Starter Templates vs Beaver Builder
Compare WordPress plugins and tools side by side. Pick products with “Compare” in the software directory.
| Feature | Starter Templates v4.7.9 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.9/5 Visit Details | Beaver Builder v2.11.1.2 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.7/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | 1M+ | 100,000+ |
| Last updated | October 20, 2026 | October 19, 2026 |
| Editions | Starter Templates · Essential and Business Toolkits ($) | Beaver Builder Plugin (Lite Version) · Beaver Builder Plugin (Pro Version) ($) · Beaver Themer ($) |
| Pros | Large library of free website and section templates; Works with Elementor, Spectra, Beaver Builder and the block editor; Onboarding installs the needed plugins | Front-end visual editing that works with most themes; Undo history and WP-CLI commands built in; Maintenance mode and builder access controls included; Usage tracking is strictly opt-in |
| Cons | Premium templates need a toolkit licence key; AI builder and image features call external services | Lite module set is small; forms and advanced modules are Pro only; No theme header/footer building without Beaver Themer; Frequent upgrade prompts in the builder UI |
| Mentioned in our posts | — | 2 |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Full website template import, Import of site options from a template, AI website builder, Plugin install and activation during onboarding, Licence check for premium templates ($) | Front-end drag-and-drop layout editor, Basic modules: heading, photo, rich text, button, video, icon, menu, HTML, ACF Block module, Builder modules registered as block editor blocks, Undo/redo history stored per layout, Maintenance mode, Role-based builder access settings, WP-CLI commands, Content analysis and sitemap tweaks for Yoast, Rank Math, SEOPress, Premium modules and features locked behind upgrade message ($) |
| Integrations | ||
| Plugins | Elementor | Yoast SEO, Rank Math, Advanced Custom Fields, WPML, Popup Maker |
| Other | ZipWP API | — |
| Requires WordPress | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Tested up to | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Phones home | Only if you agree | Only if you agree |
| External services | api.zipwp.com, fonts.googleapis.com, ipwho.is, api.ipify.org, credits.startertemplates.com, app.zipwp.com, websitedemos.net | api.ontraport.com, api.getresponse.com, api.convertkit.com, api.mailerlite.com, kit.fontawesome.com, updates.wpbeaverbuilder.com, www.wpbeaverbuilder.com, demos.wpbeaverbuilder.com, translate.wpbeaverbuilder.com, api.mailjet.com, api.constantcontact.com, api.hatchbuck.com, app.mailerlite.com, api.cc.email, stats.wpbeaverbuilder.com |
| Blocks | 1 | — |
| Shortcodes | — | 2 |