Category: WordPress

Top 10 Visual Composer for WordPress That You Should Be Using Today
Top 10 Visual Composer for WordPress Websites

If you are an avid WordPress user like I do, you will agree that a beautiful website design helps to reduce bounce rate and get the right message out to your audience.

The process of creating stunning content and website design on WordPress oftentimes requires you to have at least some level of coding skills …

Or at least, you think you need coding skills for that.

The truth is, the usage of visual composer for WordPress allows you to create beautifully designed blog post, content or website designs without using a single line of code.

But wait.

What is a visual composer?

Visual Composer is a powerful plugin that allows anyone to create an attractive site. But, the plugin itself can also be used by theme developers to speed up their design processes and leave their clients with a theme that’s easy to use. Source: Envato.

Should I use a visual composer in WordPress?

I get this question all the time.

The answer is simple.

No, you are not required to use a visual composer simply because visual composer is an addon that makes your life easier (imagine the hassle of creating landing pages with those messy codes).

It’s really hard to find someone who loves coding … seriously.

via GIPHY

You should be using a visual composer if:
- You don’t want to spend the entire day trying to learn coding
- You have a hard time trying to understand desktop view versus mobile view
- You want to create beautiful WordPress websites by dragging and dropping elements into the right location
Visual composer in WordPress is also known as drag and drop website builders.

And if you are like me who loves the easy way, here are the top 10 visual composers in WordPress.

1. Thrive Architect

If you are looking for the best visual composer for WordPress, you are going to love Thrive Architect.

Previously known as Thrive Content Builder, Thrive Architect is an intuitive drag and drop website builder that helps you create high converting websites in just minutes.

What are the advantages using Thrive Architect?
- Fastest visual builder for WordPress with drag and drop editing
- Over 271 landing page templates to choose from
- No design or coding skills needed (like never ever)
- Pre-built conversion elements with conversion-focused elements
- Ready-made demos which you can instantly use to create homepage, landing pages and service pages in seconds
- Complete tools and options you need to build stunning sales pages
- Dozens of optimized landing pages to generate leads and build email list
- Features such as well formatted content, including things like highlight boxes, styled lists, images and other media, and click-to-tweet quotes help you get more traffic, eyeballs and lower bounce rate
- You can even create webinar pages and product launch pages using Thrive Architect
- Complete font customization
- Inbuilt with advanced, attention grabbing hover effects
- Ultra flexible text and columns
- Instantly preview your page on different screen sizes
And a zillion other advantages come packing under the Thrive Architect hood.

How much does Thrive Architect costs?

Thrive Architect costs $67 for a single website, 12 months of support and unlimited updates.

If you are looking to score for a bigger deal, there’s Thrive Membership that comes with unlimited usage for all Thrive themes and plugins at only $19 per month.

2. Divi Builder

If you are looking for a Thrive Architect alternative, Divi Builder comes really close to it.

Divi Builder is apart of the popular Divi by Elegant Themes.

There are many reasons Divi Builder is a great visual composer for WordPress and here are some of them:
- Build with the power of Divi Theme (we know how powerful and great Divi Theme is)
- Endless layout possibility
- Compatible with any WordPress theme
- 46 different content modules to build your perfect website
- Freedom to explore new and exciting layout using inbuilt visual composer
- Customize anything and everything under one roof (without coding skills)
- Availability of front end and back end editors on WordPress
- Complete layout spacing control
- Divi Builder Library to save unique layouts and site wide changes
What is Divi Builder pricing?

Divi Builder costs $89 per year that comes with unlimited usage of all themes and plugins offered by Elegant Themes. More importantly, there is no caps on how many websites you can install Divi Builder on (which is an excellent advantage for website developers).

There is also lifetime membership for a one-time payment of $249.

3. Elementor

As a website developer, I got to admit that I love using Elementor as a visual composer.

Sure, I use Divi for most of my client’s website but Elementor is really that good too.

The first reason why I use Elementor is simply because Elementor is the only, full-functionable visual composer for WordPress.

Yes, you don’t have to pay a single cent for using Elementor and you can download Elementor right here.

Elementor comes in two forms; the free version and the paid version. Elementor’s Free version offers limitless design possibilities. Elementor Pro, however, empowers you with more professional tools that speed up your workflow, and allow you to get more conversions and sales.

If you are a blogger or a website owners who doesn’t need a whole lot of feature, Elementor’s free version is a great choice to start with.

If you are a website developer like me, going for Elementor Pro is a much better option with addtional features that are useable for your business.

You can also click here to read the comparison between Elementor free and paid version.

Here are some of the features of Elementor visual composer for WordPress:
- All-in-one solution for web design
- Simple, powerful and flexible visual design
- Ability to build WordPress websites that loads faster and speed up the overall process of building websites
- Elementor is built for beginners, freelancers and agency level
- Pixel perfect design in WordPress with 100% clean code implementation
- Visual composer allows you to design forms visually and integrate them with your favorite marketing tools
- Elementor is an open source project (thus it is always updated with the latest version, new features and security patches
- Ability to design a blog, customize your online store and create stunning landing pages using a single dashboard visual composer plugin
- Elementor is a visual theme builder that allows you to customer everything, from header to footer without coding
- Over 80 design elements to create your perfectly designed WordPress website
- Integrate perfectly with any theme and plugin
Is Elementor really free?

