One important decision you have to make when you’re building your WordPress website is whether you should use the WordPress block editor, also known as Gutenberg, or if you should use a page builder.
To make the decision that is right for your site you first need to understand the difference between the block editor and page builders. They are both tools that accomplish similar things but they do so in different ways and have different benefits.
In this article we’re going to take a look what those tools are, the differences between them, and what the pros and cons of using them are.
What is the WordPress block editor?
The WordPress block editor, also known as ‘Gutenberg,’ was introduced in 2018 with the release of WordPress 5.0. It was a total overhaul of the old WordPress editing system. It is a way to build your content out of “blocks”, or pre-made modules of content.
These blocks are things like paragraphs, buttons, images, galleries, etc. You can drag and drop the blocks into the page or to rearrange them. Each block has some basic customization options, depending on the type of block it is.
The classic WordPress editor was very basic; It was a simple text area for typing blog posts. Additional content either needed to be coded (which required knowledge of HTML) or added using something called shortcodes. The new Gutenberg block editor has made editing content in WordPress much easier, but it is still in its early stages and is fairly limited.
What is a WordPress page builder?
A WordPress page builder is a tool to fully customize the style and layout of your content. You can add it as a plugin or sometimes themes have a page builder included.
Page Builders were designed to give full creative control. Like with the block editor, you can drag & drop content to website pages. However, page builders have many more pre-made modules to choose from. These modules include text, images, buttons and galleries (just like the block editor) but also things like accordions, sliders, and more. They also have many more customization options.
The main differences between the block editor & page builders
There are many similarities between the bock editor and page builders. Both are drag & drop content editors, and you don’t need to know how to code to use either option. However, there are still some very big differences. So let’s take a closer look at what those differences are:
1. Frontend Editing
The block editor only has backend editing. That means you need to preview the page each time you want to see what changes look like. However with a page builder you can use frontend editing and you can see what your page looks like as you build it. It makes building easier and faster.
2. Extra Steps
The block editor is part of WordPress, so you don’t have to install anything extra to use it. When you create your first WordPress site the block editor is all ready to go. However, page builders are an optional add-on. That means that you need to download and install it on top of your WordPress site. Most page builders are not free, so you’ll also need to purchase a license before you can fully use them.
3. Full Site Design
A good page builder gives you total design freedom for all parts of your website. This includes your header, footer, sidebar, and more. The block editor can only edit your individual pages & posts, plus whatever theme customization options your chosen theme provides. Page builders are not confined to the theme’s customization; the block editor is.
4. Advanced Customization
The block editor has lots of pre-made content modules and it gives you a few customization options for each block. However, these options are very limited. In contrast, with a page builder there are more content modules to choose from and you can fine-tune every detail of every module to style it however you want.
5. Page Speed
Page builders can be heavy on your site and slow down your page speed. The block editor is very lightweight and offers better site performance. If your site needs to be lighting fast, then it is probably best if you don’t add a page builder.
Pros & Cons of the WordPress block editor
Pros
- Built-in with WordPress, no extra installation
- Completely free
- Lightweight & fast page speed
- You don’t need to know how to code
- Easy drag & drop content editor
Cons
- Limited ‘blocks’ (content modules) to choose from
- Can’t customize full site (header, footer, etc.)
- Limited customization options on each block
- Only backend editing, so you can’t see changes in real-time
Pros & Cons of page builders
Pros
- Can design your whole site – headers, footers, etc.
- Advanced styling options on all modules
- You don’t need to know how to code
- Easy drag & drop content editor
- Frontend editing to can see your changes in real-time
Cons
- Need to be installed on top of your WordPress site
- Most page builders cost money
- Some are heavy and slow down your website
- May be difficult to remove if you change your mind
Should you use the block editor or a page builder?
Now that you understand the differences between the block editor and page builders, you need to decide which is right for you. It’s going to depend on what kind of site you’re building as well as what your priorities are.
Use the block editor if…
- Page speed is very important for your site
- You value simplicity and straight-forward content
- Design freedom isn’t as important
Use a page builder if…
- You want full creative control of your site
- Unique and interactive content is important to you
- You value having more options and customization
So now what?
At this point you should have a better understanding of the differences between the WordPress block editor and page builders. We hope that you have an idea which is the best to use for your site.
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