WordPress Site Builder Shoot-out

 

DIVI vs Elementor vs Breakdance: Choosing the Right WordPress Page Builder

Introduction

WordPress page builders have transformed website creation. Today we'll compare three popular options: DIVI, Elementor, and Breakdance. Each offers unique features for different needs and budgets.

DIVI

Free Version

DIVI doesn't offer a free version. You must purchase either a yearly subscription or lifetime access.

Paid Version

DIVI normally costs $89 per year or $249 for lifetime access. However, there are constantly deals and bundles so be sure to check out Elegant Theme's website for the latest deals here: DIVI Deals!

This includes:

• Visual drag-and-drop interface
• 200+ design templates
• Responsive editing
• Full theme builder functionality
• Unlimited website usage
• WooCommerce compatibility
• Split testing capabilities

DIVI's strength lies in its all-in-one approach and intuitive visual editor. However, its learning curve can be steep for beginners.

Elementor

Free Version

Elementor's free version includes:

• Basic drag-and-drop editor
• 40+ basic widgets
• 30+ templates
• Mobile responsive editing

The free version works well for simple sites but lacks advanced features.

Paid Version

Elementor Pro starts at $60 per year for one site, with higher tiers for multiple sites. 

Pro features include:

• Theme builder functionality
• 50+ additional widgets
• 300+ premium templates
• Form builder
• Pop-up builder
• WooCommerce builder
• Custom CSS controls

Elementor balances ease of use with powerful features. Its widespread adoption means plenty of tutorials and third-party add-ons are available.

NOTE: You can also host your site with Elementor, starting at just $36 per year. They also offer WooCommerce hosting from just $60 per year. Check them out at Elementor Deals!

Breakdance

Free Version

Breakdance offers a free version, which has limited features but can be used on unlimited sites.

Paid Version

Breakdance Pro costs $99 per year for one site or $199 for unlimited sites. The Pro version plus AI costs $249 per year but this deal is only available until 31st March 2025.

Features include:

• Modern block-based builder
• Global styling system
• Fast performance
• Header and footer builder
• Advanced animations
• WooCommerce integration
• Form builder

As the newest option, Breakdance focuses on performance and modern design capabilities. It produces cleaner code than many competitors.

Performance Comparison

• DIVI: Can be resource-heavy, sometimes impacting page load speeds
• Elementor: Improved performance in recent updates, but still adds overhead
• Breakdance: Best performance, generates less bloated code

Ease of Use

• DIVI: Moderately intuitive but with a steeper learning curve
• Elementor: Most user-friendly for beginners
• Breakdance: Clean interface but requires some adjustment

Key Takeaways

• DIVI offers the most comprehensive all-in-one solution with unlimited site usage
• Elementor provides the best balance of features in its free version
• Breakdance delivers superior performance and clean code
• For beginners: Elementor's free version is ideal for learning
• For professionals: DIVI or Breakdance offer better value with unlimited site licenses
• For performance concerns: Breakdance is the clear winner

Choose based on your specific needs: budget, technical skill, and project requirements. All three are capable tools that can create professional WordPress websites.

Personally, I have used both Elementor (free and paid versions) and currently use mainly DIVI (I have the Lifetime subscription) for building my WordPress sites. Over the years I have used several site builders all the way back to the very first ones in the days of Web 1.0. 

I have also built sites with Joomla and Mambo, Dreamweaver and AI (such as Hostinger's AI site builder).