Yes, Elementor is the only WordPress builder that is free to use for life. If you are a website developer, Elementor Pro is a better option and it costs $49 per year for one website.

Overall, Elementor is a very intuitive drag and drop website builder that is free and don’t sucks.

4. X Theme

I came across the X Theme by accident late in 2016 when I was searching for a WordPress visual composer to replace OptimizePress.

Disclaimer: Those day, OptimizePress (the previous persion) is like the only, old-school drag and drop builder that wasn’t intuitive.

As a matter of fact, I was introduced by Adam from Blogging Wizard, and he was quick in telling me to check out X Theme.

X Theme came into the market as a premium visual composer as there weren’t many in the market. More importantly, the features offered in X Theme was really good and fit my needs perfectly.

Now, there are so many updated and X Theme came up with even more features. Here are some of them:
- Dark mode for those who constantly work with computers (and want to reduce strain on eyes)
- Undo and redo in just a few clicks
- Dynamic inline editing allows you to create and edit text directly in the preview (making it a great WYSIWYG visual composer)
- Role manager allows you to control access between team members, clients, web developer etc.
- Customized workspace allows you to create any layout without coding skills
- Have direct control on all your settings under one roof and one tool
- Create global elements, save them and reuse them multiple times to create strong brand identity
- X Theme license comes with over 30 premium plugins including support (at no additional cost)
- One-click access to full-site demos including pages, images and content
How much is X Theme?

X Theme costs $59 for a single website and 6 months support. You don’t have to pay extra for the premium plugins included in it, which is a huge bonus.

All X Theme license comes with lifetime product update.

5. Beaver Builder

If you are looking to get a visual composer in WordPress and you happen to be a freelance web developer, you are going to find Beaver Builder a great option to start with.

The guys behind the Beaver Builder product calls it “WordPress Page Builder Plugin.”

Here’s the unique part of the Beaver Builder plugin — It is excellent for beginners to take control of their WordPress website and if you are a web developer, it is going to help you build responsive sites faster than ever.

So, what are the features in the Beaver Builder?
- Inbuilt with dozens of gorgeous page templates (which you can 1-click import)
- Beaver Builder’s front end drag and drop interface gives you total control over the layout of your pages
- Ability to separate your page builder from the theme and getting complete control of the content
- Proven track record with over 100,000 websites using Beaver Builder Theme
- Beaver Builder is a mobile friendly and responsive visual composer for WordPress
- Support for the popular WPML translation plugin has been baked into Beaver Builder’s core for international users.
- Beaver Builder plays great with WooCommerce
- Beaver Builder Pro & Agency packages both support multisite installs
- Ability to use shortcode and widget are huge bonuses
How much does Beaver Builder costs?

Beaver Builder plugin costs $99 for a single site with 1 year support. In terms of pricing, Beaver Builder is definitely on the higher end (even for the entry level).

I recommend using Beaver Builder only if you are a website developer as there are more cheaper visual composer alternatives for bloggers and website owners.

6. OptimizePress

Finding for a pioneer visual composer?

Introducing, OptimizePress.

OptimizePress, really?

Here’s what you need to know about OptimizePress.

If you are talking about the old OptimizePress (like back in 2016 and 2017), it sucks big time. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t even recommend OptimziePress for those who wants to build beautiful websites.

Fast forward, the latest OptimziePress update slingshots it to the top 10 visual composer in the market today.

The reason is simple. The new and updated features of OptimizePress are so powerful and it helps you to transform your new business into a superb workforce.

So, this leads to one question.

How good is OptimizePress as a visual composer for WordPress?

Here are some of the features:
- Easily create landing pages and sales pages in just a few clicks
- Comes with a wide range of templates including blogs and membership sites capabilities
- Ability to create and launch complete sales funnels
- Easy to use webinar and event signup pages
- Spit testing enabled for landing pages
- Easy integration with many third party tools including CRM systems
- Customize everything under the roof without coding skills
- Build membership portals and deliver digital good and training using OptimizePress
- Crazy amount of templates for any types of layouts and niches (over 300 of them in the gallery)
- Drip feed content using inbuilt OptimizePress Member plugin
For me, it is clear that OptimizePress is a clear competitor when it comes to choosing the best visual composer plugin for WordPress.

How much is OptimizePress?

OptimizePress costs $97 (one-time fee) and use on 3 sites. The biggest difference between OptimizePress and other visual builders are the pricing.

OptimizePress is really affordable if you are looking for a top visual builder plugin that doesn’t sucks.

7. Visual Composer

Are you searching for the best Elementor alternative?

If you are, you are in for a treat.

Visual Composer is a cool front end WordPress editor that allows you to create beautiful landing pages and craft website designs on the fly.

