Kadence Blocks vs SiteOrigin Page Builder

Kadence Blocks and SiteOrigin Page Builder are both WordPress page-building tools, but they don’t do the same job. Kadence Blocks adds extra blocks and design controls directly inside the native WordPress block editor, while SiteOrigin Page Builder runs its own separate drag-and-drop, row-and-widget builder outside Gutenberg.

Kadence Blocks stays lightweight and theme-agnostic by working inside whatever block theme you already use, rather than replacing the editor. SiteOrigin Page Builder predates full-site editing and instead layers its own builder UI on top of standard WordPress widgets, though it now offers a Layout Block for embedding results back into Gutenberg.

Quick verdict: Choose Kadence Blocks if you want to extend the native WordPress block editor with more design flexibility without leaving Gutenberg. Choose SiteOrigin Page Builder if you’d rather work in an older, dedicated row-and-widget builder that runs independently of the block editor. Sites already committed to full-site editing lean Kadence; sites built before FSE existed often keep SiteOrigin around out of habit.

Kadence Blocks vs SiteOrigin Page Builder at a glance

Installs above are StatWP’s own estimates, drawn from WordPress.org’s bucketed reporting rather than an exact published figure, and update automatically rather than reflecting a fixed snapshot.

The two plugins’ recent momentum is heading in opposite directions: Kadence Blocks is riding a wave of Gutenberg and full-site-editing adoption, while SiteOrigin Page Builder’s download trend has cooled as more new sites start on block themes by default rather than reaching for a standalone row builder.

Feature and starting price at a glance

Worth noting: SiteOrigin's entire Premium ladder tops out at $99/year for unlimited sites - the exact price Kadence charges for its Essentials tier on just one site, and Kadence's $99 already includes a full theme SiteOrigin buyers would still need to source elsewhere. Site count is SiteOrigin's only pricing lever; feature depth is Kadence's.

What does Kadence Blocks actually do?

Beyond the install and ratings numbers, Kadence’s own site and plugin listing describe a specific, narrower job:

• 20+ additional Gutenberg blocks – rows, forms, tabs, testimonials, and more – layered onto the native block editor.

• Extra design controls (spacing, typography, responsive visibility) added to core WordPress blocks rather than replacing them.

• Built to work inside any block-enabled theme, though sold bundled with the Kadence theme from its entry $99/year tier.

• Higher tiers add WooCommerce Shop Kit, security tooling, and eventually white-labeling at $499/year Elite.

• Actively maintained, with current WordPress and PHP compatibility and frequent updates.

Kadence’s own marketing, now under Nexcess/Liquid Web’s ownership, frames the plugin as one piece of a complete WordPress toolkit rather than a standalone page builder.

What does SiteOrigin Page Builder actually do?

SiteOrigin’s own site leans on a different, older set of mechanics:

• Grid-based layout building – “rows, columns, widgets, that’s it” – through its own drag-and-drop builder screen.

• Lightweight markup output, with under 5kb of average layout overhead aimed at fast PageSpeed scores.

• Works inside whatever theme’s existing content loop you already have, rather than replacing it.

• A Layout Block that can embed a full Page Builder layout inside the native block editor for hybrid use.

• A simple three-tier Premium ladder priced only by site count - $29, $49, or $99/year - with identical features at every tier.

SiteOrigin’s own marketing leans on longevity and performance, positioning the plugin as a builder refined over more than a decade that predates – and still runs alongside – WordPress’s newer full-site-editing tools.

What features does each one have that the other doesn’t?

Kadence Blocks’s clearest differentiator is that it never leaves the native editing surface: every block it adds is a Gutenberg block, edited in the same screen and compatible with full-site editing, block patterns, and whatever theme you’re already running. That makes it the more future-aligned choice as WordPress itself keeps building out the block editor.

SiteOrigin Page Builder’s clearest differentiator is its own dedicated builder screen with a row-and-widget model that predates Gutenberg entirely – useful for site owners who learned that workflow years ago and never needed to leave it, and its pricing rewards running many sites in a way Kadence's feature-tier ladder doesn't.

Which should you actually use?

If you’re building on a modern block theme and want more design flexibility without adopting a second editing interface, Kadence Blocks does that job – it stays inside Gutenberg and keeps your site portable if you change themes later. If you’re maintaining an older site that was already built with SiteOrigin’s rows and widgets, or you run many sites and want site-count-only pricing, sticking with SiteOrigin Page Builder is the lower-friction and often cheaper path. Starting a brand-new single site today, most builders will find Kadence Blocks the better long-term bet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Kadence Blocks and SiteOrigin Page Builder?

Kadence Blocks adds extra blocks and design controls inside the native WordPress block editor, so you’re still editing in Gutenberg, and is sold as a theme-plus-blocks bundle. SiteOrigin Page Builder runs its own separate row-and-widget builder screen outside the block editor, priced purely by site count. Kadence extends the native editor; SiteOrigin replaces it with its own.

Is SiteOrigin Page Builder better than Kadence Blocks?

Not universally – it depends on the workflow and site count involved. SiteOrigin Page Builder suits sites already built around its row-and-widget screen, or owners running several sites who want flat, site-count-only pricing. Kadence Blocks suits anyone who wants to stay inside the native block editor and keep pace with where WordPress itself is heading. Neither is a strictly better version of the other.

Does Kadence Blocks replace the WordPress block editor?

No. Kadence Blocks adds blocks and design options on top of the existing block editor rather than replacing it, which is the core mechanical difference from SiteOrigin Page Builder’s separate builder screen.

Can SiteOrigin Page Builder work alongside the block editor?

Partially. SiteOrigin’s own Layout Block lets you embed a full Page Builder layout inside the block editor, but the layout itself is still built and edited in SiteOrigin’s separate builder screen, not as native Gutenberg blocks.

Which is the lighter-weight option?

Both vendors market lightweight output, but the two achieve it differently: Kadence Blocks stays light by extending existing blocks rather than adding a parallel builder, while SiteOrigin Page Builder’s own site cites under 5kb of layout overhead from its widget-based markup.

Check the live, current numbers for either plugin any time on StatWP’s Kadence Blocks page or StatWP’s SiteOrigin Page Builder page, or run this comparison yourself with StatWP’s compare tool.