Starter Templates vs Live Composer 2026

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

Live Composer – Free WordPress Website Builder

Page builder for WordPress with drag and drop header/footer editing, responsive settings, and animations. Compatible with Gutenberg block editor.

Rating

4.4/5

Active Installs 10K+

Author LiveComposer

Version v2.1.17

Last Updated Jun 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

Starter Templates vs Live Composer: Key Statistics
Metric	Starter Templates	Live Composer
Requires WP	6.6+	6.0+
Requires PHP	7.4+	7.4+
Tested up to WP	7.0	6.9.4
Plugin age	9 yrs	11 yrs

Quick Verdict

Starter Templates is the clear winner for most WordPress users. The plugin has 1.0M+ active installs, which is 100x more installs than Live Composer. This massive adoption rate reflects its reliability and the value of its 300+ ready-to-use templates. While Live Composer offers a unique drag-and-drop frontend builder, Starter Templates provides a faster path to a finished site with less configuration required. For anyone building a site with Elementor or Gutenberg, Starter Templates is the smarter choice.

Feature Comparison: Starter Templates vs Live Composer

Core Feature Differences
Feature	Starter Templates	Live Composer
Template Library Size	300+ ready-to-use templates	No dedicated template library
Primary Function	Import pre-built starter sites and templates	Drag-and-drop page builder with frontend editing
Theme Compatibility	Works with Astra, Hello, OceanWP, GeneratePress, and more	Works with any WordPress theme
Header/Footer Editing	Via imported templates only	Built-in drag-and-drop header/footer editor
Gutenberg Integration	Full Gutenberg block templates included	Compatible with Gutenberg block editor
Animations	Inherited from imported templates	Built-in responsive settings and animations
Landing Page Builder	Uses Elementor or Gutenberg via imported templates	Dedicated frontend landing page builder
Drag-and-Drop Workflow	Relies on Elementor or Gutenberg drag-and-drop	Native frontend drag-and-drop builder

Who Should Use Starter Templates

Site owners who want a complete design in minutes. With 300+ templates, you can import a full site and replace the demo content with your own.
Users of the Astra theme or similar frameworks. Starter Templates is the best astra starter sites plugin, offering designs tuned for that ecosystem.
Anyone who values community trust. 98% of its 4743 reviews are 5-star, indicating consistent satisfaction over time.

Who Should Use Live Composer

Developers who need full frontend control. Live Composer lets you build pages, headers, and footers with a native drag-and-drop page builder.
Users who want to build a landing page in WordPress without relying on a separate page builder plugin. Its frontend builder handles the entire layout.
Anyone needing a drag-and-drop header footer WordPress solution built directly into the plugin, not added via a theme or third-party tool.

Community & Support

Starter Templates shows strong community confidence with 98% of its 4743 reviews rated 5-star and only 1% rated 1-star. Live Composer has a wider satisfaction gap: 79% of its 212 reviews are 5-star, while 9% are 1-star. This 8-point difference in negative feedback suggests Live Composer users encounter more issues with the builder.

Verdict: Starter Templates or Live Composer for WordPress sites?

Pick Starter Templates if you want a proven, low-friction way to launch a site. Its 1.0M+ installs and 98% 5-star rating show it delivers on its promise. You can import elementor template WordPress designs or use gutenberg starter templates free within minutes.

Pick Live Composer if you need a standalone frontend builder with built-in header and footer editing. It suits users who want to build a landing page in WordPress without importing pre-made templates. But its smaller user base and 9% 1-star rating mean more risk for production sites.

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 Live Composer?

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

Q Which has better user ratings — Starter Templates or Live Composer?

Starter Templates averages 4.9/5 from 4,743 reviews, while Live Composer averages 4.4/5 from 212 reviews — Starter Templates has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Starter Templates or Live Composer?

Live Composer was last updated on Jun 4, 2026 and Starter Templates on Jun 2, 2026, so Live Composer received the more recent update.

Q Are Starter Templates and Live Composer both free?

Yes — both Starter Templates and Live Composer 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 Live Composer better for WordPress sites?

Starter Templates is better if you want to quickly import a complete design for the Astra theme, especially with Elementor or Gutenberg. Live Composer is better if you prefer to build your layout from scratch using a frontend drag-and-drop editor. Most users find Starter Templates faster for launching a site, while Live Composer gives you more control over every element.

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

Starter Templates is easier for a beginner because you pick a pre-built site and import it with one click, no design skills needed. Live Composer requires you to build your pages manually by dragging blocks onto the canvas, which takes more time to learn. If you want a ready-made site fast, Starter Templates is the clear choice.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Starter Templates and Live Composer?

Starter Templates provides a library of pre-designed starter sites that you import directly into the Astra theme, while Live Composer is a frontend page builder that lets you design pages live on the screen. With Starter Templates you get a complete site in minutes, whereas Live Composer focuses on giving you a visual editing experience for custom layouts.

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

You can use both plugins together without losing content because Starter Templates imports pages and posts that remain in your database, and Live Composer can edit them. However, if you deactivate Starter Templates, the imported site content stays, but you lose access to its template library. Switching from Live Composer to Starter Templates means you abandon your custom layouts, though your text and images remain.

Q Which type of site should choose Starter Templates, and which should choose Live Composer?

Choose Starter Templates for a blog, business site, or WooCommerce store where you want a professional design without building from scratch. Choose Live Composer for a landing page or custom portfolio where you need full control over the frontend layout. Starter Templates is ideal for users who want speed and structure, while Live Composer suits those who enjoy hands-on design.