Visual Composer has long been in the drag and drop WordPress editor industry. As a matter of fact, it had been integrated in many other premium themes such as X Theme (as one of paid addons).

So, what makes Visual Composer such as great option for bloggers and web developers?
- No coding required
- Design anything under the roof with the drag and drop website builder feature
- Easy to use interface helps beginners get started instantly (without feeling overwhelmed)
- Availability of professional templates
- Use content elements as building blogs for your website design (getting the Visual Composer paid version will unlock more choices)
- Responsive designs that Google loves
- Easily download different elements and make your design unique
- Excellent frontend editor experience (so you can preview the results at real time)
- Truckload of design options to choose from
- Adding custom content elements, CSS and API usage allows developers to take Visual Composer to new heights
Is Visual Composer the best front end editor for WordPress?

This is a tough question to answer as it depends on your specific needs. However, I am confident that Visual Composer is a great live editor for both bloggers and website developers.

Visual Composer comes with a free version and the paid version starts at $59 per year for a single website.

8. WPBakery

WPBakery is a WordPress page builder plugin used by 4,300,000+ website owners.

And they can’t be wrong, right?

Editor’s Note

The visual composer market is extremely competitive. As website owners, we are bombarded with hundreds of ads each day on the best tools to help craft the best website design. Ultimately, we are constantly looking for a front editor plugin that allows us to work on our client’s website fast and eliminating the coding work. This is where WPBakery comes into play — and we fell in love right after using it for the first time.

What are the advantages of using WPBakery?
- Inbuilt with intuitive front end and backend editor
- Compatible with most WordPress themes and plugins
- Get ready to build WordPress pages and page layouts with drag and drop interface without touching a single line of code
- Use built-in skin builder to tweak WPBakery Page Builder design options and elements styling, to make a perfect match with your brand identity
- Access premium class templates via online Template Library and build your pages in seconds (1-click installation/importing)
- WPBakery Page Builder is user and developer friendly with WPBakery API
- 40+ predefined grids to display posts, portfolio, and any other custom posts type or media in grid or masonry grid
- qTranslate, WPML compatibility
Of course, I can go on and on with how good WPBakery is as a visual composer …

But I’m sure you get the point.

How much does WPBakery costs?

WPBakery comes in two forms; free version and paid version.

WPBakery paid version starts at $45 for a single website and unlimited updates.

Side note: As a visual composer, WPBakery does a great job in terms of features and pricing.

9. LeadPages

I’m going to cheat a little.

LeadPages is not entirely a WordPress drag and drop builder, but it is an excellent visual composer for landing pages (that works perfectly well with any WordPress site).

The decision to include LeadPages into the top 10 visual composer is because I noticed the growing trends of website owners using third party tools to build landing pages.

And when it comes to building landing pages that converts, LeadPages is darn awesome.

Here are the advantages using LeadPages:
- Build landing pages out of your WordPress website (which reduce the server load)
- Publish unlimited landing pages in just a few clicks
- Over 150+ free page templates to choose from
- LeadPages advanced analytics allows you to optimize landing page with confidence
- Easily integrate with other marketing apps
- Works well with eCommerce and WordPress powered websites
- Easily A/B test to determine the best layout, design and call-to-action
- Mobile responsive
How much does LeadPages costs?

LeadPages starts at $25 per month (when you pay annually). If you are looking for LeadPages discount, consider going for 2-years upfront payment and 54% off LeadPages published rates.

I highly recommend LeadPages if you are looking for a visual composer to build awesome landing pages. Enough said.

10. Thrive Leads

Thrive Leads is the best LeadPages alternative in the market today — especially when you are finding for the best visual editor to build landing pages/opt in forms.

When it comes to drag and drop visual builder, Thrive Leads had came a long way. From a humble beginning called Hybrid Connect, Thrive Leads helps website owners to build visually attractive opt-in forms in just a few clicks.

What are the advantages using Thrive Leads?
- Easily design and deploy opt-in forms in a few clicks
- Advanced targeting option allows you to show the right opt in forms to the right visitors
- Ability to do split testing
- Actionable and detailed reporting / insights
- 10 different opt in forms types to choose from
- Over 200+ ready made templates to use (1-click)
- Doesn’t affect website loading (it’s really that fast)
- Easily integrate with hundreds of third party tools and email providers such as AWeber
How much is Thrive Leads?

Thrive Leads costs $67 for a single website and a year of support.

Overall, Thrive Leads is a great and simple visual composer to help you create beautiful opt-in forms within WordPress itself.

Which is the best visual composer for WordPress?

Among the 10 visual composers in WordPress, which is your favorite?

For me, each has their advantages which boils down to personal requirements. I would choose, my choice will be Thrive Leads as it is the easiest, most valuable one (with Thrive Membership)
July 3, 2024
OptinMonster vs Sumo: My Honest Comparison Using These lead Generation Software
Comparing OptinMonster vs Sumo, which is a better lead generation software for website owners?

