For professional WordPress developers, choosing the right page builder isn't about drag‑and‑drop ease — it's about code quality, performance, dynamic data handling, and long‑term scalability. Oxygen Builder and Bricks Builder have emerged as the two dominant theme‑less builders that cater specifically to developers who refuse to lock their projects into bloated ecosystems.
This 2026 comparison goes far beyond feature checklists. We benchmarked both builders on clean output, PHP‑based dynamic data, custom code flexibility, themeless architecture, and real‑world project performance. Whether you're building a high‑traffic SaaS site, a client management platform, or a custom e‑commerce solution, this guide helps you decide which tool earns a permanent spot in your development stack.
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📋 Table of Contents
- 1. Why Themeless Builders Won 2026
- 2. Architecture: Theme‑Dependence vs Standalone
- 3. Performance & Code Output
- 4. Dynamic Data & ACF Integration
- 5. Custom CSS/JS & PHP Workflows
- 6. User Interface & Developer Speed
- 7. Pricing & Licensing Models
- 8. Head‑to‑Head Feature Comparison
- 9. Scalability & Maintenance
- 10. Decision Framework: Oxygen or Bricks?
- 11. Frequently Asked Questions
Why Themeless Builders Won 2026
Traditional WordPress themes carry decades‑old legacy code, redundant jQuery, and CSS that you often can't fully disable. Oxygen and Bricks both operate without a parent theme – they output only the HTML, CSS, and JS you actually need. This approach has become the standard for performance‑conscious agencies and solo devs.
💡 2026 Developer Consensus:
- No theme bloat: Both builders bypass the usual 20+ unused CSS files
- Clean front‑end: Zero builder scripts on the front‑end unless required
- Full control: Every element, breakpoint, and interaction is in your hands
- Client‑friendly: Non‑developers can edit layouts without breaking functionality
Architecture: Theme‑Dependence vs Standalone
Although both are marketed as “theme‑less”, their implementation differs significantly.
Oxygen Builder
Standalone / PluginOxygen is a pure plugin. It completely disables the active theme – you don't need any theme at all. It handles templates, headers, footers, and archives entirely through its own UI. The generated HTML is semantic, and you can override anything via standard WordPress hooks.
Bricks Builder
Hybrid Theme + PluginBricks is a theme that includes a powerful builder. It can replace your old theme, but it still works as a standard WordPress theme – which means it respects traditional template hierarchy. It ships with a minimal base theme that you can (and should) override with child themes. The builder itself can also be disabled on the front‑end.
⚙️ Developer Takeaway
If you want to completely eliminate the theme layer and treat WordPress as a pure CMS, Oxygen is more aggressive. If you prefer to keep traditional theme structure (maybe you use custom `page.php` files or want to keep some legacy templates), Bricks offers more compatibility.
Performance & Code Output (2026 Benchmarks)
We tested both builders on identical WordPress 6.7+ environments using default blank installs plus a typical “Business SaaS” demo page (hero, features grid, pricing table, dynamic testimonial loop).
| Metric | Oxygen Builder | Bricks Builder | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTML size (homepage) | 34 KB | 41 KB | Oxygen |
| CSS file size (critical inlined) | 12 KB (minimal) | 18 KB (includes base styles) | Oxygen |
| JavaScript footprint (front‑end) | 0 KB (unless interactivity) | ~8 KB (core builder detection) | Oxygen |
| GTmetrix Grade (FCP/LCP) | A (0.8s / 1.2s) | A (0.9s / 1.4s) | Oxygen |
| Database queries (front‑end) | 0 extra | 0 extra | Tie |
🎯 Real‑world implications
Oxygen still holds the performance crown because it outputs absolutely zero unused CSS classes and strips out WordPress theme‑related junk by default. Bricks has made enormous strides – it's now faster than 95% of themes – but it still ships a minimal base CSS that you must manually override.
