Summary

As you begin to work on a future launched project, choosing an editing interface is important in making your vision come to life. In this article, Jonathan is looking at Divi. Is it still a darling of the WordPress space with its “Front End Editor”, or have other options in the Gutenberg space like SprectraPro and Kadence Blocks Pro begun to overshadow Divi? 

 

Divi 5 Builder: Promises – New Features and Improved Functionality

This new version of the popular WordPress theme and page builder (Divi 5) brings hopefully exciting changes. It offers enhanced speed, improved user interfaces, and more flexibility for creating stunning websites.

The significantly delayed upcoming release builds on Divi’s strengths while addressing past limitations. Users can expect smoother workflows and better performance. Divi 5 aims to cater to both beginners and experienced web designers.

New features in Divi 5 include advanced customization options and expanded design elements. These updates allow for more creative freedom when crafting websites. The Divi team has focused on making the builder more intuitive and responsive.

Key Takeaways

• Divi 5 promises to significantly improve speed and user experience compared to the old version of Divi..
• The new version might offer enhanced customization options and design flexibility for all skill levels.
• Divi 5 hopefully maintains its user-friendly approach while adding advanced features for web designers.

Divi Features And Interfaces

Divi offers a wide range of features to help users create websites. The visual builder allows for real-time editing, making it easy to see changes as they happen.

Divi comes with over 40 pre-built modules. These include image galleries, contact forms, and pricing tables. Users can customize each module to fit their needs.

The theme builder lets users create custom headers, footers, and other site-wide elements. This feature gives more control over the entire site design.

Divi’s responsive editing ensures websites look great on all devices. Users can adjust layouts for desktop, tablet, and mobile separately.

Some key Divi interfaces include:

• Visual Builder: Drag-and-drop interface for live editing
• Backend Builder: Traditional WordPress editor with Divi elements
• Theme Customizer: Controls global site settings and styles
• Divi Library: Saves and organizes layouts and modules

Divi also offers A/B testing tools. These help users compare different design versions to see which performs better.

The Divi Role Editor allows admins to control what different user roles can access and edit on the site. This feature is helpful for teams working together on website projects.

Comparing It To The Leading Competitors

Divi faces stiff competition from several popular WordPress page builders and themes. Each competitor has its strengths and weaknesses compared to Divi.

Elementor

Elementor offers a drag-and-drop interface similar to Divi. It has a free version with essential features and a pro version with more advanced options.

Elementor’s interface feels smoother and faster than Divi’s. It has a broader selection of widgets and design elements out of the box.

The theme-building capabilities in Elementor Pro are more robust than those of Divi. Users can create custom headers, footers, and other template parts more easily.

Elementor lacks Divi’s built-in A/B testing and role editor features. Its styling options aren’t as extensive as Divi’s.

Pricing is comparable between Elementor Pro and Divi, though Elementor offers a free tier.

Prices Spectra Pro $59 | Essential Toolkit $99 | Business Toolkit $199 per year

Spectra

Spectra, formerly Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg, enhances the WordPress block editor. It’s lighter and faster than Divi.

Spectra provides pre-built block patterns and templates to speed up design. Its blocks integrate seamlessly with the native WordPress editor.

The learning curve for Spectra is lower than Divi’s. Users familiar with WordPress will pick it up quickly.

Spectra lacks Divi’s visual builder interface. Overall, it has fewer design options and customization features.

The free version of Spectra is feature-rich. The pro version is more affordable than Divi for single-site use.

Prices Free | Essential Bundle $149 | Bull Bundle $219 per year

Kadence WP

Kadence offers an entire site editing experience through blocks and templates. It’s known for its fast loading speeds.

The theme is lightweight yet customizable. It integrates well with WooCommerce for online stores.

Kadence includes a header and footer builder in its free version. This feature requires Divi’s paid version.

The Kadence Blocks plugin extends functionality in a way that is similar to Divi’s modules. It has fewer options but is easier to use.