If you are struggling to figure that out, you will find the answers here in this post. Plus, if you have no idea what is lead generation all about and why it is important, read this post by Marketo.

What makes this post different from the rest?

I’m a paid user for both OptinMonster and Sumo, and I use both of them for most of my websites and my client’s one too.

Let’s dive straight into OptinMonster vs Sumo review, shall we?

OptinMonster Lead Generation Software Review

Side note: I really love OptinMonster’s single-eye mascot!

The single and biggest advantage using OptinMonster (latest OptinMonster review) is the all-in-one lead generation software/capability.

OptinMonster makes it easy for bloggers and online marketers to generate leads using easy-to-use lead generation tools.

The biggest differences between OptinMonster and other OptinMonster alternatives are the fact that you construct all your leads in and opt in forms externally — instead on your own site.

While I agree that creating optin forms on WordPress blogs is easier (such as creating an opt in forms using Thrive Leads), it is going to impact your website performance in some way.

If you are using a shared web hosting service, you might experience a drop in website loading speed.

Therefore, all the form generation is done on the OptinMonster backend system instead.

Reginald Chooses OptinMonster

OptinMonster is extremely user-friendly and more importantly, it allows me to create multiple lead generation forms out of my WordPress sites. And why is this important?

It reduces my website load tremendously!

What are OptinMonster features:
- Beautiful lead capture forms
- Multiple optin form types
- Availability of A/B testing
- Exit Intent® technology
- Page level targeting (show your opt in forms to the right visitors, every time)
- Advanced traffic redirection
- Detailed analytics and insights
- OnSite Retargeting® and personalization (only lead generation software that offers this feature)
How to use OptinMonster to generate leads?

What made OptinMonster much better than Sumo (OptinMonster vs Sumo) is because OptinMonster is very easy to use.

To be more exact, it is not only easy to use but is feature rich!

Here are the three steps you need to build a beautiful optin form using OptinMonster.

Step 1: Create a visually stunning offer using OptinMonster

You start by choosing a pre-built template designed for maximum conversions, or you can also start from scratch with a blank canvas.

Easily customize all the details with the OptinMonster easy to use drag-and-drop builder – no code needed.

Step 2: Target and personalize your offers with behavior automation

OptinMonster powerful targeting and segmentation engine lets you show your perfect offer to the right people at the exact right time to maximize your website conversions.

Game Changer

OptinMonster’s ability to retarget website visitors and delivery super customized opt in forms makes it an absolutely game-changer in the lead generation industry.

Not only that OptinMonster works as a lead generation software, it is also an awesome software to reduce cart abandonment (eCommerce)!

Step 3: Test and adjust in real time

Last but not least, you can easily test your ideas using OptinMonster. In a simple (but detailed) analytics dashboard, you’ll get all the data to improve your lead generation strategy.

Plus, the ability to easily split test all your ideas helps to increase the conversion rates.

Short OptinMonster Review

OptinMonster is a well-created lead generation software that doesn’t only helps you to create high converting opt in forms on the fly, it also helps you to increase your sales with powerful retargeting options and cart abandonment.

Take A Closer Look At OptinMonster

It is undeniable that OptinMonster is definitely a great option for website owners who are looking for a complete lead generation solution. Plus, OptinMonster is a great tool that integrates perfectly well with eCommerce sites to increase sales and reduce cart abandonment. Click on the button below to take a closer look at OptinMonster for free!

An eCommerce Optimization Tool: Sumo

https://www.reginaldchan.net/recommends/optinmonster/ I used Sumo for quite a few websites and more importantly, I had been using Sumo since it was still in beta (known as SumoMe back then).

Today, Sumo had changed and now, it is one of the best OptinMonster alternatives that money can buy.

Just like OptinMonster, Sumo isn’t just a lead generation tool. It provides useful tools to help you turn visitors into eCommerce customers.

And if you are running an eCommerce store such as on Shopify, you are going to love Sumo (thanks to its simplicity).

If you want to use Sumo, there isn’t step 1, 2, 3 etc. All you need to do is to install a code snippet to your website and bam!

You are all set to create your first lead generation form.

Here’s how the backend looks like.

Login to your Sumo account and this is what you will see.

One of the core advantages using Sumo is the integration with Google Analytics.

For the record, OptinMonster integrates with Google Analytics too but just focus on conversion rates.

Once you have integrated Google Analytics to Sumo, here’s the dashboard which you gives you a bird’s eye view of your website.

As you can see, Sumo is different compared to OptinMonster and the differences are obvious!

Now, let’s move on to lead generation.

There are 5 simple steps that you need to do before you are able to publish an optin form on Sumo.

Step 1: Click on Shortcuts

This is what you will see. There’s nothing you should do except pressing ‘Get Started.’

Step 2: Build your form

On the right hand column, you can customize the forms to fit your needs.

Once that is done, you will need to configure your ‘thank you’ page.

Step 3: Setup Sumo email autoresponder

Here’s the beauty of using Sumo. It is integrated with an email automation system!

Of course, you can skip this step if you have your own email autoresponder such as AWeber.

