11 Best WordPress Gutenberg Addons: pros and Cons

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Gutenberg Addons

Just as WordPress has announced the latest updates, including Gutenberg as a default content editor, there was a huge rush among the plugin providers.

It happened so because every company wanted to release the best addon to Gutenberg, create missing customizable blocks and promote it among all WordPress users. 

What we have now is a rather big number of additional blocks plugins for Gutenberg that indeed extend its initial core library.

New opportunities that become possible with these new Gutenberg addons will impress even advanced users who often go to custom CSS code for creating unique layouts. 

This article is devoted to the most popular and used Gutenberg blocks plugins, with the help of which many WordPress users are currently handling different issues without knowing excessive CSS codes.

In this post, we are going to shed some light on the most popular Gutenberg blocks add-ons, give impartial thoughts on their pros & cons and describe how do they act in practice. 

Spectra

Spectra

Spectra delivers 28 blocks, numerous block patterns and wireframes and some pro-quality site templates to the WordPress block editor. It’s a feature-packed plugin that works within the block editor to add more tools, potential and productivity.

Spectra has been around for a while and has been steadily updated and improved. It is designed to load quickly and not slow down page load times like other page builders.

It’s built with React and designed to only load code when required. If you don’t use a Spectra block, no code is loaded. This ensures high performance regardless of how you use it.

Block patterns and wireframes are ideal for building at pace and the templates are top notch. Spectra is from the same team behind the Astra theme so you know it’s going to be good!

Pros:

  • Works within the block editor so there’s no learning curve
  • Adds 28 blocks, patterns and wireframes
  • Includes free and premium site templates
  • Pro version adds lots more blocks and tools
  • High performance with lean code
  • Everything can be customized

Cons:

  • More blocks would always be welcome
  • The best templates are premium

Getwid – WordPress Blocks by MotoPress

Getwid - WordPress Blocks by MotoPress

Getwid is the biggest set of 29 free additional multifunctional blocks for Gutenberg, that aim at widening existing functionality and providing a new easy experience for users.

It wasn’t launched right after Gutenberg presentation, so there was more than enough time for the company to develop and present indeed a great set of multi-purpose blocks. 

Not long ago Getwid had 25 blocks and now the number is 29, hence we can state that the company constantly develops and that cannot help but welcome.

These blocks are easy-to-use, have many styling options and contribute to the user-friendly website-building experience. 

Let’s take a closer look at all the gains and losses that Getwid has. 

 Pros:

  • Absolutely free 
  • For now, have the biggest number of available blocks 
  • Super lightweight and don’t slow a website 
  • Perfectly suits any WordPress theme 
  • Advanced Section and Banner Blocks customization options
  • Easy inline editing within each block 
  • Huge tutorial base on YouTube 
  • Adjustable spacing for different devices 
  • Ability to set full-width layouts

Cons:

  • Some blocks don’t have a big number of pre-made layouts 

Atomic Blocks 

Atomic Blocks

Atomic blocks provide WordPress users with a number of additional extended blocks to meet all of the potential demands. They are rather flexible and easy-to-use what is a great advantage. 

They have been for a long time on the market and there are certain opinions on them. The best part about Atomic Blocks is, of course, the option of pre-made layouts. They minimize user’s work and are great time-savers. 

There are various design layouts one can choose from. The search is conducted either manually or by using tabs. And there is an option to create a Favourites tab as well.

Pros:

  • A decent number of pre-made layouts
  • New blocks (Section & Layout, Advanced Columns)
  • Inline live editing
  • Full-page layout designs 
  • Many diverse articles and tutorials 
  • Unique button features 

Cons:

  • Typography options are limited 
  • A rather small amount of blocks 

CoBlocks

CoBlocks

CoBlocks is a rather popular collection of blocks provided by GoDaddy. They are very diverse and open a wide range of opportunities to its users.

These blocks offer advanced customization settings for all blocks so that the user can get the most of every single block. 

26 various custom blocks are at your disposal once you install them. Each CoBlock has additional editing options and all of them are pretty attractive.

With this set of CoBlocks you automatically have everything needed for the creation of any website.

Pros:

  • Unique blocks
  • Customizable galleries
  • New upcoming blocks
  • Custom typography controls 
  • Pre-set column width
  • Very lightweight
  • Useful guides

Cons:

  • Doesn’t have a proper demo 

Kioken Blocks 

Kioken Blocks

Kioken Blocks is a set of 16 additional Gutenberg blocks that give freedom to the user to create an appealing website layout.

These blocks are pretty simple to use and provide a wide range of functional opportunities.

One of the biggest advantages is the ability to choose the container options or even pre-made layouts and customize them.

The library is rather decent and users are enabled to find something suitable for particularly their website. 

Pros:

  • Pre-made layout options
  • Easy inline editing
  • Adjustable spacing 
  • Partial text color change 
  • User-friendly interface 
  • Nice typography settings

Cons:

  • A relatively small number of blocks

Ultimate Blocks

Ultimate Blocks

This blocks plugin for Gutenberg has many functions one may require for building a website. 18 additional Ultimate Blocks supply you with rather handy tools for desired customization changes.

The plugin itself has a very stylish design with two main colors – white and red. Thou it doesn’t influence the functionality, it is still pleasant to play with. 

