quite some time, starting with WP Bakery. I can confidently say that Bricks is the one I’ve been most excited to use for some of my projects. It checks all the boxes: freedom, options, and integrations with key plugin categories.

When you use more advanced builders like Bricks and Breakdance, you’ll also learn the fundamentals of the web, which can open many doors for your career. Or you can go with something like Divi and end up using a tool that you’re not quite sure how you even got results from. Isn’t that true?

To be honest, for some of the page builders in today's market, there are themes that offer better options. For example, if Voxel were a page builder itself, it would surpass Elementor and many others in so many ways.

Where does page building stop? Right after you take on a large project with too much complexity. Page builders aren't built for that. Trust me, you’ll realize this sooner or later. Will this remain the case for a long time? I don't know. I see some tools with the potential to solve this issue, maybe one day they'll decide to tackle it.

The work done by each page builder in WordPress is commendable because they've contributed significantly to the platform. Some have pushed the concept further and developed incredible solutions, some are still doing so, and others are just getting started!

Yes, page builders in WordPress are more exciting than ever. Yes, you can build cool dynamic projects using one. Yes, page builders can help you generate significant income.

I can't leave this post without sharing my rankings (in my own style):
Bricks > Breakdance > Others

I truly see Builderius taking second or third place if they keep pushing their vision. Sorry for not mentioning the Block Editor. I don't see it as an option.

Happy page building day!