In the web design world, the debate never ends, WordPress vs Framer, Divi vs Webflow, templates vs custom builds.
But lately, one shift is becoming clearer: designers are moving away from traditional builders like Divi and embracing modern tools like Framer.

If you’ve ever built a site on Divi and wondered why it felt heavy, slow, or limiting, this article is for you.
Let’s break down how Framer and Divi compare, and why Framer might just be the future of design-driven web creation.

1. The Platforms in Context

Before comparing features, it’s important to understand what these two platforms represent.

• Divi is a WordPress-based page builder created by Elegant Themes. It runs inside the WordPress ecosystem, offering drag-and-drop design tools without needing code. It’s powerful but also tied to WordPress’s ecosystem, updates, and plugins.

• Framer, on the other hand, is a modern, code-free design and development platform. It allows you to design visually, publish instantly, and create production-grade websites that are fast, responsive, and SEO-ready; all in one place.

In short:
Divi is a plugin.
Framer is a platform.

2. Design Freedom

Divi:
Divi gives you flexibility within the limits of its prebuilt modules. You can create columns, sliders, and sections easily, but customization often depends on third-party CSS tweaks or complex Divi settings. You design around the framework.

Framer:
Framer gives you the creative freedom of a design tool like Figma, but your designs are instantly live websites. No “exporting,” no theme conflicts, no plugin dependencies. You design within your vision, not within restrictions.

Designers love Framer because what you see is what you ship.

3. Performance and Speed

Divi:
One of Divi’s biggest weaknesses is performance. Because it runs on WordPress, each page relies on PHP, MySQL, and multiple scripts, often leading to slower load times. Add plugins or animations, and you’ll likely need optimization plugins to fix what shouldn’t be broken.

Framer:
Framer sites are built with React and Next.js, two of the most modern web technologies. That means:

• Lightning-fast load speeds

• Built-in image optimization

• Smooth animations

• Fewer moving parts (no external hosting, no plugins)

Speed isn’t just a user experience metric, it’s an SEO ranking factor.
And Framer nails it right out of the box.

4. Ease of Use

Divi:
For beginners, Divi feels intuitive at first. But as your design gets more complex, managing sections, rows, and columns becomes cumbersome. You spend more time clicking through settings than actually designing.

Framer:
Framer offers an interface similar to Figma, meaning designers feel right at home. You drag, drop, and visually position everything and you can even use Framer’s AI tools to generate sections, layouts, or entire pages instantly.

It’s fast, intuitive, and visually rewarding.

5. Maintenance and Security

Divi (WordPress):
Running Divi means maintaining a WordPress installation. That includes:

• Plugin updates

• Theme compatibility

• Security patches

• Backups

• Hosting setup

If you forget one update or use a bad plugin, your site might break or worse, get hacked.

Framer:
Framer takes care of everything: hosting, SSL, and updates. There’s no need for maintenance or backend management. Your website lives securely in the cloud and updates automatically.

For freelancers and agencies, this means fewer “client maintenance” headaches and more time designing.

6. SEO and Performance Insights

Divi:
While Divi offers SEO plugins and settings, optimization depends on third-party tools like Yoast or Rank Math. These plugins work but they also add more scripts and dependencies, slowing things down.

Framer:
Framer was built with SEO in mind. You can customize:

• Meta titles and descriptions

• Open Graph tags

• Sitemap and robots.txt

• Alt texts and structured data

And since it’s built on Next.js, Framer automatically delivers static, SEO-optimized pages with lightning-fast rendering.

You design, Framer handles the technical SEO.

7. Integrations and Scalability

Divi:
Because Divi runs inside WordPress, it relies heavily on plugins for extra functionality; forms, analytics, animations, or e-commerce. This can quickly turn into a plugin jungle.

Framer:
Framer integrates natively with tools like:

• Google Analytics

• HubSpot

• Mailchimp

• Notion

• Stripe

• Zapier

And since it’s React-based, developers can extend Framer with custom code if needed. It scales beautifully for both freelancers and growing startups.

8. Collaboration and Handoff

Divi:
Collaboration in Divi is not its strong suit. Teams rely on sharing credentials or backups, and transferring projects often breaks layouts or dependencies.

Framer:
Framer supports real-time collaboration, just like Figma. Multiple teammates can work on the same project simultaneously; designers, marketers, and developers with no version control issues.

9. Cost and Value

Divi:
Divi offers a lifetime license model, which sounds great at first. But remember, you’ll also need:

• Hosting

• Plugin subscriptions

• Security tools

• Maintenance time

These costs add up both in money and effort.

Framer:
Framer has a straightforward pricing structure, including free plans for personal projects. Hosting, SSL, performance, and support are all included no hidden extras.
For professionals, Framer’s business plan delivers enterprise-grade performance without the WordPress hassle.

10. Future-Proofing Your Website

The web is moving fast.
AI, interactivity, and visual storytelling are shaping how brands communicate online.

Divi was built for a web that existed 10 years ago, Framer was built for the next 10.

With Framer, you can integrate animations, Lottie files, or scroll effects without touching code. You can use AI to create new sections or generate content layouts on the fly. It’s fast, responsive, and constantly improving.

If you’re building for the future, Framer is already there.

11. Migration: Moving from Divi to Framer

If you already have a Divi site, transitioning to Framer doesn’t have to be hard.
Here’s what the process usually looks like:

1. Audit your current site – Identify pages, structure, and key assets.

2. Redesign in Framer – Replicate or improve layouts visually.

3. Set up redirects and SEO mapping – Preserve your rankings and backlinks.

4. Launch – Instantly host and publish on Framer.

You’ll end up with a faster, lighter, and more flexible site, no plugin clutter, no maintenance stress.

If you’d like professional help with this process, I help brands and creatives migrate from WordPress and Divi to Framer with clean design systems, SEO retention, and ongoing support.

Framer isn’t just a tool, it’s a shift in mindset.
It’s where design meets performance, where creativity and function coexist.

Divi served its purpose, but today’s web requires speed, clarity, and adaptability. Framer gives you all three with less effort and more creative control.