0 WordPress gained popularity with the classic editor. Then it introduced the Gutenberg block editor in December 2018. During the last few years, the block editor evolved so significantly that people started loving it more than other editors. And, the classic editor will be completely replaced by Gutenberg soon.
Classic Editor is an official WordPress plugin, and will be fully supported and maintained until 2024, or as long as is necessary.
According to WP Org
It’s obvious that Gutenberg editor will rule the future of WordPress and revolutionize the publishing experience on the web. WordPress product companies rightly perceive this and are developing block editors to cater to the needs of users.
As a result, BdThemes created ZoloBlocks, and soon it became one of the best inclusions to the list of the best WordPress block editors. You may think that’s an overstatement. But, we’ve given reasons for our claim in this post. Keep reading our ZoloBlocks review to explore how this Gutenberg block editor lets you create stunning websites.
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A Short Background About ZoloBlocks
ZoloBlocks is a comparatively new plugin for the Gutenberg Site Builder in WordPress, launched in April 2024 by BdThemes. It was designed to make web design easier for people of all skill levels.
Whether you’re a beginner or expert, working solo or with a team, ZoloBlocks helps you build your site easily with over 40 free elements like Accordions, Advanced Buttons, Image Galleries, and more.
Here’s what the creator of this plugin said in his announcement post on LinkedIn.
I am excited to announce the launch of ZoloBlocks plugin for Gutenberg. After a long development period, we have ensured that you are getting:
Selim Rana
– the best web design experience
– features that rivals page builders
– improved user interface
– advanced blocks like never before
The Pro Plan offers even more perks, like SEO optimization, powerful security, a user-friendly interface, fast performance, regular updates, and dependable support. In a nutshell, ZoloBlocks is all about making professional web design accessible and affordable for everyone.
10 Key Features of the ZoloBlocks Block Editor Plugin
ZoloBlocks enhances the WordPress Gutenberg experience with a comprehensive suite of features. We’ve listed the top ten free features in this section.
1. Template Library
With ZoloBlocks, you get access to an expansive Template Library filled with ready-to-use designs. These include full-page templates, landing pages, sections, headers, and footers. And, there’s an exciting new AI feature on the horizon that will allow you to create your own custom patterns effortlessly.
2. Chart
Need to make data presentation easy and effective? ZoloBlocks has got you covered with its Chart block. You can create various chart types, like pie, bar, area, line, and donut charts. It’s perfect for businesses, blogs, or eCommerce sites. You can upload CSV files or manually input data to visualize it in no time.
3. Container [Grid Builder]
Say goodbye to the flexbox container being exclusive to fancy page builders—ZoloBlocks brings it straight to Gutenberg! The flexbox container block lets you control layout structures, container widths, content alignment, and more. You can easily add any block into the container and keep your page layout neat and dynamic.
4. Google Map
Now you can show business locations or multiple branches on your site easily with ZoloBlocks Google Map block. Simply connect your Google account, enter the location details, and your map is ready to go! You can even add custom markers and descriptions, and tweak the display to fit your style.
5. Image Compare
The Image Compare feature is perfect for those before-and-after moments. You can place two images side-by-side with a draggable bar for easy comparison. Adjust the opacity, choose how much of each image to reveal, and customize the appearance to make your content pop.
6. Newsletter
Creating newsletters has never been easier. With ZoloBlocks, you can use the Newsletter block to design eye-catching emails. Connect your Mailchimp account via API and start customizing your newsletter with various colors and styles. It’s a great way to keep your audience engaged and informed.
7. Post Grid/Carousel
Show off your blog posts in style with the Post Grid and Post Carousel blocks. You can display posts in a sleek grid or a dynamic carousel, complete with customizations like post meta, grid count, content source, and categories. It’s a fantastic way to highlight your content and keep your site fresh.
8. Pricing Table
Want to present your pricing plans in unique ways? The Pricing Table block lets you do just that, with customizable styles, colors, and fonts. Add features, pricing details, and call-to-action buttons for each plan to help your visitors make the right choice.
9. Review Grid/Carousel
Showcase customer reviews or testimonials in an engaging way using the Review Grid and Carousel blocks. Whether in a grid layout or a carousel slider, these blocks make it easy to display reviews with styles, fonts, and colors. Add photos, star ratings, and review content to build trust with your audience.
10. Tabs
Organize your content with the Tabs block from ZoloBlocks. It’s perfect for displaying information in a neat, user-friendly format. You can add multiple blocks within each tab to create rich, layered content. It’s a great way to keep your site clean and easy to navigate.
The free version of ZoloBlocks is good enough to build a stunning website. But, if you want to take your website to a whole new level, you can go for the pro version. Here is a basic comparison of the free vs pro features of ZoloBlocks.
We hope this feature overview will help you decide when choosing between the paid and free versions of ZoloBloacks.
