Choosing between Divi, Elementor, Beaver Builder, Oxygen Builder, and Breakdance, depends on your needs, skill level, and project goals since each has unique strengths. Here’s a breakdown based on current trends and practical use in 2025.
I have built and/or manage websites built with most of these builders. My top 2 choices are Divi and Breakdance.
Elementor
- Best For: Beginners, budget users, and anyone wanting a balance of ease and power.
- Pros:
- Free tier with 30+ widgets—perfect for simple sites.
- Pro (~$59/year) unlocks 90+ widgets, theme building, and dynamic content.
- Drag-and-drop sidebar interface is super intuitive.
- Massive ecosystem: 200+ templates, huge plugin marketplace, 10M+ users.
- Frequent updates keep it cutting-edge.
- Cons:
- Can slow down if overused (optimize with caching like WP Rocket).
- Yearly pricing, no lifetime option.
- Vibe: The crowd-pleaser—versatile, approachable, and loaded with options.
Divi
The assessment is based upon Divi 4. The development of Divi 5, which can now be downloaded and used would alter much of this analysis – especially on the load of hosting resources.
- Best For: Design enthusiasts, agencies, or long-term users who love lifetime deals.
- Pros:
- $89/year or $249 lifetime—unlimited sites, a killer deal for pros.
- 65+ modules, full-site editing, and built-in A/B testing.
- Divi 5 (alpha in 2025) promises faster performance.
- Floating popup editor feels unique and design-focused.
- Cons:
- Steeper learning curve than Elementor or Beaver Builder.
- Shortcode reliance complicates switching builders.
- Heavier on resources—needs strong hosting.
- Vibe: A designer’s dream with deep control, if you can handle the initial complexity.
Beaver Builder
- Best For: Minimalists, developers, or those who prioritize clean code and speed.
- Pros:
- Lightweight and fast—less bloat than Divi or unoptimized Elementor.
- Free version (6 modules); premium (~$99/year) adds 50+ modules.
- Simple, pop-up-based editor—clean and uncluttered.
- Great for client sites—stable and easy to hand off.
- Cons:
- Smaller template library and fewer features (30+ modules vs. competitors’ 60-120+).
- Full theme building costs extra (~$99 for Themer).
- Vibe: Lean and reliable—less flash, more function.
Oxygen Builder
- Best For: Advanced users, developers, or those who want total control and no bloat.
- Pros:
- Lifetime license (~$129 one-time) for unlimited sites—no subscriptions.
- Replaces your theme entirely—builds from scratch with raw CSS/JS/PHP flexibility.
- Super lightweight; outputs clean code for top performance.
- Deep WooCommerce integration and dynamic data tools.
- Cons:
- Steep learning curve—coding knowledge helps (not drag-and-drop friendly).
- No free version or refunds—commitment upfront.
- Smaller community, fewer tutorials than Elementor or Divi.
- Vibe: A developer’s playground—powerful but not for the faint-hearted.
Breakdance
- Best For: Modern users seeking a fresh, fast, cost-effective alternative.
- Pros:
- Lifetime license (~$149 one-time) or $89/year—unlimited sites either way.
- 120+ elements, full-site editing, and slick animations out of the box.
- Built for speed—cleaner code than Divi, rivals Oxygen in efficiency.
- Intuitive drag-and-drop with a modern UI—feels like Elementor’s cooler cousin.
- Rapid updates (weekly in 2025), growing momentum.
- Cons:
- Newer player (launched 2022)—smaller community than Elementor or Divi.
- No free tier yet, though pricing is competitive.
- Fewer third-party addons (for now).
- Vibe: The up-and-comer—fresh, fast, and future-proof.
Head-to-Head
With the current development of Divi 5, I would place Divi equal to Elementor in most cases. Divi 5 is now available for testing and will replace Divi 4 sometime in 2025. The performance issues with Divi have been removed with Divi 5, as well as the ease of use, in my opinion.
- Ease of Use: Elementor > Breakdance > Beaver Builder > Divi > Oxygen. Elementor’s sidebar wins for beginners; Oxygen demands the most skill.
- Customization: Oxygen > Divi > Breakdance > Elementor > Beaver Builder. Oxygen’s raw control is unmatched; Beaver Builder’s simpler by design.
- Performance: Oxygen > Breakdance > Beaver Builder > Elementor > Divi. Oxygen and Breakdance prioritize clean code; Divi’s the heaviest.
- Cost/Value:
- Free: Elementor (limited) > Beaver Builder (basic).
- Yearly: Elementor ($59) > Divi ($89) > Beaver Builder ($99) > Breakdance ($89).
- Lifetime: Breakdance ($149) > Divi ($249) > Oxygen (~$129). Oxygen’s cheapest for power; Breakdance balances cost and ease.
- Community/Support: Elementor > Divi > Beaver Builder > Breakdance > Oxygen. Elementor’s scale dominates; Oxygen’s niche limits resources.
Pick Your Winner
- Elementor: Start here if you’re new, want free options, or need a big support net.
- Divi: Ideal for design buffs or agencies with multiple sites and a lifetime mindset.
- Beaver Builder: Go this route for simplicity, speed, and clean handoffs to clients.
- Oxygen Builder: Perfect if you’re a dev who wants no limits and hates subscriptions.
- Breakdance: Try this if you crave modern vibes, great performance, and a one-time fee with Elementor-like ease.
What’s your skill level and project goal—quick personal site, client work, or something code-heavy? That’ll nail it down.