Step 4: Setting up the opt in form

You can tweak the frequency and display on the right column.

It is important to note that Sumo doesn’t come with many options compared to OptinMonster.

However, it is definitely a good basic to start with.

Step 5: Confirm and save

Last but not least, this step is to finalize all the settings you had done and finally publishing the form.

Short Sumo Review

Sumo is a very effective lead generation tool for website owners.

While it doesn’t come with a wide range of features, Sumo is definitely a great choice due to simplicity.

At the end of the day, Sumo is able to perform the task (lead generation) and that matters the most.

Take A Closer Look At Sumo

If you are serious in starting to generate leads from your website and/or to reduce the cart abandonment on your eCommerce site, Sumo is definitely a great choice to start with. The biggest advantages of using Sumo are the ease of usage and the integrated email marketing solution.

OptinMonster vs Sumo: Which is better?

There is no denial that both OptinMonster and Sumo are great lead generation software.

However, which is the best or the better choice?

Choose OptinMonster if you are a website owner who is serious in turning website visitors into paying customers/subscribers. With the powerful retargeting, you can further customize your lead generation strategy to 10x the conversion rates.

Choose Sumo if you are more focused on eCommerce and don’t want to mess around with complicated setup. You understand that you are just looking for a simple lead generation tool to get started within the shortest time period.

What do you think when it comes to OptinMonster vs Sumo? Leave a comment below and let’s discuss further!
July 3, 2024
How to Add “Last Updated” Date to Divi’s Blog Post Meta Data

July 3, 2024
Free WordPress Themes 2019: The Complete List

Are you looking for the best WordPress themes 2019?

I get it.

There are thousands of WordPress themes in the market today…

And finding for the best theme takes time.

Lucky for you, I’m going to list down a full list of free and paid WordPress themes for 2019.

Carry on reading below to find out more!

P.S. If you are looking for the best premium WordPress themes, read this post instead.

Best Free WordPress Themes 2019

I know you are actively looking for the best and free WP themes for 2019.

Here’s what you need to know.

These not just free, they are the best free responsive themes that you should be using this year!

Want Free Themes?

I want to keep you updated with the latest free WordPress themes every week. Do you want to be in the list?

1. Elementor

Is Elementor right for me?

Elementor is created to help beginners to build website design fast, hassle free and without using a single line of code. If you are looking for a free drag and drop website builder, Elementor is definitely the only choice for you.

Does Elementor comes with any bonus feature?

For a free WordPress theme, it comes with an awesome visual builder. For me, this is by far the best reason why you should be using Elementor for your WordPress site.

Does Elementor integrates with WooCommerce?

Yes, Elementor integrates not only with WooCommerce, but along with hundreds of other third party tools without creating any conflicts.

Why choose elementor?

Elementor is hands down the best free WordPress drag and drop editor.

More importantly, Elementor doesn’t sucks!

Powerful and easy to use, I recommend Elementor anytime of the day!

2. Airi

Is Airi theme right for me?

The Airi theme is perfect for freelancers, agencies, startups, and small business but there is one feature that makes Airi more than just a business WordPress theme.

Any bonus features of Airi theme?

The Airi theme is fully integrated with Elementor and this means that you can use this WP theme on any type of website. With this integration, you will get a powerful drag and drop interface which helps you build landing pages that rocks.

Does Airi theme integrates with WooCommerce?

Yes, this WP theme integrates perfectly well and you can start selling digital/physical products in just a few clicks.

3. Sydney

Is Sydney theme right for me?

If you are looking for a strong online presence online, this is a great free theme for your WordPress site. More importantly, this WordPress theme is an extremely great choice for companies and freelancers.

Any bonus features using Sydney theme?

This free WordPress theme comes with a full screen slider and full colour control that helps you create the best website design of your choice (without spending a single dollar at it).

Does Sydney theme integrates with other 3rd-party tools?

At this point of time, Sydney theme seems to be working perfectly well in terms of integration and doesn’t have any conflicts with other plugins or tools.

4. Neve

Is Neve right for me?

Neve is an awesome WordPress theme that offers a fresh and eye-catching look. Neve is developed after the modern WordPress standards including Gutenberg and Elementor compatibility. If you are an entrepreneur who is looking for a multipurpose WordPress theme, you should try Neve!

Any bonus features using Neve theme?

Smooth scrolling and gorgeous animations are two powerful addons that make Neve a great theme option.

Does Neve theme integrates with other third-party tools?

It integrates well with most plugins and addons without creating any glitches of any kind.

Can I send you free WordPress themes?

I am collecting a full set of free WordPress themes for 2019 and if you want to be kept updated, click here to be notified weekly.

5. Hestia

Is Hestia right for me?

Hestia is a clean and beautiful free theme that uses the latest design trends – Material UI Kit. It is a one-page design that focuses on conversion and wow-ing your first time visitors.

Any bonus features that come with Hestia?

Hestia is very much a one-page WordPress design that comes with smooth scrolling.

At the same time, it offers a new and modern artistic look.

