Starter Templates vs BlockArt Blocks

At a glance

Plugin A

Starter Templates – AI-Powered Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg

The growing library of 300+ ready-to-use templates that work with all WordPress themes including Astra, Hello, OceanWP, GeneratePress and more

Rating

4.9/5

Active Installs 1.0M+

Author Brainstorm Force

Version v4.6.3

Last Updated Jun 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Plugin B

BlockArt Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder Blocks ,WordPress Block Plugin, Sections & Template Library

Enhance the power of your WordPress editor with the dynamic Gutenberg blocks by BlockArt Blocks. Build any layout imaginable.

Rating

4.9/5

Active Installs 10K+

Author BlockArt

Version v2.3.0

Last Updated Apr 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

Starter Templates vs BlockArt Blocks: Key Statistics
Metric	Starter Templates	BlockArt Blocks
Requires WP	6.6+	5.5+
Requires PHP	7.4+	7.4+
Tested up to WP	7.0	6.9.4
Plugin age	9 yrs	5 yrs

Quick Verdict

Starter Templates wins for most WordPress users. It holds a 98% five-star rating from 4743 reviews and offers a library of 300+ ready-to-use templates that work with Astra, Hello, and other themes. Starter Templates has 100x more installs than BlockArt Blocks. BlockArt Blocks is a capable Gutenberg block plugin, but its 88% five-star rating and smaller library make it a niche tool for users who need granular block control rather than complete site templates.

Feature Comparison: Starter Templates vs BlockArt Blocks

Functional feature comparison between Starter Templates and BlockArt Blocks
Feature	Starter Templates	BlockArt Blocks
Template library size	300+ ready-to-use templates	Template library included
Theme compatibility	Astra, Hello, OceanWP, GeneratePress, and more	Works with any WordPress theme
Editor support	Elementor and Gutenberg	Gutenberg only
Custom blocks offered	Not a block plugin	Dynamic Gutenberg blocks for building layouts
Import method	One-click import from library	Manual insertion via block inserter
Primary use case	Import full site templates	Build pages with custom blocks

Who Should Use Starter Templates

Site owners who want a complete design in minutes: the 300+ template library includes options for blogs, businesses, and WooCommerce stores, so you can import a full site and replace content.
Astra theme users: Starter Templates is the best astra starter sites plugin available, with templates specifically optimized for that theme's layout system.
Anyone who values community trust: 98% of reviewers gave it five stars, a figure that reflects consistent reliability across 1.0M+ installs.

Who Should Use BlockArt Blocks

Developers building custom Gutenberg layouts: BlockArt Blocks provides dynamic blocks that let you add custom blocks to Gutenberg without touching code.
Users who need granular control over individual page sections: the block-based approach means you assemble pages piece by piece, ideal for unique landing pages.
Teams that prioritize a clean support queue: the plugin had 0 open support threads in the last 2 months, indicating the current version runs without major bugs.

Community & Support

Starter Templates shows 6 open support threads over 2 months, a sample too small to draw conclusions about response speed. Its rating distribution tells a clearer story: 98% of reviewers gave five stars, while only 1% gave one star. BlockArt Blocks had 0 open threads in the same period, also a small sample. Its five-star rate sits at 88% with zero one-star ratings, suggesting users who encounter issues are generally satisfied after resolution.

Verdict: Starter Templates or BlockArt Blocks for WordPress sites?

Pick Starter Templates if you need a complete site or page import in one click. The 300+ template library covers Elementor and Gutenberg workflows, and the 98% five-star rating from 4743 reviews signals consistent quality. It is the clear choice for anyone searching how to import starter templates in WordPress or looking for import elementor template WordPress solutions.

Pick BlockArt Blocks if you already have a theme and only need to enhance the block editor with custom layout blocks. Its 88% five-star rating and zero one-star complaints show a stable plugin for users who want to add custom blocks to Gutenberg without switching themes or importing full templates.

How this comparison was made

This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Q How many people use Starter Templates compared to BlockArt Blocks?

Starter Templates has 1.0M+ active installs while BlockArt Blocks has 10K+, meaning Starter Templates is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Starter Templates or BlockArt Blocks?

Both plugins average 4.9/5 on WordPress.org — Starter Templates from 4,743 reviews and BlockArt Blocks from 16 reviews.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Starter Templates or BlockArt Blocks?

Starter Templates was last updated on Jun 2, 2026 and BlockArt Blocks on Apr 2, 2026, so Starter Templates received the more recent update.

Q Are Starter Templates and BlockArt Blocks both free?

Yes — both Starter Templates and BlockArt Blocks are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.

Q Is Starter Templates or BlockArt Blocks better for WordPress sites?

Starter Templates is better if you want a complete pre-built site design you can import and customize quickly, especially if you use the Astra theme or Elementor. BlockArt Blocks is better if you prefer to build your layout from scratch using a collection of individual Gutenberg blocks. For most users who want a finished site fast, Starter Templates wins; for builders who want granular control over every block, BlockArt Blocks is the pick.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Starter Templates or BlockArt Blocks?

Starter Templates is significantly easier for a beginner because you pick a full demo site from its library and import it with one click, getting pages, headers, and footers ready to edit. BlockArt Blocks requires you to install the plugin and then manually add each block to a blank page, which demands more comfort with the block editor. A beginner should start with Starter Templates to see a finished site immediately.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Starter Templates and BlockArt Blocks?

Starter Templates focuses on providing ready-made site templates that work with the Astra theme, Elementor, and Gutenberg, letting you import a whole site design at once. BlockArt Blocks is a pure block collection for the block editor, giving you custom blocks like sliders and counters but no pre-built full-page templates. The core difference is importing a complete site versus building one block by block.

Q Can you switch from Starter Templates to BlockArt Blocks (or the other way) without losing data?

You can switch between them without losing existing content because both plugins work on top of standard WordPress pages and posts. If you imported a full site with Starter Templates, those pages remain intact even if you deactivate it and activate BlockArt Blocks. However, any blocks or layouts built with one plugin's specific features will stop working if that plugin is deactivated, so test the switch on a staging site first.

Q Which type of site should choose Starter Templates, and which should choose BlockArt Blocks?

Choose Starter Templates if you are building a business site, portfolio, or WooCommerce store and want a professional design up and running in minutes. Choose BlockArt Blocks if you are building a custom blog, landing page, or niche site where you need unique block layouts and don't want a pre-set theme style. Starter Templates is for speed and convenience; BlockArt Blocks is for creative freedom with the block editor.