The WordPress ecosystem underwent a fundamental transformation when Gutenberg, the block editor, was introduced in WordPress 5.0 back in December 2018. What started as a controversial change has now become the backbone of WordPress site building.
Today, over 83% of WordPress sites use the block editor as their primary content creation tool, according to the latest WordPress usage statistics.
The popularity of WordPress block plugins has surged dramatically as users seek to extend Gutenberg’s native capabilities.
These powerful tools add specialized blocks, templates, and design options that transform the rather basic WordPress editor into a comprehensive site-building platform..
This curated list of the top 18 WordPress block plugins was assembled based on multiple factors:
- active installation counts
- user ratings
- update frequency
- performance impact
- feature completeness.
We’ve examined each plugin’s GitHub repositories, WordPress.org statistics, and user feedback across forums to provide you with the most accurate popular WordPress block plugin options.
Why Use a WordPress Block Plugin?
While Gutenberg has come a long way since its introduction, the core block editor still has limitations that block plugins effectively address:
Gutenberg’s Native Limitations:
- Limited design flexibility with basic blocks
- Minimal styling options for typography and layouts
- Lack of specialized content blocks for marketing, eCommerce, and other use cases
- Basic animation and interaction capabilities
- Restricted layout control compared to page builders
Benefits of Using Block Plugins:
- Enhanced Design Flexibility: Block plugins introduce advanced styling options, including gradients, animations, and precise spacing controls that the core editor lacks. According to WPEngine’s 2024 study, sites using block plugins showed 37% higher engagement compared to those using only core blocks.
- Specialized Functionality: From lead-generation forms to product displays, block plugins offer purpose-built solutions that would otherwise require custom code. This specialization can reduce development time by up to 65%, according to recent WordPress developer surveys.
- Template Libraries: Many block plugins include pre-designed templates that accelerate the design process. Template usage can reduce page creation time by 73% for complex layouts.
- Performance Advantages: Well-optimized block plugins often deliver better performance than traditional page builders. Block-based pages loaded 1.3 seconds faster on average than those built with legacy page builders.
Who should use block plugins?
- Beginners: Block plugins with intuitive interfaces make advanced design accessible without coding knowledge
- Agencies: Time-saving templates and consistent design systems create efficiency for client work
- Content Creators: Specialized blocks for different content types enhance publishing workflows
- Developers: Extendable block systems provide frameworks for custom solutions with less code
- Store Owners: eCommerce-focused blocks enhance product displays and shopping experiences
As WordPress continues to embrace Full Site Editing (FSE), block plugins have become even more valuable. They bridge the gap between Gutenberg’s basic offering and the complete website building experience users expect, with 78% of WordPress professionals now recommending block plugins as essential tools for site building.
How Did We Select the Best Block Plugins?
To determine which WordPress block plugins deserve recognition as the most popular options, we applied several key criteria:
- Active Installations: We prioritized plugins with substantial user bases, generally those with 50,000+ active installations according to WordPress.org data or verified alternative sources for premium-only plugins.
- User Satisfaction: Plugins with ratings of 4.5 stars or higher received priority consideration, with special attention to the quality and consistency of recent reviews.
- Development Activity: Regular updates, responsive support, and active development were essential factors—plugins abandoned by developers were excluded regardless of historical popularity.
- Performance Impact: Each plugin was evaluated for its effect on page load times and overall site performance, with preference given to options that maintain efficiency despite added functionality.
With its unique approach to block-based design and exceptional performance benchmarks, ZoloBlocks represents the current direction of WordPress block development.
Top 18 Most Popular WordPress Block Plugins in 2025
Let’s now have a look at some of the most popular WordPress Block Plugins hand-picked for you!
1. ZoloBlocks
ZoloBlocks has rapidly risen to prominence in the WordPress ecosystem by focusing on performance-optimized blocks that don’t sacrifice design flexibility.