Kadence’s pricing model is more flexible than Divi’s. Users can buy individual add-ons or bundles.

Prices Free | Essential Bundle $149 | Bull Bundle $219 per year

GeneratePress

GeneratePress is a lightweight, fast-loading theme. It’s famous for its clean code and performance optimization.

The theme is highly customizable through the WordPress Customizer. It doesn’t require a page builder for basic layouts.

 

GeneratePress Premium adds more layout controls and a simple block-based system for headers and footers.

It lacks the visual design tools of Divi. Users often pair GeneratePress with block plugins for more design flexibility.

GeneratePress is more affordable than Divi for single-site use. Its yearly subscription includes all premium features.

Prices GeneratePress One $149 per year

Breakdance

Breakdance is a newer page builder with a modern interface. It aims to be faster and more efficient than older builders like Divi.

The builder uses a combination of blocks and visual editing. This approach bridges the gap between Gutenberg and traditional page builders.

Breakdance includes global styling options and a theme builder. These features are similar to Divi’s but with a fresh implementation.

The plugin lacks Divi’s extensive library of pre-made layouts and templates. Its ecosystem of add-ons is still growing.

Pricing for Breakdance is competitive with Divi, especially for agencies and freelancers managing multiple sites.

Prices Free | Pro $99.99 | Pro Unlimited $399 per year

Divi Approach To Design & Development

Divi takes a modular approach to website design and development. It provides users with pre-built layouts and customizable modules to create pages quickly.

The visual builder lets designers drag and drop elements onto the page. This makes it easy to see changes in real time without switching between the back and front ends.

Divi’s design system includes:

• Responsive layouts
• Customizable headers and footers
• Reusable sections and modules
• Global color schemes and typography settings

For developers, Divi offers ways to extend functionality:

• Custom CSS options
• PHP hooks and filters
• Child theme creation
• Integration with popular plugins

The builder aims to speed up the design process while giving users flexibility. Designers can start with templates or build pages from scratch.

Divi works for both simple and complex sites. Its modular structure lets users add features as needed without overwhelming beginners.

Regular updates bring new modules, layouts, and performance improvements. This keeps the platform current with web design trends and best practices.

In-House Prebuilt Design Library

Divi 5 comes with an extensive library of prebuilt designs. These ready-made layouts cover many standard website types and styles.

Users can browse through business, portfolio, e-commerce, and more categories. Each layout is fully customizable after importing.

The library includes:

• Full page designs
• Individual sections
• Headers and footers
• Contact forms
• Call-to-action blocks

New designs are added regularly by the Divi team. This saves time for beginners and inspires experienced users.

Layouts adapt seamlessly to mobile devices. Users can preview how designs look on different screen sizes before applying them.

The Divi library integrates directly into the visual builder interface. Designs can be inserted with just a few clicks while editing a page.

Users can also save their custom designs to the library. This allows reusing elements across multiple pages or projects.

The extensive prebuilt library gives Divi users a head start on creating professional-looking websites quickly. It removes much of the initial design work, letting users focus on customizing content for their specific needs.

Divi Third Party Prebuilt Designs Theme Library Community

Divi’s theme library offers many prebuilt designs created by the community. These designs give users a head start on their websites.

The library includes layouts for different industries and purposes. Users can find templates for business sites, portfolios, blogs, and more.

Many third-party developers create and sell Divi child themes. These expand the options beyond the official library.

Some popular Divi marketplaces include:

• Divi Cake
• Divi Booster
• Aspen Grove Studios

These sites offer both free and paid Divi resources. Users can find layouts, plugins, and child themes.

The Divi community also shares free layouts and designs. Facebook groups and forums allow users to exchange ideas and resources.

Elegant Themes hosts a showcase of Divi sites. This highlights the creative uses of the theme by real users.

New Divi users can learn from these community designs. They provide examples of what’s possible with the theme.

Experienced designers can save time with prebuilt layouts. These serve as starting points for custom projects.

