Gutenberg Vs WordPress page builder plugins

WordPress introduced its version 5.0 in the early December of 2018. It had a premium addition namely, the Gutenberg default editor.

Once this came into effect a lot of WordPress page builder plugins were introduced with a lot of additional functionalities. A couple of them are really useful and have a lot of advanced options.

So is Gutenberg still relevant when compared to the other plugins available in the market right now?

Majority of the users still prefer the Gutenberg over its peers. Why? Maybe it's their personal choice or maybe they are comfortable with its usage.

Or is it because the other WordPress page builder plugins are not that much worthy?

Well, let us find out in this blog here with the help of various sources of information collected as a part of our research.

What are Page Builders?

“Page Builder plugins can be simply defined as the WordPress plugins that allow you to create dynamic pages with the help of drag and drop editors” .

Now you might have got an idea of what actually Gutenberg is! It's the default page editor plugin that WordPress provides for editing the pages of your website built on the WordPress platform.

As such, there may be multiple issues with the default editor. Since their major motive will be always to provide the basic functionalities rather than providing a bundle of other features.

That's where the other people in the market find the opportunity to develop their own page builder plugins. It will be definitely having their own advantages when compared to the default ones.

But still many of the people around choose Gutenberg as their favourite page editor platform. The comfort they provide may be really high when compared to the new ones in the industry.

Gutenberg Vs WordPress Page Builder Plugins (Explained)

Gutenberg is the default WordPress page builder plugin that allows you to manage the pages of your WordPress site using blocks to add and arrange content elements for posts and pages. Hence it is also called Block Editor.

Whereas the WordPress Page Builder Plugins are drag and drop based tools that help you to build new pages for your website without using a single line of code.

The major differences between Gutenberg and WordPress Page Builder Plugins can be shortlisted as follows:

Backend & Frontend Editing

One of the major differences between the default editor Gutenberg and other WordPress Page Builder Plugins is the Backend and Frontend editing.

Gutenberg or Block- Editor does not provide the Frontend Editing.

Theme Support and Compatibility

Using Gutenberg, your WordPress theme is mostly stagnant. The theme style and settings cannot be dismissed or adjusted. There is an option to add a limited amount of included CSS and an option to include custom CSS for blocks. However, the theme style remains set.

On the other hand, page builder plugins allow you to make considerable and significant adjustments to the page style theme and settings

Obviously, if you have a desire to create a custom page layout, this ability to enact extensive adjustments is very valuable.

Page Builder Live Editing Versus Gutenberg Backend Editing

“Seeing is believing,” with the page builder’s live editing function. In what way?

Well, with a page builder plugin, as you edit your page, you will see the adjustments as they would appear while you make the changes. This is done without needing to save the page.

In contrast, with the Gutenberg editor, while editing a web page or post, the image on your screen is not an actual preview of the web page or post. As a backend editor, it portrays what your content will look like only when you preview it.

Content Layout and Page Design

Sample of layouts available with Gutenberg

This next topic is similar to the difference between choosing a table design and also the place settings and silverware you want to use, or only being able to choose the type of silverware and plates and where they are placed on the table.

The Gutenberg blocks allow for the creation of content layout, but the options are not extensive. Columns, tables, and full-width cover images are available, but at the moment, little more.

When using page builders, greater versatility is possible. In addition to content being added, the page layout can also be adjusted in its entirety. With each block and widget, there are even more design choices to select from.

Blocks and Widgets

Gutenberg’s initial number of default blocks addresses all of the common content elements.

A valuable feature with Gutenberg is that blocks can be saved and applied to other posts, as well as posts on other WordPress websites. And a strong and solid API allows plugin developers to produce blocks as well. Further, many WordPress plugins have their own Gutenberg blocks which can be used.

For the moment, page builders still outperform Gutenberg in this area. Simply put, the page builder plugins have many more modules, blocks, and widgets.

Advanced content is also available like sliders, contact forms, countdown timers, call to action buttons, carousels, and the list goes on. Nor are they to be outdone when it comes to reusing content material. With page builders, entire templates, as well as blocks and rows can be reused later.

You can, however, add more functionalities to the new WordPress editor installing plugins for Gutenberg like Stackable and Ultimate Blocks.

Style and Formatting

Gutenberg has options for style and formatting; however, they are not as extensive as those available with a page builder. With Gutenberg, to add additional styling and formatting, it will be necessary to add your own custom CSS with a block.

On the other hand, when making use of a page builder, the background color of blocks can be adjusted, you can select different fonts, gradients, font-icons, the width of elements, line height, image styles, and more.

Gutenberg and Page Building Plugins—Different Intentions

For now, Gutemberg allows users to have a current and smart writing experience. Whether the user is a blogger, a writer, a photographer, or a business, Gutenberg makes the adding of content easy, quick, and attractive. Although, currently, the selection of options is limited when compared to page building plugins.

Yet, it may be that a large number of options available with the page building plugins is neither what you need or want. Sometimes, we don’t like having too many options that complicate the job. Rather, a moderate selection to choose from is sufficient.

Page building plugins are an excellent option for small businesses, creative designers, WordPress agencies, E-commerce stores, or those with the desire, time, and resources to pursue an endless stream of choices to make their web page unique.

Gutenberg, for now, primarily allows you to enhance your content. Whereas, page building plugins strengthen and improve landing pages that will improve sales, raise the number of subscribers and promote a business.

Obviously then, the choice of which of these tools you want to use will depend significantly on your intention in using WordPress.

Gutenberg vs WordPress Webpage Builder—Which is Better for You?

Why Choose the Gutenberg Visual Editor?

Is the Gutenberg editor for you? From what we have discussed above, Gutenberg is a great choice for you if you prefer the limited number of options and block designing functions.

Why Choose a WordPress Webpage Builder?

If extensive design layout control and an innumerable number of selections is an essential need for what you envision on your blog or webpage, then yes, a web page builder is what you are looking for.

Within the realm of ease of use, speed, and limited enhancements to content, Gutenberg is a proficient, constructive, and painless tool. Additionally, it is new.

Undoubtedly, the future revisions of this tool will provide more options and versatility in choices. Perhaps the Gutenberg editor of 2019 will affect WordPress the same way the Gutenberg of 1439 affected the printing press revolution of its time. Only time will tell.