Page builders like Elementor, Divi, and WPBakery promise an easy, code-free way to build a beautiful website. They have a real place in the ecosystem—especially for DIY projects, prototypes, and teams that need to ship quickly on a tight budget. Our view isn’t “page builders are bad.” It’s “choose the right tool for the job.” For the kind of performance-first, low-maintenance marketing sites we deliver, we prefer a component‑driven, code‑based approach.
1. The Performance Trade‑Off
Our number one reason for avoiding page builders is performance. To offer endless design options, many builders load large amounts of CSS and JavaScript on every page—whether those features are used or not. That extra weight slows down load times and Core Web Vitals, which can impact conversions and SEO.
For a local Sunshine Coast business, a slower website means potential customers will simply click away. Google knows this, and it's why site speed is a critical ranking factor. A site built with a page builder is starting with a significant disadvantage.
2. Messy, Inefficient Code
Page builders generate code automatically. While convenient, the output can be verbose and deeply nested. That adds complexity for accessibility, maintainability, and sometimes SEO.
Hand-crafting a website with a modern framework like Astro allows us to write clean, semantic HTML. This isn't just about being tidy; it directly improves SEO and accessibility, ensuring your site is understood by search engines and usable by everyone.
3. The Lock-In Effect
Page builders are notorious for the "lock-in" effect. If you build your site with Elementor and later decide to deactivate it, you're often left with a mess of broken shortcodes and unstyled content. You're essentially trapped, forced to continue using the builder or face a complete site rebuild.
We believe our clients should have full ownership and control over their websites. By building with open standards and clean code, we ensure you're never locked into a specific proprietary tool.
4. Security and Maintenance Headaches
Every plugin you add to a WordPress site is a potential security risk. Page builders are large, complex plugins that require frequent updates to patch vulnerabilities. Forgetting to update your builder plugin can leave your business's website exposed to hackers.
Furthermore, conflicts between the page builder, your theme, and other plugins are common, leading to bugs and maintenance headaches. A streamlined, Astro-built site removes these layers of complexity and risk.
When Page Builders Are Still the Right Fit
We happily recommend a page builder when it truly serves your goals:
- You need a quick MVP or proof‑of‑concept on a tight budget.
- Your team prefers a visual editor and will manage updates daily.
- There’s a plugin‑led feature you need and speed is a secondary concern.
What You Get With Our Approach
We specialise in performance‑first sites that are simple to run and a joy to use:
- Static HTML, CSS and minimal JS — fewer moving parts, fewer surprises.
- Global CDN delivery with Astro — fast everywhere, even on mobile.
- Content handled for you — we update your site so you don’t have to.
- No plugin update roulette — your site doesn’t break because a plugin changed.
Our Alternative: A Better Way to Build
Instead of relying on clunky page builders, we use a modern development approach. We build custom "components" – reusable blocks of content and design (like testimonials, contact forms, or hero sections). This gives you the flexibility to create unique page layouts without the bloat.
For content updates, we can connect your site to a user-friendly headless CMS. This gives you an easy-to-use interface for changing text and images, similar to the WordPress experience but without the performance and security trade-offs.
The result is a website that is faster, more secure, easier to maintain, and better for your SEO. It's a professional solution for Sunshine Coast businesses that are serious about their online presence.