Pros:

  • Ability to enable or disable particular blocks 
  • Function-rich call-to-action block
  • Hints for block editing 
  • Interesting-to-try options in the Button block 
  • Free backend demo with pre-made layouts 
  • Distinguishing design 

Cons:

  • Limited option as for layouts 
  • A rather poor font choice 
  • Absence of advanced blocks (such as Section block, for example)

Gutenberg Blocks – Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg 

Gutenberg Blocks

Probably one of the most popular addons for Gutenberg so far. What features gave this plugin such wide fame? Ample library of blocks and wide customization panel. 

There is a free version for you to try these blocks in action and test them – whether they meet your expectations or not.

Needed to be said, that this plugin ships with ready-to-use website pages that are connected with the Astra theme. 

Pros:

  • Website demos for Gutenberg which you can test 
  • Option to disable certain blocks 
  • Advanced typography functions
  • Extensive spacing customization 
  • Educational articles on blocks

Cons:

  • Layout adjustment is limited
  • All designs are Astra-tied  

Kadence Blocks

Kadence Blocks

One more interesting group of premium block plugins is  Kadence Blocks, which have already gained recognition by Gutenberg users.

Though the amount of blocks is relatively small (compared to its competitors), they comprise useful tools for creating your own unique website layout and provide you with a wide range of customization tools. 

A handy option for these blocks is that they have pre-made content layouts and block layouts.

It saves your time greatly so that you can work with other elements. Advanced Heading block is also worth mentioning since there are many Google fonts for you to choose from and perfect the style of your website. 

Pros:

  • Pre-made layouts
  • Feature brand icons
  • Multifunctional Advanced Heading block 
  • Easy inline editing 
  • Ability to conduct a quick blocks test without registration 
  • Column border change by dragging
  • Free video tutorials

Cons:

  • A small number of free blocks
  • Partially incompatibility with Twenty Nineteen theme 

Stackable

Stackable Gutenberg Blocks

Stackable is a nice set of 23 both free and premium additional blocks for Gutenberg content editor.

This plugin aims at giving various layout options thereby saving some time and receiving multiple customization features.

Stackable blocks have a limited number of free blocks. To get access to all of them, you need to buy the Premium version.

Pros:

  • Unique icons design 
  • Option to test all premium features without registration
  • Ability to disable certain blocks 
  • Affordable price 
  • Different layout variants 

Cons:

  • Limited font types in some blocks
  • Advanced layout controls in the Premium version 
  • Your fonts are predefined by the theme style

Otter

Otter

A nice set of 12 advanced blocks – that is what Otter Blocks have to propose us.

The main feature that will distinguish them from other blocks is that Otter provides you with multiple choices for advanced styling options. 

The plugin comprises not only blocks but a prominent collection of pre-built Gutenberg-compatible templates that can be easily downloaded in a few clicks. 

Pros:

  • Pre-made layouts
  • Advanced typography settings 
  • Google maps integrated 
  • Rather a nice choice of page layouts 

Cons: 

  • Limited blocks number

Easy Blocks

Easy Blocks

Easy Blocks only starts gaining popularity among the Gutenberg WordPress users and have a rather decent set of blocks to propose.

The current number is 21 and they offer almost all functions for you to customize any type of website you have. 

There is a unique block, that distinguishes Easy Blocks from others – Alert Block that enables users to create vivid and colorful notifications.

Though the number of blocks looks impressive, Easy Blocks promises to release 11 more advanced customizable blocks in the near future and probably will be on the same level with top-rated competitors.

Pros:

  • Tutorials 
  • Layout variations 
  • 6 Columns max in a row
  • Ability to insert a block into the existing one 

Cons:

  • Absence of major blocks like Sections or Banner 

Final Thoughts

It may appear to you that all of the above-described blocks are pretty much the same and there is no need to choose which one to install since functions do not differ greatly.

Partially it is really so. The basic set of so-called “default blocks” is presented by each of the Gutenberg plugins providers, namely Advanced Heading, Accordion, Icons, Button etc.

But after looking deeply, some major differences became obvious and they can be the decisive factor in choosing the Gutenberg addon.

If you are looking for the biggest set of blocks to create websites without additional third-party plugin installation, and at the same time receive multiple styling options, then pay attention to Getwid, CoBlocks, Stackable and Ultimate Gutenberg blocks.

They won’t disappoint your expectations and will create a positive user experience with powerful blocks options.

 In case you want to play with some interesting and unique blocks, take a closer look at the following – Atomic Blocks, Getwid, Ultimate Blocks, and Kadence Blocks.

They all have some distinctive features that will highlight them among others. Are these unique blocks indeed important for every website – this is questionable but still very absorbing and worth trying.

For those who don’t want to play with layouts and create a personal unique one, there are some Gutenberg plugins that will do this for you – Atomic Blocks, Kioken Blocks, Kadence Blocks, and Stackable.

The library of premade layouts they have is pretty impressive and will save a decent amount of your time. Custom images can be easily inserted and all you have to do – is create unique content and call it a day.

After all, it is up to you to decide which plugin to choose and discover its multiple features.

All plugin providers do their best and try not to copy each other in order to have their own unique features. Some blocks promised the future releases of the new blocks (Getwid, Otter, Kioken Blocks) and we are eagerly waiting for them. 

What do you think of these Gutenberg Addons? Have you tried some of them? We will be happy if you share your experience with us!

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