Gutenberg vs Page Builders: Which is Best for WordPress Users?

WordPress has evolved dramatically over the years, and at the heart of this evolution lies the power of customization. For years, WordPress users depended on traditional page builders to create visually stunning websites without coding.

However, since the introduction of Gutenberg, WordPress native block editor, there’s been ongoing debate about which tool is the best for creating content, designing pages, and building custom websites.

In this article, we’ll compare Gutenberg and third-party page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi. By the end of this comprehensive guide, you’ll understand the pros and cons of each option and be able to decide which tool is the best for your needs.

What is Gutenberg?

Gutenberg is the block-based editor introduced in WordPress 5.0 (December 2018). It replaced the Classic Editor and introduced a new way of creating and managing content through a block system. Each element of a page, such as paragraphs, headings, images, buttons, and embeds, exists as a block that users can move, edit, and customize individually.

The core goal of Gutenberg is to make WordPress more flexible and accessible, bringing a simpler, more intuitive editing experience to all users. It’s now the default editor in WordPress, used to create posts, pages, and even full-site layouts.

What Are Page Builders?

Page builders are third-party WordPress plugins like Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder that allow users to design complex page layouts with a visual drag-and-drop interface. Unlike the traditional editor, page builders provide advanced customization options, enabling users to design unique layouts without writing any code.

These tools are often preferred by designers, developers, and users who want more control over the appearance and functionality of their websites.

Key Differences Between Gutenberg and Page Builders

While Gutenberg and page builders share the goal of simplifying website creation, they approach the task in very different ways. Below is a breakdown of the major differences between these two tools:

Feature	Gutenberg	Page Builders
Editor Type	Block-based editor with modular elements	Drag-and-drop visual interface with live preview
Customization	Limited but growing set of customization options	Extensive control over design, layouts, and styles
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly but with some learning curve	Intuitive, with a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface
Performance	Lightweight and faster, built into WordPress core	Can add extra load, depending on the builder
Design Freedom	Good for content-focused pages	Excellent for creating custom layouts and full-site designs
Plugin Support	Extensible through third-party blocks	Compatible with most WordPress plugins
Price	Free (comes with WordPress)	Often premium; some page builders have free versions but with limited features

Pros and Cons of Gutenberg

Gutenberg is quickly becoming more than just a content editor WordPress aims to develop it into a full site builder. While it’s a great tool for creating content, it still lags behind some page builders in terms of design flexibility. Here is a closer look at the pros and cons of using Gutenberg.

Pros of Gutenberg

1. Native WordPress Integration Since Gutenberg is now the default WordPress editor, it integrates perfectly with the WordPress core. This means you don’t need to install additional plugins, reducing potential conflicts with other plugins or themes.
2. Faster Performance Because Gutenberg is part of the WordPress core, it’s more lightweight than most page builders. Pages built with Gutenberg tend to load faster, which is crucial for improving SEO and user experience.
3. Clean Code Gutenberg outputs relatively clean HTML, which is better for SEO and site performance compared to the sometimes bloated code generated by page builders.
4. Regular Updates As Gutenberg is developed and maintained by the WordPress team, it receives regular updates that add new blocks, features, and improvements. This keeps it compatible with WordPress latest features.
5. Easy Content Creation Gutenberg is great for content-heavy websites like blogs or news outlets. The block system makes it easy to organize text, images, and media, giving users more control over how they present their content without requiring additional plugins.
6. Free Gutenberg is completely free, as it comes bundled with WordPress. This is a huge advantage for users looking for powerful website editing tools without needing to spend money on premium plugins.

