Kadence versus Greenshift builder

A comparison: Kadence versus Greenshift

This article is about Kadence versus Greenshift. Both are extremely popular Gutenberg builders. They are also called block collections, but if it is really complete and offers its infrastructure, we use the term builder.

A unique comparison

This comparison between Greenshift blocks and Kadence blocks is unique; it contains an extensive list of properties every site builder uses and allows you to determine for yourself which builder is best for you or for a specific website.

Kadence blocks builder

Kadence blockbuilder has become a major player. The Kadence Blocks Builder is often used in combination with their own theme, but is applicable to every theme, both Classic, Hybrid and FSE (Full Site Editing).

Greenshift block builder

Greenshift is on its way to becoming a big player. The Greenshift Builder can be used with their (free) FSE theme but is applicable to every theme, both Classic, Hybrid, and FSE (Full Site Editing).

What are the similarities between Kadence versus Greenshift

Both block builders are complete enough to satisfy most website designers. They are both used by professionals (agencies) and by people who build or manage their personal websites.

Differences: Kadence versus Greenshift

Two good builders and yet, they are entirely unique. Kadence has built up an image of reliability. They are. Unfortunately, that is sometimes at the expense of innovation. In addition, they are still a classic theme. That means, for example, that if they release a (good) menu application, it must be suitable for both classic and hybrid and FSE. The result is very cleverly made but complicated. Greenshift is the opposite. Their blocks can do things that a Kadence user can only dream of, and the pace at which they innovate is high. The numerous and nearly endless list of possibilities means that as a designer/developer you can easily disturb everything and sometimes look for the cause (usually yourself).
UPDATE: Kadence has started developing an FSE theme.

Thorough analysis

I have been using both block builders, Kadence and Greenshift, for several years now. Kadence had already won my confidence, and I feel some attachment. Greenshift is unique and gives me design possibilities that I didn’t even know existed and that I didn’t know I would miss if I didn’t have them… With every new website, I now have to make the choice: Kadence or Greenshift. To make that choice easy, I made an extensive overview of both builders.

Kadence versus Greenshift score

There is an assessment of each builder in the form of a relative score. Relatively means that it is a score compared to each other, so it is not a percentage of perfection; there is no score of 100%.

Only what matters

I have deliberately not described all the characteristics of the two builders. Blocks such as icons, accordions, columns, and images are present in every builder, standard. Only if something in one of the two builders really deviated, did I put it in this list. I consciously disregarded the themes of both in terms of score; they both work on every block theme. Our overview is horizontally scrollable on mobile. Below you will find a link to both builders if you like to know more, test, or buy.

	COMPARISON: KADENCE BLOCKS VERSUS GREENSHIFT BLOCKS
	Kadence Pro	Greenshift Pro	Solution	Kadence	Greenshift
Heading block	Good	Good, with animation		1	1
Heading with nr.	No	Yes		0	1
Paragraph block	Good	Good		1	1
Paragraph text justified	No	No	Stackable	0	0
Text block URL link	Yes	Yes	None	1	1
Column URL link	Yes	No	None	1	0
Paragraph with return	Hard return in same blok	Hard return in same blok		1	1
Interactions	Some, very easy	Many, bit more complicated to apply	WP interactions	1	1
Each block Class field	Yes	Yes		1	1
Create class in block	No	Yes	No	1	1
See all classes in dropdown	No	Yes	Class manager plugin	0	1
Every block class based	No	Yes		0	1
Class for each tab	Yes	Yes *	* No target in WPinteractions	1	1
Content switch *	Yes	Yes	* show, don’t show	1	1
Countdown block	Yes	Yes		1	1
Progress bar block	Yes	Yes		1	1
Hotspot (images)	No *	Yes	* Getwid	0	1
Design options mobile	Goed	Excellent		1	2
Mobile lay-out standard	Uitstekend	Excellent	Kadence big margin is theme, not builder	1	1
Social share block	No	Yes	Separate	0	1
Blocks in accordeon	Yes, everything	Yes, everything		1	1
Effects loading page	Sufficient	Sufficient – abundant		1	2
Animate on scroll	Yes, easy	Yes (advanced, but tricky)		1	1
Row / columns block	Good	Good		1	1
Row sizing with formulas	No	Yes, advanced	Like: 100% – 300px	0	1
Columns # per device	Good	Very good		1	1
Column setting mobile landscape	No	Yes		0	1
Bento box lay-out	Half, with grid	Yes, every kind		1	2
Timeline block	No *	Yes	With a pattern	0	1
HTML based blocks	No	Yes (not important)		–	–
Stability blocks	Very Good	Good	Greenshift can do a lot, so pay attention	2	1
Has a FSE theme	No (works with FSE)	Yes, good.	No points	–	–
Quality own theme	High	High	No points	–	–
Stability theme	Excellent	Good	No points	–	–
Satisfied with own theme?	No, no FSE	Yes, stable now	No points	–	–
Custom header (nav) block	Yes, FSE also	Yes		1	1
Dynamic blocks	Yes	Yes		1	1
Rating block *****	No	Yes		0	1
Thumb counter (likes)	No	Yes		0	1
Table of contents	Yes	Yes		1	1
Query	Good	Good		1	1
Query per device	Good	Very good		1	2
Query design opties	Very good	Very good		1	1
Query Filter functionality	Excellent	Excellent		2	2
Query Filter speed	Very fast	Fast		1	0
External Filter	Unknown *	Yes	* works well	1	1
Show Query item in modal	Yes	Yes	is important	1	1
Repeater builder *	Yes	Yes	* with custom fields	1	1
Adjustable breakpoints	No	Yes *	* breakpoint mobile landscape also	0	1
Map block	Yes, Google only	Yes, Google + OpenStreetmaps	OpenStreetmaps without API	1	2
Map block custom fields	Yes, ACF, SCF, Metabox	Yes, no ACPT and Openstreetmaps is really bad.	For custom field values, Greenshift Maps is unusable.	3	1
WooCommerce blocks	No, only with Shop Kit	Yes	Shop Kit or WowStore	1	2
Video block	Yes, Excellent	Yes, Excellent		1	1
Lightbox	No *	Yes	* with theme only	0	1
Floating elements (button, etc)	No, theme Pro only	Yes	* with Pro theme only	0	1
Table advanced	Yes, blocks	Yes, blocks	Both good enough	1	1
Importer in table	No	Yes CSV, but bad.	TablePress much better	0	0
Functions admin only	Sort of blocked rowblock	Yes, more options		1	2
Dark Mode switcher	No, in theme only	Yes, block (not every theme)	Thema has to support it	0	1
ToolTip	Yes *	Yes	* reasonable	1	1
Scorebox block	Yes	Yes		1	1
Simple listing builder	No	Yes		0	1
Buttons quality	Excellent	Perfect		1	1
Side modal	Yes	Yes		1	1
Social Share	No	Yes		0	1
Social buttons	Yes, pro	Yes		1	1
Flipbox	No	Yes		0	1
Accordion	Yes	Yes		1	1
Code per page	Yes	Yes		1	1
Shape divider block	No	Yes		0	1
List with icons	Yes	Yes		1	1
Marquee container	No	Yes		0	1
Slider / Carousel	Yes	Yes		1	1
Margin blok with cursor	Yes, column / section	Yes	Saves time	1	1
Default blocks settings	Yes	Yes		1	1
Custom fonts upload	Yes, separate plugin (pro)	Yes, in block builder		1	1
Custom icon upload	Yes			1	1
Formulier function	Yes	Yes, HTML blocks		2	1
Dynamic map block	Yes, one value	Yes, one value		1	1
Horizontal scroll	No	Yes	Sometimes very handy	0	1
Documentation	Very good	Reasonable		3	2
Advanced design	Reasonable, enough	Yes		1	2
Impact speed site	Perfect	Perfect	Both very fast	1	1
A.I. text	Yes, integrated	No		2	0
A.I. page building	Yes, integrated	Yes, good		1	1
Compatible with themes	Yes	Yes	There are exceptions	2	2
Works with WP interactions	Yes	Yes		1	1
Support ACF / SCF	Yes	Yes		1	1
Support ACPT	No	Yes	Greenshift not on all blocks	0	1
Support MetaBox	Yes	Yes		1	1
Custom field integrations	Yes	Yes, amazingly good		1	2
Template builder	No	Yes, classic and FSE	Kadence in theme only	0	1
User role block manager	No	Yes		0	1
Bugs (1-10)	Sporadic	Regular	Important	7	4
Support	Excellent	Okay		4	2
SCORE (RELATIEVE)				83	100