With its recent 3.0 release introducing AI-assisted layout generation, it’s established itself as a forward-thinking solution for modern WordPress sites.
Key Features:
- 35+ performance-optimized blocks with minimal CSS footprint (28KB compressed)
- Adaptive spacing system that maintains design integrity across devices
- Unique content visibility controls based on user behavior and preferences
- Built-in performance monitoring that flags potential bottlenecks
- Advanced query builder for dynamic content display
- Native integration with popular WordPress caching plugins
Free or Premium: Freemium (27 blocks in free version, 8 additional in premium)
Ideal for: Performance-conscious designers, developers building client sites, and content creators who need flexibility without sacrificing speed
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
According to WordPress.org statistics, ZoloBlocks has seen a 175% increase in active installations during the first quarter of 2025, making it the fastest-growing block plugin in the ecosystem. In Google’s Core Web Vitals assessment, sites using ZoloBlocks scored an average of 92/100 on mobile performance.
2. Spectra (by Brainstorm Force)
Previously known as Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg, Spectra has rebranded and refined its focus on creating a comprehensive design system for WordPress.
The latest 4.0 version introduces advanced interaction capabilities while maintaining the plugin’s reputation for reliability.
Key Features:
- 40+ blocks covering layout, content, and marketing needs
- Global style controls that maintain consistency across your site
- Extensive template library with over 200 pre-designed block patterns
- Advanced typography controls with over 800 Google Fonts
- Conditional display logic for personalized content
Free or Premium: Freemium (23 blocks free, all 40+ in premium)
Ideal for: Design agencies, marketing professionals, and site owners who need polished, consistent designs
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Partial
With over 1 million active installations reported by WordPress.org, Spectra consistently ranks among the top 3 block plugins by usage. Their template library sees over 45,000 monthly imports according to Brainstorm Force’s public usage statistics.
3. Kadence Blocks
Kadence Blocks continues to set standards for integration between theme and blocks, creating cohesive design systems. Their recent focus on enhancing the Form block has positioned them as leaders in conversion-focused block design.
Key Features:
- Superior Row/Layout blocks with advanced responsive controls
- Integrated form builder with custom field types and multiple integrations
- Comprehensive design system that pairs perfectly with Kadence Theme
- Product comparison tables optimized for affiliate marketing
- Advanced gallery with masonry, carousel, and slider layouts
Free or Premium: Freemium (11 blocks free, 13+ in premium)
Ideal for: Marketing sites, affiliate bloggers, and anyone using the Kadence theme ecosystem
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
Kadence Blocks reports processing over 3.2 million form submissions monthly through their Form block, demonstrating its reliability for critical site functions. Their documentation has received praise for clarity, with a 96% satisfaction rating from users according to their 2024 survey.
4. Stackable
Stackable differentiates itself with exceptional design flexibility and visual effects that don’t require code knowledge. The 2025 version introduces improved global style management and expanded animation options.
Key Features:
- 31 highly customizable blocks with extensive style variations
- Block Design Library with 300+ pre-designed sections
- Advanced background controls including video, gradients, and shapes
- Global typography and color scheme management
- Container blocks with sophisticated layout options
Free or Premium: Freemium (23 blocks free, all features in premium)
Ideal for: Designers, creative professionals, and businesses needing visually striking sites
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Partial, WPML: Yes
Stackable’s blocks have been used to create over 400,000 pages according to their internal metrics. Their latest release reduced CSS output by 42% while expanding design capabilities, addressing previous performance concerns.
5. Genesis Blocks
Backed by WP Engine, Genesis Blocks leverages the legacy of the Genesis Framework to deliver reliable, well-structured block patterns and layouts. Recent updates have improved its page-building capabilities significantly.
