Visual Builder30K+ users

Bricks Builder Alternative for Next.js & Astro

A performance-focused WordPress visual builder with 30K+ users that appeals to developers. Learn how to take Bricks' developer-friendly approach further with modern frameworks.

TL;DR

You don't need Bricks Builder after migrating to Next.js or Astro. Modern frameworks give you full control over your design system with React components and Tailwind CSS—no page builder overhead, no theme lock-in, no license renewals. See the alternatives below.

Official docs: Next.js Documentation · Astro Documentation

The Problem with Bricks Builder

Bricks Builder is arguably the most developer-friendly WordPress page builder—it generates clean HTML with BEM-like classes and offers PHP query loops. However, it still requires WordPress, generates CSS dynamically, and stores designs in the database. Its growing but small ecosystem means fewer third-party extensions. The one-time license is appealing, but you're still building on WordPress's PHP foundation. Bricks' query loop feature, while powerful, is limited by WordPress's WP_Query.

Modern Alternatives

Next.js + Tailwind CSS

Bricks developers already think like framework developers—Next.js is the logical next step.

framework

Pros

True component architecture
Full query flexibility
TypeScript support
No WordPress overhead

Cons

Code-only workflow
No visual builder
Requires JS expertise

How to Implement

Bricks' element structure maps well to React components. Its custom properties become component props, and query loops become data fetching functions.

Remix + Tailwind CSS

For Bricks users who value clean data loading patterns, Remix's loader/action pattern is intuitive.

framework

Pros

Clean data loading
Progressive enhancement
Web standards focused
Great developer experience

Cons

Smaller ecosystem than Next.js
Requires server
Less static generation

How to Implement

Use Remix loaders for data fetching (replacing Bricks' query loops) and components for rendering.

Astro + Tailwind CSS

Astro's clean output and content focus mirrors Bricks' philosophy of minimal, semantic HTML.

framework

Pros

Clean HTML output like Bricks
Zero JS overhead
Content collections
Framework-agnostic components

Cons

Less suited for dynamic apps
No visual builder
Newer ecosystem

How to Implement

Build with Astro components and use content collections for structured data—similar to how Bricks handles custom post types.

Builder.io

For teams that need a visual builder, Builder.io provides the developer-friendly approach Bricks users appreciate.

builder

Pros

Visual editing with code control
Custom component support
Framework-agnostic
Clean output

Cons

Paid service
Third-party dependency
Setup complexity

How to Implement

Migration Steps

Export Bricks' element data—stored as JSON in post meta (similar to Oxygen)

Map Bricks elements to React components—Bricks' clean class naming makes this straightforward

Convert Bricks' dynamic data tags to framework data fetching

Migrate query loops to GraphQL queries or REST API calls

Port Bricks' interaction triggers (click, hover, scroll) to React event handlers and Framer Motion

Recreate Bricks templates (header, footer, archive) as layout components

Move custom code (PHP functions, CSS) to component files

Set up content management for any dynamic data sources

Deploy and compare performance metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

Bricks outputs clean code and is fast—why would I leave?

Bricks is the best WordPress builder for code quality, but it's still WordPress. You're still running PHP, querying MySQL, and managing WordPress updates, plugins, and security. A static Next.js site loads in under 100ms and requires zero server maintenance.

What replaces Bricks' query loop feature?

React Server Components in Next.js can directly fetch from any data source—databases, APIs, CMS platforms—with full JavaScript available for data transformation. It's more powerful than WP_Query and not limited to WordPress's post types.

I'm a developer who uses Bricks because clients need visual editing—what's the alternative?

Builder.io + your React component library gives clients visual editing while you maintain code quality. Alternatively, Sanity's Visual Editing or Payload CMS's Live Preview provide content editing without compromising your frontend architecture.