Looking for an alternative to Divi is sensible — no single tool is right for everyone. As an agency that has built with most major builders over 20 years (and 800+ sites on Divi), we will give you the honest version: what each alternative genuinely does best, who it suits, and where we would still pick Divi. No tool is perfect, including Divi.
Quick take: Elementor is the closest WordPress like-for-like; Bricks wins on raw performance for developers; Gutenberg is the free, lightweight route; Webflow and Squarespace are for leaving WordPress entirely. For design freedom plus long-term value, Divi is still our default recommendation — here is the honest why.
The Best Divi Alternatives at a Glance
| Alternative | Best for | Pricing model | WordPress? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementor | Closest like-for-like; big add-on ecosystem | Free + subscription | Yes |
| Bricks | Developers wanting the lightest code | Subscription / lifetime | Yes |
| Gutenberg (native) | Free, lightweight, simple sites | Free | Yes |
| OceanWP / Astra | Fast starter themes + a builder | Free + premium | Yes |
| Webflow | Designers wanting pixel control, leaving WP | Subscription | No |
| Squarespace / Wix | Hosted, hands-off simplicity | Subscription | No |
1. Elementor — the closest like-for-like
Elementor is the other giant of WordPress page builders. It is excellent, with a slightly larger third-party add-on ecosystem than Divi. The main differences: Divi includes more design control out of the box and offers a true lifetime licence, whereas Elementor Pro is subscription-only. For most people it comes down to value and feel — we break it down fully in Divi vs Elementor.
2. Bricks — best for developers and performance
Bricks Builder has earned a strong following among developers because it outputs very clean, lightweight HTML and is built around a performance-first workflow. If squeezing every millisecond out of your site matters more than a big visual layout library, Bricks is the standout alternative. For non-developers, Divi's visual approach and 800+ layouts are usually faster to work with — see Divi vs Bricks.
3. Gutenberg — the free, native option
The WordPress block editor is free, built in, and increasingly capable for simpler sites. If your needs are modest and budget is everything, it is a legitimate choice. The trade-off is that you will lean on more separate plugins and lose the all-in-one design control that makes Divi fast for complex layouts.
4. OceanWP & Astra — lightweight starter themes
These popular free themes pair with a builder to get you going quickly and keep things light. They are a good base, but you are still adding a builder on top — at which point Divi's integrated approach is often simpler. See Divi vs OceanWP.
5. Webflow — leaving WordPress for pure design control
Webflow is superb for designers who want pixel-perfect control and slick animations, with hosting built in. The catch is that it is a proprietary, subscription platform — you do not own it the way you own a WordPress site, and there is no WordPress plugin ecosystem. We compare them in detail in Divi vs Webflow.
6. Squarespace & Wix — hosted simplicity
If you want a fully hosted, hands-off platform and never want to touch an update, Squarespace and Wix are the obvious alternatives. They trade flexibility and ownership for simplicity. See Divi vs Squarespace and Divi vs Wix.
So Why Do We Still Recommend Divi?
Having used the alternatives, three things keep Divi as our default for most clients:
- Value. A $249 lifetime licence for unlimited sites is hard to beat when the alternatives mostly charge monthly forever.
- Design control without code. The visual builder plus 800+ layouts and Divi AI get professional results fast.
- Ownership. It is WordPress — you own your site, host it anywhere, and tap the largest plugin ecosystem on the web.
If you want the honest deep-dive on whether it earns its place, read Is Divi worth it?
Compared the alternatives and Divi still fits? Try it risk-free.
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We work with Divi and the alternatives every day. If you would rather have it built for you, see our website design service or get a free, no-obligation quote.