Page Builders 2026: Bricks vs Oxygen vs Breakdance vs Elementor

If you’re still using the same page builder from 2022, you’re losing revenue. Google factors page speed heavily into rankings. The difference between a 70 PageSpeed score and a 95+ score directly impacts conversions, ad costs, and search positions.

The WordPress page builder landscape has shifted. On one side, the established giant Elementor with 10 million installs. On the other, performance-first builders — Bricks, Breakdance, and Oxygen — are rewriting the rules with clean code and blazing speed.

Who Should Read This Comparison?

This guide is for freelancers, agency owners, and developers who want straight facts. No fanboy bias. Just real performance data, honest pricing, and clear recommendations based on what you’re building.

Whether you’re comparing Bricks vs Elementor for a client site, wondering if Breakdance lives up to the hype, or confused about Oxygen after the Oxygen 6 beta launch — this comparison covers it all.

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At a Glance: Quick Comparison

Feature	Bricks	Oxygen	Breakdance	Elementor
Best For	Developers, Agencies	Developers	Designers, Switchers	Beginners, Enterprises
Starting Price	$79/year (1 site)	$129 lifetime	Free / $99.99/year	Free / $65/year
Lifetime Option	✅ $599	✅ $129-$199	❌ No	❌ No
Unlimited Sites	$249/yr or $599 lifetime	All plans	$199.99/year	$999/year
Built-in Elements	110+	Minimal (extensions)	145 (Pro) / 80 (Free)	86 (Pro) / 32 (Free)
Learning Curve	Moderate-Steep	Steep	Easy-Moderate	Easy
PageSpeed Score	95+	95+	85-95	70-85
Code Quality	Excellent	Best-in-class	Excellent	Heavy
WooCommerce Builder	✅ Native	Add-on / separate tier	✅ Native	✅ Native
Form Builder	❌ Needs plugin	Add-on ($49.99/yr)	✅ Native	✅ Native
Popup Builder	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Theme Builder	✅ Full	✅ Full	✅ Full	✅ Full
Dynamic Data	✅ Query Loops	✅ ACF native	✅ Post Loops	✅ Dynamic Tags
Community Size	Large, very active	Moderate	Growing	Largest

*Elementor scores require optimization with caching/CDN to reach this range.

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Bricks — The Performance King

Launched in 2021, Bricks Builder has quickly become the go-to choice for developers who refuse to compromise on speed. Built on Vue.js instead of jQuery, it outputs clean semantic HTML that scores 95+ on PageSpeed Insights right out of the box.

What Makes Bricks Different

Most page builders add layers of wrapper divs that slow down your site. Bricks takes a class-first approach. You get visual full-site editing — headers, footers, archives, 404 pages — all designed visually without touching code. But when you need to, custom CSS, JavaScript, and PHP are right there.

The Query Loop Builder is a standout feature. Build dynamic lists from any WordPress data visually, with custom PHP support when you need complex queries. The built-in WooCommerce Builder gives you pixel-perfect control over every store page without extra plugins.

Pricing That Actually Makes Sense

• Starter: $79/year — 1 site
• Business: $149/year — 3 sites
• Agency: $249/year — unlimited sites
• Ultimate: $599 one-time — unlimited, all future updates

The lifetime deal is the real value. For agencies running 20+ sites, that $599 pays for itself in under a year.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Fastest page builder — 95+ PageSpeed scores consistently
• Clean code, minimal DOM bloat
• One-time lifetime payment available
• No vendor lock-in — clean code remains if you deactivate
• Built-in features reduce plugin dependencies

Cons:

• No free version for testing
• Smaller community than Elementor
• Steeper learning curve for beginners

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Breakdance — The Modern All-Rounder

Breakdance launched in 2022 from Soflyy — the same team behind Oxygen. Think of it as “Oxygen’s friendlier sibling.” It keeps the performance benefits but wraps them in a modern, intuitive interface that won’t scare clients.

What Makes Breakdance Different

Breakdance ships with 145 elements in Pro and 1000+ templates including 37+ one-click websites. The WooCommerce integration is strong — you get advanced checkout customization.

The built-in Form Builder supports 20+ integrations. The Popup Builder has advanced targeting. The CSS Class Manager lets professionals work efficiently. And the “Bloat Eliminator” strips unnecessary WordPress assets automatically.

Pricing Structure

• Free: $0 — 80 elements, basic features, unlimited sites
• Pro (1 site): $99.99/year
• Pro Unlimited: $199.99/year — most popular option
• Agency: $799.99/year — 5 team members, reseller terms

Key advantage: Pro features continue working after subscription lapses. You just lose updates and support. Price lock guarantee ensures renewals never increase.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Free version available for testing
• Modern UI that’s genuinely intuitive
• Excellent WooCommerce integration
• Good balance of ease and power
• Pro keeps working after expiry

Cons:

• No lifetime option currently
• Smaller third-party ecosystem than Elementor
• AI content writer costs extra

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Oxygen — For Developers Who Want Control

Oxygen isn’t just a page builder — it’s a complete theme replacement system. While other builders layer on top of your theme, Oxygen replaces it entirely. That means total control over every line of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

The Oxygen 6 Beta Factor

In February 2025, Soflyy released Oxygen 6 Beta — a complete ground-up rebuild promising better performance, flexibility, and reliability. Future price: $399.99. But right now you can get it bundled in a special launch offer.

