Building and maintaining a WordPress website offers flexibility and a range of tools to suit different needs. Two popular options for website creation and customization on UCI Sites are the Divi Page Builder and the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg). Each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. We’ll explore the pros and cons of using Divi versus the Block Editor to help you make an informed decision about which tool is right for you.

Divi Page Builder

Divi is a premium WordPress page builder plugin developed by Elegant Themes. It offers a visual drag-and-drop interface that allows people to create and customize websites without needing to write code. It is included with UCI Sites. Divi is available as either a theme with the built-in Divi page builder, or a stand-alone page builder plugin that can be used with other themes.

Pros of Divi

1. Easy to Use: The Divi visual editor is highly intuitive, making it accessible to even beginners. You see changes in real time as you build your website.
2. Pre-made Layouts: Divi comes with a vast library of pre-made layouts and templates. This can save a lot of time in the initial design phase.
3. Customization: Divi offers advanced design options and customization capabilities. You can adjust almost any aspect of your website to fit your needs.
4. Responsive Editing: Divi has responsive editing modes to make it easier to ensure your website looks good on all devices, including mobile phones.

Cons of Divi

1. Divi is a premium product: Our website hosting vendor, CampusPress, offers this as a part of their suite of themes and plugins. However, if you move your website to another host, you will need to purchase Divi to transfer your website successfully.
2. Learning Curve: Although it is designed to be user-friendly, mastering all of Divi’s features can take time and practice. UCI’s Udemy has a few good courses that will help you get started.
3. Performance: Divi uses extra CSS and JavaScript code that may slow down your website’s performance.
4. Lock-in Effect: If you decide to switch away from Divi in the future, you might face difficulties as Divi elements will likely have to be rebuilt. Divi will leave behind shortcodes that work with the theme and plugin, but are visible if you are no longer using Divi. For small websites, this may not be too difficult, but for larger sites it is something to consider.

WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)

The Block Editor (also known as Gutenberg) is the default editor for WordPress, introduced in WordPress 5.0. It represents a significant shift from the classic editor by using blocks to build content. Note: We have an optional plugin called “Co-Blocks” which adds another 20 blocks to the standard Gutenberg blocks that are included with WordPress core.

Pros of the Block Editor

1. Free and Integrated into WordPress: Gutenberg is built into WordPress and is completely free.
2. Future Proof: As the native editor, it is continually updated and maintained by the WordPress community. This ensures compatibility and longevity.
3. Performance: It’s generally faster than third-party builders like Divi because it’s built into WordPress, leading to less bloat and better performance.
4. Simplicity: It is a good choice for people who don’t need advanced design elements or who prefer a more streamlined approach to content creation.
5. Accessibility: The Block Editor is continually updated by the WordPress community with a focus on improving accessibility, ensuring better compatibility with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies. The CampusPress Flex theme is our current default theme. It also focuses on creating accessible code.

Cons of the Block Editor

1. Limited Design Options: While it is getting better, Gutenberg still lacks some of the advanced design capabilities and granular control offered by tools like Divi.
2. Learning Curve: If you are used to using the Classic Editor, you might find the Block Editor challenging to adapt to initially. However, it does get easier with practice.
3. Less Visual: Although the Block Editor aims to be more visual than the Classic Editor, it does not offer the same visual editing experience that Divi provides.
4. More CSS Coding: To achieve more visual control of your website, knowing how to add CSS code is needed with the Block Editor. If you have strong CSS skills, this can be a good choice. Note: You will need to enable the Custom CSS plugin to be able to write your own CSS code for your website. You cannot modify the theme directly.

Conclusion

Choosing between the Divi Page Builder and the WordPress Block Editor depends on your specific needs and preferences.

• Divi is excellent for those who want a highly customizable and visually intuitive tool and are willing to invest the time to master it.
• The Block Editor (Gutenberg) is ideal for those who prefer a lighter, performance-oriented solution that integrates seamlessly with WordPress at no additional cost.

Both tools have their merits and can be powerful assets in creating a stunning, functional WordPress website. Weighing these pros and cons can help you determine which is the best fit for your project.