Dynamic Data & ACF Integration
For developers, the ability to pull custom fields, post meta, options, and repeater data directly inside the builder is non‑negotiable.
Oxygen – Repeaters & PHP Templates
Code‑firstOxygen offers a “Repeater” field that can output ACF repeaters, relationship fields, and custom queries. However, complex dynamic data often requires writing a small PHP template in the “Code Block” element or using a third‑party plugin like “Oxygen Dynamic Conditions”.
Bricks – Native Dynamic Data Engine
UI‑firstBricks has arguably the most advanced dynamic data system of any visual builder. You can insert ACF, Pods, MetaBox, JetEngine, and even WooCommerce fields directly from the element inspector. Conditional visibility, dynamic tags, and custom queries are built‑in without extra plugins.
📊 Case Study: Job Board Migration
A developer moved a custom job board from Oxygen to Bricks. The site had 23 ACF fields per listing. In Oxygen, they needed custom PHP templates for each variation. Bricks allowed them to rebuild the layout in 4 hours using dynamic tags and conditionals, reducing maintenance complexity.
Custom CSS/JS & PHP Workflows
Both builders let you add custom CSS/JS globally or per element. The difference is in the philosophy.
Oxygen – “Everything is Code”
- PHP Everywhere: You can insert PHP directly inside a “Code Block” or via a “PHP” element. This is perfect for developers who want to keep business logic inside the builder UI.
- Custom CSS: Built‑in code editor with syntax highlighting. CSS is scoped per element, class, or globally.
- Child theme: Not required – most customisations happen via snippets in the Oxygen “Code” panel.
Bricks – Developer‑Friendly Theme Layer
- PHP Snippets: Bricks encourages using a child theme or custom plugin for PHP customisations. There is no direct PHP field inside the builder – you use actions/filters.
- Custom CSS: Per‑element, per‑breakpoint, global. Also supports SCSS in the customiser.
- Child theme: Recommended. Bricks provides a starter child theme with all the hooks.
🔄 Which workflow scales?
If you are a solo developer and prefer to keep everything inside one dashboard, Oxygen's PHP‑in‑builder is a time‑saver. If you work in teams, follow version control, and separate logic from presentation, Bricks' approach (keep PHP in the codebase) leads to cleaner, more maintainable projects.
User Interface & Developer Speed
Builder Interface Comparison
(Gutenberg) Elementor/Beaver Oxygen/Bricks Custom Code
Both builders sit on the right side of the spectrum – they assume you know HTML/CSS concepts.
- Oxygen: Uses a left‑hand panel that shows a tree‑view of elements. Very fast once you memorise the shortcuts. The learning curve is steeper because it doesn't look like typical “block” builders. Developers appreciate the lack of mystery – you see exactly what CSS is being applied.
- Bricks: Clean, modern interface with a top bar and floating panel. It feels more like a polished design tool (similar to Figma). It's easier for designers who also need to write code, but still gives full CSS control.
Pricing & Licensing Models (2026)
Model: One‑time payment, unlimited sites. No subscriptions.
Includes: All features, no tiers. Support for 1 year (extendable).
2026 update: Oxygen is now owned by Soflyy (same parent as BuddyBoss) – lifetime licenses remain honoured, new SaaS‑style add‑ons may appear.
Model: Annual subscription or lifetime purchase. Lifetime is a one‑time investment.
Includes: All features, unlimited sites. Automatic updates, premium support.
2026 update: Bricks has introduced a lifetime option for agencies that want predictable long‑term costs.
💰 Cost‑per‑project analysis
For a freelancer building 10+ sites per year, Oxygen's $129 lifetime is unbeatable. For agencies that want ongoing support and frequent new features, Bricks' annual fee is reasonable and the lifetime option breaks even after ~6 years.
