Bricks Builder launched in 2021 and quickly earned a loyal following among developers and performance-focused WordPress users who felt that the existing generation of page builders — Divi, Elementor, Beaver Builder — prioritized ease of use at the cost of code quality and page speed. In four years, it has become one of the most actively discussed alternatives in the WordPress builder space.
The comparison between Divi and Bricks is less a contest of similar tools and more a contrast of fundamentally different design philosophies. Divi is built for accessibility, visual richness, and ease at scale. Bricks is built for performance, clean code, and developer control. Understanding which philosophy fits your workflow and your project goals is the key decision this guide addresses.
Bricks Builder wins on performance, code cleanliness, developer-oriented features (query loops, conditional logic, class-based CSS, interactions), and the cleanest Core Web Vitals out of the box. Divi wins on ease of use for non-developers, template volume, marketing tools (A/B testing, Bloom, Monarch), multi-site pricing value, and 24/7 live chat support. For developers who want the fastest, cleanest code output with professional-grade developer tools, Bricks is the clear choice. For designers, agencies, marketers, and non-technical users who want maximum visual results with minimum code knowledge, Divi is the better starting point.
What Each Builder Is
A premium WordPress theme and visual page builder from Elegant Themes (2013). Designed for accessibility and creative control at scale. 200+ modules, 800+ layout packs, Theme Builder, global design system, built-in A/B testing, Bloom, and Monarch. Annual $89/year (unlimited sites) or $249 lifetime. Beginner to advanced.
A WordPress theme and visual site builder from Thomas Ehrig (2021). Built as a WordPress theme rather than a plugin. Developer-oriented with class-based CSS, query loop builder, conditional logic, and interactions. Passes Core Web Vitals without additional optimization. Annual plans from $79/year (1 site) to $249/year (unlimited). Lifetime: $599 (unlimited sites).
Important: Bricks is a theme, not a plugin. This is a key architectural difference. Bricks replaces your WordPress theme entirely — there is no separate theme layer. This gives Bricks more direct control over the HTML output and is a primary reason its code is cleaner and its pages load faster. It also means switching away from Bricks is more involved than deactivating a plugin, as Bricks controls the entire site structure.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Divi | Bricks Builder | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture and Approach | |||
| Type | Theme + Builder Plugin | Theme (builder built-in) | Bricks (cleaner) |
| Interface paradigm | Sections/rows/modules hierarchy | Flexbox/Grid containers (parent-child) | Bricks (more modern) |
| Beginner accessibility | Visual, intuitive, guided | Steeper — assumes CSS/dev knowledge | Divi |
| Developer power | Good hooks, CSS access | Excellent — class-based, Vue.js core | Bricks |
| Performance | |||
| Code output quality | Good (improved in Divi 5) | Excellent — lean, semantic HTML | Bricks |
| Core Web Vitals (out of box) | Good with optimization | Pass without extra plugins | Bricks |
| Page load speed | Good, requires caching work | Among the fastest builders available | Bricks |
| Script loading | React framework required | Vue.js, minimal overhead | Bricks |
| Design and Building | |||
| Module / element count | 200+ specialized modules | 60+ elements (expandable) | Divi |
| Pre-built templates | 800+ full-site layout packs | Wireframes and design sets (fewer) | Divi |
| CSS class-based styling | Limited global class system | Full class-based CSS architecture | Bricks |
| Custom breakpoints | 7 customizable breakpoints | Unlimited custom breakpoints | Bricks |
| Flexbox / CSS Grid | Flexbox support | Native Flexbox and CSS Grid in UI | Bricks |
| Dynamic Content and Logic | |||
| Query loop builder | Limited (Blog module) | Powerful native Query Loop Builder | Bricks |
| Conditional logic | Basic display conditions | Advanced per-element conditional logic | Bricks |
| Interactions / triggers | Hover states, animations | Full interaction system: click, hover, scroll, form events | Bricks |
| Dynamic content / ACF | Supported but less native | Deep native dynamic data integration | Bricks |
| Marketing and Conversion Features | |||
| A/B testing | Divi Leads (built-in, included) | Not available natively | Divi |
| Email opt-in plugin | Bloom (included free) | Requires third-party plugin | Divi |
| Social sharing plugin | Monarch (included free) | Requires third-party plugin | Divi |
| Pricing and Value | |||
| Free version | None (demo) | Free sandbox for testing | Bricks (sandbox) |
| Annual (1 site) | $89/year (unlimited) | $79/year (1 site) | Similar |
| Annual unlimited sites | $89/year (unlimited) | $249/year (unlimited) | Divi |
| Lifetime unlimited sites | $249 one-time | $599 one-time | Divi |
| Included tools | Bloom, Monarch, Extra, Divi Dash | Builder only (no add-on suite) | Divi |
| Support and Community | |||
| Support type | 24/7 live chat | Forum, email (no live chat) | Divi |
| Community size | Very large (decades of users) | Growing rapidly, highly engaged | Divi |
| Development pace | Large team, frequent updates | Smaller team, community-driven roadmap | Both active |
Bricks Builder produces the cleanest, fastest code output of any major visual WordPress page builder. Its pages consistently pass Core Web Vitals without additional optimization plugins. Developers who have migrated sites from Elementor, Divi, or Beaver Builder to Bricks routinely report dramatic improvements in PageSpeed Insights scores and GTmetrix grades without any additional optimization work.
