Elementor
The most widely installed visual page builder for WordPress, with a free drag-and-drop editor and Pro plans adding theme, popup, form and…
90
Kadence Blocks
Free Gutenberg block suite with row layouts, forms, a design library and AI writing tools; Pro adds dynamic content, query loops and more via Kadence bundles.
Free installs600K+WordPress.org, active
Est. Pro installs~340KLikely 220K–510K
Vendor claims500K+Vendor's own figure
Rating4.8/5333 reviews
Price from$99/yrFreemium
Last updated28 Oct 2026Version 3.8.1
Overview
Kadence Blocks extends the WordPress block editor with layout and content blocks aimed at building full pages without leaving Gutenberg. It is developed by KadenceWP, now part of StellarWP and Liquid Web, and works with any theme, though it pairs most closely with the Kadence theme.
The free plugin includes row layouts and section/container blocks with nested columns, advanced headings and buttons, tabs, accordions, galleries with carousel modes, icon lists, info boxes, countdowns, a modal block, a table of contents, an advanced navigation block with mega menus, header blocks and a form block with reCAPTCHA, Turnstile and hCaptcha support. Every block has desktop, tablet and mobile settings, and you can set default styles so new blocks start on-brand. A Design Library offers prebuilt patterns and pages, and an inline AI editor can rewrite or adjust text.
Free vs paid
There is no standalone Blocks Pro purchase any more. Pro features come with the Kadence bundles:
- Essentials ($99/yr): Blocks Pro and Theme Pro, Advanced Query Loop, dynamic content from ACF, Meta Box and other sources, animate on scroll, custom fonts and icons, Pattern Hub, hooked elements and ShopKit core.
- Pro ($299/yr): adds a large set of WooCommerce, membership, security and backup tools.
- Elite ($499/yr): adds Kadence Conversions popups and slide-ins, A/B testing, AI design tools, central management and white label.
Strengths and limitations
Kadence Blocks only loads CSS and JavaScript for blocks used on a page, and content is stored as block markup, so it stays lightweight and portable. Role-based visibility of block settings helps keep clients out of design controls. On the downside, triggered popups and white label sit in the expensive Elite tier, theme building depends on Kadence Theme Pro, and there is no dedicated WooCommerce template builder inside the plugin itself.
It suits site builders who want a fast, Gutenberg-native toolkit and are happy to stay in the Kadence ecosystem for advanced site building.
Best for: Gutenberg-first builders who want a lightweight, capable block suite and may later adopt the wider Kadence ecosystem.
Kadence Blocks offers one of the most complete free block suites, with good responsive controls and performance. Its Pro features are only sold inside bundles, which is good value if you also use the Kadence theme but less so if you only want a few extra blocks.
Pros
- Strong free block set including forms, tabs, galleries and modals
- Per-device controls and configurable block defaults
- Loads assets only for blocks in use
- Role-based hiding of block settings for client sites
- Pro bundles cover theme, blocks and many add-ons in one licence
Cons
- No standalone Blocks Pro purchase; cheapest paid option is a $99 bundle
- Triggered popups and white label only in the $499 Elite plan
- Theme building relies on Kadence Theme Pro
- No dedicated WooCommerce template builder in the plugin
Key features
What Kadence Blocks highlights on its WordPress.org page and its own website, split by version.
Free version WordPress.org
- Row layout, section and container blocks
- Advanced form block with CAPTCHA options
- Tabs, accordion, gallery and modal blocks
- Advanced navigation with mega menus
- Desktop, tablet and mobile controls
- Configurable default block styles
- Design Library of patterns and pages
- Inline AI text editing
- Per-block custom CSS
- Role-based hiding of block settings
- CSS and JS loaded only when used
- 1500+ SVG icons and Google Fonts
Pro / paid adds From $99/yr
- Advanced Query Loop block
- Dynamic content from ACF and Meta Box
- Animate on scroll effects
- Advanced slider, image overlay and split content
- Product carousel and post grid blocks
- Custom fonts and icons
- Pattern Hub cloud library
- Hooked elements via Kadence Theme Pro
- Conversions popups and slide-ins (Elite)
- AI design tools (Elite)
- White label (Elite)
Feature checklist
25 of 25 features we track in Page Builders, feature score 94/100
Editing 8/8
Visual front-end editor Key
Edit pages visually on the front end, seeing the real design as you build.