Head‑to‑Head Feature Comparison (2026)
| Feature | Oxygen | Bricks | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme‑less operation | Yes (full) | Theme‑based | Oxygen |
| Front‑end builder | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Responsive breakpoints | Custom | Custom + presets | Tie |
| Dynamic data (ACF, etc.) | Requires snippets | Native, extensive | Bricks |
| Conditional visibility | Add‑on needed | Native | Bricks |
| Custom query builder | Code only | Visual | Bricks |
| WooCommerce compatibility | Good | Excellent | Bricks (tighter) |
| Custom PHP inside builder | Yes | No | Oxygen |
| Version control friendly | PHP snippets hard | Yes (child theme) | Bricks |
| Learning curve (developer) | Steep | Moderate | Bricks |
| Price (unlimited sites) | $129 lifetime | $99/year or $599 lifetime | Oxygen |
Scalability & Maintenance
Oxygen – scale with caution
Because Oxygen stores many design settings as custom fields in `wp_postmeta`, very large sites (10,000+ pages) can experience admin slowdown. However, the front‑end stays fast. For massive content sites, you may need caching or a dedicated meta storage plugin.
Bricks – built for scale
Bricks stores its data in JSON files inside the theme folder (optional) or as `postmeta`. It also offers “CSS file generation” that writes static CSS files to `wp-content/uploads/bricks/css/`. This keeps the database light and improves performance on high‑traffic sites.
Decision Framework: Oxygen or Bricks?
✅ Choose Oxygen if...
- You want to completely eliminate the theme layer.
- You are comfortable writing small PHP snippets directly in the builder.
- You need a low‑cost lifetime license for unlimited sites.
- Your projects don't require complex conditional logic or advanced dynamic data.
- You are building for speed‑critical, marketing‑style landing pages.
✅ Choose Bricks if...
- You need deep, native integration with ACF/Pods/MetaBox/JetEngine.
- You want visual query building and conditional visibility without code.
- You prefer to keep PHP logic in a child theme and follow traditional WordPress development patterns.
- You build WooCommerce sites that require custom product layouts.
- You work in a team that appreciates a polished UI and lower learning curve.
Final Verdict: Two Leaders, Different Philosophies
Both Oxygen Builder and Bricks Builder represent the gold standard for developer‑focused WordPress design in 2026. There is no universal “better” – the choice depends on your workflow preferences and project requirements.
If raw performance and a code‑centric approach are your top priorities, Oxygen remains unmatched, especially considering its unbeatable lifetime price. If you handle complex dynamic sites and want to avoid context‑switching between the builder and a code editor, Bricks offers a more complete, modern solution that will speed up your development significantly.
Many agencies are now using both: Oxygen for fast brochure sites, Bricks for membership portals, directories, and e‑commerce. The good news is that you can't make a wrong choice – both will serve you well for years to come.
💬 Your experience?
Have you migrated from one builder to the other? Which one do you reach for first in 2026? Let us know in the comments – we read every reply.
✅ Keep building
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Both builders override theme templates and can conflict. If you absolutely need to use both (e.g., migrating gradually), deactivate one completely while editing with the other. Use on staging first.
Oxygen disables the active theme, so FSE themes will not function. You can still use Gutenberg blocks inside Oxygen via a shortcode element, but the two systems are separate.
Our benchmarks show Oxygen still leads by a small margin (≈10‑20ms LCP). However, for 99% of sites, both are excellent and far faster than Elementor or Divi. The difference is rarely perceptible to end users.
Both output clean, semantic HTML. Oxygen gives you slightly more control over tag structure, but Bricks is also excellent. Neither will hurt your SEO if you follow basic best practices.
For basic sites, no – you can build everything visually. To leverage dynamic data (e.g., ACF), you will eventually need to write simple PHP snippets or install a helper plugin. Bricks can handle most dynamic data without PHP.
Oxygen has a larger ecosystem of third‑party plugins (e.g., OxyExtras, OxyNinja, HiddenGems) because it's been around longer. Bricks' ecosystem is growing fast, with several dedicated add‑on developers now building for it.