The reason is architectural. Bricks is a WordPress theme, not a plugin layer on top of a theme. It controls the entire HTML output from the root element, which means no plugin compatibility overhead, no framework-level conflicts, and no loading of unnecessary assets from an underlying theme. Every element Bricks renders is only what was specifically designed for that page. The Vue.js core is lighter than Divi’s React framework. The class-based CSS architecture produces smaller stylesheets than Divi’s per-element inline styles.
Divi 5 improved substantially over Divi 4. Properly optimized Divi 5 sites achieve strong PageSpeed scores, and the React-powered editor has reduced the historical rendering overhead of older Divi builds. But achieving those scores requires deliberate optimization work: caching plugins, image compression, critical CSS management. Bricks achieves comparable or better scores as a baseline without that optimization overhead.
For sites where Core Web Vitals directly affect business outcomes — ecommerce conversion rates, search ranking, ad quality scores — Bricks’ performance-first architecture is a meaningful structural advantage that Divi cannot match without active optimization work.
Bricks was built from day one with developers in mind, and that priority shows in features that Divi either does not have or handles less elegantly.
Class-Based CSS Architecture
Bricks uses a class-based styling system. Instead of applying styles directly to individual elements (which creates redundant CSS for every repeated design pattern), you define CSS classes and apply them. This mirrors how professional front-end developers write CSS, produces smaller stylesheets, and makes site-wide design changes efficient. Divi has been moving toward a global design system with variables and presets, but its historical per-element styling approach still produces more CSS bloat than Bricks’ class-based output.
Query Loop Builder
Bricks’ Query Loop Builder allows designing custom templates for dynamic content — blog posts, custom post type archives, WooCommerce product grids, portfolio items — at a level of control that Divi’s Blog module does not match. You can write custom PHP queries directly in the builder, use AJAX pagination and infinite scroll natively, and add load-more buttons without plugins. For data-driven sites (directories, real estate listings, event archives, membership content), this capability is practically essential and saves significant development time.
Conditional Logic and Interactions
Bricks allows conditional logic at the individual element level, not just at the template level. Any element on any page can be conditionally shown or hidden based on user login status, user role, specific post conditions, ACF field values, and dozens of other conditions. Divi handles template-level display conditions but does not provide equivalent per-element conditional rendering.
The Interactions system lets developers define custom behaviors triggered by user events: click, hover, scroll, form submission, query AJAX events, viewport entry. These triggers can show/hide elements, set attributes, run JavaScript snippets, or manipulate browser storage. This is front-end development behavior implemented visually, without code, at a sophistication level that no other major builder matches.
Class-based CSS, Query Loop with custom PHP, per-element conditional logic, full interaction system, unlimited breakpoints, Flexbox/Grid visual controls, native ACF integration, deep WooCommerce builder, public roadmap.
Custom CSS per module, hooks and filters, Theme Builder with conditions, CSS code editor, Divi Builder Plugin for custom themes, REST API support. Less developer-forward than Bricks but more than many older builders.
Bricks’ developer-focused strengths come at a cost that matters for specific user types. Divi wins in several areas that are genuinely important for a large portion of WordPress users.
Ease of Use and Accessibility
Divi’s sections/rows/modules hierarchy is a familiar, visually guided approach that non-developers can master in a few hours. The floating settings panels, inline editing, and immediate visual feedback create an experience designed for creative professionals who are not necessarily CSS experts. Bricks’ interface assumes a working understanding of Flexbox, CSS classes, and container relationships. Beginners and non-technical users face a steeper initial learning curve that can turn first-time editing sessions into frustrating exercises in understanding parent-child container relationships.
Template Volume and Design Starting Points
Divi’s 800-plus full multi-page layout packs represent years of design work that give projects an immediate visual starting point. Bricks ships with wireframes and a design set library, but the volume is considerably smaller. For agencies that depend on importing a near-finished layout pack and adapting it to a client’s brand, Divi’s library is a significant time-saving resource that Bricks cannot match at this stage of its development.
Bundled Marketing Tools and Pricing Value
Divi includes Bloom (email opt-in forms), Monarch (social sharing), Divi Dash (multi-site management), and Extra (magazine theme) with every membership. Bricks is the builder only. For agencies and marketers who need email list building tools alongside their page builder, Divi’s bundled value adds up.
Divi’s unlimited site pricing at $89/year and $249 lifetime is also substantially more cost-effective than Bricks for multi-site users. Bricks’ unlimited annual plan runs $249/year and the unlimited lifetime is $599 — versus Divi’s $89/year or $249 lifetime for the same unlimited coverage.