Visual editing happens in the block editor with device previews, not on the live front end.
Partial
Built on the block editor
Works inside Gutenberg as blocks rather than a separate editor.
Built entirely as Gutenberg blocks.
Included
Responsive controls Key
Separate settings per breakpoint for desktop, tablet and mobile.
Tablet and mobile settings for spacing, typography and layout on each block.
Included
Global styles & design tokens
Site-wide colours, fonts and spacing reused across elements.
Configurable block defaults apply chosen styles to every new block; palette works with Kadence Theme.
Included
Flexbox & CSS grid layouts
Modern container layouts using flexbox and CSS grid.
Row Layout and Section/Container blocks for nested column and flex layouts.
Included
Custom CSS per element
Add custom CSS to individual elements or sections.
Per-block custom CSS editor.
Included
Revision history & undo
Step back through changes and restore earlier versions.
Relies on core WordPress post revisions and editor undo.
Included
AI assistant
Generate layouts, text, images or code with built-in AI.
Inline AI editor rewrites text and changes tone using Kadence AI credits; AI design tools in Elite.
Included
Elements & templates 5/5
Template library Key
Ready-made page and section templates.
Design Library of patterns and full pages; more content with Pro.
Included
Large element library
Wide range of widgets/elements (sliders, tabs, galleries, pricing tables and more).
20+ free blocks, more in Pro (slider, repeater, image overlay, video popup).
Included
Popup builder
Design popups with triggers and display conditions.
Free Modal block is click-triggered; triggered popups and slide-ins via Conversions.
Paid version Elite
Built-in forms
Contact or lead forms built into the builder.
Advanced Form block with file uploads and reCAPTCHA, Turnstile or hCaptcha.
Included
Motion effects & animations
Entrance animations, scroll and hover effects.
Animate on Scroll is a Pro feature; free has hover styles and Lottie animations.
Paid version Essentials
Theme & dynamic 6/6
Theme builder Key
Design headers, footers, archives and single templates.
Free header and navigation blocks; templates and hooked elements via Kadence Theme Pro.
Paid version Essentials
Dynamic content Key
Pull post fields, custom fields and site data into designs.
Pull post fields and custom fields into blocks.
Paid version Essentials
ACF / custom field support
Use Advanced Custom Fields, Meta Box or similar in designs.
Dynamic content supports ACF, Meta Box, WooCommerce and The Events Calendar fields.
Paid version Essentials
Query loops & listings
Build custom post grids/listings with your own loop design.
Advanced Query Loop block with filters; free Posts block has fixed layouts.
Paid version Essentials
Display conditions
Show elements or templates based on rules (user role, page type, date…).
Conditional display rules for blocks are part of the Pro feature set.
Paid version Essentials
WooCommerce builder Key
Design product, shop, cart and checkout templates.
Product carousel block in Pro and ShopKit add-ons; no full Woo template builder in Blocks.
Partial Essentials
Performance & workflow 6/6
Lightweight output Key
Minimal markup/CSS/JS on the front end; assets loaded only when used.
Loads CSS or JS only for blocks used on a given page.
Included
Content survives deactivation
Pages keep readable content (not shortcodes) if the builder is removed.
Content is stored as block markup rather than shortcodes.
Included
Role & client permissions
Limit what clients or roles can edit.
Hide block settings from chosen user roles so clients can edit content only.
Included
White label
Rebrand the builder for client sites.
White label branding is listed in the Elite plan.
Paid version Elite
Developer API
Hooks/APIs for custom elements and integrations.
Open-source codebase on GitHub with hooks for extending blocks.
Included
Cloud templates / multisite
Save and reuse templates across sites (cloud library).
