The Best WordPress Theme Builder Options, No Coding Required
Published in WordPressAs WordPress has continued to grow in popularity, developers have continued to enhance the options available to users through advanced themes and plugins. While WordPress is popular with designers and developers who are comfortable creating custom themes, it’s also a popular option for website owners and bloggers who want to be able to manage their own sites without needing any coding skills or experience.
There are currently a number of products available that make it possible for WordPress users to have control over the layouts and designs of their site without the need to be able to code custom themes, or to hire a designer to create one. In this post we’ll take a look at some of the leading options.
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Drag and Drop Builder Plugin from Elegant Themes
Many WordPress users are very familiar with Elegant Themes as one of the most popular theme shops. Recently they added the Drag and Drop Builder Plugin to their offerings. With the plugin you can create advanced page layouts without touching any code. You can create columns, sliders, tabs, buttons, toggles, and boxes, and you can resize the elements as well.
To get an idea of what the plugin can do and how it works, check out the video at Elegant Themes. The Drag and Drop Builder Plugin is available to Elegant Themes members with a Developer account. The cost is $89 per year, which gives you access to all of their themes (currently 75 themes) in addition to the this plugin.
iThemes Builder
iThemes is another popular WordPress theme shop, and they also have a product to provide drag and drop functionality. Builder is a WordPress theme that allows you to insert different modules, like headers, navigation, content areas, images, widget bars, footers, and more. The Style Manager plugin that comes with Builder will allow you to change things like colors and fonts without touching the code.
At iThemes you can see demo videos for Builder, the Styles Manager, and Blocks (things like event calendars that can be created with Builder). Builder, 5 Foundation themes, and the Style Manager plugin can be purchased for $80. If you want a large selection of child themes and some additional plugins you can purchase one of the higher-priced plans.
Ultimatum
Ultimatum is a WordPress theme that was created to make it easy for users to have control over the design of their site without requiring any coding skills. You can create unlimited templates, take advantage of an advanced style editor, create forms, create slideshows, and more. You’ll use Ultimatum’s drag and drop editor to create the design that you want without the coding.
You can watch a video on their site to see what Ultimatum can do. The Starter license allows for use on one site with a lifetime membership for $65. Higher-priced plans are also available for use on unlimited sites.
Visual Composer for WordPress
Visual Composer is a WordPress plugin by WPBakery that is available at CodeCanyon. With Visual Composer you can create layouts for your posts and pages very easily with no coding. You can add columns, tabs, message boxes, image galleries, buttons, video players, Google maps and more.
A one-site license is available for $25, and an extended license for $125.
PageLines
PageLines is a drag and drop WordPress theme framework that will help you to have control over your site’s layout and design without the need for coding. The framework is built with a responsive design to help make your site look great on tablets and smartphones. You can use the drag and drop editor to create layouts on a page-by-page basis. You’ll also be able to change things like colors and fonts.
A demo video is available at their site. The Standard License for the framework is currently available for $139 (normally $197).
Headway
Headway is another drag and drop theme builder. You can create layouts with its drag and drop grid layout grid. Headway’s Design Editor allows you to add things like background images, round corners, and more. Like PageLines, Headway also uses a responsive layout.
A demo video is available to see Headway in action. The Base License will give you the drag and drop theme builder for use on an unlimited number of sites for life (updates for 1 year) for $87.
Other Theme Builders:
In addition to the options listed above, there are even more theme builders for WordPress.
39 Responses
i have to redesign..can i create columns, sliders, tabs, buttons, toggles, and boxes, and resize the elements as well.Which template should use for eCommerce Web Design
here is my company website:
http://www.karvysolutions.com/services/e-commerce.html
kamrynhughes,
I recommend visiting the sites of the products listed in this post and see which one fits your needs the best. In most cases you will be able to create things that you mentioned like columns, sliders, tabs, buttons, etc. E-commerce adds another element. If you are using WordPress you would either need an e-commerce-ready theme, an e-commerce plugin, a separate service like E-Junkie, or have a developer create a custom solution.
I have been amazed at how well thing have gone.. By the way I love your blog…
WordPress is really a great place for new users or site owners for creating the website . As such i also don,t have sound technical knowledge reagading coding and i like to use the same in future for better assistance.
If you are a developer looking to save time on layouts, some of these methods can create a real nightmare when it comes time to dig back in to the code and change stuff.
For example, the Pagelines system has caused me some headaches. They cater to non-coders, but then, when it comes time to do any real work, it’s crazy under the hood.
Can anyone speak for a wordpress layout builder that spits out clean minimal code?
I don’t like coding, for me it is very interesting. Thanks a lot.
hi steven,
to which extent e-commerce-ready theme will be seo friendly??? plzz suggest.thank you
kamrynhughes,
I don’t really know what you are asking. Each theme is going to be different in terms of being search engine friendly.
One more WP theme generator http://www.chameleonthemes.net/
I’ve narrowed my selection down to 2 of the above.
1. Visual Composer for WordPress
2. Ultimatum
Has anyone had any experience with either of these to help me choose which one??
Ultimatum currently is selling for $57 for the developers licence (half price). From what I can tell watching their videos they are very similar. Hard to tell which is better but leaning towards Ultimatum due to the current sale.
Great collection.. but out of these PageLines WordPress theme builder is best.
