8 Best WordPress Page Builders 2024 (Mostly Free): Reviewed & Speed Test Comparison

Building a beautiful, functional website on WordPress no longer requires knowing how to code. Thanks to drag-and-drop page builders, you can design and customize your site effortlessly. Whether you’re running a blog, an online store, or a business website, page builders can help you create stunning pages without any technical background.

In 2024, there are plenty of page builders to choose from, but not all are created equal. Some prioritize flexibility, while others focus on speed or simplicity. In this article, we’ll break down the best WordPress page builders available today, with a special emphasis on their speed and usability.

What are Page Builders in WordPress? (A Quick Explanation)

In essence, a WordPress page builder is a plugin or built-in tool that allows users to create custom pages by dragging and dropping elements—such as text, images, and buttons—into a layout. Instead of coding these elements by hand, page builders offer visual editors where you can see your changes in real time.

They are ideal for beginners and advanced users alike. Advanced users often appreciate the time-saving and creative potential these tools bring, while beginners love how intuitive they make the website-building process.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Drag and Drop WordPress Page Builder

Before diving into the list of the best page builders for 2024, it’s important to understand which features make a WordPress page builder stand out:

• Ease of Use: How simple is the interface? Does it offer a good balance between features and usability for both beginners and advanced users?
• Customization Options: Can you fully customize the layout, design, and functionality without restrictions?
• Speed and Performance: Does the builder slow down your site, or does it keep it running smoothly? Page load time is a critical factor for both user experience and SEO.
• Theme Compatibility: Will the page builder work seamlessly with your WordPress theme, or will it cause conflicts?
• Pricing: Is the builder free, freemium, or paid? What do the paid plans offer that the free versions don’t?

The HandPicked List of Best WordPress Page Builders 2024

Here’s our roundup of the best WordPress page builders for 2024, along with a quick review of their features, pros, and cons, as well as their performance in terms of speed.

1. Elementor (Free + Paid)

Elementor is arguably the most popular and widely used page builder for WordPress. It has a feature-rich free version, but its premium version unlocks an even more powerful toolkit.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop editor with real-time preview
• Pre-designed templates for quick page building
• Responsive design controls for mobile, tablet, and desktop
• Integrations with third-party tools like Mailchimp, WooCommerce, and more

Speed Performance:

Elementor is fast but can slow down on more complex designs. However, with the proper optimization, its performance remains solid even on content-heavy pages.

2. Divi (Paid)

Divi, developed by Elegant Themes, is a robust, fully featured page builder that is part of a premium membership plan. Known for its versatility and extensive customization options, Divi is a top choice for web designers.

Key Features:

• Visual page builder with advanced design controls
• Responsive editing for mobile and tablet
• Global elements for site-wide updates
• Comes with over 1,000 pre-made templates

Speed Performance:

While Divi offers immense creative control, it tends to be slower compared to some other builders, especially if your site isn’t optimized. But with its latest updates, Divi’s speed has improved considerably.

3. Beaver Builder (Free + Paid)

Beaver Builder is one of the most reliable page builders available, known for its clean code and developer-friendly features. It offers a powerful free version, but upgrading to the premium plan unlocks even more possibilities.

Key Features:

• Live, front-end editing with drag-and-drop functionality
• Responsive and SEO-friendly design
• Lightweight code for fast performance
• Support for custom post types and WooCommerce integration

Speed Performance:

Beaver Builder is praised for its lightweight performance, making it one of the fastest page builders in this list, especially when using optimized themes.

4. WPBakery (Paid)

Formerly known as Visual Composer, WPBakery is another paid page builder that has maintained its popularity for years. It’s particularly well-suited for those who want precise control over their design.

Key Features:

• Front-end and back-end editors for flexibility
• Pre-built content elements like text blocks, images, and sliders
• Integration with WooCommerce and popular themes
• Custom CSS support for advanced users

Speed Performance:

WPBakery can add some bulk to your pages, resulting in slower load times compared to lighter builders like Beaver Builder. However, it’s manageable with good hosting and optimization.

5. SeedProd (Free + Paid)

SeedProd is a unique page builder primarily used for creating landing pages and coming soon pages. Its simple, intuitive design is perfect for quick page creation without any unnecessary fluff.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop builder with visual editing
• Landing page templates for a variety of use cases
• Real-time design preview
• Built-in lead generation tools like opt-in forms

Speed Performance:

Because SeedProd focuses on landing pages, it’s designed to be lightweight and fast, ensuring quick load times for these specialized pages.

6. Oxygen Page Builder (Paid)

Oxygen Builder is a powerful tool aimed at developers and advanced users who need total control over their WordPress design. It’s one of the most versatile page builders but comes with a steeper learning curve.

Key Features:

• Complete control over HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Built-in WooCommerce integration
• Header and footer building tools
• Lightweight code for fast load times

Speed Performance:

Oxygen Builder is incredibly fast because of its lean codebase. It doesn’t add unnecessary bloat, making it one of the best-performing builders in terms of speed.

7. Thrive Architect (Paid)

Thrive Architect is a conversion-focused page builder. It’s ideal for bloggers, marketers, and entrepreneurs looking to create highly optimized, conversion-driven landing pages and sales funnels.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop editor for building sales pages, opt-in forms, and more
• Focus on high conversion rates
• Pre-designed templates optimized for marketing
• Integrates with popular email marketing services

Speed Performance:

Thrive Architect is optimized for speed, but its rich feature set can slow down pages if not carefully managed. However, for landing pages and funnels, it performs well.

8. Gutenberg Block Editor (Free)

Gutenberg is the default WordPress block editor that replaced the classic editor. Although it’s not as full-featured as dedicated page builders, it’s improving with every WordPress update and offers a good balance between simplicity and customization.

Key Features:

• Block-based editing for text, images, videos, and more
• Built directly into WordPress, no extra plugin required
• Fast and lightweight compared to other page builders
• New blocks and improvements added regularly

Speed Performance:

Since Gutenberg is a native part of WordPress, it’s one of the fastest editors available. It adds very little overhead and works well with most themes.

FAQs:

Q1. Can I use more than one page builder on my WordPress site?

While technically possible, using multiple page builders can lead to conflicts and slow down your site. It’s best to stick with one builder for consistency and speed.

Q2. Which is the easiest page builder for beginners?

Elementor and SeedProd are highly recommended for beginners due to their intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and ease of use.

Q3. Are all page builders compatible with every WordPress theme?

Not always. Most builders work well with most themes, but you might encounter compatibility issues with certain themes. It’s a good idea to check the documentation or test the builder with your theme.

Q4. Do page builders affect SEO?

Page builders can impact SEO, especially if they add unnecessary bloat or slow down your site. However, most modern page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder are SEO-friendly and offer options to optimize for speed and performance.

Q5. Which page builder is the fastest?

In terms of speed, Oxygen Builder and Gutenberg are the fastest options because of their lean codebases. However, Beaver Builder is also a great lightweight alternative for those needing more features.

Conclusion

When it comes to speed, Oxygen Builder and Gutenberg stand out as the fastest options for 2024. Oxygen offers advanced control and flexibility without sacrificing performance, making it a top choice for developers. Gutenberg, being a native WordPress editor, is incredibly lightweight and fast.

For beginners and those seeking a balance between speed, features, and ease of use, Elementor and Beaver Builder are excellent choices. Ultimately, the best page builder depends on your specific needs—whether it’s customization, speed, or user-friendliness.