Pattern Hub lets you serve your own patterns to other sites as a cloud library.
Paid version Essentials
Pricing
Free
$0On WordPress.org
Essentials
$99per yearUnlimited
Includes Kadence Blocks Pro and Theme Pro. Site limit not stated on the pricing page; reviews report unlimited sites.
Pro
$299per yearUnlimited
Adds WooCommerce extensions, memberships, security and backups.
Elite
$499per yearUnlimited
Adds Conversions popups, A/B testing, AI design tools, Kadence Central and white label.
Prices are list prices from the vendor's site, checked 14 Oct 2026. Many vendors discount the first year.
How many sites use Kadence Blocks?
Free installs from WordPress.org, the vendor's own claim, and our estimate of paid installs.
Free version (WordPress.org)
600K+
Active installations reported by WordPress.org.
Vendor claim
500K+
Sites/users claimed on the vendor's website. source
Estimated Pro / paid installs
~340K
Our estimate, see method below.
How we estimated this: The vendor figure (500K+) is below the WordPress.org count, so it looks out of date and we leave it out. Website scans by WPoptic find the paid plugin (folder kadence-blocks-pro) on 123,826 live sites; they find the free version on 196,090 sites against about 650K WordPress.org installs, so each site found stands for about 3.3, giving 410K. About 650K free installs x 16% (the usual share of free sites that also run the paid version when some key features are paid, and Pro is included in a wider membership) gives 100K. Combining these (weighted average) gives about 340K. Likely range: 220K to 510K. This counts sites running the paid version, including sites whose licence has lapsed. Estimates are rough and based on public figures as of 14 Oct 2026.
Stats & health
Weekly downloads
325,426 downloads last week, 42.9M all time
Rating breakdown
| Version | 3.8.1 |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 28 Oct 2026 (5 days ago) |
| Tested up to | WordPress 7.1.4 |
| Requires | WordPress 6.6+, PHP 7.4+ |
| Support threads (2 months) | 12 of 18 resolved |
| On WordPress.org since | 19 Aug 2018 |
Company & policy
| Trustpilot rating | 4.8 (source, 5 Oct 2026) Score quoted on the vendor's page, not checked on Trustpilot directly. |
|---|
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FAQ
Is Kadence Blocks free?
Yes. Kadence Blocks has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $99/yr.
How many sites use Kadence Blocks?
WordPress.org reports 600K+ active installations of the free version. The vendor claims 500K+ sites in total. We estimate around 340K sites run the paid version.
Does Kadence Blocks have visual front-end editor?
Yes: partial. Visual editing happens in the block editor with device previews, not on the live front end.
Does Kadence Blocks have responsive controls?
Yes: included. Tablet and mobile settings for spacing, typography and layout on each block.
Does Kadence Blocks have template library?
Yes: included. Design Library of patterns and full pages; more content with Pro.
Does Kadence Blocks have theme builder?
Yes: paid version (Essentials). Free header and navigation blocks; templates and hooked elements via Kadence Theme Pro.
Does Kadence Blocks have dynamic content?
Yes: paid version (Essentials). Pull post fields and custom fields into blocks.
Does Kadence Blocks have woocommerce builder?
Yes: partial (Essentials). Product carousel block in Pro and ShopKit add-ons; no full Woo template builder in Blocks.
Does Kadence Blocks have lightweight output?
Yes: included. Loads CSS or JS only for blocks used on a given page.
How do I get Kadence Blocks Pro?
It is included in every Kadence bundle, starting with Essentials at $99 per year; it is no longer sold on its own.
Does Kadence Blocks need the Kadence theme?
No, it works with any theme. Some site-building features, such as hooked elements and templates, come from Kadence Theme Pro.
Can I build popups with the free version?
The free Modal block opens content in an overlay from a link or button. Popups with automatic triggers and targeting come with Kadence Conversions in the Elite plan.
Will my pages break if I remove Kadence Blocks?
Content is stored as block markup, so text and images remain, but Kadence blocks lose their styling and show as unsupported blocks.
Last updated 5 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit.