Wordpress is entering a new era, as full-site editing (FSE) arrives.
Building with blocks will become popular, and more developers will adapt to this new option to build websites, which keeps the website way faster than website builders but has the user experience to let regular users create their entire website using blocks.
Many established Wordpress companies are building block plugins or block themes(FSE). BrainstomForce released Spectra One and Yith launched the Yith Wonder theme, both free.
Established websites are also going from using website builders to block plugins and FSE themes, as building using blocks may offer the same flexibility and easiness of use as website builders.
With that in mind, should you use Kadence Blocks and Kadence over a page-builder(Elementor)?
With Kadence Blocks, the functionality gap from Elementor may be in the details, as it offers +15 custom blocks, with the Pro version offering +40 custom blocks. Elementor offers +150 custom blocks.
| Feature | Kadence Theme & Blocks | Elementor |
|---|---|---|
| Templates | +100 | +5000 |
| Widgets | +30 | +150 |
| Woocommerce Widgets | ❌Only Shop Kit | 24 |
| Dynamic Data | Yes + Toolset | ACF, Meta, Toolset & Pods |
| Best Speed | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
Kadence
Kadence is currently one of the few popular themes with better Core speed than GeneratePress, making it one of the fastest classic themes.
It’s a free theme that also doesn’t yet offer full FSE compatibility, but you achieve everything of FSE using its features:
- Header and Footer builder.
- Custom Layout: sidebars, full-width, etc.
- Global styling.
Elementor offers Theme Builder only at Pro plans(starts at $59y).
Kadence Blocks is also a free plugin, meant to build websites with blocks, extending Gutenberg’s capabilities.
Kadence unlimited sites start at $69/year. A design library is also provided in this plan.
Elementor offers Woocommerce blocks on its $59/y for 1 site plan. Kadence offers Woocommerce-enhancement blocks at a separate plan called Shop Kit, with a fixed price of $79/y for unlimited websites.
Elementor
Elementor is one of the most popular ways to build a website quickly and currently powers 10% of all websites on the internet.
Elementor recently started offering hosting solutions bundled with their plugin, starting at only $36/year, or with a Basic plan that includes a Pro plugin for $120/year.
Elementor has made large steps in addressing the performance issue of its plugin and even collaborated with Google contributors to improve it.