You undoubtedly have a lot of queries regarding the best approach to developing your website. This is indeed reasonable considering the variety of possibilities available in the market. In general, WordPress has three options: use a page builder, customize a WordPress theme, or hire a professional to create the website for them.
WordPress themes are considered faster and easier to work with, while WordPress page builders are more personalized and adaptable. Reading this article, you will understand the advantages and disadvantages of using WordPress Themes vs. Page Builder. Additionally, you’ll know in depth which approach is best for you at the end of the discussion, depending on your level of expertise and website prerequisites.
What is the difference between a WordPress theme and a page builder?
A WordPress theme is a pre-designed template that controls the overall look, layout, and style of a website, including colors, fonts, and elements. A page builder, like Elementor or WPBakery, is a tool that allows you to customize individual pages with a drag-and-drop editor, giving you more flexibility to create unique designs within the theme’s framework. Themes set the site-wide design, while page builders let you customize content layout on a page-by-page basis.
What is a WordPress Theme?
WordPress theme is a website’s pre-encrypted style, layout, and display settings. To add some flair and a unified design to your website, you must install and activate a WordPress theme. Meanwhile, the pleasant thing about this CMS is that it’s an open-source platform, which means that any developer may make a theme and make it available for download to other WordPress users for free or paid. Before jumping into the pros and cons discussion of WordPress themes, you need to know the following basic elements:
If you are comfortable with all of the above points, choose the WordPress theme to develop your website initially. However, your chosen theme developer will have full control of the design and will not let you modify the theme completely. As a result, you can only change or modify a few things based on your brand identity. Check out the following aspects before making your final decision.
Benefits of WordPress Themes
If you are looking for a handy and stress-free option for your WordPress website modification, then you might enjoy the following points:
WordPress themes offer plenty of options from dedicated stores to decorate your website.
Ready-Made
Most of the WordPress themes are off-the-shelf in nature and are easily accessible, which will allow you to focus only on ‘installation’.
Mobile-friendly
If you want to use fresh and updated themes, you will find them responsive to mobile devices.
It is always possible to preview the WordPress theme in real time, allowing you to make modification decisions easily.
WordPress will allow you to access the themes for primary customization purposes.
Editing Option – CSS
In the WordPress theme editor, you can perform custom CSS revisions.
Less Time Consuming
With a WordPress theme, it is possible to make your website operative with a single day’s effort.
Budget-friendly
If you want to build your website cost-effectively, then choosing WordPress themes will be the best decision as it offers a ton of free features for its users.
Drawbacks of WordPress Themes
Even with all the above advantages, you may find a lot of negative aspects of WordPress themes, including:
You might end up choosing themes similar to others for your website while using WordPress.
Less flexibility
In WordPress themes, you have limited flexibility since many features are already installed.
Lack of Customization
This problem arises if you want to update your theme by not saving the previous actions.
Since you don’t own the design and code, any errors on the theme developer’s end can mess up your site.
What is a WordPress Page Builder?
A WordPress Page Builder is a WordPress plugin that will provide you access to many additional customization options on a page-to-page basis without requiring you to change the theme settings or write custom code whatsoever.
More precisely, it’s a detailed approach to giving your WordPress website a distinctive appearance and feel. Additionally, with this plugin, you can go deeper and alter specific posts and pages within your WP theme instead of choosing a theme and then making minor adjustments to your theme as a whole.
Despite Page Builder’s WYSIWYG nature that might attract you to use it, we recommend you check out the following pros and cons for a greater resolution:
Benefits of WordPress Page Builder
You should consider the following points if you want to get better results using WordPress page builders:
Flexibility of Themes
WordPress page builders can be utilized with any compatible WordPress theme, offering users the freedom to design their websites according to their preferences.
Using page builders is often the optimal approach to customize your WordPress site page-by-page. Moreover, it provides numerous personalization options for posts as well.
Unique Design
This feature lets you craft a fresh design within your selected theme, providing your visitors with a unique experience.
Besides modifying the background, you can also change the overall layout of your theme with a page builder plugin.
