Page builder
A drag-and-drop design tool, usually a WordPress plugin such as Beaver Builder, Elementor or Divi, for building page layouts without writing code.
A page builder is a tool for designing web pages visually. You drag rows, columns, images, text and buttons into place and see roughly how the page will look as you work. On WordPress, page builders are plugins, with Beaver Builder, Elementor and Divi among the best known. Hosted site builders like Wix and Squarespace work in a similar way.
WordPress also has its own built-in block editor, which covers many of the same needs.
Why it matters to a small business
The upside: page builders make custom layouts possible without a developer, and staff can often edit pages confidently.
The trade-offs:
- Speed. Builders often add extra code to every page, which can slow loading and affect INP and LCP.
- Lock-in. Your layouts are stored in the builder’s own format. If you deactivate it, pages can turn into jumbled code, so switching usually means rebuilding pages.
- Updates. A page builder is a major plugin with its own add-ons, all of which need updating and testing.
None of this means a page builder is wrong. A well-built, well-maintained page builder site can work well for years.
Example
A dance studio’s site was built with a page builder. Staff edit class schedules easily, and the site loads acceptably. Rather than switch, they keep the builder updated, remove unused add-ons and optimize images. A move to the block editor is planned for their next redesign.
Learn more
Rather talk it through?
Call our team, or send a note and we’ll reply within one business day. No pressure and no jargon.