Divi Review 2025: An Honest Look At Theme & Page Builder [Drawbacks Included]

This Divi theme review is all about my hands-on experience with the Divi Builder and Divi Theme Builder (two of the core products from Elegant Themes).

I’ve broken down:

– How the Divi page builder plugin works
– What the actual design process feels like (especially for blog posts)
– Whether Divi is beginner friendly WordPress page builder or not

From installing Divi to building pages from scratch, I tested everything — including how smooth or confusing the workflow is.

Along the way, I also compared Divi with other popular builders like Elementor and the Gutenberg editor, to see how it stacks up in real-world use.

This review will also help you figure out who Divi is best for—and who might want to avoid it.

Plus, I’ve highlighted its major features, pros, and real limitations you should know before you commit.

Let’s get into it.

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Divi Review Summary: Is Divi Still the Best Website Builder? 

Here’s how I see it:

Going with Divi would depend on what kind of user you are, and what your website really needs.

If I have to sum up quickly, here’s what I say: Divi is a perfect design solution if you want full design control, extra layouts, theme packs, and elements in your design workflow. But if you’re just running a simple blog with basic design needs, you will do fine with the Elementor free version or WordPress default Gutenberg editor.

Here’s more explanation that clears your mind whether you should go with Divi or not:

Use Case	Divi	Alternative
Need theme + builder in one	Yes	Most are plugin only
Multiple Websites (Unlimited use)	There is no alternative available that offers a recurring subscription	There is no alternative available that offers ra ecurring subscription
Total Design Freedom	Highly customizable	Limited in Gutenberg
Starting a Blog or Simple Site	Overkill for Basics	Gutenberg with the GeneratePress/Astra theme
Tight on budget (want free)	No free version is available	Gutenberg or the Elementor free version
Need built-in split testing	Yes	Rare in other builders
Clean code	Shortcode based and breaks easily	Gutenberg with HTML support
Quick edits and blog publishing	Slower than native editors	Gutenberg / Elementor free

Divi Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Divi comes with both a theme and a builder bundled together, so you don’t need to install anything extra. This saves you huge money that you’d spend on a theme.
• I liked that even the basic Divi license lets you use it on unlimited websites.
• The amount of pre-made layouts is seriously big (over 2,600 designs is there)
• I also found the built-in AI tools pretty handy. You can generate images and even write text with prompts. It’s a big help if you struggle with copywriting or just want to speed things up.
• Lifetime pricing is a huge win and cost effective solution if you’re planning to use it long term.
• Divi also lets you create conditional content, like showing certain modules only to logged-in users or based on time of day. This functionality is rare.

Cons:

• One of the biggest letdowns is that there’s no free version of Divi. You have to pay upfront to even try it out.
• Divi’s learning curve is a bit steep. The UI is filled with icons and pop-up windows, and figuring out where things are took me more time than expected.
• Writing a simple blog post with Divi is way harder than it should be. Instead of a clean editor, it loads the full builder, which just adds unnecessary complexity to basic tasks.
• Another drawback is shortcode dependency. If you ever stop using Divi, your content will be left full of shortcodes, which is a pain to clean up.
• If you wish to migrate to another WordPress theme, everything gets clumsy as you’ll leave behind a bunch of messy codes (such as shortcodes offered by Divi builder)

<< Explore Divi discount codes If you are looking forward to it

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Introduction to Divi:

Divi is a popular WordPress solution developed by Elegant Themes that combines a full-featured theme and a powerful visual page builder.

Divi is structured around a visual editing interface and includes features such as prebuilt layouts, advanced design modules, built-in AI tools, conditional logic, and full site customization options. 

It offers over 2,600+ ready-to-use page designs across 370+ layout packs, 200+ built-in modules for building everything from blogs to eCommerce pages.

It is a premium product and does not offer a free version. Pricing starts at $89/year or a one-time lifetime license for $249, which includes unlimited site usage and access to all Elegant Themes products. There’s also a more advanced “Divi Pro” tier with AI features and cloud tools.

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My Experience With Divi Theme & Page Builder (Working, Page Building Process, UI, and More)

When I first started experimenting with Divi, I was unsure of what to expect. 

I worked with other page builders like Elementor before, and I assumed the learning curve would be about the same. But Divi had a few unexpected surprises.