Cons of Gutenberg

1. Limited Design Control While Gutenberg is improving, it still doesn’t offer the level of design freedom that page builders do. Advanced features like custom padding, margin control, and global styling are either limited or require third-party plugins.
2. Learning Curve While Gutenberg is easy to use once you get the hang of it, there is still a bit of a learning curve for those used to the Classic Editor or page builders. Some users find the block interface unintuitive at first.
3. Less Visual Customization Although you can see a basic preview of your page, Gutenberg doesn’t provide the same real-time visual editing experience that page builders offer. This makes it less ideal for users who want to see changes as they’re being made.
4. Lack of Advanced Features For now, Gutenberg doesn’t offer the advanced features that many third-party page builders do. Features like animation effects, global styles, and deep integration with custom post types or dynamic content are either missing or require plugins.

Pros and Cons of Page Builders

Page builders like Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder revolutionized the way users build websites by offering drag-and-drop simplicity and extensive customization options. However, they also come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of Page Builders

1. Design Freedom Page builders provide complete control over the layout and appearance of your website. You can create any type of layout with custom columns, rows, widgets, and modules, making them ideal for users who need full creative freedom.
2. Visual Editing Page builders provide a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface, meaning you can see exactly how your page will look as you design it. This makes the design process much more intuitive and allows for faster iterations.
3. Pre-designed Templates Many page builders come with a variety of pre-designed templates that allow you to get your site up and running quickly. For users with little design experience, these templates can serve as a solid starting point that can be customized as needed.
4. Advanced Styling Options Page builders offer advanced design options such as custom margins, padding, typography, colors, and responsive settings. You can also add animation, hover effects, and more, giving you the ability to create highly interactive and dynamic pages.
5. Dynamic Content Advanced page builders like Elementor Pro and Divi allow you to create dynamic content based on custom fields or post types. This is especially useful for eCommerce websites or businesses that need to display different types of content dynamically.
6. Global Styling Some page builders offer global styling, meaning you can apply consistent styles across your entire site. This feature allows you to quickly change the look and feel of your website by updating a single setting, rather than manually adjusting each page.

Cons of Page Builders

1. Performance Impact One of the major downsides of page builders is the extra code bloat they can add to your site. This can lead to slower page load times, especially if you’re using multiple plugins or widgets.
2. Learning Curve Although page builders are generally easy to use, some, like Divi, come with a steep learning curve due to their complexity and number of features. Beginners may feel overwhelmed by the vast array of options.
3. Cost Many of the most popular page builders are premium plugins. While some offer free versions with limited functionality (such as Elementor Free), the full range of features typically requires purchasing a paid plan. This can be a barrier for users on a tight budget.
4. Plugin Lock-in If you build your site with a page builder and decide to switch to another tool later, you might face the issue of plugin lock-in. This means that much of your page layout and design might break or become unusable without the page builder, making it difficult to switch tools down the line.
5. Not Native to WordPress Unlike Gutenberg, page builders are third-party plugins. This means that any major WordPress update could potentially cause compatibility issues, though most page builder developers quickly release updates to fix bugs.

Gutenberg vs Page Builders: Use Cases

Let’s take a look at specific use cases to determine whether Gutenberg or a page builder might be the best option for different types of websites.

1. Bloggers

Best choice: Gutenberg

Gutenberg is perfect for bloggers. Its clean interface and ability to quickly create and arrange content blocks make it easy for bloggers to write, format, and publish content. With additional blocks for headings, quotes, images, and embeds, bloggers don’t need much more than Gutenberg to create beautiful posts.

2. Small Businesses

Best choice: Page Builders

Small businesses often need a website that stands out and offers more functionality. A page builder like Elementor or Divi provides the design flexibility and range of features necessary to build an attractive website with custom forms, dynamic product pages, or portfolios.

3. eCommerce Websites

Best choice: Page Builders

While Gutenberg is evolving, page builders remain the better option for eCommerce sites. Tools like Elementor Pro or Beaver Builder offer advanced WooCommerce integration, enabling you to create highly customized product pages, dynamic pricing tables, and customer testimonials.

