top drag and drop website builder comparison

Drag And Drop Website Builder 2018: Comparing The Top 5 WordPress Editors

Do you want to find the best drag and drop website builder for 2018? A drag and drop website builder has many features which includes building landing pages, creating interactive content on your blog and absolutely zero requirement especially with coding skills.

Let me guess, would you?

You are searching for the best drag and drop website builder because you might want to find:

  • The best small business website builder
  • The best web design software for beginners
  • WordPress theme builder software

Regardless whatever the reason is, I can guarantee you that you are going to find the top drag and drop builder 2018 in this article.

More importantly, I created this comparison so that you will find the best drag and drop website builder WordPress (some call it drag and drop HTML builder)  that is best in performance and doesn’t cost you a bomb.

Below, you will find the best drag and drop website builders for 2018 and scrolling all the way down to the bottom will bring you to the frequent asked questions (FAQ). I recommend you to go through the FAQ as you will find some real information there.

As this article is over 3,000 words. Here is the quick summary of the best website builder for 2018 at no specific order/

Note: Clicking on the links will bring you automatically to the content in this post.

  • Thrive Architect​​​​
  • X Theme
  • Divi 3.0
  • Avada
  • Beaver Builder

Bonus video: Why MUST every blogger use a website builder?

What do you think? Subscribe to my YouTube channel to get daily video updates and many more WordPress tutorials!

1. Thrive Architect

thrive architect comparison

Thrive Architect is not your average drag and drop website builder — it is one of the best drag and drop WordPress plugin you can find the in the market today.

Previously known as Thrive Content Builder or TCB, Thrive Architect had been revamped to make a difference in the life of many bloggers (including mine).

What are the Thrive Architect features?

  • World-class WordPress editor for business builders
  • Instant drag and drop editing
  • No design or coding skills needed
  • check-circle-oOver 224 beautifully designed landing page templates to choose from
  • check-circle-oAutomatic and pre-built conversion elements to help you grow your email list
  • check-circle-oEasily create high converting homepages in minutes
  • check-circle-oProfessional sale pages templates that includes copywriting features
  • check-circle-oClick-to-tweet feature
  • check-circle-oAbility to upload and manage high-definition images
  • check-circle-oUltra-flexible column layouts
  • check-circle-oAttention grabbing headline combinations (yes!)
  • check-circle-oTotal control over typography with over 700 custom fonts
  • check-circle-oFull-width layout using drag and pull
  • check-circle-oPowerful hover effects to impact clicks
  • check-circle-oMobile ready and mobile responsive
  • check-circle-oToggle any element with instant preview pages with difference screen sizes
  • check-circle-oTweak your page even with mobile responsive editing
  • check-circle-oDynamic animation and actions to make content more interactive
  • check-circle-oUnlimited creation of webinar pages, product launch pages and many more
  • check-circle-o24/7/365 support via email and forum (super helpful forum members by the way!)

Is Thrive Architect the best page builder for WordPress?

I love Thrive Architect because it is extremely flexible. Yes, this might make me slightly bias in some parts. However, there is no denying that this WordPress plugin is one of the most intuitive drag and drop website builder I have used in my entire blogging life!

This is what traditional drag and drop website builder looks like. This is exactly what I experience back in those days!

old drag and drop website builder

The old technology is slow and certainly isn’t fun. Does this reminds you of the good old days?

Take a look at Thrive Architect backend.

best drag and drop website builder 2018

Do you see the differences in both the drag and drop website builder in terms of features?

Imagine you are using the old drag and drop technology. Would you immediately get Thrive Architect simply because it is so darn good? I bet!

The speed factor makes Thrive Architect F-A-S-T!

I don’t know about you but I’m certainly obssessed with speed. I even moved to VPS which reduces my website loading speed from over 3.6 seconds to a mere 800+ ms.

drag and drop website builder that loads fast

Why I do I use Thrive Architect?

Thrive Architect allows you to build a WordPress page fast — without coding skills. And, each of these WordPress page doesn’t take forever to load too!

Time is the essence.

Why?

Time is money and every second you waste is going to cost you serious money!

You should focus on building your blogging business and like me, I rather spend my time doing blog posts that trying to create a website using codes.

fast loading speed

Bonus #1: Thrive Architect comes with building blocks to help skyrocket your conversion rates

how to increase conversion rate on wordpress

Bonus #2: Elements to help you build your blog faster (and making it more interactive)

what are page elements

How much does Thrive Architect costs?