Let me walk you through exactly how it works, what you can expect as a beginner, and where it shines (or stumbles) in real-world use.

How to Install Divi on Your WordPress Site?

I didn’t find the Divi free version inside the WordPress Plugin repository. Yes, that’s the ultimate sad truth of Divi/

Let’s start with the basics: installing Divi.

1. I just downloaded it from a Divi site after purchasing it. 
2. The Divi WordPress theme is a large 9.7MB file. 
3. I navigated to WordPress dashboard → Appearance → Themes → Add New → Upload Theme.
4. Upload the ZIP file, install, and activate.

Once activated, I saw a very blank-looking site. Don’t worry, Divi hasn’t messed anything up; you’re just starting from a clean slate.

And upon installation, I saw these Divi options on the left WordPress sidebar.

Now moving forward into its detailed working….

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My Words on Divi Layout System (Sections, Rows & Modules)

Divi doesn’t support drag and drop support functionality. Yes, I mean, when you are adding an element to a page, you have to work with Divi rows and columns structure.

Divi follows a traditional structure that looks like this:

• Sections → the largest containers.
• Rows → inside sections, used to organize content horizontally.
• Columns → inside rows, for finer control.
• Modules → actual elements like text, images, buttons, etc.

To understand the Divi layout system, first have a look at a normal drag-and-drop builder system, and then check the Divi layout system. 

I break it down below:

This is how a drag-and-drop builder works:

Now this is how Divi Builder layout works when you are looking to add a module or element to the page:

If you’re like me and have previously worked with a drag-and-drop editor, then you might face some difficulty here. 

Many people have mentioned this, and I personally believe it too. If you’re in the same situation, then as a beginner, it might take you some time to get used to Divi’s row-and-column layout for a smoother page editing experience.

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How to Use the Divi Builder? (Page Editing from Scratch)

When you go to create a new page and click “Use Divi Builder”, you’ll be presented with three options:

• Build From Scratch
• Choose a Pre-made Layout
• Clone an Existing Page
• Built with AI (Only if you have subscribed to Divi Pro)

I chose “Build From Scratch,” thinking it would be straightforward like Elementor or Beaver Builder. Instead, I was met with a wireframe view full of icons and plus signs. It felt like I was assembling a layout while wearing a blindfold.

Eventually, I found the “Build on the Front End” option, which opened a visual editor. This was more familiar because you see the page as you’re designing it. But even then, the experience wasn’t very intuitive.

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Working With the Visual Editor (The Divi UI Experience & Page Building Process)

This is where Divi started to test my patience.

Before I could even begin anything, the first thing I noticed in the UI was the plus icon, and it asked me to start by adding a row.

Yes, the design starts with adding a row, and after it, you’ll only be able to add page element,s including heading, images, etc.

Overall, the Divi editor feels more like a developer’s tool than something made for regular users. There’s no traditional toolbar, and there are icons floating around everywhere.

To edit anything, you need to hover over it and then click a small + icon, and finally use a pop-up window. I simply can’t move elements around freely like you can in other WordPress page builders.

Even simple tasks like adding an image inside a text module require multiple clicks and steps.

On the UI aspect, you shouldn’t follow my opinion blindly, because some users actually start liking the Divi user interface and row-based layout after spending a bit of time with it.

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Editing a Blog Post With Divi (Not Great)

This part drove me crazy.

Everyone wants simplicity in a workflow for writing a post or any sort of content. It should be as simple as opening a doc and starting to type…

Why did Divi make it hard?? I don’t know. Even the WordPress Gutenberg editor is smooth here.

When writing a simple blog post, Divi doesn’t give me a stripped-down editor like I’d expect. Instead, it launches the same Divi Builder interface with options to import page layouts, clone pages, etc. Suppose you start with a layout here instead of building a post from scratch, then it will basically turn your blog post into a landing page.

That’s overkill — you just want to write content, not design a full-blown page every time.

I wouldn’t recommend using Divi to write blog posts. The normal WordPress editor is far more practical for that. Even other page builders like Elementor do it better in this aspect.

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Ease of Use: Is Divi Beginner-Friendly?

After exploring how Divi works and how its page editing process feels, you’re probably wondering—is it really beginner-friendly?

This is where Divi struggles the most.

Well, I’d say a clear NO here!