Another WordPress Theme Generator that is missing from your list http://www.templatetoaster.com
Ultimatum is by far the best of them all. It gives you a true “blank sheet of paper” starting point and is responsive. Build your site layout the way you want without any pre-defined position constrictions. Headway is good as well, longer learning curve, less options and you have to pay through the nose for most of it. Ultimatum has good support on the forum, most times directly from the developer. I will say that i think Headway code is slightly less bloated, resulting in a bit faster page load, but is 20-40ms or so that noticeable?
Hi,
I am looking for a theme editor that can edit a theme without code.
What i have on wordpress is a theme.zip file. However editors like Headway can not as they are themes themselves, and they say you cannot import a theme into a theme.
So my question is that,
is there a theme editor, that keeps the already built widgets and links, but allows me to edit it, by importing the zip file?
Please help as i have searched everywhere.
Kind regards
Karan
Karan,
I’m not aware of anything like that.
@karan do you need something like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsvim358IA4
Don’t bother with Ultimatum. It is overly complex and difficult to use, not to mention not having a proper user manual or help pages… I was never able to complete a full site with this tool, even though I have been able to achieve complete sites without it. I asked for a refund and never heard from them.
I have a print background so which of the above (if any) is the closest to InDesign and Quark?
lochu,
I wouldn’t say that any of them are very similar to InDesign. I don’t have experience with Quark.
I am proficient in XHTML/CSS. I am downright dangerous with Photoshop CS5. I’m currently working in WordPress, hardening installs and purchasing turn-key themes that I modify via Notepad++ and FTP.
I want to learn to custom theme with PHP but at the moment, I’ve got to keep bringing in money. Would you recommend a theme generator as a good way to start with custom themeing?
I don’t want to get lazy or let my coding skills slip. Advice please….
Hi Sara,
Personally, I would recommend learning more about WordPress theming by hand coding custom themes over using a theme builder. It sounds like you already have the necessary foundation of knowledge, you just need a little bit of time to gain experience with custom themes. I guess it depends on the type of project and the client. While theme builders are helpful, there are limits to what you can do with them. In my opinion they are most helpful for situations where a client wants to have a little more control over being able to customize a post/post with things like columns, buttons, sliders, etc. And also for those who don’t have your coding skills and experience but still want to be able to set up a basic site of their own without hiring a designer.
Some of these are really useful especially for new web designers starting out etc and also for those who have the need to to be able to generate new concept themes for clients. But i find most are not entirely clear on what you get for your buck some are themes with drag and drop features some are just drag and drop plugins that require images and photos etc to fill out the actually template. and some like the toaster one someone posted are clearly rip offs of the artisteer theme generator. Ultimatum does look good as well as headway .
I have been using Ultimatum..I suggest you avoid it..doesnt work well on multisites, developer is one man in Turkey, overly complex, not really WYSIWYG, have to keep refreshing in your browser, whereas in Builder your changes are show to you on the same page.
Thanks for sharing your experience Trev.
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I use Headway Theme and Ultimatum Theme and find them equally impressive and easy to use. They are both being actively improved with updates being pushed out.
They both have their strengths so I wouldn’t say one is better. Having to refresh a webpage to visualize change made to it is not the end of the world for me.
Like I said, Headway is good and getting better but so is Ultimatum – and it’s a one-time purchase of $57 for the developer edition at Mighty Deals.
Next purchase – Catalyst Theme.
Nice wp themes builders is great i like it. thank you..
Can someone give some guidance to a WP novice? I am looking at Catalyst and Dynamik for Genesis. Also considering Headway, Builder, Ultimatum and Elegant Themes. I know this is a broad question but any guidance would be appreciated.
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Can you recommend me which one is powerful builder today as cheaply as possible.
Hello,
I work for a non profit and am setting up our site. I have zero coding experience and am fearful of buying a theme that has bad support or is too hard to set up. Headway looks nice but there were comments here that it is too bloated and that you have to “pay through the nose” for it.
Can anyone clarify or direct me? Thank you!
Hi Lauren,
I’m not a Headyway user, but from what I know it has a pretty good reputation. My suggestion would be to come up with a few questions about features or functionality that you need in a theme and then contact a few different theme shops to see which one would be a good fit for you. That will give you the chance to get answers to a few of your key questions to make sure you’re getting a theme that will work for you, and it will give you a chance to try out their support.
Watch the videos on YouTube for each theme and see which one speaks to you. I find Pagelines to be confusing but lots of people love it. So it’s personal.
I own Headway, Ultimatum, and Catalyst. ALL have a learning curve. Ultimatum has the most built In features (with cool build in mobile layouts for developers) but is a big theme that takes a lot of file space slowing it down. Headway is expensive but fast and flexible for quick changes and makes it super easy to create unique pages but if you don’t have design skills you can get really lost..Even if you do you can get lost. Believe me, I know.
I think the best support is at Catalyst. However, if you are really brand new new new, I suggest Canvas at Woo Themes as the easiest to create a basic site with. Then join Pootlepress to learn more about how to use it.
Also, if you are a newbie with limited funds and can’t hire a designer, you can use Visual Composer or Ether Content Builder from Code Canyon to build individual pages on Canvas. THEN you have the Woo e-commerce plugin right there at Woo Themes for those of you who mentioned that. Tada!
Thanks Kate! Those plugins are exactly what I was looking for to keep things simple yet customizable!
I’m just looking to create a simple download page with WP. Like a landing page for a download for 1 product. What do you recommend?
Hi Minh,
You could really use any of these options for just creating a page.
There are so many awesome wordpress themes at themeforest.net which have rich theme options in the dashboard, so buyer can customize it. Can I build theme like that using your list? Thanks.
Hi Bastian,
The details and features of each option listed in this post will vary.