Is It OK to Use a Template or Page Builder?

If you’ve ever thought about building a website, you’ve probably come across WordPress templates and page builders like Elementor, WPBakery and Divi, or WordPress theme marketplaces like Themeforest. They promise easy drag-and-drop functionality, fast setup and no coding required. Sounds perfect, right?

Well, not so fast. As a WordPress developer with nearly 20 years experience *gulp* I’ve seen both the good and the ugly when it comes to using these tools. So, is it OK to use a template or page builder? Let’s break it down—SEO-style.

Templates and Page Builders: The Good, The Bad, and The SEO Nightmare

The Good: Why People Love Templates and Page Builders

For beginners and small businesses on a tight budget, templates and page builders can be lifesavers. They offer:

✅ Ease of Use – Drag, drop, publish. No coding required.
✅ Speed – Get a basic website up and running in hours instead of weeks.
✅ Pre-Designed Layouts – No need to hire a web designer for a custom look.
✅ Flexibility – Page builders let you tweak designs without touching a single line of code.

Sounds great, right? Well… here’s where things go south.

The Bad: Why Web Designers and WordPress Developers Cringe

If you care about SEO (which, let’s be real, you should), page builders and templates can be a ticking time bomb.

🚨 Bloated Code – Page builders generate excessive, messy code that slows down your site. Google hates slow websites and your SEO rankings will suffer.

🚨 Slow Loading Times – Page builders add tons of extra scripts, CSS and JavaScript files. A WordPress developer can create a site that loads in under a second—page builders? Not so much.

🚨 Limited Customization – Templates look great until you need something custom. Then? You’re stuck with a design that doesn’t quite fit your brand.

🚨 SEO Struggles – Many templates and page builders aren’t built with SEO in mind. Poor heading structures, unnecessary divs and inline styles can make Google’s crawlers weep.

🚨 Security Risks – Many page builders require multiple plugins, increasing the risk of vulnerabilities. If one gets hacked, your entire site could be at risk.

SEO and Page Builders: The Ultimate Dealbreaker?

If you care about ranking on Google, using a page builder might be a shortcut to digital invisibility. Google’s algorithm prioritizes fast, clean, mobile-friendly websites with well-structured content.

Page builders often:
❌ Slow down your website (bad for SEO).
❌ Generate poor HTML structure (bad for SEO).
❌ Overuse divs and inline styles (bad for SEO).

A custom-built WordPress website from an experienced WordPress developer gives you:
✅ Clean, optimised code.
✅ Lightning-fast load speeds.
✅ Full SEO control (no hidden junk code).
✅ A site that actually ranks on Google.

When Is It OK to Use a Page Builder?

Not every website needs to be hand-coded. If you’re running a small personal blog or need a quick landing page, a page builder might be fine.

BUT… if you want to compete in search rankings, attract customers and dominate your industry, investing in a custom WordPress design is the way to go.

Final Verdict: Custom Builds Win for SEO

Sure, page builders have their place. But if you’re serious about SEO, performance and brand identity, hiring an experienced website developer is the smarter choice. Your website should work for you, not against you.

Want a high-performing website that ranks on Google? Let’s talk. We build custom WordPress websites that are fast, optimised and built for SEO success. No bloated page builders – just clean, powerful design.