Until recently, web development was associated with the knowledge of HTML, CSS and writing complex code. In simpler terms, you had to have advanced programming knowledge and experience to create a website. Today, however, the situation is very different. There are CMS-y, i.e. content management systems, with which the average web user can not only, for example, maintain a blogbut also to build a website yourself using ready-made components. How is this possible? It's all thanks to visual editors that make creating websites child's play.
What are Page Builder plugins, or WordPress visual editors?
Visual editors, i.e. Page Builders are plug-inswhich you can install in your WordPress admin panel. They provide you with additional options for editing content. The primary purpose of the Page Builder visual editors is to making it easier to build websites for users who are not familiar with coding. With them, it is possible to create by drag & drop, i.e. by dragging and dropping the finished elements.
Advantages of visual editors
Visual editors are a great tool for anyone without advanced programming knowledge who wants to create a blog, a website or even a simple online shop themselves. However, it is not only beginners who use visual editors. Sometimes professional web developers also use them to create highly functional and aesthetically pleasing websites in a short space of time.
What are the other advantages of visual editors?
intuitive interface - using the visual editor, it is easy to create a WordPress site according to your needs, and the mechanism for adding blocks, sections and individual elements is so accessible that it is difficult to get lost in it.
support - In the paid version, visual editors allow you to quickly contact their authors and obtain comprehensive technical support. Moreover, you can easily find free training materials (tutorials) and groups, e.g. on Facebook, on the web, which will allow you to better understand and use the potential of the editor.
optimisation at SEO - Of course, a myriad of factors influence a page's position in a search engine and the mere fact of using a visual editor means little. However, it can make it easier to optimise your pages, e.g. setting headings. Simply select the text you want to be the headline and select the appropriate option from the menu.
wide range of functions - Once you have installed the visual editor, you have almost unlimited possibilities for building your own website. You can fill in the templates with your own content and personalise them. In fact, the only things that limit you are your imagination and the time you can devote to creating your site.
Disadvantages of visual editors
You already know the biggest advantages of visual editors. However, nobody and nothing is perfect.... including Page Builders. Read what the downsides of using them are.
You pay for a lot of features with page load time - Page builders can make life easier, but You should exercise moderation. Otherwise, you may slow down your page loading with additional plug-ins. You have to remember that loading speed is nowadays crucial if you want to ensure a positive user experience on your website and keep them around for longer. Although the developers of Page Builders do their best, pages with these types of editors load slower than those without them.
Non-optimised (loaded) source code - The landing page code is something you may not have thought of, and in the case of pages built with Page Builders, well... it's not optimal. It takes into account a lot of options and commands, often unnecessary, and is prepared with ease of page creation in mind. Oversized code also negatively affects the loading speed of the website and the smoothness of its operation.
Possible update problems and potential security vulnerabilities - some Page Builders are developed on a regular basis, and with updates, new functionality is added and fixes are implemented. However, this is not always the case. Therefore, before choosing and buying a plug-in, check on the manufacturer's website changelog, or change log. What about security? Just like any other WordPress plugin, Page Builders is a potential security vulnerability that hackers are keen to exploit. Every plugin is a potential gateway for hackers trying to break into our site. More specifically, it's not the plugins themselves that are the issue, but the poor management of them. When they are not updated, a hacker can, for example, add malware to them. Such attacks carried out under the guise of updates are difficult to detect.
The most popular visual editors for WordPress and their functionalities
Gutenberg
It is not without reason that we start with Gutenbergbecause it is editor created by WordPress developers after the first Page Builders appeared on the market. Since the version WordPress 5.0 Gutenberg replaced the classic content editor (a text editor for posts and pages) and is integrated into the system by default. It has changed the way content is edited on a WordPress site by introducing 'block editing'. Obviously, its main advantage and advantage over others is that you do not need to download and install another page editor. Gutenberg is free, but offers fewer options compared to other creators.
Elementor
Elementor Pro is one of the most popular visual editors for WordPress. It includes many ready-made templates that you can use on your site. In the free version, you can choose from more than 30 elements, and by opting for Pro ($49 for a year), you get an additional 26 modules. Elementor allows editing in both the frontend and the backend. This means that you can see the content directly from the visitor's perspective and edit it by drag and drop.
SiteOrigin Page Builder
This is another responsive drag-and-drop plugin worth considering. While not particularly visually appealing, it has features that will allow you to build your site without having to delve into the code. Both a free version is available SiteOrigin, as well as premium add-ons. Add-ons cost $29 for use on one website, $49 for use on up to five websites or $99 for use on an unlimited number of websites.
Thrive Architect
This editor is the best option especially for those who want to build a sales-oriented site. Thrive Architect provides 352 page templates of the type landing page and various elements to help increase conversion. The annual price for Thrive Architect is $97.
You can create amazing websites without any programming knowledge!
Visual editors are tools that, despite their drawbacks, are extremely useful and helpful for the realisation of virtually any website idea. Of course, you can outsource the creation of a website to a webdeveloper, it all depends on your needs and capabilities. Each solution has its pros and cons. Therefore, before deciding to create a website yourself using a visual editor, compare the different Page Builders and consider which features will be most important for your particular idea and website.
English 
Polish 
German