Web design with Etch: WordPress blocks instead of a closed builder
Etch saves what you build as WordPress blocks, and your client edits in the native editor. It is an interesting bet, and still young. We tell you when it pays off.
When Etch makes sense
Etch makes sense if you want to avoid depending on a builder and there is a technical profile behind the site. It is newer than the other options, so there are fewer professionals and extensions.
We would choose it if…
- You want content to stay in WordPress blocks.
- Whoever edits will use the native editor, with parts locked so the design cannot break.
- There is a technical profile who knows HTML and CSS.
We would look elsewhere if…
- You need plenty of professionals available to replace you.
- You want an easy editor to learn from scratch with no technical background.
- Your project calls for stability proven over many years.
Etch at a glance
- What it is
- A plugin its makers describe as a visual development environment, not a builder.
- Where it saves
- According to Etch, in WordPress blocks.
- Price
- Annual: $99 (3 sites), $199 (25) or $299 (75). Unlimited dev installs.
- Maturity
- Version 1.0 released in January 2026.
Checked in October 2026 on the official sites. This can change, so check it before deciding: Etch pricing · Why Etch · Etch 1.0.
Why saving to blocks matters
A builder usually saves the design in its own format, and leaving means rebuilding it. Etch writes to WordPress blocks, which reduces that dependence and lets the client edit in the editor WordPress already has.
Even so, that does not make the site independent of everything: it is worth testing on a copy what happens if you stop using it. Its pricing page does not explain what happens when the licence expires, and we would ask before starting an important project.
What is good about being young, and what is not
Etch arrives without the weight of years of compatibility, and its approach shows it. In exchange, there is less third-party documentation, fewer extensions and fewer professionals who know how to work with it.
If someone else has to carry on with your site tomorrow, they may be harder to find. That is a reasonable risk on some projects and too much on others.
Installs and the real cost
Plans limit live sites, not development ones. For a single site, the $99 plan is more than enough, but it is an annual subscription, not a one-off payment. Add it to the cost of the site for the years it will be running.
If it does not fit, compare it with these
Elementor
Elementor makes sense when editing visually on your own matters more than every kilobyte. If speed comes first, or the site will have a lot of custom logic, there are better options.
See ElementorBricks
Bricks makes sense when you want control over the result and someone with technical judgement will maintain the site. If you will edit everything yourself with no technical knowledge, another editor is usually more comfortable.
See BricksOxygen
Oxygen makes sense if someone who knows layout will run it and you prefer a one-off payment. If you will edit the design without that background, it is not the most comfortable option.
See OxygenBreakdance
Breakdance makes sense if you want a visual editor and to design WooCommerce shop pages without much code. If what matters most is finding plenty of professionals who know it, Elementor has the edge.
See BreakdanceEmDash
EmDash makes sense for a content site built with Astro, if editors need a panel and someone technical handles the rest. If you need WordPress plugins or a WooCommerce shop, it is not for you.
See EmDashThe tool is only part of it. See how we work and what it costs in WordPress web design.
Who does the work
We are a studio from Oleiros (A Coruña, Spain) with 8 years of hands-on WordPress experience, working freelance since February 2018. You talk to the person who does the work, not to a go-between. Meetings are by video call and, if you are in the city of Barcelona, we can also meet in person.
Etch: frequently asked questions
Is Etch a page builder?
Its makers present it as a visual development environment for WordPress, not a builder. In practice you build visually, but the result is saved in WordPress blocks.
Does Etch need a theme?
According to its site, it comes with a blank block theme used to connect with the editor, and it can be used with any block theme.
Can my client edit the site?
Yes. According to Etch, clients use the native block editor, with the elements they should not touch locked.
Is Etch a good idea for an important site?
It depends on who will maintain it. It is recent, so we would only consider it if there is a stable technical profile behind it and what the project needs has been tested.
Tell us what website you need
If Etch is not the right tool for you, we will tell you. We reply within 48 working hours, after looking into it, with a fixed quote in writing.
Your first consultation is free. We look at what you tell us and reply within 48 business hours.