4. Landing Pages

Best choice: Page Builders

For creating high-converting landing pages, page builders are the go-to choice. They allow you to easily design pages with A/B testing, custom forms, animations, and integration with marketing tools—all without touching a single line of code.

5. Portfolios or Personal Websites

Best choice: Gutenberg

If you’re building a simple personal website or portfolio, Gutenberg should suffice. It provides a streamlined editing experience and enough blocks to build an elegant, content-focused website without the need for extra features or design complexities.

Performance Comparison: Gutenberg vs. Page Builders

Website speed is a critical factor in determining your site user experience and SEO performance. Let’s see how Gutenberg and page builders stack up in terms of performance.

1. Gutenberg Performance

Gutenberg is built into WordPress core, which makes it naturally lighter and faster than third-party page builders. Its block-based system is relatively lightweight, and since it uses WordPress built-in features, it doesn’t add much overhead.

In speed tests, Gutenberg tends to perform better than most page builders because it outputs cleaner, faster code. This makes it a good choice for users who prioritize speed and performance, especially on content-heavy sites like blogs and news portals.

2. Page Builder Performance

Page builders like Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder are incredibly powerful, but they come with the downside of being heavier. The drag-and-drop interface and complex layouts can add additional CSS and JavaScript, which can slow down page load times.

That said, some page builders like Beaver Builder and Oxygen have taken steps to minimize performance issues by optimizing their codebase. Additionally, using a caching plugin and optimizing images can mitigate some of the performance drawbacks associated with page builders.

Pricing Comparison: Gutenberg vs Page Builders

One of the significant differences between Gutenberg and page builders is the pricing structure.

Gutenberg Pricing

Gutenberg is entirely free and built into WordPress, which means you don’t need to spend any money to use it. For users on a budget, this is a major advantage. However, to extend its functionality with third-party blocks, you might need to invest in premium block plugins.

Page Builders Pricing

Most premium page builders come with a cost. For example:

• Elementor Pro: Starts at $59/year for one website.
• Divi: A lifetime license for $249 or $89/year.
• Beaver Builder: Starts at $99/year for the standard version.

While some page builders, like Elementor, offer free versions, the premium versions unlock advanced features and functionalities.

Conclusion: Gutenberg vs Page Builders – Which One Should You Choose?

Both Gutenberg and page builders have their strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice ultimately depends on your specific needs:

• Gutenberg is perfect for bloggers, content creators, and users who prioritize website performance and SEO. It’s free, built into WordPress, and suitable for content-rich websites that don’t require advanced design features.
• Page builders like Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder offer unparalleled design freedom and customization, making them the better choice for businesses, eCommerce sites, landing pages, and portfolios that need more advanced features and dynamic layouts.

For most users, Gutenberg provides enough functionality for content creation. But if you need to build complex, highly customizable pages with advanced features, a page builder may be the better option.

Q&A

1. Can I use Gutenberg and a page builder together?
Yes, you can use both. However, using both can lead to unnecessary complexity and plugin conflicts, so it’s often best to stick with one option unless absolutely necessary.

2. Is Gutenberg better for SEO than page builders?
Gutenberg is lightweight and generates cleaner code, which can contribute to faster load times a critical factor in SEO. However, with proper optimization, page builders can also be SEO-friendly.

3. Are page builders harder to learn than Gutenberg?
Page builders generally have more features, which can make them more complex to learn. However, they often provide a more intuitive drag-and-drop interface that may be easier for visual designers.

4. Does Gutenberg work with all WordPress themes?
Yes, Gutenberg works with most modern WordPress themes. Some themes are even built specifically to leverage Gutenberg block-based system.

5. Is there a free version of popular page builders like Elementor?
Yes, Elementor and other page builders offer free versions with limited features, but the full power of the tools is unlocked through premium versions.

6. Can I switch from a page builder to Gutenberg later?
While you can switch from a page builder to Gutenberg, it might require rebuilding some of your page layouts, as the content structure may not be fully compatible between the two editors.