Is Hestia theme compatible with WooCommerce?

Hestia also has an online shop, that borrows a bit of Pinterest’s design, and a full-width featured slider.

Integration with WooCommerce? No problem!

6. Fagri

Is Fargi right for me?

Another multipurpose WordPress theme, Fagri is a free WordPress theme for small businesses, startups, niches, and product pages.

Any bonus features using Fagri theme?

Its smooth one-page design, along with the modern appearance and clean sections, makes it a great choice for your promotion campaign.

Fagri theme also plays well with Elementor addon (if you are wondering).

Does Fagri integrates with WooCommerce?

Fagri theme is WooCommerce-ready and it integration is super easy (in just a few clicks).

7. OnePress

Why should I choose OnePress?

OnePress is a modern and friendly theme, built to fit any business site – startups, corporate and creative businesses, digial agencies, product showcases, and other various online firms.

What makes OnePress unique?

OnePress has an elegant look and a neat one-page layout. It also comes with two background slides and parallax effect.

Does OnePress integrates well with third party tools?

Yes, OnePress is WooCommerce ready and wouldn’t create conflicts when integrating with other WordPress plugins.

8. ShopIsle

Why should I use ShopIsle?

ShopIsle is an elegant and modern theme for e-commerce, with a full-screen slider and a clean design.

What are the advantages using ShopIsle?

The theme was made to be compatible with any kind of online shops and to give your content a fresh, friendly look. ShopIsle has a video ribbon, a smooth scrolling, and a classy layout, which will put your products in the spotlight.

Does ShopIsle integrates well with other third party tools?

Yes, ShopIsle is compatible with WooCommerce and other third party tools without issue.

9. ColorMag

Is ColorMag theme right for me?

ColorMag is a clean and modern theme for magazines, newspapers, and publishing sites.

What are the features of ColorMag theme?

The theme has an elegant and beautiful look, with colorful buttons, featured slider, and an intuitive content structure. ColorMag has a multipurpose design, which fits any topic you want to write about.

Does ColorMag integrates with other third-party tools?

ColorMag is a WordPress magazine theme that is compatible with WooCommerce.

10. Oblique

Why should I choose Oblique theme?

Oblique theme is a masonry WordPress theme for personal blogs, with a dark skin and minimalist design. The name comes from its header and shapes of the posts.

What are the advantages using Oblique theme?

The theme has a slide-out left menu and a classy black-and-white look, with colorful buttons.

Is Oblique theme compatible with third party tools?

Oblique theme is a free WordPress theme for magazine style sites, and while it is compatible with WooCommerce, this is not a WordPress theme that is suitable for eCommerce.

Free WordPress Themes

Here’s an ethical bribe. Do you want me to send you weekly updates on the best free WordPress themes for 2019?

How to choose the best free WordPress theme 2019?

Thanks to WordPress, there are many free WordPress themes that you can choose from for 2019.

At the end of the day, you will discover that the best WordPress theme is the one that fits your needs.

As this post will be updated at least once a month, click here to be kept updated of the latest free WordPress themes 2019!

July 3, 2024
Why I switched from Divi Builder to Thrive Architect?

For the record, I’m a huge fan of Divi Builder and Thrive Architect but recently, I decided to use Thrive Architect for my main site (this site).

This article may be a little rant, but I’m sure there are guys out there who experience the same as I do.

Here’s why I switched from Divi Builder to Thrive Architect.

The Issue

As an online marketer, I manage multiple blogs for myself and even for my clients.

On average, I publish at least 5 posts a week and that was during my time using the old setup (website design, plugins and stuff).

Recently, I decided to change my website design and used Divi instead. As you can see now, the homepage is freaking awesome. Thanks Divi!

Since my old website design is powered by Thrive Themes and plugins, I decided to remove some of them, and left a few to get the job done.

I ended up with two of my favorite WP builder plugin (as you can see below).

Yes, it’s pretty epic to have two WP builder plugins under one roof!

For the past two weeks, I have been using Divi Builder a lot. I mean, the whole goal is to streamline my blogging business and focus on just several tools to get the job done.

Divi is fine and there’s one not-so-tiny problem …

Like a MAJOR problem!

I can’t seem to perform simple tasks using Divi Builder (save draft and publish from the visual editor).

And hey, don’t get me wrong. The development team are REALLY helpful but they aren’t able to replicate the issue.

What happened next?

My productivity stumbled and I was working on Google Docs all the time!

I mean, seriously?

I love productivity and WP builder plugins are supposed to make me more productive, not just giving issues.

More importantly, I started to have flashbacks on the past — back then, I can craft, proof read and publish a blog post using Thrive Architect in just 3 hours.

Now, it takes me over two days to get a post up using Divi.

And sure enough …

I. Was. Pissed.

Very important disclaimer

Until now, I have no idea what is wrong with Divi Builder. I used it for years and had no issues with any other websites except for this site. Deactivated all plugins, worked with Kinsta web hosting team to check on my site and everything I could literally think off (and yet, I can’t find a solution). Something is dead wrong here.