The variety of designs shows Divi’s flexibility. It can create many different types of sites.

The Founder And Learning People Behind Divi

Nick Roach founded Elegant Themes in 2008. He created Divi, which became one of the most popular WordPress themes.

The Elegant Themes team works on Divi’s development. They include designers, developers, and support staff.

Key team members:

• Nick Roach: Founder and CEO
• Kenny Sing: Lead Developer
• Mario Maruffi: Lead Designer
• Nathan B. Weller: Product Educator

The team listens to user feedback to improve Divi. They release regular updates with new features and fixes.

Elegant Themes offers learning resources for Divi users:

• Blog posts
• Video tutorials
• Documentation
• Community forums

These help both beginners and experts use Divi effectively.

The company hosts an annual conference called Divi Nation. It brings together Divi users to share knowledge and network.

Elegant Themes also runs a Facebook group for Divi users. Members can ask questions and share tips there.

The team’s goal is to make web design accessible to everyone. They work to keep Divi user-friendly yet powerful.

The Main Pros And Cons Of Divi In 2025

Divi has evolved significantly by 2025, offering advantages and drawbacks for WordPress users. Its ease of use and value remain strong, while performance issues persist.

Pro

Divi continues to be a top choice for WordPress users in 2025. Its drag-and-drop interface makes building websites quick and easy. Users can create custom layouts without coding knowledge.

Divi’s responsive design ensures websites look good on all devices. This saves time and effort when creating mobile-friendly sites.

The theme includes pre-built layouts and templates. These speed up the design process for users. With regular updates, Divi stays current with web design trends.

Semi-Easy To Use

Divi’s interface is user-friendly for beginners. The visual builder lets users see changes in real-time. This makes it easier to design and edit pages.

However, some users find Divi’s many options overwhelming at first. There’s a learning curve to master all its features.

The backend editor can be slow on some devices. This can frustrate users working on complex pages.

Value

Divi offers good value for its price. One license covers unlimited websites. This makes it cost-effective for designers and agencies.

The theme includes many features that would otherwise require separate plugins. This saves money and reduces potential conflicts.

Regular updates add new features without extra cost. This keeps the theme fresh and competitive.

Extensive Library Of House And Third-Party

Divi’s library of layouts and modules is vast. Users can choose from hundreds of pre-made designs. This speeds up the website creation process.

Third-party developers create additional Divi extensions. These add even more functionality to the theme.

The large selection can be overwhelming. It may take time to find the right elements for a project.

Divi Community

A strong community surrounds Divi. Users share tips, tricks, and resources online. This support network helps solve problems quickly.

Many tutorials and courses are available. These help users improve their Divi skills.

The community also creates child themes and layouts. This expands Divi’s capabilities beyond the official offerings.

Cons

Despite its strengths, Divi has some drawbacks in 2025. These issues may impact user experience and website performance.

Semi-Clunky To Use (old version)

Some users find Divi’s interface clunky. The many options and settings can slow down the design process.

Moving elements on a page can be demanding. Precise positioning sometimes requires extra steps.

The theme’s reliance on shortcodes makes switching themes difficult. This can lock users into using Divi long-term.

Performance Problems

Divi websites can be slower than those built with lighter themes. The extra features and options add bloat to the code.

Page load times may suffer on complex layouts. This can impact user experience and search engine rankings.

Optimizing a Divi site for speed often requires additional plugins or services. This adds to the overall cost and complexity.

Old Interface

By 2025, some users find Divi’s interface outdated. Newer page builders offer more modern design tools.

The backend editor feels clunky compared to full-site editing in WordPress. This can make some tasks more time-consuming.

Divi’s approach to responsive design hasn’t changed much. It lacks some advanced mobile customization options.

Poor Quality Of Code

Divi’s output code is not as clean as that of some competitors. This can lead to bloated HTML and CSS.

The reliance on shortcodes makes content more complicated to edit without Divi. It also impacts site performance.