The reason are these problems of the Divi page builder:

• Overuse of icons and hover effects.
• Everything is buried behind popups, and there is no true inline editing.
• No drag-and-drop freedom (everything must go into a section/row/module).
• The tools list is alphabetized, which means you’re scrolling a lot to find basics like “Text”.

It’s not that Divi is impossible to learn. Once you understand the logic behind it, it becomes easier. But compared to modern builders, it makes simple things feel unnecessarily complex.

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Words on Divi Pricing? Is a Free Version Available?

One of the first things most of us want to know before diving into a WordPress tool like Divi.

So, first things first: Divi doesn’t have a free version. That might be a deal-breaker for some.

The good news? Divi does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free but yeah, you still have to pay upfront.

Now, when it comes to actual pricing, Divi keeps things pretty straightforward. You’ve got two main payment options: pay $89 per year, or go for the $249 lifetime license. 

That yearly plan gives you full access to the Divi theme, Divi Builder, and other Elegant Themes products like Bloom, Monarch, and Extra and you can use all of them on unlimited websites. That’s a pretty fair deal compared to some others that charge per site.

But here’s where it gets even better and why many people love Divi. 

That lifetime access deal is actually a steal. You pay once, and you’re done. There are no recurring payments. If you plan to use Divi long-term or across multiple client sites, that $249 one-time payment makes total sense. 

(Even I have a subscription to Divi one-time plans)

Honestly, it pays for itself in just a couple of years, especially if you’re a freelancer or agency working on lots of WordPress projects.

Now, if you’re more advanced  (like a developer or a designer) who wants all the bells and whistles, there’s also Divi Pro, which is priced at $287 per year or $365 for lifetime access. This plan adds Divi AI, cloud storage, and a bunch of smart tools for generating text and images with AI. 

I’ve played around with those features, and I’ve got to admit — they’re surprisingly solid. If you’re working with multiple clients or building websites professionally, Divi Pro is absolutely worth considering.

That said, not every plan will be a perfect fit for everyone.

If you’re just managing one website, and already paying for other things like hosting, domains, email tools, etc., then even that $89 annual plan might feel a little heavy, especially when compared to Elementor Pro, which starts at $49/year (for one site, though). 

The one area where I do think Divi drops the ball a bit is in the trial experience.

I get it — the 30-day money-back guarantee is nice, but I really wish they offered a proper free version or even a limited-access sandbox.

Dropping nearly $100 just to try something (even if refundable) isn’t ideal for every user, especially beginners or hobbyists.

Still, in the long run, Divi’s pricing model is super attractive. You’re not paying per site, there’s no usage restriction, and you get lifetime updates and support, which is a massive plus.

And remember, buying Divi gives you access to everything Elegant Themes makes. It’s not just a builder, but it’s a whole ecosystem.

In the end, Divi’s pricing feels well thought out, particularly for power users and business owners. If you’re building for clients, want access to AI tools, or just like the idea of paying once and forgetting about renewals, then Divi’s plans hold a lot of long-term value.

<< Try Divi

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Key Features That Help Divi Stand Out

Okay, so I know the Divi page builder feels a little bit odd, especially if you come from a drag-and-drop page builder. But what makes Divi special? It’s its unique features.

I am sharing my views on its key features here…

1.) Prebuilt Divi Theme Templates & Layouts That Actually Save You Time

One of the biggest highlights for me is the huge number of prebuilt designs. We’re talking 2,600+ layouts organized into 370+ layout packs. And yes, they’re beautifully made.

Whether you’re launching a blog, a local business site, or an eCommerce store, there’s probably a pack for it.

What I really liked while testing was how easy it is to get started. You just pick a layout, tweak a few sections, maybe swap in your own images, and boom, your site already looks half-decent. No need to start from scratch unless you really want to.

Divi also lets you save your own custom layouts, reuse existing pages, and even nest layouts within other templates. I found this super useful when building similar pages with slightly different content.  It definitely speeds things up.

2.) Modules for Everything

Divi gives you nearly 200+ modules out of the box (from text, images, and videos to contact forms, sliders, pricing tables, and WooCommerce widgets). Add to that another 40+ community-built ones, and if you still don’t find what you need, there’s a massive Divi Marketplace with thousands of third-party add-ons.