It starts at $67 for a single website and a full year of support. Here’s the table pricing for Thrive Architect.

how much is thrive architect

If you are serious in getting Thrive Architect, I recommend you to get Thrive Membership instead for better discount. Instead of paying $67 per year, you can opt for the lowest plan that starts at $19 per month and includes all the Thrive plugins and themes (read Thrive Membership review). This is a way better Thrive Architect discount than getting the standalone plugin.

Is Thrive Architect worth it?

No doubt in my mind. Personally, I would rate Thrive Architect as the best drag and drop website builder for me and I don’t see myself changing to any other content builder in the near future.

For the price of $19 (Thrive Membership) or $67 (standalone drag and drop website builder plugin), you will find much more value in it that any other plugins in the market.

But hey, that’s my personal opinion on it. What do you think?

Click here to see Thrive Architect demoJoin 15,968 Thrive Members and save 24% each year!

2. X Theme

x theme review

Three years ago, X Theme is probably the first drag and drop website builder that extremely fun to use. It was first of its kind to offer stacks (more on this shortly) and unlimited web design customization.

My meaning of fun is that it took the traditional WordPress visual editor to shame and came up with super fast loading WYSIWYG editor. As most drag and drop website builders those days were heavy and resources eating virtual monsters, X Theme offers fast loading speed through clean coding which made it the best theme in 2015 and 2017.

What does the X Theme offers?

  • Integrated with Cornerstone which allows advanced controls
  • Brand new customization experience that no other WordPress editors are offering
  • Beautifully designed demos which are ready to be imported in just a few clicks
  • check-circle-oComes with standard and expanded demos. Standard very stock-like, one-page structure while expanded demos are niche-specific (for restaurants, homestay, church etc.)
  • check-circle-oFour different ‘stacks’ to work with (stacks are fully designed theme within the X Theme)
  • check-circle-oIntegrated with 29 free and paid WordPress plugins at no additional cost (worth over $1,000)
  • check-circle-oSee and work on your site in real time, 100% front end
  • check-circle-oCornerstone is simple to use and doesn’t overwhelm you with choices
  • check-circle-oAbility to live code editing (if you are geeky enough)
  • check-circle-o24/7/365 support via email and forum
  • check-circle-oUnlimited lifetime update (theme and plugins) based on number of licenses you own
  • check-circle-oResponsive and mobile focus themes
  • check-circle-oUses shortcodes to build pages
  • check-circle-oeCommerce ready
  • check-circle-oClean codes and SEO optimized themes

What makes X Themes the best theme for 2015 and 2017?

X Theme came into the industry when there was a desperate need of great drag and drop website builders and I mean back in those days.

Their biggest attraction point was the integration of plugins which save us thousands of dollars a year.

Of course, the ease of usage and low learning curve allows beginners to build WordPress sites without coding skills — this is extremely attractive to say the very least.

Powerful extended demos

Extended demos by X Theme is insanely powerful. I mean, they are freaking beautiful!

Take a look at some the demos below.

WordPress Theme For Food Truck Business

best food theme

WordPress Theme For Gym Owners

best wordpress theme for gym

WordPress Theme for Restaurant owners

best wordpress theme for restaurant

How much does X Theme costs?

The pricing structure for X Theme is very straightforward. You can get a copy of the X Theme on Theme Forest at $45 for a single website.

The license will not expire and you can will get unlimited updates for life. However, support for the theme is only applicable for 12 months. Extended support is priced at $13 per year.

Is X Theme worth it?

The answer is “yes” and even with the current website development industry, the X Theme had proved to many that it is still one of the best drag and drop website builders money can buy.

If you are looking for a good drag and drop website builder that doesn’t cost you a bomb, you should consider using X Theme.

Click here to see more demos from X Theme

3. Divi 3.0

divi 3.0 review

I want to be honest with you. Divi 3.0 may be a brand new name for you when you are searching for drag and drop website builder but make no mistake.

Divi 3.0 is definitely the top drag and drop editor I have seen and used.

For the record, I love recommending Divi 3.0 because I consider it as the best website builder for small business too!

What are the features of Divi 3.0?

