A theme builder allows you to create a WordPress theme using a visual editor, without writing any single line of code. All you need is a little sense of design.
Theme builders is a new breakthrough in the WordPress ecosystem that allows those who don’t know programming languages to create a fully customized, unique WordPress-based site.
By combining a theme builder with a custom field plugin like Advanced Custom Fields and Pods you can even create a complex professional website without coding at all.
How Does a Theme Builder Work?
As mentioned above, a theme builder allows you to create a WordPress theme without coding. You just need to add the elements (image, text, button, and so on) to the canvas area and then make the settings accordingly.
Most theme builder plugins offer a live editing experience so that you can see every change you made in real-time.
The vast majority of theme builder plugins support display condition to allow you to assign a custom template to a certain area on your website. You can have multiple templates for the same site part. For instance, you can have two different header templates for your website.
Custom Templates You Can Create with a Theme Builder
A WordPress theme has a set of template files that control the appearance of a website. If you check the folder of a WordPress theme (or you can go to Appearance -> Theme Editor on your WordPress dashboard), you will find files like single.php, header.php, footer.php, sidebar.php, and so on. These are the files in which their function is to control the layout of the theme parts.
- single.php: To control the layout of the single post (blog post).
- header.php. To control the layout of the header.
- footer.php: To control the layout of the footer.
- sidebar.php: To control the layout of the sidebar.
A theme builder allows you to create a custom template to replace a certain default template of a theme. For instance, if you create a custom header template, the custom header you created will then replace the default header template (header.php) of your theme.
Since you create the template, you have a full control over the design. So technically, you have limitless design options when compared when you are relying on what’s offered by your theme.
Popular Theme Builder Plugins
1. Elementor Pro
Elementor is the first word to come to mind when speaking about theme builder. It has over 14 million downloads. You can use Elementor to create custom templates to replace the default templates of your theme as covered above. The custom templates you can create with Elementor are:
- Header
- Footer
- Single Post
- Single Page
- Archive Pages (Categories, Tags, Author)
- Search results page
- 404 error page
If you have a WooCommerce-powered e-commerce site, you can also create the custom single product page as well as the archive product page.
The theme builder feature of Elementor supports display conditions, meaning that you can assign a certain template to specific page(s), post(s), post under certain categories or tags, and so on. There are a lot of parameters you can choose from. Or, you can also create a global header and exclude it in specific areas.
Elementor supports integration with popular custom field plugins like ACF, Pods, and Toolset, allowing you to add custom fields to a certain template. It also recognizes custom post types you created with plugins like CPT UI and Custom Post Types.
You can, for instance, create a specific page that displays content under a certain custom post type. One of the advantages of using Elementor is that it has a well-established ecosystem. You can install Elementor add-ons to extend its functionality.
Elementor comes with features like popup builder, form builder, and motion effects to allow you to add creative elements to your custom templates. It can be used on any WordPress theme.
2. Divi Builder
Divi Builder is another feature-rich page builder just like Elementor. It is especially a great option for web agencies. The reason is that with only a single license, you can use Divi Builder on as many websites as you want. In other words, you don’t need to buy a new license for every new project you accept. Divi Builder was previously only available for Divi theme and Extra theme, but you can now use it on any WordPress theme.
Another reason why Divi Builder is better-suited for agencies is that it offers a one-time purchase option so that you don’t need to pay a yearly subscription fee. Divi Builder also supports display conditions to allow you to assign a custom template to certain areas of your website. Here are the custom templates you can create with Divi Builder:
- Header
- Footer
- Single Post
- Single Page
- Archive Pages (Categories, Tags, Author)
- Search results page
- 404 error page
If you have WooCommerce installed and activated, you can also create a custom single product page, custom archive product page, custom shop page, custom checkout page, and custom cart page.
Same as Elementor, Divi Builder also has a well-established ecosystem. Elegant Themes (the developer of Divi Builder) even offers an official marketplace where the Divi community can sell and buy Divi Builder extensions and templates.
You can read my Divi Builder review post to learn more about the plugin.
3. Breakdance Pro
Breakdance is a new player in the page builder plugin segment. At least when compared to Divi Builder and Elementor, which already have a more established ecosystem. The plugin itself is available as a freemium plugin, although the free version is not available on WordPress.org. Instead, you can only download it via its official website.
The theme builder feature itself is only available on the pro version of Breakdance.
Just like the first two theme builders above, Breakdance also allows you to create custom templates for the following parts:
- Header
- Footer
- Single Post
- Single Page
- Archive Pages (Categories, Tags, Author)
- Search results page
- 404 error page
The theme builder feature of Breakdance also allows you to add custom fields, which is great to create a complex website. Furthermore, Breakdance also comes with a loop builder feature, which is pretty useful to create a listing website.
Summary
Theme builders have transformed the way people create websites with WordPress. You are no longer stuck to the customization options offered by your theme, which tend to limited. You really have limitless customization options. With a theme builder, you can use any theme, even the simplest theme like Hello, and customize every single part of your WordPress site yourself. This way, you can create a fully customized, unique website.
The fact that you can assign a custom template to specific areas of your website is another reason why using a theme builder is a smart choice. Theme builders can also be an answer for those who want to be a professional web developer with WordPress, yet have no adequate programming skills (or even have no programming skills at all).
After understanding how theme builder works, you can then learn the concept of custom fields and custom post type and eventually, you will be able to create any type of website.