What’s Inside ZoloBlocks: Let’s Have a Quick Tour with Us
The first phase in exploring any WordPress plugin is installing it on your own website. Let’s start with the first step.
1. Install and Activate ZoloBlocks on Your Site
Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin and type “zolo” in the search bar. You’ll get only one item as the search result since ZoloBlocks is a unique name. Hit the Install Now button and then activate the plugin.
You can also upload the plugin as a ZIP file by clicking on the Upload Plugin button. Follow our guide on How to Install a WordPress Plugin, if you need further assistance.
Upon successful activation, you’ll see the ZoloBlocks menu on your admin panel’s sidebar. Click on it. You’ll be taken to the ZoloBlock dashboard’s Welcome tab.
From here, you can quickly access BdThemes’ support portal, knowledge base, ZoloBlocks feature overview YouTube video, and more.
2. Explore the Blocks and Extensions
Navigate to the Blocks tab to find all available blocks for your website. You can enable only the ones you need. ZoloBlocks lets you activate or deactivate all blocks with a click.
You can search the blocks using the search bar. It also has all the blocks listed in the left side panel, under seven categories to help you find the right one.
The same goes for the Extensions tab right beside the Blocks tab. You can make use of 10+ extensions by enabling them from there.
3. Set up APIs for Your Website
The API Settings tab hosts a list of services that can connect your site with the respective service providers through APIs. Currently, ZoloBlocka offers integration with Google Map, Google reCaptcha, and Mailchimp. And, they have the following services in the pipeline:
- Facebook Page Feed
- Instagram Feed
- Google Review
- Yelp Review
- Facebook Page Review
- Zoom
4. Configure Your ZoloBlocks Settings
ZoloBlocks comes with seven settings menus under the Settings tab. Though some setting options are yet to come at our disposal, the existing options are very useful.
A few important aspects of the configuration functionalities include enabling SVG upload, performance optimization to improve site speed, site visibility options like maintenance mode and coming soon mode, and more.
5. Build Attractive Pop-ups to Collect Leads
On top of the amazing collection of blocks and extensions, ZoloBlocks comes with a default pop-up builder. You can easily create beautiful pop-ups with this tool and attract more leads. Simply go to the ZoloBlocks menu from your admin panel and click on the Popup Builder submenu. You’ll be taken to the pop-up creation page.
ZoloBloacks in Action: Build with Confidence and Ease
Let’s see what ZoloBlocks offers when you create a new page and post or edit a site. We’ve tried a few of the blocks to show you a glimpse of its prowess.
This is the Flipbox block:
This is the Charts block:
This is the Pricing Table block:
The following block is named Brand Grid. We explored the settings options available for each block in the right-side panel in this image. You can stylize the blocks using these three configuration tabs:
- Basic
- Style
- Extra
You can also import the premade patterns and templates using ZoloBlocks. Click on Templates Library from the top bar of your editor. It will take you to the list of all patterns, templates, and pages. Currently, it has more than 240 templates and patterns.
Hover your mouse over the readymade templates and two buttons will appear- Import and Demo. Click on Import to use the template.
Pros and Cons of ZoloBlocks – Based on Our Experience
Here are the positive sides of ZoloBlocks in a short list:
- Easy to use with a clean and intuitive interface
- Wide range of blocks and customization options for FREE
- Compatibility with various themes and page builders (though you don’t need any page builder when using ZoloBlocks)
- Well-organized demos with detailed documentation
- Prompt and helpful support team
The only difficulty we’ve faced when using this plugin is the import functionality took longer than usual when we tried to import one of the patterns from the template library. However, ZoloBlocks is still in its early development stage. We hope it will improve more with the passage of time.
Pricing of ZoloBlocks: Yearly and Lifetime
The free version of ZoloBlocks can do pretty much everything you need for your website. But, if you need to use its full potential then, the paid versions are worth the money. It is affordable and comes with a fully protected 100% no-risk money-back guarantee. Here are the pricing plans as of now:
- $49/year or $199/lifetime for 1 website
- $69/year or $249/lifetime for 10 website
- $149/year or $599/lifetime for 1000 website
Our Final Verdict on ZoloBlocks
ZoloBlocks is a standout plugin for the Gutenberg Site Builder. With over 40 customizable blocks, it enhances web design flexibility and creativity for the users. We particularly liked the extensive Template Library, rich Container feature, versatile Chart block, and innovative tools like Image Compare.
The seamless Mailchimp integration for newsletters and the ease of creating pricing tables and review displays are big pluses. The efficient content organization with the Tabs block boosts usability.
Although ZoloBlocks currently has limited reviews, it has the potential to earn users’ trust in the coming months. It excels in every aspect of enhancing the Gutenberg experience, leaving little room for criticism. We highly recommend using this Block Editor plugin to elevate your WordPress website design experience.
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