  • Real time design
  • check-circle-oJust click and type/amend
  • Full responsive editing
  • Everything is customizable
  • check-circle-oAvailability of global elements (time saver)
  • check-circle-oOver 46 content elements
  • check-circle-oImport and export easily
  • check-circle-oDivi builder is fast (really, really fast)
  • check-circle-oWide range of premade layouts and demos
  • check-circle-oDraggable widths
  • check-circle-oCustomizable UI
  • check-circle-oConstant updates
  • check-circle-oDedicated support

Fluid WordPress builder

Divi 3.0 is very fluid. When it comes to website development, this is one important feature not to be missed!

Take a look at the GIFs below on how easy it is using Divi 3.0 to build a website.

divi 3.0 drag and drop website builderdivi 3.0 reviewcheap drag and drop website builder 2018

With Divi 3.0, anyone can become a web designer without coding knowledge.

Divi 3.0 split testing feature

split testing feature

Divi 3.0 is the first drag and drop website builder that interagted split testing feature into its editor. Yes, there are plugins that allow you to taste page vs page, you can take split testing further by testing the different elements on the page with Divi 3.0.

This means that you can test:

  • Different elements on a specific page
  • Page design A vs page design B
  • Automatic selection of winner

Divi 3.0 Smart Split Testing allows you to automatically track relevant user engagement stats depending on the unique goal you define.

Using this WordPress builder plugin, you can change your content, design and positioning to figure out which combinations are most effective.

How much does Divi 3.0 costs?

Divi 3.0 is not sold separately, unlike most of the drag and drop website builders in the market.

divi 3.0 pricing

There are only two options which are yearly or lifetime access. For yearly access, it is $89 where you will access to all the themes and plugins created by the Elegant Themes team. Alternatively, you can opt for the lifetime access which is a one-time fee of $249.

Is Divi 3.0 worth it?

If you are a full-time web developer (or just starting to be a freelance web developer), Divi 3.0 is definitely a worth while investment. The one time fee of $249 is too good to let go while the affordable yearly access is good for those who are just starting an online business.

Overall, Divi 3.0 has proven to be one of the top contenders and this is definitely an awesome choice if you are looking for best web design software for beginners.

Click here to get the best Divi 3.0 discount here!

4. Avada

avada theme review

In my previous post on the top drag and drop WordPress builder, I have voted Avada as the top 5 best drag and drop WordPress builder money can buy.

One of the longest serving premium WordPress builder on Theme Forest, Avada has received recognition from both customers and top management of Envato.

AM I surprised that Avada is one of the best drag and drop WordPress builder? Of course not and here’s why!

What are the features of Avada?

  • Reliable customer support 24/7/365
  • Free lifetime updates
  • 38 pre-made and ready-to-install website demos
  • check-circle-oOver 240 pre-made web page designs
  • check-circle-oOver 1,000 options for customization
  • check-circle-o6 premium plugins included (worth over $200)
  • check-circle-oOne of the most advanced and easy to use option system for customization
  • check-circle-oConstant updates
  • check-circle-oAbility to import full or partial demos, import content from different demos and uninstall any demo content with just a few clicks
  • check-circle-oNo coding required
  • check-circle-oAvada provides you with power and flexibility to build your website without having to modify any codes
  • check-circle-oUnlimited theme options helps you to customize WordPress sites easily and fast

State-of-the-art Fusion Builder

When it comes to drag and drop WordPress builder, Avada’s Fusion Builder is one of the best in market. It comes with over 55 elements to help you build your website from scratch and ultimately, creating the page design of your choice.

avada fusion builderavada options

So, what is Avada’s Fusion Builder?

The Fusion Builder that is intuitive, performance enhanced, user friendly and packed with useful features that save you precious time and are a joy to use. The Fusion Builder plays a major role in site creation and is a vital part of the Avada ecosystem since it allows for quick and easy site creation and customizations. The new Fusion Builder will eventually be available for any theme on the market and brings even more to the table that will change your outlook on what a page builder can do.

How much does Avada costs?

Avada is super affordable and it only costs $60 for a regular license that comes with 6 months support.

Is Avada worth it?

Let’s get some facts on Avada to help you decide if Avada is the right choice for you.

  • #1 selling theme of all time on Theme Forest
  • Onver 380,000 active subscribers
  • 19,780 rated an average of 4.77 stars out of 5 for Avada

Now, do you think Avada is worth it? Absolutely!

The two biggest advantages offer by Avada are the pricing and customization.

Get Avada Now!

5. Beaver Builder

beaver builder comparison

If you want to create a blog(click here for the infographic), you need to have great tools at your disposal and one of the tools I recommend is the Beaver Builder.

