WordPress Experience

We have been using WordPress since its initial public release and have collected numerous user stories regarding this exceptional CMS. In this article, we will discuss some of the negative experiences that users have had with page builder plugins. Here are a few examples:

One user installed a widely-used page builder plugin, allowing them to create visually attractive pages easily. But, after a few months, they discovered that their website was loading very slowly. Upon investigating the cause, they realized that the page builder plugin was responsible for the sluggish loading times, as it was loading extensive amounts of CSS and JavaScript code, leading to delays in page loading for their visitors.

Another user installed a page builder plugin and utilized it to create custom pages for their website. However, after a year, they decided to switch themes, only to discover that the page builder had generated so much custom code that changing themes was only possible by rebuilding their entire site.

A third user installed a page builder plugin that promised to simplify creating beautiful pages. Unfortunately, they soon discovered that the plugin was incredibly buggy and would randomly add code or even break pages, causing them to spend hours troubleshooting the issues created by the page builder instead of creating content for their website.

These are just a few examples, but they highlight potential issues when using page builder plugins on WordPress.

Say No to Page Builders

I highly recommend avoiding any page builders when it comes to your WordPress sites. While they seem like a quick and easy solution for creating custom pages, they often cause more harm than good. Not only do they slow down your site’s performance, but they can also generate compatibility issues and make it difficult to switch themes or update your site in the future. Instead, focus on learning how to use WordPress’s built-in tools and coding your custom pages. It may take more time and effort, but it will ultimately result in a more reliable and efficient website.

Here are some popular page builder plugins for WordPress:

1. Elementor
2. Beaver Builder
3. WPBakery Page Builder (formerly Visual Composer)
4. Divi Builder
5. Thrive Architect
6. SiteOrigin Page Builder
7. Brizy
8. Oxygen
9. Live Composer
10. KingComposer

Were you searching for a link to their websites? I suggest you avoid those plugins for now. Instead, I recommend using a reliable theme such as TwentyTwentyTwo or StoreFront. Trust me. It’s for your benefit.

Remember that while these page builders can be convenient and easy to use, they can also have some downsides, as mentioned previously. It’s important to choose a reliable and frequently updated plugin and to use it sparingly for only the necessary elements of your site.

Here are some popular speed and optimization plugins that are designed to speed up sites with page builders:

• WP Rocket: WP Rocket is a premium cache plugin that works well with most page builders. It offers features like page caching, database optimization, and minification to help speed up your website.
• WP Fastest Cache: WP Fastest Cache is another popular caching plugin for WordPress that is designed to work with page builders. It offers both free and premium versions with a range of optimization tools.
• Hummingbird Page Speed Optimization: Hummingbird is a free optimization plugin that is specifically designed to boost the performance of page builders. It offers features like minification, compression, caching, and more to speed up your site and optimize your pages.
• Autoptimize: Autoptimize is a free plugin that helps to optimize CSS, JavaScript, and HTML code in order to speed up your website. It’s a great choice for those using page builders as it helps to minimize and improve the page code.

Keep in mind that while these plugins can be convenient and easy to use, it’s important to choose a reliable and frequently updated plugin. Also, please note that installing too many plugins can have a negative impact on website performance.

The Truth About Page Builder Plugins for WordPress

Page builders may seem convenient for creating custom pages on your WordPress website, but they can slow down your site’s performance. Using WordPress’s built-in tools and improving your coding skills is better. However, consider hiring a freelancer if you want a professional and personalized homepage without using page builders. Remember that this option can be costly and time-consuming, depending on the complexity of the design and the freelancer’s experience. Work closely with the freelancer to ensure the final product meets your website’s goals. 

If you find a theme you like but require a page builder for specific pages, ask the theme developer if creating those pages without one is possible. If not, consider joining our community; we will deal with it together. 

I want to add an answer from my last support ticket for a “Premium” WP Theme support team. Please read it carefully:

Hello,

Thank you for your message.

You’ve updated to the latest version which is based on Elementor, while the previous version is based on WP Bakery.

If you want to update to version 3 you will need to start from scratch with demo content and customize it.

Else – you need to install the previous version to make it work properly with your content.

Best regards,

Best regards,
Phil,
Support Operator
Follow us on social media
Save your time and order a Professional Customisation

The support operator has yet to learn what he is talking about. He is trying to answer all tickets as soon as possible. And did you notice that: “… you will need to start from scratch with demo content and customize it.” He won’t take a look to sites, he never logged in development environment or live site. But I spend lots of time to create a development clone for “support team” What kind of support are they giving?

Let us sum up all my concerns and start thinking about how we will keep ourselves from these traps.

• If you are not a power user please start with default WP themes like “Twenty Twenty-One / By WordPress.org” or “Storefront By Automattic” and yes, I am writing this post in 2023 but I am still offering “Twenty Twenty-One” because it simple, clean and easy to manage.
• Never use a page builder plugin. Never ever!
• Never buy a “premium” theme that offer you an amazing support and response time. Nope, it’s not necessary. Believe me. I am sure about that.
• Thats all!

You already learn how to start your WordPress experience in a prober way. Let start using WP today, you will be happy with it : )

Here’s an edited version that may read better:

Let’s wrap up all of our concerns and think about how we can avoid falling into these traps. If you’re new to WordPress or not an experienced user, I recommend starting with default themes like “Twenty Twenty-One” or “Storefront” by “Automattic”. Despite writing this post in 2023, I still recommend “Twenty Twenty-One” because it’s simple, clean, and easy to manage.

Never use a page builder plugin. It’s not worth it.

Also, I advise against buying “premium” themes that include promises of amazing support and response times. It’s typically unnecessary and may lead to disappointment. Trust me, I’m sure of this.

So, that’s it! You’ve learned how to start your WordPress experience in the proper way. Let’s begin using WP today, and I’m confident it will bring you happiness : )

This article discusses the negative experiences that users have had with page builder plugins in WordPress. It highlights issues such as slow loading times, compatibility problems, and bugs that can arise from using these plugins. The article recommends avoiding page builders and instead focusing on learning how to use WordPress’s built-in tools and coding custom pages. It also provides a list of popular page builder plugins and suggests using reliable themes and speed optimization plugins to improve site performance. Additionally, the article criticizes the support provided by some premium theme developers and emphasizes the importance of starting with default themes and avoiding page builder plugins altogether. The article concludes by encouraging readers to begin their WordPress experience in a proper way to ensure a reliable and efficient website.