Building a website can feel like a monumental task. Companies like Themify are helping bridge this gap, empowering anyone to create professional, polished websites without writing a single line of code. This review delves deep into Themify Builder Pro, exploring its features, pricing, advantages, and disadvantages to help you decide if it’s the right tool for your next web project.
What is Themify Builder Pro?
Themify Builder Pro isn’t just another page builder; it’s a complete website-building toolkit for WordPress. While it excels at creating individual pages, its true power lies in its ability to design and develop entire themes, giving you complete control over every aspect of your website’s appearance and functionality. From the header to the footer, and everything in between, Builder Pro empowers you to craft a drag-and-drop website without touching a line of code.
Builder Pro Features Include:
- Headers & Footers
- Blog Post Archives and Single Post Pages
- Portfolio and landing Pages
- Custom Post Types
- WooCommerce Categories & Product Pages
- 404 Pages
You have the freedom to create unique templates that perfectly match your content and branding. And with Builder Pro’s responsive design features, your custom creations will look stunning on any device, from desktops to smartphones.
Key Features and Functionality
Drag & Drop Interface
This drag-and-drop functionality extends to every element of your website. Adding text, buttons, videos, maps, and other interactive elements is as easy as dragging and dropping them into place. You can arrange these elements within rows and columns, creating complex layouts with ease. And because you’re working in a live, front-end environment, you see the results of your changes instantly. No more saving and refreshing to preview your work; what you see is what you get.
This visual approach to building a website makes it easy, especially for beginners. It removes the technical barriers and empowers anyone to create professional-looking websites without needing to understand code. But even experienced developers appreciate the efficiency and speed that the drag-and-drop interface provides. It streamlines the design process, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of your project rather than getting bogged down in technical details.
Before you dive into building a new website, it’s helpful to have a clear plan. Check out our guide on planning a new website in three easy steps to get started.
Mobile Responsiveness
Themify Builder Pro understands the impact of Google’s Mobile First Indexing and has responsive design features built directly into its core functionality. You design your website once, and the builder handles the rest, automatically adjusting layouts, font sizes, and image dimensions for an optimal viewing experience, regardless of the screen.
Themify Builder Pro also offers granular control over how your website renders on different devices. You can customize the layout for specific breakpoints, ensuring your content is displayed perfectly on desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. This level of control allows you to fine-tune the user experience for each device, maximizing engagement and conversions.
Pre-designed Layouts
Starting a website from a blank canvas can be daunting, even with a powerful tool like Themify Builder Pro. That’s why Builder Pro offers a library of professionally designed layouts.
Once you’ve imported a layout, you have complete control over its customization. You can change the colours, fonts, images, and content to align with your brand identity. You can add or remove sections, rearrange elements, and even integrate your own custom modules. The pre-designed layouts are simply a foundation; you have the freedom to build upon them and create something truly unique.
WooCommerce Integration
For businesses looking to sell products or services online, Builder Pro’s seamless integration with WooCommerce and the use of Themify Product Filter is a game-changer. This integration combines the design flexibility of Builder Pro with the powerful e-commerce capabilities of WooCommerce, creating a comprehensive platform for building and managing online stores.
You can create stunning product pages, customise your shopping cart and checkout process and you’re not limited to the standard WooCommerce templates; Builder Pro allows you to design custom product layouts, showcasing your offerings in a way that truly stands out.
Learn more about building a successful online store with our guide to WordPress & WooCommerce
Dynamic Content
Themify Builder Pro also offers powerful dynamic content features, allowing you to create more flexible and engaging website layouts. This means you can pull data from your WordPress database and display it dynamically within your page designs.
This compatibility extends to all custom fields, whether created manually or through plugins such as Post Type Builder (PTB), Pods, Toolset, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), and Meta Box, providing extensive flexibility for showcasing diverse content.
Post Type Builder (PTB) Integration
Themify Builder Pro integrates with Post Type Builder (PTB). This integration allows you to display all dynamic field types created with PTB within your layouts.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Integration
With the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin you can add custom fields to WordPress posts, pages, and custom post types providing even greater flexibility in your design.
Builder Pro Limitations
Styling Flexibility vs. Code-Level Control
Themify Builder Pro offers a wide array of styling options, empowering users to customise the look and feel of their websites without writing code. However, for highly intricate or specific design requirements, the flexibility might not match the granular control offered by custom CSS. While Builder Pro allows for considerable visual customisation, achieving complex effects might necessitate some coding knowledge or the use of hooks and filters.
Initial Learning Curve
Themify Builder Pro boasts a wealth of features and functionalities, catering to a wide range of website-building needs. However, this abundance of options can initially feel overwhelming for new users. While the drag-and-drop interface is inherently user-friendly, mastering all the advanced features and settings requires time and effort. Users seeking the easiest and fastest website-building experience might find the initial learning curve a minor hurdle. Once mastered however there is very little that Builder Pro can’t handle.
Who is Themify Builder Pro For?
Themify Builder Pro caters to a diverse range of users, from website-building novices to seasoned developers. Its blend of visual ease and customization options makes it a versatile tool for various needs and skill levels.
Beginners:
If you’re new to website building and intimidated by code, Builder Pro’s drag-and-drop interface is a welcoming starting point. The pre-designed layouts and intuitive controls empower you to create professional-looking websites without technical expertise. The visual nature of the builder makes it easy to learn and experiment, allowing you to build your confidence and skills as you go.
Designers:
For designers with a keen eye for aesthetics, Builder Pro offers extensive styling options and granular control over the visual presentation of a website. While coding knowledge can enhance the possibilities, the builder provides ample tools to customize layouts, typography, colours, and other design elements, enabling you to bring your creative vision to life.
Developers:
While not offering a full API, Builder Pro provides hooks and filters that allow developers to extend functionality and tailor the builder to specific project needs. This offers a degree of code-level control, enabling integration with other plugins and customisation beyond the standard visual interface. This makes Builder Pro a more adaptable tool for developers working on complex projects.
Business Owners:
For business owners focused on efficiency and results, Builder Pro simplifies website management. The ease of creating and updating content, coupled with the ability to quickly build landing pages and marketing campaigns, makes it a valuable tool for growing an online presence. The time saved can be reinvested in other critical business activities.
Is Themify Builder Pro Right for Your Website?
Themify Builder Pro presents a compelling option in the world of WordPress page builders. Its drag-and-drop interface, coupled with a wealth of features and customization options, empowers users to create professional, dynamic websites without delving into complex code. The library of pre-designed layouts provides a significant head start, while the responsive design features ensure your website looks great on any device.
Overall, Themify Builder Pro is a powerful and versatile tool well-suited for users who value visual design control and a wide range of functionalities. If you’re looking for a user-friendly builder that allows you to create professional websites with ease, Themify Builder Pro is certainly worth considering. Its strengths lie in its intuitive interface, extensive design options, and the ability to create entire website layouts, from header to footer. While the learning curve for advanced features is worth noting, the overall value and flexibility Builder Pro offers make it a strong contender in the competitive landscape of WordPress page builders.