That said, a little word of caution here. Most of those marketplace extras aren’t free. Some cost upward of $100. And while you can use free WordPress plugins to replicate functionality, they may or may not play nicely with Divi.

Please check your required Divi module from here.

3.) Effects, Animations & Full Customization

If you’re someone who loves to get deep into the design, Divi gives you full control. You can customize everything (from font sizes and gradients to 3D transforms, hover effects, and animation timing). I had fun testing out transitions, layering content, and making headers come to life as you scroll.

4.) Built-In AI to Speed Things Up

This part surprised me: Divi now has AI tools built right in. I was able to generate images using text prompts and even draft site content like headings, blurbs, and CTAs in seconds. For anyone who struggles with writing copy or finding the right stock images, this is a serious time-saver.

Plus, Divi AI can translate your content into multiple languages, which is awesome for global websites.

5.) Conditional Display & Dynamic Content

Allowing for infusing conditional logic into elements is a core feature of Divi, and literally, it helps Divi to stand tall in front of other WordPress page builders.

This feature is rare and only available in Divi.

You can set conditional logic for elements, or you can show or hide content based on user roles, time, location, or other rules.

It is perfect if you’re doing personalization or advanced WooCommerce stuff. You can also pull in dynamic content like post titles, comment counts, author info, and more, without having to hardcode anything.

For bloggers, content marketers, and store owners, this kind of automation is a huge win.

6.) Undo History is an Interesting Feature

Divi has a full editing history. Now, this might seem small, but it’s huge in real-world use.

If you mess something up (which we all do), you can go back through your exact edit timeline and restore any previous version. It’s more powerful than a simple undo button. It’s a lifesaver for me.

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How good is Divi customer support and updates?

One great thing about using Elegant Themes membership is that you get constant updates. Their themes and plugins are always compatible with the latest WordPress versions.

They also constantly upgrade their themes and plugins to safeguard from all security vulnerabilities.

They also provide live chat support (but only for active customers).

As you can see above, they offer support in multiple ways that includes;

• Live chat (you’ll get email responses if you close the chat)
• A community forum where you can find a ton of tutorials
• Documentation on using their themes and plugins
• Exclusive Facebook group where you can engage with other community members
• You can also attend a Divi Meetup that’s near you (there are 53 groups and over 5800 members across 18 countries)

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Divi Alternatives (How Divi is Different from Elementor and Others?)

If you’ve been bouncing between popular page builders like I have, you’ll notice something pretty quickly: Divi feels different. Not necessarily bad — just… different. 

And when you compare it with Elementor or Gutenberg WordPress editor, the learning curve is there, especially if you’re using it for the first time.

Let me share with you my views on Divi top 2 alternatives: Elementor and WordPress Gutenberg editor.

1.) Elementor:

The biggest difference is this: Divi is both a theme and a builder, whereas Elementor is just a builder plugin. That means with Divi, you’re getting a full ecosystem — theme + visual builder — in one package. But Elementor is designed to work with your existing theme, which gives you more flexibility if you already love your current setup.

Elementor Pro starts at $60/year for a single site. 

It’s affordable, but there’s no lifetime plan. You keep paying every year. People prefer Divi because it offers a lifetime plan for $249, and that includes unlimited sites.

That’s the basic difference between the two. Explore more about them in my separate Divi vs Elementor post.

2.) Gutenberg:

Gutenberg is an inbuilt block editor available in WordPress CMS. The best thing about this editor is its simplicity. 

You can quickly create a basic blog post with media rich functionalities. 

If your content workflow requires quick edits and basic layouts, then obviously you don’t need any WordPress premium builder like Divi. Gutenberg editor offers 100+ blocks (elements) for blog building, which is enough for most of the work.

Divi is a full theme builder, and you can do a lot more than Gutenberg. It even has extra layouts (2500+) and tons of Elements (200+). So if your need is advanced design control, then you shouldn’t be looking for Divi alternatives.

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FAQs About Divi Theme:

Explore More:

• List of Popular WordPress Themes (Compatible with Divi)
• GeneratePress Theme Review (Is It a Best Lightweight Theme Out There)
• GeneratePress vs Divi: Which is Best in 2025
• Astra WordPress Theme Review 2025: Is It The Best Theme?
• GeneratePress vs Astra: Who’s the REAL Winner?

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