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Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter: Which Is Better?

Are you wondering what the best blocks plugin for WordPress is? This guide to Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter is here to help.

The Gutenberg editor makes it easy to build attractive web pages and blog posts, but it does have certain limitations. If you want access to advanced block customization and unique blocks that you can’t find in Gutenberg, you’ll need to install a WordPress blocks plugin.

Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter.

In this guide, we’ll help you make the right choice by exploring:

Let’s get started!

What to look for in a WordPress blocks plugin

There are a few things to consider in the debate of Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter:

  • Block variety. The number and types of additional blocks that the plugin adds to the Gutenberg editor.
  • Block customization options. How much you can customize the blocks created by the plugin you’re using. Some block plugins for WordPress also provide advanced customization options for existing blocks like the image gallery block.
  • Page builder compatibility. If you want to use a page builder like Elementor, you’ll need to make sure the blocks plugin you choose is compatible with it.
  • Impact on loading speed. You want to choose a lightweight plugin that won’t slow your site down—loading speed is one of the most important factors in a website’s overall performance! Luckily, none of the plugins we’ve looked at in this article have a major impact on loading speed, so you won’t have to worry about slowing your site down if you stick with one of these options.
  • Price. Many WordPress block plugins offer a free version. If you want to spring for the paid version, make sure that the cost fits within your budget.

Now let’s take a look at the plugins themselves!

Here’s our full Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter Blocks comparison…

Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter Blocks: in-depth review

Kadence Blocks review

Notable blocks 🚧

Kadence Blocks offers 14 blocks, including:

  • Row Layout
  • Design library filled with pre-made layout blocks
  • Advanced Gallery
  • Form
  • Advanced Text
  • Advanced Button
  • Accordion
  • Tabs for horizontal content organization
  • Testimonials
  • Countdown
  • Lottie Animations

Of these blocks, the most interesting are the pre-made layout blocks. These blocks provide full section layouts for your content, including pre-selected colors and stock imagery. Some even provide formatting for a full page, like this event promo block:

Kadence Blocks event block example.

These “Hero” blocks have no equivalent in the free versions of GenerateBlocks or Otter, making them one of the main selling points for Kadence Blocks.

Overview ⌛

Kadence Blocks offers a wide variety of blocks you won’t get in the regular Gutenberg editor, including specialty blocks for things like photo gallery displays and displaying testimonials. Each block also comes with a variety of features to enhance performance and increase customization opportunities. Some of the most notable are:

  • Intelligent Load – This feature ensures that code is only loaded when absolutely necessary, helping your site maintain fast loading times.
  • Responsive Design – Customize how your site appears on different devices while previewing in the WordPress editor.
  • Typography Controls – Choose from 900+ Google fonts and fully customize your typography.
  • Color & Background Controls – Add gradients, overlays, borders, and more.

These options make it easy to create a fully customized WordPress site that loads quickly and looks good on all devices.

How it works ⚙️

There are a couple of different ways to use Kadence Blocks.

The first way to access blocks by Kadence is to click on the Design Library button that appears in the top bar of the Gutenberg editor after you install the plugin. This opens a searchable database of pre-designed blocks:

Kadence Blocks Design Library.

To use a block, simply click on it and Kadence will set it up on your page in a matter of seconds. You can then click on any element of the block to customize it:

Kadence block.

You can also add Kadence blocks using the same process you use for any other block: click the + icon in the area you want to add the block to and search for the appropriate block. If you’re not sure what block you want, you can open the regular block menu and look through the Kadence blocks in that area.

Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks: Kadence Blocks in the Gutenberg block menu.

All in all, Kadence Blocks is quite easy to use, especially if you’re already comfortable with the regular block editor.

Pricing 💸

The core Kadence Blocks plugin is free. For access to more blocks, dynamic content, and other advanced features, you can buy Kadence Blocks Pro for $69 per year (renews at $89).

Who Kadence Blocks is best for 🔌

Kadence Blocks is a brilliant choice for anyone who wants highly stylized blocks that come with pre-formatted designs and diverse customization options.

GenerateBlocks review

Notable blocks 🚧

GenerateBlocks offers the following five blocks:

  • Container block for organizing content
  • Grid layouts
  • Advanced headline block
  • Advanced button block
  • Query loop for creating a list of posts

You’ll note that this list is quite short when compared to the block lists for Kadence and Otter. This is because things like pre-designed blocks (called patterns), accordion blocks, and other advanced blocks are restricted to the paid version.

Overview ⌛

GenerateBlocks is a blocks plugin specially designed to work with the GeneratePress theme, but it can be used in combination with any theme and/or page builder plugin. You can use it to access advanced blocks for standard content like headlines and buttons, create complex page layouts with container blocks, and create a list of posts on any page instantly with the query loop block.

GenerateBlocks does have some notable limitations, however. First off, you won’t get access to things like advanced typography because GenerateBlocks is meant to be combined with a theme that offers advanced customization options. You also won’t get access to specialized blocks, like pricing tables or forms, and you’ll have to pay for things like accordion blocks.

Still, GenerateBlocks is an extremely lightweight plugin that can be used well in combination with a highly customizable theme like GeneratePress or Neve.