So, what’s next?

The solution is simple.

I carried on using Thrive Architect and I believe this tool is probably the fastest WP Builder plugin in the planet.

Divi Builder is good, but it is still a pain in the ass to get it working for this site.

Are you using Divi Builder or Thrive Architect? Tell me what you think in the comments below.

July 3, 2024
Kinsta vs WP Engine: Which is the best WordPress host for you? (updated 2019)
Are you having challenges trying to compare Kinsta and WP Engine?In today’s competitive world, having an online website is not sufficient — you need a blazing fast website to serve your website visitors better.But there’s a little problem …Most of us are not techie enough to make our website loads faster.Lucky for you, there’s a solution that you can use today which will make your website loads under 1.5 seconds.And the answer is this.Get a better web hosting service.

Here’s A BIG Question

What is considered as a good web hosting service?

In today’s market, you can get a cheap web hosting as low as $3 per month.

However, is the service that good?

The answer is no. Using a cheap web hosting service is always easy on your wallet but will never be a good thing in the long run.

Cheap web hosting are often:
- Provide below par customer support
- Offers slow website loading speed
- Super bad web hosting neighbours
- No website backups
THIS. SUCKS.

Yes, when your website is hit with malicious code or being hacked, getting support from them are tough (and super annoying).

If you are running your money blog, you should always use a better web hosting service that offers a peace of mind (hint: managed hosting).

What is a managed hosting?

Managed hosting is a web hosting service that offers better server performance, security and support compared to typical shared web hosting. While managed hosting is often time more expensive, it is common to see serious website owners use managed hosting to ensure their websites are loading at peak performance and are constantly secured.

Now, let’s talk about managed WordPress hosting.

Which is the best managed WordPress hosting today?

Actually, there are two of them.

Wut??

Here are two things you need to know:
1. The best managed WordPress hosting for you is the one that fits your needs (server performance)
2. The best managed WordPress hosting for you is the one that fits your hosting budget
I know …

There are dozens of managed WordPress hosting out there in the market, and I have tried nearly all of them.

But when it comes to deciding the really best managed WordPress hosting service, it only comes down to two; Kinsta and WP Engine.

But there’s something you should know about Kinsta and WP Engine

They are NOT cheap …

If you are expecting web hosting prices that starts from $3 per month, you are better off with BlueHost (seriously).

Here are the pricing structure for Kinsta and WP Engine (entry level plans).

Kinsta

Managed WordPress hosting with Kinsta starts at $30 per month.

This entry level web hosting comes with:
- 1 WordPress install
- 20,000 visits per month
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 5 GB disk space
- Free SSL and CDN
WP Engine

Managed WordPress hosting with WP Engine starts at $35 per month.

This entry level web hosting comes with:
- 1 WordPress install
- 25,000 visits per month
- 50 GB bandwidth
- Free SSL and CDN
- Free WP Engine page performance tool
- Genesis Framework + StudioPress themes
Summary: Kinsta vs WP Engine

Here’s a complete comparison (summary) between Kinsta vs WP Engine.

Choose Kinsta. If you are looking for a managed WordPress hosting that doesn’t sucks, Kinsta is pretty awesome. For only $30 per month, you will be able to enjoy super fast web hosting service that is powered by Google Cloud (yes, the same type of servers that power Google Search with millions of searches each day).

Comparing to Kinsta to WP Engine, Kinsta support team is very much better and more helpful in some ways. It could be the way they respond to a question or support ticket. Kinsta is a great option for serious bloggers who want to have great server performance, security in mind and support in just a few clicks. Sign up for Kinsta here.

Choose WP Engine. WP Engine has long been in the managed WordPress hosting market and it certainly one of the best options if you have a much bigger/heavy traffic website. Comparing to Kinsta,

WP Engine has one major advantage — intuitive staging site where I find it pretty much flawless compared to Kinsta. WP Engine is geared more towards mid traffic blog to enterprise level hosting. Get WP Engine here.

Kinsta vs WP Engine Review: What are the differences?

If you want to know more about Kinsta and WP Engine, I recommend you to carry on reading about them.

Under the hood: Kinsta WordPress Hosting

If you are looking for an awesome WordPress hosting, Kinsta is definitely a great choice for both beginners and advanced website owners.

At this point of writing, this website (ReginaldChan.net) is hosted on Kinsta Business 1 plan.

Why Kinsta?

I decided to go with Kinsta instead of WP Engine was because I wanted a dedicated server.

Editor’s note

There are many misconception on managed WordPress hosting. While most managed WordPress hosting offers dedicated servers and environments, not all plans (especially entry level plans) are given dedicated environments.

Kinsta for example, offers dedicated servers to all its customers regardless of the web hosting plan. WP Engine only offers dedicated environment to customers on higher plans and not in their entry level web hosting plan (Startup).

As my website is considered mid to high level traffic, having a shared environment will affect my website loading speed. In lay man terms, the website will load slower for my visitors.

The results?