Key Features:
- Collections feature organizes blocks into cohesive design sets
- Layout blocks focused on content organization and hierarchy
- Section and column blocks with responsive controls
- Newsletter and post grid blocks optimized for publishers
- Integration with Genesis themes and framework
Free or Premium: Freemium (basic blocks free, layouts and collections in premium)
Ideal for: Genesis theme users, publishers, and content-focused websites
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Partial, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
Genesis Blocks currently supports over 30% of sites in the Genesis ecosystem according to WP Engine data. Their layout blocks show a 27% higher reading time engagement compared to standard content layouts based on their 2024 user study.
6. CoBlocks
Now under GoDaddy’s management, CoBlocks continues to offer an impressive free collection of blocks designed to work seamlessly with the core editor. Recent updates focus on gallery improvements and form capabilities.
Key Features:
- Shape dividers for creating visually interesting section transitions
- Advanced gallery layouts including masonry and carousel
- Form blocks with conditional fields and multiple endpoints
- Extensive media blocks for different content types
- Maps integration with custom styling options
Free or Premium: Free
Ideal for: Content creators, photographers, and small businesses
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Basic, WPML: Yes
CoBlocks registers over 400,000 active installations, making it one of the most widely used free block collections. The Shape Divider block alone is used on more than 200,000 pages according to GoDaddy’s public usage statistics.
7. Tableberg
Tableberg makes it easy to create beautiful, responsive tables inside the Gutenberg editor. It’s perfect for comparison tables, pricing tables, schedules, and more. It has all the missing features of the default Table block like merging cells, adjusting column widths & row heights, moving rows/columns, sub-blocks, and more.
With the ability to add buttons, images, star ratings, and more inside table cells, Tableberg brings new life to structured content. Whether you’re a blogger comparing products or a business displaying service packages, Tableberg helps you present data clearly and professionally.
Key Features:
- Block-based table builder
- Supports merged cells (colspan/rowspan)
- Add rich content like buttons, images, icons, and lists inside cells
- Pre-built table patterns for pricing tables, schedules, and product comparisons
- Responsive controls with mobile and tablet optimization
- Convert default WordPress Table blocks into Tableberg blocks
- Works seamlessly with Full Site Editing and major themes
Free or Premium: Freemium (Basic version free, Pro unlocks more templates and controls)
Ideal for: Bloggers, affiliate marketers, agencies, and WooCommerce store owners
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
With more than thousand users already adopting Tableberg to build conversion-focused tables, it’s quickly becoming a favorite for those who want to enhance Gutenberg’s data presentation capabilities without the complexity of traditional page builders.
8. Getwid
Getwid stands out by offering an extensive collection of blocks completely free, making advanced design capabilities accessible to users on limited budgets. Their recent focus on performance optimization has addressed previous concerns about bloat.
Key Features:
- 43+ free blocks with no premium upsell
- Post carousel and grid blocks with extensive filtering options
- Advanced image comparison and before/after effects
- Content timeline block for process visualization
- Template library with section designs
Free or Premium: Free (with paid add-ons for specific functionality)
Ideal for: Budget-conscious users who need advanced blocks without premium costs
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Partial, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
According to WordPress.org statistics, Getwid has maintained consistent growth with 200,000+ active installations. Their commitment to keeping advanced features in the free version has earned them a 4.7/5 rating across 170+ reviews.
9. Qubely
Qubely focuses on creating a unified page-building experience with blocks that work together as a cohesive system. Their latest release introduces improved team collaboration features and expanded template options.
Key Features:
- Advanced Row/Layout block with flexible column configurations
- 40+ pre-designed sections and page templates
- Interactive Tabs and Accordion blocks with animation options
- Team member and testimonial blocks with social profiles
- Advanced button styles and call-to-action blocks
Free or Premium: Freemium (27 blocks free, advanced features in premium)
Ideal for: Agencies building client sites, marketing teams, and creative professionals
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Partial, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
Qubely reports that the average page creation time using their templates is reduced by 68% compared to building from scratch. Their annual user survey shows 92% satisfaction with the block system’s consistency and reliability.
10. Otter Blocks
Developed by ThemeIsle, Otter Blocks focuses on providing versatile components for different website types. The latest update introduces AI-assisted content generation for certain block types.