Conclusion: Kadence versus Greenshift

• The biggest annoyance, using Kadence sometimes, is the Kadence theme itself. An FSE theme such as Greenshift, Twenty-Twenty-Three or Twenty-Twenty-Five isn’t better, but FSE themes are a lot faster, and offer a lot of customization out of the box.
• As soon as Kadence Blocks is applied to an FSE-theme, the layout on mobile in terms of margins is suddenly perfect.
• Greenshift has some minor bugs in one or two blocks, like a button that has no visible reset once it has been activated, but those are no dealbreaker, since every block collection has some.
• Kadence Blocks and Greenshift both have several functions that are valuable. 
• The query filter (including the pagination) of Greenshift and Kadence are both excellent.
• The query of Greenshift is backend slow, even with just 145 posts.
• The padding handles from Greenshift are wonderful. Kadence, unfortunately, only offers handles on the columns/sections.
• Social Share is possible through the free Greenshift plugin.
• Adjust the WooCommerce FSE template with the Greenshift Woo Add-on if necessary. 
• With Greenshift blocks you don’t necessarily lose the incredible Kadence Elements, because they are part of the theme, not the blocks. And if you decide not to use the Kadence theme, the Greenshift builder (pro) offers nearly the same functionality out of the box.
• Both Block Builders score about the same. They are both excellent block collections, just different.

When to choose Kadence over Greenshift

• When you like the workflow of Kadence.
• If working with a class-based page builder is not for you.
• If you don’t need the Kadence WooCommerce blocks on an FSE theme (not all are 100% FSE compatible).
• If you are going to use a map with custom fields. The Greenshift map is a disaster with custom fields.

When to choose Greenshift over Kadence

• When you need to use ACPT custom fields.
• When you require a query with nearly endless possibilities.
• If you require more animation or interactions.
• When you want to change templates (like a single page or WooCommerce single product) easily.
• If you prefer a class-based page builder.
• When you require the extra WooCommerce functionality of Greenshift.
• When you require the block manager function to disable certain blocks from being used by a specific user role.

What you can use from Greenshift as an addition to Kadence blocks

• Image block because of the integrated lightbox functionality.
• The Greenshift query; it has amazing integrations with nearly all custom fields, including relationships.
• Horizontal scroll in blocks.
• WooCommerce blocks for single product pages, etc.
• Flipbox block.
• Floating elements.
• Buttons block when in need of flashy buttons (color, hover grow, etc.).
• When I prefer blocks or pages with a completely class-based workflow.
• Social Share Block.

What you can use from Kadence as an addition to Greenshift blocks

• Kadence Google Maps block. It works perfectly and is happy with all kinds of custom fields for the address data.
• Navigation block. It works really well, also on FSE themes.
• Form advanced. It’s a really good form block.

Prices

Want to know more about Kadence?

Want to know more about Greenshift?