My Honest Take on WordPress Page Builders: Bricks, Oxygen, Elementor, and Divi
I’ve been building WordPress sites professionally for years now, and one question I get asked constantly is: “Which page builder should I use?” The answer, like most things in web design, is: it depends.
At MKS Web Design, I’ve used just about every major page builder on the market. Some I loved. Some I tolerated. Some I actively avoid now. Here’s my honest breakdown of the big four—Bricks Builder, Oxygen, Elementor, and Divi—and where each one fits (or doesn’t) in my workflow.
Bricks Builder: My current go-to
Right now, Bricks is my favorite page builder. It’s fast, clean, and flexible without being bloated. The interface feels modern, the output is lightweight, and it doesn’t inject unnecessary markup into your pages.
What I love most about Bricks is how well it integrates with ACF Pro and dynamic content. Building custom post templates, query loops, and component-based designs is straightforward. For Kansas clients who need scalable, maintainable sites, Bricks hits the sweet spot.
The one downside? It’s relatively new compared to Oxygen or Elementor, so the community and third-party resources are still growing. But the core product is solid, and it’s actively developed.
Oxygen: Powerful but opinionated
I used Oxygen heavily for a few years, and it’s still a fantastic builder—especially for developers who want total control. Oxygen doesn’t hold your hand. It assumes you know CSS, understand responsive design, and can troubleshoot when things break.
The code it generates is clean, performance is excellent, and Client Mode is a game-changer for locking down the builder while letting clients edit content safely in Gutenberg. I still use Oxygen on legacy projects and recommend it for advanced users.
That said, Oxygen’s learning curve is steep. If you’re not comfortable with CSS or HTML structure, you’ll struggle. And while the community is passionate, official support has been inconsistent over the years. For newer projects, I’ve shifted toward Bricks for similar power with a more polished experience.
Elementor: Popular for a reason
Elementor is the most popular page builder in the WordPress ecosystem, and honestly, I get why. It’s user-friendly, visually intuitive, and packed with features. For beginners or clients who want to build pages themselves, Elementor is hard to beat.
The problem? It’s heavy. Elementor loads a lot of CSS and JavaScript on the front end, which can slow down sites if you’re not careful. The free version is limited, and the Pro version can get expensive when you’re managing multiple client sites.
I still use Elementor occasionally—especially for projects where the client wants full creative control—but I’m always mindful of performance. If speed and code quality are top priorities, I look elsewhere.
Divi: Familiar but outdated
Divi was one of the first drag-and-drop builders I ever used, and back in the day, it was revolutionary. It’s still popular, especially with designers who learned WordPress on Elegant Themes products.
But honestly? Divi feels outdated now. The interface is clunky, the code output is messy, and performance isn’t great compared to modern alternatives like Bricks or even Elementor. I avoid Divi on new projects unless a client specifically requests it (which happens less and less these days).
If you’re already deep in the Divi ecosystem, it’s fine. But if you’re starting fresh, I’d recommend looking at newer builders that prioritize clean code and performance.
How I choose the right builder for a project
Here’s how I decide which builder to use for MKS Web Design projects:
- Performance-focused site? → Bricks or Oxygen
- Client wants full control? → Elementor
- Developer-centric project? → Oxygen or Bricks
- Legacy Divi site? → Maintain in Divi (but plan migration)
For most Kansas business sites I build now, I default to Bricks. It’s fast, flexible, and modern. I pair it with Gutenberg for client editing and ACF Pro for custom fields. That combination gives me full creative control while keeping sites lightweight and easy to manage.
The builder matters less than the workflow
Here’s the thing: the page builder you choose matters, but it’s not everything. What really matters is how you use it. A poorly built Bricks site can be just as slow and messy as a bad Elementor site.
Focus on clean structure, reusable components, and performance optimization—regardless of the builder. I wrote more about this in my post on component-based design and how it transforms workflows.
Final thoughts
If I had to rank them today, it’d be: Bricks > Oxygen > Elementor > Divi. But every builder has its place depending on the project, the client, and the goals.
If you’re trying to choose a page builder for your site—or wondering if it’s time to migrate away from an outdated one—feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to talk shop.
— Anthony Richter