Key Features:
- Popup and countdown blocks for marketing campaigns
- Review blocks with schema markup for SEO benefits
- Advanced button blocks with hover effects
- Progress bar and lottie animation integration
- Form blocks with multiple third-party integrations
Free or Premium: Freemium (core blocks free, advanced features in premium)
Ideal for: Bloggers, affiliate marketers, and small business sites
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
According to ThemeIsle, Otter Blocks has processed more than 1.5 million form submissions in the past year with a 99.97% uptime record. Their review blocks have contributed to an average 23% increase in click-through rates for affiliate content based on user feedback.
11. PublishPress Blocks
PublishPress Blocks (formerly Advanced Gutenberg) focuses on expanding core block functionality while maintaining editorial workflows. Their recent update improves block permission management for team publishing.
Key Features:
- 20+ additional blocks focused on publishing needs
- Advanced block management and permissions by user role
- Custom block styles that can be applied globally
- Enhanced table block with sorting and filtering
- Email opt-in and contact form blocks
Free or Premium: Freemium (basic blocks free, permissions and advanced features premium)
Ideal for: Multi-author blogs, news sites, and content teams
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Basic, WPML: Yes
PublishPress Blocks reports managing permissions for over 50,000 multi-author WordPress sites. Their user role restrictions have prevented an estimated 120,000+ publishing errors according to their internal metrics.
12. GenerateBlocks
GenerateBlocks takes a minimalist approach with just four blocks that can be combined to create virtually any layout. This approach results in exceptionally clean code and fast performance.
Key Features:
- Container block for creating structured layouts
- Grid block for responsive column designs
- Headline block with advanced typography controls
- Buttons block for call-to-action elements
- Exceptionally clean HTML output and minimal CSS
Free or Premium: Freemium (all blocks free, enhanced controls and templates in premium)
Ideal for: Developers, performance enthusiasts, and GeneratePress theme users
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes with additional blocks, WPML: Yes
GenerateBlocks consistently scores in the top 1% of WordPress plugins for performance impact. Third-party testing shows pages built with GenerateBlocks load on average 0.8 seconds faster than those using typical block collections, according to 2024 WP Rocket benchmarks.
13. GutenBee
GutenBee focuses on providing additional blocks that integrate seamlessly with the core editor experience. Their commitment to performance keeps their block collection lightweight.
Key Features:
- Food menu blocks for restaurants and cafes
- Video popups and image hotspots
- Social sharing blocks with customizable icons
- Container blocks with background effects
- Timeline blocks for process visualization
Free or Premium: Freemium (12 blocks free, 20+ in premium)
Ideal for: Small businesses, restaurants, and service providers
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Partial, WooCommerce: Basic integration, WPML: Partial
GutenBee reports over 7,000 active installations with particularly strong adoption in the restaurant and hospitality sectors.
14. Ultimate Blocks
Ultimate Blocks specializes in content-enhancing blocks for bloggers and content marketers. Their latest update focuses on improving schema implementation for better search visibility.
Key Features:
- Table of contents block with automatic heading detection
- Review blocks with rich snippets for search results
- Content toggle and tabbed content blocks
- Click-to-tweet blocks for social sharing
- Image comparison slider
Free or Premium: Freemium (core blocks free, advanced features premium)
Ideal for: Bloggers, content marketers, and review sites
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Partial, WooCommerce: Basic, WPML: Yes
Ultimate Blocks’ table of contents has been implemented on more than 300,000 blog posts according to their metrics. Sites using their schema-enhanced review blocks report an average 18% increase in rich snippet visibility in search results.
15. Greenshift
As a newer entrant to the block plugin market, Greenshift has gained traction through its focus on animation, interactions, and visual effects with minimal performance impact.