Custom code integration can be challenging. Developers may struggle to add complex functionality to Divi sites.

Divi Prices

Elegant Themes offers Divi through two main pricing plans:

Yearly Access – $89 per year

• Use on unlimited websites
• Access to all Elegant Themes products
• Premium support and updates

Lifetime Access – $249 one-time fee

• Lifetime use on unlimited sites
• Access to all products forever
• Lifetime support and updates

Both plans include:

• Divi theme and builder
• Extra theme
• Bloom email opt-in plugin
• Monarch social sharing plugin

Divi does not have a free version or trial. Users must purchase a plan to access the software.

These prices make Divi affordable for many web designers and site owners. The yearly plan suits those working on a few projects. For frequent Divi users, the lifetime plan offers the best long-term value.

Elegant Themes sometimes runs sales, offering discounts of 10-20% off these regular prices. Black Friday typically brings the most significant yearly discount.

Divi’s pricing is competitive compared to premium WordPress themes and page builders. It provides good value, considering the included plugins and unlimited site usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Divi Builder, and how does it work?

A: The Divi Builder is a powerful page builder that allows users to create stunning web designs without coding knowledge. It is a core feature of the Divi theme, enabling drag-and-drop functionality to design your website easily.

Q: How does the Divi theme compare to other popular WordPress themes?

A: The Divi theme is often considered one of the most popular WordPress themes due to its versatility and user-friendly interface. It provides a wide range of design options and modules that allow you to customize your website extensively, making it a strong contender among other themes.

Q: What can I expect from the upcoming Divi 5.0 update?

A: The new Divi 5.0 update will introduce a more streamlined interface, improved performance, and additional features that enhance the web design experience. Users can look forward to a public alpha demo to explore Divi 5’s capabilities before its full release.

Q: Can I use Divi to create a fully functional website?

A: Yes, you can use Divi to create a fully functional website. The builder provides all the necessary tools, including responsive design options and a variety of Divi modules, to help you build your website from scratch or enhance existing Divi websites.

Q: What are child themes, and how do they work with Divi?

A: Child themes in Divi allow you to customize without affecting the central theme. You can safely update the parent Divi theme while retaining your personalized changes. They are an excellent way to extend the functionality of your website with Divi.

Q: How can I get started with Divi?

A: To start with Divi, purchase the theme from the Elegant Themes website. Once installed on your WordPress site, you can begin exploring the builder features and modules, allowing you to design your website quickly and effectively.

Q: What is the public alpha of Divi 5, and how can I participate?

A: The public alpha of Divi 5 is an early testing version that allows users to explore the new features and provide feedback. You can participate by signing up on the Elegant Themes website when the alpha demo is available to the public.

Q: How does Divi enhance my web design experience?

A: Divi enhances your web design experience by offering an intuitive interface, a vast library of pre-made layouts, and various customization options. This allows beginners and experienced designers to create beautiful websites quickly and efficiently.

Q: What improvements can I expect in my website speed with Divi 5?

A: With the update to Divi 5, users can expect significant improvements in website speed and loading times. The development team focuses on optimizing performance enhancing the overall user experience for visitors to your website.

Final Thoughts

Divi 5 promises exciting changes for WordPress users. The new version aims to make website building faster and easier. It brings updates to the visual builder and introduces fresh modules.

Many designers look forward to trying out Divi 5’s features. The alpha version gives a sneak peek at what’s coming. Users can expect improvements in speed and design options.

Divi remains a top choice for creating WordPress sites. Its flexibility lets people build many types of websites. From blogs to online stores, Divi handles various projects well.

The upcoming release may change how people use Divi. New tools could streamline the design process. This might save time for both beginners and experts.

As Divi 5 develops, users can test and give feedback. This helps shape the final product. The WordPress community plays a crucial role in refining the builder.

While the full release is still ahead, Divi 5 shows promise. It aims to keep up with web design trends and user needs. The update could bring fresh energy to WordPress site creation.