How it works ⚙️

Using GenerateBlocks is easy. All you need to do is click the + icon in the block editor and search for the block you want to use. You can also choose Browse All to open the block menu and view all of the specialized blocks from GenerateBlocks:

GenerateBlocks block menu.

Once you’ve selected a block, you can customize it by clicking on the area you want to change. If you use a Container block, you’ll be instructed to use a Grid or another layout block to dictate where different parts of your content fit within your layout:

GenerateBlocks grid.

Once you’re satisfied with your layout, you can publish your GenerateBlocks-enhanced page the same way you would publish any other.

All in all, the process of using GenerateBlocks is simple and intuitive for anyone familiar with the WordPress block editor. The limited number of blocks can even be a benefit here, as it means you’ll always have an easy time choosing the block you need.

Pricing 💸

The core GenerateBlocks plugin is free. You can get GenerateBlocks Pro for $39 per year.

Who this plugin is best for 🔌

GenerateBlocks is an ideal choice if you mainly want blocks for altering the visual layout of your site. GenerateBlocks is also a great lightweight plugin for pairing with a highly customizable WordPress theme.

Otter Blocks review

Notable blocks 🚧

Otter offers 23+ blocks, including:

  • Section Gutenberg block
  • Advanced heading
  • Button group
  • Slider
  • Accordion
  • Tabs for horizontal organization of content
  • Countdown
  • Services block for displaying your services
  • Pricing & pricing section
  • Product reviews
  • Testimonials
  • About the author

You’ll notice that Otter offers a very similar list of blocks to Kadence Blocks. However, the free version of Otter offers more blocks than the free version of Kadence Blocks, including a slider block and an about the author block. It also features more specialized options for displaying your services, pricing, and pricing tables.

Overview ⌛

Depending on your point of view, Otter Blocks is either a heavy-duty blocks plugin or a lightweight page builder plugin. There are an enormous number of blocks available on the free version, including Section Gutenberg blocks that can help you create a unique layout for every page. You’ll even get access to specialized blocks for business owners, including a pricing block that can be displayed on product landing pages. You can access even more specialty business blocks, including a business hours block.

Otter Blocks also offers a Block Conditions tool that allows you to control who sees the blocks. For example, you might choose to hide newsletter signup forms from users who are already logged into your site.

Last but certainly not least, Otter Blocks offers a collection of Block Tools that you can use on any block, including regular Gutenberg blocks. These include the Block Conditions we already talked about, an option to add animations, and the ability to turn any block into a “Sticky” block that sticks to the top of the user’s page as they scroll. You can even use Otter to access CSS customization options for individual blocks.

The only thing you won’t get with Otter Blocks is pre-designed block layouts. If you want to work with pre-made block layouts, you’ll want to choose Kadence Blocks or the paid version of GenerateBlocks.

How it works ⚙️

You can add blocks from Otter Blocks to your page in much the same way you would add any other blog: click the + icon in the editor and search for the block you want. If you want to see the options available, click Browse All to see all of the custom blocks provided by Otter.

Otter blocks menu.

You can create a custom column layout in a couple of clicks with the Section block, then add regular content blocks to it. Simply click on a column or block to customize it:

Otter Blocks Section example.

This hits on what has become a recurring theme in the debate of Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter Blocks: all of these plugins integrate seamlessly with the existing Gutenberg editor. If you’re at all familiar with WordPress, you’ll find that using Otter is simple and intuitive, even when you’re setting up more complicated blocks, like the Countdown block.

Want to learn more about Otter? 👨‍🎓 Check out our full-length Otter Blocks review.

Pricing 💸

The core Otter Blocks plugin is free. For access to even more blocks and advanced customization features, you can invest in Otter Pro at $49.00 for the first year ($69 upon renewal).

Who this plugin is best for 🔌

Otter Blocks is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to build a fully customized WordPress site from the ground up. It’s an especially powerful tool for business and ecommerce sites.

Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter Blocks: the verdict 🏁

So, what is the best blocks plugin for WordPress? Before we make any decisions, let’s review what we’ve learned about these plugins so far:

PluginMost notable blocksCustomization optionsLimitationsCost
Kadence BlocksAccordion, Tabs, Hero blocks, Testimonials, Advanced TextFull typography and color & background controlsNo pricing tables/ecommerce blocks on free versionFree or $69 for the first year
GenerateBlocksContainer, Grid, Advanced Headline, Advanced ButtonSome typography and color & background controlsLimited customization options, limited block selectionFree or $39/year
Otter BlocksSection, Tabs, Accordion, Slider, Testimonials, Review, and moreTypography and color & background controls, block toolsNo notable limitationsFree or $34.50 for the first year

In the end, all three of these block plugins offer content blocks you won’t get with the regular Gutenberg editor. They’re also all extremely simple to use.

This means that the winner in the debate of Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter Blocks depends on your needs:

  • 👉 If you want access to pre-made layout blocks with numerous advanced customization options, choose Kadence Blocks.
  • 👉 For a lightweight blocks plugin with options for custom visual layouts, choose GenerateBlocks.
  • 👉 If you want ecommerce and business blocks plus advanced block customization tools, choose Otter Blocks.

What plugin sounds best to you in the debate of Kadence Blocks vs GenerateBlocks vs Otter Blocks? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Dianna Gunn
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