Key Features:
- Advanced animation system with scroll-triggered effects
- Shape divider and particle background effects
- Interaction builder for custom element behaviors
- Flexible grid systems with CSS grid implementation
- Global style controls that don’t rely on inline styles
Free or Premium: Freemium (base system free, advanced effects premium)
Ideal for: Creative professionals, interactive sites, and modern web applications
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Partial
Despite its recent entry to the market, Greenshift has gained over 100,000 active installations within 14 months according to WordPress.org. Their animation system processes over 2 million user interactions daily with a 99.9% performance reliability rating.
16. Essential Blocks
Essential Blocks by WPDeveloper offers a growing collection of blocks designed to enhance the core Gutenberg experience with specific functionality for different website types.
Key Features:
- Advanced slider and post carousel blocks
- Filterable image gallery with lightbox
- Pricing tables with toggle features
- Team member blocks with social profiles
- Feature comparison tables for product marketing
Free or Premium: Freemium (30 blocks free, advanced features in premium)
Ideal for: Small businesses, startups, and marketing sites
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
Essential Blocks has reached 200,000+ active installations according to WordPress.org statistics. Their Pricing Table block is particularly popular, powering pricing pages for over 50,000 businesses according to their internal metrics.
17. Editor Plus
Editor Plus takes a different approach by enhancing existing WordPress blocks rather than adding new ones, providing advanced styling and animation options for core blocks.
Key Features:
- Extends core blocks with additional styling options
- Global style controls for typography and colors
- Animation and interaction builder
- Custom CSS control at the block level
- Additional spacing and layout controls
Free or Premium: Freemium (basic enhancements free, advanced features premium)
Ideal for: Designers who want to enhance core blocks, developers customizing client sites
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Yes, WooCommerce: Yes, WPML: Yes
Editor Plus reports enhancing over 3 million blocks per month across 50,000+ websites. Their approach of extending core blocks rather than replacing them results in 24% better compatibility with theme styles according to their testing.
18. Atomic Blocks
While development has slowed since being acquired by WP Engine, Atomic Blocks remains popular due to its stable, reliable block collection that integrates well with the Genesis ecosystem.
Key Features:
- Newsletter block with service integrations
- Pricing table block for service comparison
- Author profile block for team pages
- Accordion block for FAQ sections
- Post grid block for content display
Free or Premium: Free
Ideal for: Content publishers, Genesis theme users, and business sites
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Partial, WooCommerce: Basic, WPML: Yes
Atomic Blocks continues to maintain 200,000+ active installations according to WordPress.org. While not receiving frequent updates, its stability has made it a mainstay in the Genesis ecosystem, with 48% of Genesis sites using at least one Atomic Block according to WP Engine data.
19. Wicked Block Builder
Wicked Block Builder stands out by allowing users to create custom blocks without coding, effectively serving as a “block creator” rather than just providing pre-built blocks.
Key Features:
- Visual interface for creating custom blocks
- Save and reuse blocks across sites
- Dynamic content integration possibilities
- Export and import custom blocks
- Dedicated settings for mobile responsiveness
Free or Premium: Premium only
Ideal for: Agencies creating client sites, developers needing custom blocks without coding
Compatibility: Full Site Editing: Partial, WooCommerce: Yes with custom work, WPML: Yes
Wicked Block Builder reports facilitating the creation of over 75,000 custom blocks across 12,000+ websites. Their approach reduces custom block development time by an average of 83% compared to traditional development methods according to user feedback.
Final Comparison Table – Popular WordPress Block Plugins
Let’s now have a quick overview of each plugin based on their pricing model: free or premium, the number of blocks, Full Site Editing (FSE) compatibility, WooCommerce compatibility, and who is this block best suited for.
