THE SHORT ANSWER
Pick the build by who edits the site after launch. A page builder like Divi or Elementor suits clients who want to change layouts themselves. ACF with a custom theme suits structured content and tight control. A block theme suits teams that live in the WordPress editor. All three can match a Figma file exactly.
Every Figma to WordPress project starts with the same question from the agency: what should we build it in? The design doesn’t answer that. The client’s team does. Here is how we choose in 2027.
01The three ways to build a Figma design
| Build | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Page builder (Divi 5, Elementor) | Clients who edit layouts and add pages often | Heavier pages if presets aren’t set up well |
| ACF and a custom theme | Structured content, strict brand control, fast pages | Layout changes need a developer |
| Block theme (Gutenberg) | Teams comfortable in the WordPress editor | Complex designs need custom blocks |
02When should you use a page builder?
When the client will build new pages without you. A good builder setup gives them presets and templates so new pages still look on-brand.
- Marketing teams that launch landing pages every month.
- Agencies that already sell Divi or Elementor sites and train clients on them.
- Designs with many one-off sections that change often.
The key is building presets before pages. Set the brand colors, fonts and spacing once as global variables, so a client edit can’t drift off-brand.
03When should you use ACF?
When the content has a fixed shape: team members, case studies, locations, products, events. The client fills in fields and the template handles the design.
- Sites where the brand must look identical on every page.
- Content reused in many places, like a team grid and individual profiles.
- Projects where page speed is the top priority.
FROM OUR DESK
We often mix the two: a page builder for marketing pages and ACF for structured content like case studies. The client gets freedom where it helps and guardrails where it matters.
04When does a block theme make sense?
When the team already writes in the WordPress editor and the design is built from repeatable patterns. Block patterns and theme.json styles keep things consistent, and there is no builder plugin to maintain. Very custom layouts may need custom blocks, which adds development time.
05What does each option cost?
The build method matters less than the number of unique templates in the Figma file. With us, Figma to WordPress builds start at $400 a page, whatever the build method, and most sites are done in 3 to 7 working days.
Have a Figma file ready?
Send it over. We recommend the build method and send a fixed quote within 24 hours.
06A quick way to decide
- Will the client create new page layouts? Use a page builder.
- Is most content structured and repeated? Use ACF.
- Does the team already work in the block editor? Use a block theme.
- Still unsure? Build marketing pages in a builder and structured content with ACF.
07FAQ
Can a page builder match a Figma design exactly?
Yes. Divi 5 and Elementor both support flexbox, grid and custom spacing, so a careful build can match the design at every breakpoint.
Is ACF better for SEO than a page builder?
Not by itself. ACF builds are usually lighter, which helps speed. A well set up builder site can rank just as well.
Which option is easiest for clients to edit?
For text and images, ACF fields are the simplest. For changing layouts, a page builder is the easiest.
Do you need a developer to update an ACF site?
For content, no. For new layouts or new field types, yes.