WordPress page builders come with many popular versions that are completely free for their users.
Widget Modification
You can easily adjust the placement of your widgets and add customized widgets to various pages of your website.
With WordPress page builders, you can customize theme settings and choose specific page templates for selective modifications.
A/B Testing
A lot of third-party WordPress Page Builders are regularly offering A/B testing options for their users which is somewhat of a tangible benefit in optimizing website performance and user experience.
Drawbacks of WordPress Page Builder
Despite offering a sound amount of advantages, we suggest you check the below problems you might face while using page builders:
One of the significant drawbacks of using WordPress page builders is their time-consuming nature, as they require a substantial amount of time for final execution.
Needs Mature Attention
WordPress page builders are not suitable for beginners. While they offer unique design capabilities, individuals lacking an eye for design may find them challenging.
Bigger Learning Curve
Compared to customizing a WordPress theme, using page builders involves a steeper learning curve for users at all levels of experience.
Many advanced WordPress page builders offer premium features available only in paid versions, making them a costly investment.
Which One You Should Choose: WordPress Themes vs. Page Builder
If you are a beginner or want to minimize complications, you should consider WordPress themes. They are popular and flexible options for quickly setting up your site with an elegant design. However, themes may lack customization compared to highly customized plugins.
On the other hand, WordPress page builders offer versatility but require more time, awareness, and attention to detail. They can also be cost-sensitive.
Therefore, we recommend carefully considering your options before choosing between WordPress themes or page builders. Seeking guidance and assistance from experts in this field can benefit your business’s future growth.
How Glossy IT Can Help You Select the Best: WordPress Themes vs. Page Builder
If you are still confused about choosing between themes and page builders, we recommend you seek skilled, professional, and experienced assistance. At Glossy IT, our team of WordPress experts has been working relentlessly to serve customers globally on this aspect. In addition, you will also get extra services related to your CMS selection or customization process from us at a reasonable price with guaranteed satisfaction.
Final Verdict
It is always wise to learn in-depth about the relevant usage options while choosing WordPage themes or page builders for your website. Meanwhile, you should also consider that both offer many technical issues that must be evaluated with proper knowledge and perseverance. However, we recommend getting professional help if you don’t feel comfortable jumping into the theoretical aspects of themes and page buildings.
FAQs: WordPress Themes vs Page Builder
How can Glossy IT assist me in choosing WordPress themes vs page builders?
Glossy IT offers professional guidance from experienced WordPress experts who can help you navigate your options. We provide services related to CMS selection and customization at competitive prices, ensuring satisfaction with your website development process.
How long does it take to set up a website using a WordPress theme versus a page builder?
Using a WordPress theme can allow you to set up a functional website in just one day. In contrast, utilizing a page builder may take significantly longer due to its complexity and the need for detailed customization.
Is professional help necessary when choosing between themes and page builders?
While it’s not mandatory, seeking professional assistance can be beneficial if you feel overwhelmed by the options or lack technical knowledge. Experts can guide you in selecting the best approach based on your specific needs and goals.
Are WordPress themes customizable?
Yes, WordPress themes offer some level of customization, but it is often limited. You can make basic changes such as colors and fonts, but deeper modifications may require custom coding or the use of a page builder.
What are the pros and cons of WordPress theme builders?
WordPress theme builders offer significant pros such as design flexibility, allowing users to create custom layouts without coding, ease of use, and the ability to save and reuse design elements, which saves time. However, they also come with cons, including potential performance issues due to bloated code, a learning curve, and possible compatibility problems with other plugins.
What are the features of WordPress theme builders?
WordPress theme builders offer a range of features for customizing websites without coding. Key features include drag-and-drop interfaces for easy layout creation, dynamic content templates for posts and pages, and the ability to design headers, footers, and sidebars. They also support responsive design across devices, allow for global template reuse, and provide options for custom styling and maintenance modes. Popular builders like Visual Composer and Thrive Theme Builder enhance user experience with extensive customization tools and pre-designed elements.