Beaver Builder is a WordPress website builder that helps you build professional websites in a matter of minutes, not days.

The Beaver Builder is also recognized by big brands such as WP Engine, GoDaddy and Chris Lema. Let’s take a ride and see what the Beaver Builder can offer to us, bloggers.

What does the Beaver Builder offers?

  • Dozens of gorgeous page templates
  • Position images and text with precision
  • Build column based layouts in minutes
  • check-circle-oAvailability of the Beaver Builder Theme
  • check-circle-oSeparate the page builder plugin from the theme and get complete control of all your content
  • check-circle-oLive front end editing
  • check-circle-oShortcode and widget support
  • check-circle-oMobile friendly and pages are all responsive
  • check-circle-oWooCommerce ready
  • check-circle-oTuned and optimized for SEO
  • check-circle-oMultisite capable
  • check-circle-oSave and reuse rows and columns
  • check-circle-oDeveloper friendly

The community is M-A-R-V-E-L-O-U-S

Seriously, this is the single and most important reason why I would recommend the Beaver Builder to any bloggers in the world. The blogging industry is all about the community and the Beaver community is amazingly supportive.

This means that if you have a problem, not only the support team are available to help, other users are also happy to chip in to get you moving in the right direction.

Beave Builder content page templates

beaver builder content page template

I have used quite a few number WordPress theme builder software and the Beaver Builder certainly takes things to new heights. Take a look at the content page templates.

The Beaver Builder also includes other useful content templates such as for contact pages, newsletter sign ups, about pages, pricing tables, and many more. All of these can easily be imported into your WordPress site with just a few clicks of the mouse.

The premade demos and designs are way different from the crowd and if you are looking for a way to impress your first time website visitors — this is it!

Responsive landing page templates

This is pretty clear cut but it is still very important to highlight this feature.

First impression is always important regardless you are in whichever industry. Using the Beaver Builder, you can now put your best foot forward by showcasing responsive landing pages to your potential customers and start converting sales.

Here are some landing page designs you can build with the Beaver Builder.

beaver builder plugin

When it comes to building WordPress websites, the Beaver Builder is definitely one of the top choices for professional web developers.

Note: The plugin is made from ground up and it is extremely easy to use, even for beginners.

How much does the Beaver Builder costs?

beaver builder pricing

As you can see, it starts at $99 per year with comes with the basics page builder plugin and premium modules (demos). The Standard package is best for bloggers who is just starting out.

If you are a freelance web developer, you should consider using the Pro Package which starts at $199 per year.

Is the Beaver Builder worth it?

Good question!

If you are looking for a good WordPress editor software that doesn’t have a high learning curve, this WordPress editor is definitely your best choice.

Not only it is highly affordable, it is extremely reputable and it is one of the best WordPress web page builder for 2018.

See Beaver Builder in action (click for demo)

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ)

I know you have questions about these drag and drop website builder. Most of the basic questions and answers can be found below. If you have more questions, feel free to use the comment form below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Question: What is a drag and drop website builder?

Answer: A drag and drop website builder is one of the most important tools that can help website owners. This is interactive and interesting web tool often offers many benefits such as building landing pages and creating a website without a single line of code. As the process of building a website or a landing page isn’t an easy task when coding is require, a drag and drop website builder certainly helps in the process.

Question: Why are bloggers use drag and drop WordPress builders?

Answer: Most bloggers do have a day job or are students — they do not have the time to go into the messy codings and getting their hands dirty. Building a WordPress site from scratch can take days or weeks. When you use drag and drop website builders, you can build a website in just minutes.

Instead of spending time learning HTML and CSS, you can now skip the entire process and build the website of your choice faster.

Question: Are all drag and drop WordPress plugin similar?

Answer: No, they are not the same. There are standalone website builder you can find on the Internet but most drag and drop website builders are plugin based as they allow you to integrate with any themes easier.

Question: Which is the best drag and drop website builder for 2018?

Answer: This is a tough question. There are many drag and drop website builder software that you can choose nowadays.

For me, I recommend Thrive Architect as it is my first choice. It is fast, super intuitive and ready made templates are definitely key factors leading to my decision.

If you don’t have the time to work on your website and want something that is ready out-of-the-box, Thrive Architect is the best choice for you.

Alternatively, Divi 3.0 and Beaver Builder are great option if you are a web designer. With minimal time and effort, you can use Divi 3.0 and Beaver Builder to power your freelance web designing gig.