- No free version (demo available)
- Annual: $89/year — unlimited sites
- Lifetime: $249 one-time — unlimited sites forever
- Divi Pro: $277/year (+ AI, Cloud, Teams, VIP)
- Includes Extra, Bloom, Monarch, Divi Dash
- 24/7 live chat support on all plans
- Free sandbox for testing (no install needed)
- Annual (1 site): $79/year
- Annual (3 sites): $149/year
- Annual (unlimited): $249/year
- Lifetime (unlimited): $599 one-time
- No bundled add-on suite
- Forum/email support (no live chat)
For a single site, the annual pricing is close: Bricks $79/year vs Divi $89/year. For three sites, Bricks $149/year vs Divi $89/year (unlimited). The gap widens consistently as site count increases. An agency building unlimited sites pays $89/year with Divi vs $249/year with Bricks. The lifetime comparison is Divi at $249 vs Bricks at $599 for the same unlimited site coverage.
Bricks’ pricing reflects its positioning as a tool for professional developers who are willing to pay for performance-first infrastructure. Divi’s pricing reflects its positioning as an accessible tool for a broad market that benefits from economies of scale. For individual developers building one or two sites, Bricks’ pricing is competitive. For agencies building many sites, Divi’s unlimited pricing model is significantly more cost-effective.
Which Builder Is Right for You?
Final Verdict: Divi vs Bricks Builder
Divi and Bricks Builder represent two legitimate but divergent visions of what a WordPress page builder should be, and choosing between them requires honest self-assessment about your skill level, your project types, and your priorities.
Bricks is objectively the better-engineered tool for developers. Its clean code output, class-based CSS architecture, Query Loop Builder, per-element conditional logic, unlimited custom breakpoints, and native interaction system make it the most technically capable visual builder currently available for WordPress. If you understand CSS, are comfortable with container-based layouts, and are building sites where Core Web Vitals performance directly impacts business outcomes, Bricks rewards the investment in learning its system with capabilities that other builders simply do not offer.
Divi is the better tool for a broader range of users, the more financially efficient choice for agencies, and the right platform for anyone who wants design results without developer-level technical investment. Its 200-plus modules, 800-plus layout packs, 24/7 live chat support, built-in A/B testing, bundled email and social tools, and unlimited site pricing at $89/year make it one of the most complete and cost-effective full-site building platforms available. Divi 5’s architectural improvements have made it significantly more competitive on performance than its earlier versions, though it still does not match Bricks’ raw speed baseline.
The practical summary: if you ask a developer which builder they prefer, many will say Bricks. If you ask a designer, an agency account manager, or a business owner who builds their own site, most will say Divi. Both answers are correct. The right tool is the one that matches your workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bricks Builder harder to learn than Divi?
Yes, for most users. Bricks’ container-based layout system assumes understanding of CSS concepts like Flexbox and parent-child relationships. Users who come from a background in front-end development will feel at home immediately. Users without that background typically need more time to understand why elements behave the way they do. Divi’s sections/rows/modules hierarchy is more prescriptive and less flexible, which actually makes it easier for non-developers to understand and use productively in shorter time.
Can Bricks Builder be used alongside a WordPress theme?
No. Bricks is a WordPress theme itself. When you install and activate Bricks, it becomes your theme. There is no separate theme layer beneath it. This is intentional and is the architectural reason Bricks produces cleaner code than plugin-based builders — it controls the entire HTML output from root to closing tag without any theme layer adding its own markup and styles.
Does Bricks Builder have a lifetime plan?
Yes. Bricks offers a one-time lifetime license for unlimited sites at $599. Divi’s equivalent lifetime plan (also unlimited sites) costs $249. For the lifetime comparison, Divi is significantly cheaper for unlimited site coverage. For a single-site lifetime user, Bricks historically offered single-site lifetime licenses during its early adoption period, though current plans should be verified directly at bricksbuilder.io as pricing has evolved.
Which builder is better for WooCommerce?
Both Divi and Bricks provide visual WooCommerce builders with dedicated elements for shop pages, single product pages, cart, checkout, and account pages. Bricks’ WooCommerce builder benefits from its cleaner code output and better baseline performance, which is meaningful for checkout pages where speed affects conversion. Divi’s WooCommerce modules are more numerous and cover more specialized product display use cases out of the box. For most standard WooCommerce stores, either builder handles the requirements well.
Is Bricks Builder a good choice for beginners?
Bricks is accessible to determined beginners who are willing to learn CSS concepts alongside the builder. It is not, however, forgiving in the way Divi is for someone who wants to build a website on day one without understanding how layouts are structured. Most tutorials and comparisons recommend Divi for beginners and Bricks for users with at least some web development background. Bricks does offer a free sandbox environment for testing before purchase, which is a genuinely useful way for beginners to assess whether the interface makes sense to them before committing.