Oxygen Classic isn’t going anywhere. It remains the stable, production-ready version. But Oxygen 6 represents the future.

What Makes Oxygen Different

Deep integration with ACF and MetaBox. A Gutenberg Block Builder for custom blocks. Composite Elements for reusable components. And a simplified client UI to restrict editing so clients don’t break designs.

Most importantly: no shortcode lock-in. Deactivate Oxygen and your content remains readable.

Pricing and the Launch Bundle

• Basic: $129 lifetime — unlimited sites
• WooCommerce: $149 lifetime
• Ultimate: $179 lifetime — all features
• Launch Bundle: $199.50 (limited-time promo) — Oxygen Classic + Oxygen 6 + all Breakdance add-ons

That launch bundle is wild value. You get both Oxygen versions plus Breakdance Elements, WooCommerce, and Forms — effectively future-proofing your toolkit. Note: This is a limited-time promotional price; regular price will be $399.99.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• One-time payment for unlimited sites
• Among the fastest builders
• Complete code control
• No vendor lock-in
• Classic version supported long-term

Cons:

• Steep learning curve — not for beginners
• No free version
• Confusion around Oxygen vs Breakdance positioning
• Oxygen 6 is still beta

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Elementor — The Safe Choice

With 10 million active installations and 13% of all websites globally, Elementor is the default choice. There’s a reason for that: it works for almost everything, has the most tutorials, and clients love how easy it is to make edits.

What Makes Elementor Different

The ecosystem is unmatched. 300+ templates. 90+ Pro widgets. Thousands of add-ons. AI-powered design tools. And enterprise support for big clients.

Elementor added Collaborative Notes — team feedback directly on designs. They’re building for professional teams, not just solo freelancers.

Pricing Structure

• Free: Limited but functional
• Essential: $59/year — 1 site
• Advanced Solo: $99/year — 1 site
• Advanced: $99/year — 3 sites
• Expert: $199/year — 25 sites
• Studio: $499/year — 100 sites
• Agency: $999/year — 1,000 sites

The subscription model adds up fast for agencies. Pro widgets also lock when your license expires — clients lose functionality if you don’t maintain the subscription.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Largest community and ecosystem
• Most documentation and tutorials
• Beginner-friendly interface
• AI features genuinely speed up workflow
• Enterprise support available

Cons:

• Subscription only — no lifetime
• Pro widgets lock on expiry
• Heavier code output impacts performance
• Needs optimization for good PageSpeed scores
• Expensive for agencies with many sites

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Performance Showdown: Speed & Core Web Vitals

Here’s where the newer builders pull ahead. WordPress speed optimization is critical in 2026 — Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor, and every second of delay costs conversions.

Builder	PageSpeed Score	DOM Output	jQuery	TTFB
Bricks	95+	Clean/Minimal	No (Vue.js)	Low
Oxygen	95+	Clean/Minimal	No	Very Low
Breakdance	85-95	Clean	Minimal	Low
Elementor	70-85*	Heavy	Yes	Higher

*Elementor can hit 90+ with aggressive caching, asset optimization, and a CDN. But out of the box, expect lower scores.

Reddit user: “First time I got 100/100 on PageSpeed Insights was after switching from Elementor to Breakdance. Removed 22 plugins.”

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Pricing Scenarios: Real Cost Over Time

Let’s look at what these tools actually cost you over 3 years.

Scenario: Freelancer with 10 Client Sites

Builder	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	3-Year Total
Bricks Lifetime	$599	$0	$0	$599
Oxygen Ultimate	$179	$0	$0	$179
Breakdance Unlimited	$199.99	$199.99	$199.99	$599.97
Elementor Expert	$199	$199	$199	$597

Agencies with 25+ sites pay $999/year for Elementor while Bricks and Oxygen stay flat.

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Which Builder Should You Choose?

Choose Elementor If:

• You want the safest, most documented choice
• Your clients need the easiest editing experience
• You rely on specific third-party integrations
• Enterprise support is a requirement
• You’re a beginner wanting maximum tutorial resources

Choose Bricks If:

• Performance and SEO are top priorities
• You want the best long-term value
• You’re comfortable with class-based workflows
• You’re an agency building many sites

Choose Breakdance If:

• You want modern UI without sacrificing power
• WooCommerce is a primary focus
• You want a free version to test first
• You prefer subscription pricing with locked rates

Choose Oxygen If:

• You need absolute control over code
• You’re a developer comfortable with complexity
• You want the lifetime bundle deal
• You’re willing to work with beta software

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The Bottom Line

2026 is the year performance-first builders pull ahead. Google uses speed as a ranking factor. Users expect sub-3-second load times. The gap between bloated and clean builders is business-critical.

Bricks offers the best value. The lifetime deal, 95+ PageSpeed scores, and clean code make it hard to beat.

Breakdance is the smart choice if you want modern workflows without a learning cliff. The free version lets you test risk-free.

Elementor remains the safe enterprise choice with unmatched ecosystem support.

Oxygen is for developers who want maximum control and don’t mind getting their hands dirty.

Want to build a directory or job board site with any of these builders? Check out Listeo for directories and listings, or WorkScout for job boards and freelance marketplaces. Both themes work beautifully with modern page builders and include booking systems, user dashboards, and monetization features built-in.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which page builder are you using in 2026? Share your experience in the comments below.