There are many WordPress page-building tools on the market today, and lots of them are very popular and here to stay. Divi, Elementor, and Gutenberg are some of the most popular options. If you are looking for the perfect page-building tool for WordPress, then it’s likely that you are going to come across these tools in your search. While Divi and Elementor are external page-building software tools that you can use for your WordPress site, Gutenberg or the WP Block Editor was released by WordPress in 2018 as a new way of building and designing web pages to replace the older TinyMCE or classic editor.
Why Use a Page Builder?
In the not-so-distant past, web developers were needed to develop and build websites, and the idea of somebody who couldn’t code or didn’t have much tech knowledge building websites was unheard of. However, recently, WordPress page builder plugins have changed all this, allowing people who don’t know a single line of code to enjoy the independence of building websites without any complex tasks included. Page builders reduce the time and effort needed to build a website, and they make website building possible for everybody thanks to easy, drag-and-drop visual editing.
About Gutenberg or WP Block Editor
Before the Gutenberg editor was released in 2018, web developers and designers had a few choices to consider. These included using the classic editor to build a site using a customized or pre-built theme, or use an external page-building tool such as Divi or Elementor. Using a theme with the classic editor was not the most efficient option since it required designers to create individual page layouts as one-offs, making it all too easy to end up with a backend that was not very flexible and often difficult to update. The Block or Gutenberg Editor allows designers to design each element of the webpage as a block, which can be dragged and dropped to exactly where you want it. This results in a flexible and powerful site that is easy to change and update.
Gutenberg Editor Vs Elementor or Divi
You may be wondering if the Block Editor replaces other options such as Divi and Elementor. However, the answer to this will depend on what is needed for the website development process. Page builders such as Elementor or Divi can be excellent options for web designers who do not want to code much, anybody who is building a site that doesn’t need to be frequently updated, and marketing teams that are smaller and less technical. They can also be good options for individuals who want to upgrade their web projects from non-enterprise building platforms such as Wix vs Weebly but want the additional support of a web builder.
Benefits of Gutenberg Editor
If you are looking for a page-building tool for your WordPress site, here are some benefits of using the Gutenberg or WP Block Editor instead of Divi or Elementor:
- Easier to Assemble and Customize Content: Once you have built a block library, you will then be able to create templates for different types of pages. Once you have done this, you can easily populate your site by choosing the template for each page, adding your content, and clicking on Publish.
- Adding and Updating Pages is Simple: Blocks and templates make it easier to create new landing pages, product pages, and more, maximizing ROI. Along with this, you can easily use it to test and optimize content on existing pages and get more out of your digital marketing spend.
- Faster Page Load Times: Building native to WordPress means the code is leaner compared to using an external page building tool. Ultimately, this means that pages will load faster, improving SEO.
- Reduce Technical Debt: Technical debt refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a team is fighting against an impending deadline, leading to them completing a project as fast as they can to the best of their ability while planning to fix problems later to ‘pay back the debt’. Using the WP Block Editor eliminates potential points of failure, so the technical debt accrued is less.
- Save Time: Using the WP Block Editor saves time for the developer when it comes to basic tasks such as embedding social media posts or videos. You can simply drag and drop embedded elements, and other basics are simplified to require less expertise and time.
Divi vs Elementor
While Elementor and Divi are currently the leading external page builder plugins for WordPress, they do have some differences to consider when it comes to choosing the right one for you. Both are visual page builders, but Divi can be a bit complicated for novices to use at times whereas Elementor is very easy to use and learn. Divi offers more stunning templates and a wider range of customization options, while Elementor has a popup builder tool that Divi does not offer. This allows you to use a simple interface to design popups and show them on your pages anywhere you like.
- Ease of Use: User-friendliness is one of the main things to consider when choosing a page builder tool. Both Divi and Elementor offer a great user experience and both can be easily picked up by novices. Both offer easy-to-use, drag-and-drop editing tools and do not require any coding knowledge.
- Visual Interface: Both Elementor and Divi offer drag and drop editing. Divi offers a full-width editor without any fixed interface elements, with all elements displayed on the right side. Just select the one that you want and drag it to where you want it to be on the page. Elementor’s design elements are on the left, and you can also select them and drag them to the desired location.
- Responsiveness: Both Divi and Elementor provide a highly responsive environment that responds immediately to instruction. Along with this, you can use both to create responsive designs that look awesome on any device.
When it comes to building a website, it’s worth spending some time to determine if the native Gutenberg editor or external plugins such as Divi and Elementor will work best for you.