More visitors leaving = Shorter stay duration + Higher bounce rate = Lower rankings on Google

Ouch!

Here are a few more geeky Kinsta features which I dearly love.

1. Data Centers. Kinsta offers 18 Google Cloud Platform regional data centers for each of your sites.

2. Expert support. Kinsta calls their support team as developers (which is pretty cool by the way) and their expert WordPress developers will help you out with any issues you may have.

3. Highly secure network. Worried of the security of your website? So do I! Kinsta WordPress hosting comes with active/passive security protocols, firewalls, daily backups and uptime checks, to name a few.

4. Built for speed. Kinsta inbuilt Nginx, LXD containers, PHP 7, and MariaDB on Google Cloud Platform will power your website and make it load at lightning speed (seriously!). Plus, Kinsta uses KeyCDN to manage all their CDN services that makes your website loads even faster!

5. Staging areas. Kinsta has staging area for development, testing or tweaking and tuning which you can turn it on in a single click.

6. Powerful administration. Managing multiple websites is NOT a hassle with Kinsta. All customers have access to the famous and custom Kinsta admin that is packed full of great features and is easy to use.

Should I use Kinsta hosting?

If you are looking for a hosting environment that sits on Google Cloud, doesn’t sucks and comes with awesome customer support, Kinsta is definitely a must have!

With pricing starts at only $30 per month, there is no denial that Kinsta is definitely worth the money (and better than WP Engine).

Under the hood: WP Engine WordPress Hosting

While I love Kinsta a lot, I got to admit that I secretly love WP Engine.

And it is NOT because of its awesome affiliate program.

It is because WP Engine is really powerful and I seriously have no issues recommending them to anyone who is looking for a serious managed WordPress hosting that rocks.

So, why WP Engine?

It’s $35 dollars a month ($5 per month more than Kinsta and $30 more than a typical shared web hosting on BlueHost).

Am I nuts to recommend WP Engine??

The answer is “Yes!”

WP Engine is not your average managed WordPress hosting solution provider.

P.S. Did you noticed their new rebranding on their website?

WP Engine new tagline is “Your WordPress Digital Experience Platform” and this makes all the sense.

Let me tell you why …

There are around 37,500,000 self-hosted WordPress today and the numbers are constantly growing each day.

With such numbers, we cannot afford to have just another WordPress website.

We need to have a website that represents us!

Why?

A website is a digital experience for many users and in most cases, people will visit your website first before actually stepping into your store (that if you have a brick and mortar business).

What will the digital experience be if your website is slow, looks bad as hell or compromised by hackers?

Here’s a stat taken from Cloud Living.

I don’t know you but this gives me the chills.

Being in this industry since 2004, I know a lot of cheap web hosting companies that don’t give a sh*t about your website security.

Do you really want your website to be hacked or compromised in any matter?

This is where WP Engine comes into play with another popular promise.

Shall your website ever been hacked or compromised during your time with WP Engine, the WP Engine team will fix it for you and resolve the issue without charge.

Let me ask you a question.

Does this makes you feel better?

I bet it does, right?

And without further a due, here’s what you will get when you host your website on WP Engine.

1. Free automated migration. This is the CORE reason why I move to WP Engine. Hassle-free! Using the free WP Engine Auto Migration plugin, you can now move to WP Engine in just a few clicks (and saves a whole lot of developer fees).

2. Performance-boosting insights. Start boosting engagement with powerful insights from WP Engine Content Performance, and even better, improve your site speed with the free Page Performance tool that comes with all WP Engine plans.

3. Enterprise-grade security. When you host your website on WP Engine, you don’t only get bulletproof security — You’ll get managed WordPress updates plus threat detection and blocking with the constant guidance by WP Engine dedicated security team.

4. CDN and SSL included. Get ready to improve your site speed, security, and SEO with a global CDN and automated SSL certificates included in all plans.

5. Agile developer environments. You can now manage all your workflows with dev, stage, and prod environments and accelerate deployment cycles with WP Engine one-click tools. #SayYes to productivity!

6. 60-days of trial period. WP Engine comes with a massive, 60-days money back guarantee. If you are unconvinced that WP Engine is right for you, this is the best time to try it out with its no question asked policy.

Should I use WP Engine hosting?

WP Engine is definitely one of the best managed WordPress hosting in the market. The best part — WP Engine is a very safe bet because it comes with server performance, excellent staging area and friendly support.

Plus, you literally gets bulletproof security features with WP Engine hosting!

Recap: Kinsta vs WP Engine

Are you deciding which is a better choice?

For starters, you won’t be wrong with either Kinsta or WP Engine.

Bottom line, both of them are very different (in terms of features) and it is best to go with your personal needs.

You should go for Kinsta if you are looking for an affordable managed WordPress hosting with superior uptime and Google Cloud servers.

WP Engine is a better choice if you are looking for a safe bet in managed hosting, powerful (and easy to scale) hosting servers and excellent staging features. Plus, WP Engine owns StudioPress where you will get unlimited access to all the popular themes!
July 3, 2024