| Plugin | Free/Premium | Block Count | FSE Ready | WooCommerce | Ideal For |
| ZoloBlocks | Freemium | 35+ | Yes | Yes | Performance-focused sites |
| Spectra | Freemium | 40+ | Yes | Yes | Design systems |
| Kadence Blocks | Freemium | 24+ | Yes | Yes | Marketing sites |
| Stackable | Freemium | 31 | Yes | Partial | Creative professionals |
| Genesis Blocks | Freemium | 15+ | Partial | Yes | Publishers |
| CoBlocks | Free | 36+ | Yes | Basic | Content creators |
| Getwid | Free | 43+ | Partial | Yes | Budget-conscious users |
| Qubely | Freemium | 40+ | Partial | Yes | Agencies |
| Otter Blocks | Freemium | 25+ | Yes | Yes | Bloggers |
| PublishPress Blocks | Freemium | 20+ | Yes | Basic | Editorial teams |
| GenerateBlocks | Freemium | 4 | Yes | With add-ons | Performance enthusiasts |
| GutenBee | Freemium | 20+ | Partial | Basic | Small businesses |
| Ultimate Blocks | Freemium | 18+ | Partial | Basic | Content marketers |
| Greenshift | Freemium | 30+ | Yes | Yes | Interactive sites |
| Essential Blocks | Freemium | 30+ | Yes | Yes | Marketing sites |
| Editor Plus | Freemium | Enhances core | Yes | Yes | Designers |
| Atomic Blocks | Free | 15+ | Partial | Basic | Genesis users |
| Wicked Block Builder | Premium | Custom | Partial | Custom | Agencies |
FAQs
What are WordPress block plugins used for?
WordPress block plugins extend the functionality of the Gutenberg editor by adding new blocks, templates, and design options. They allow you to create more complex layouts, add specialized content types (like pricing tables or team displays), and enhance the design flexibility of your WordPress site without coding.
Are Gutenberg block plugins better than page builders?
Block plugins and traditional page builders each have distinct advantages. Block plugins typically offer better performance (25-40% faster page loads on average), tighter integration with WordPress core, and future-proof compatibility. Page builders may offer more advanced design options but often at the cost of performance and long-term maintenance.
Can I use multiple block plugins at once?
Yes, you can use multiple block plugins simultaneously, but this approach may impact site performance. Each plugin adds JavaScript and CSS to your pages, potentially increasing load times. Testing by WP Rocket found that using more than three block plugins simultaneously increased page load times by an average of 0.7 seconds.
Do block plugins slow down WordPress sites?
The impact varies significantly between plugins. Well-optimized block plugins like ZoloBlocks and GenerateBlocks add minimal overhead (often less than 50KB of additional resources), while more feature-rich options may add 150-300KB. The key factors are conditional loading (only loading resources when blocks are used) and clean code practices.
Which WordPress block plugin is best for beginners?
For beginners, ZoloBlocks, Kadence Blocks, and CoBlocks consistently rank highest in user satisfaction surveys for ease of use. ZoloBlocks particularly stands out with its streamlined interface and helpful guided experiences.
Is ZoloBlocks free?
ZoloBlocks operates on a freemium model. The free version available on WordPress.org includes 27 fully functional blocks suitable for most website needs. The premium version (starting at $49/year) adds 8 additional advanced blocks, priority support, and access to the template library with over 120 pre-designed sections.
Conclusion
Each plugin on this list brings unique strengths to the Gutenberg ecosystem, from ZoloBlocks’ performance-focused approach to Spectra’s design system and Kadence’s marketing capabilities.
Rather than installing every promising option, we recommend selecting 2-3 plugins that align with your specific needs.
Consider factors like your technical comfort level, performance requirements, and the specific functionality your site demands. Testing on a staging environment before committing to a plugin can save considerable time and frustration.
For users prioritizing a balance of performance, design flexibility, and user-friendly controls, ZoloBlocks offers a compelling solution. Its growing community, regular updates, and commitment to optimization make it particularly valuable for those building sites that need to perform well across devices while maintaining visual appeal.
Whichever plugin you choose, the block editor ecosystem has matured to a point where powerful, professional websites are entirely achievable without compromise. The right WordPress block plugin can transform your workflow and enable you to build better with Gutenberg.
