What SiteOrigin Page Builder does on your site
SiteOrigin Page Builder (listed as Page Builder by SiteOrigin on wordpress.org) lets you build pages from rows and columns, then drag widgets into them. These are standard WordPress widgets: the core ones, the ones your other plugins register, and the ones from SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle, a second free plugin from the same developer that adds buttons, heroes, sliders, tabs, a contact form, pricing tables and much more. Every row, column and widget has its own styles: padding, background color or image, column spacing, custom classes and custom CSS.
The interface runs in the Classic Editor, or inside the Block Editor as a "SiteOrigin Layout" block. The Live Editor shows the real page while you work, the History browser lets you roll back to an earlier state of the layout, and prebuilt layouts give you a starting point. The layout is saved in post meta; a copy of the text goes into the post content as long as the "Copy Content" setting stays on.
The builder itself is completely free, and SiteOrigin has committed to keeping it that way. The company sells a single paid plugin, SiteOrigin Premium, which adds 45 addons across Page Builder, the Widgets Bundle and SiteOrigin themes (per-device visibility, video backgrounds, WooCommerce templates, cross-site copy and paste and more), plus email support.
Which sites SiteOrigin Page Builder still suits
Page Builder makes sense when you want column layouts without paying for a license or switching themes:
- Sites already built with Page Builder: the plugin ships regular releases, so there is no rush to migrate a site that works.
- Small business and brochure sites on a classic theme: home pages, service pages and landing pages in columns, with almost any theme.
- Freelancers and small agencies on a budget: the Premium license covers unlimited sites for $99 per year.
It is not the best pick for a new site that needs a highly polished design without code, on-page editing and a large template library: Elementor goes further there. If you are starting from scratch on a modern theme, the Block Editor plus a plugin such as Kadence Blocks keeps you away from a proprietary layout format.
SiteOrigin Page Builder strengths and limitations
Strengths
- A complete builder for free. Rows, columns, styles, Live Editor, History and prebuilt layouts are all in the free plugin.
- Theme-independent. It works with most WordPress themes, and you can switch themes without rebuilding your pages.
- Works almost anywhere. Classic Editor, a block in the Block Editor, a widget in widget areas.
- Affordable Premium. Every plan includes all 45 addons, from $29 per year for one site and $99 per year for unlimited sites.
Limitations
- Two plugins to maintain. On its own, Page Builder only offers WordPress widgets; buttons, heroes and sliders need the Widgets Bundle, which also needs updating.
- Layouts tied to the plugin. Without Page Builder, only the text copied into the content remains; columns survive only if "Copy Styles" was on.
- Advanced options cost extra. Per-device visibility, video backgrounds and WooCommerce templates are part of Premium.
- Free support is forum-only. Email support is reserved for Premium licenses.
- Recurring flaws open to writers. Several vulnerabilities fixed since 2024 can be exploited with a plain Contributor account.
The Page Builder settings we recommend
Settings live under Settings > Page Builder, split into four tabs: General, Widgets, Layout and Content.
| Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Post Types Settings > Page Builder > General | Only the types where you build pages (Pages and Posts by default) | Keeps the interface off content types that don’t need it. |
| Copy Content Settings > Page Builder > Content | On (default) | Page text stays in the post content, readable by site search, SEO plugins and after deactivation. |
| Copy Styles Same tab | On if you might move away from Page Builder | Styles are included in the content, so layouts survive even with the plugin deactivated. |
| Responsive Layout Settings > Page Builder > Layout | On (default) | Columns stack on mobile; without it, they stay side by side on small screens. |
| Inline Styles Same tab | Test, then turn on if pages look the same | Writes margins, borders and padding straight into the HTML to reduce layout shift (CLS, one of the Core Web Vitals). |
| Legacy Bundled Widgets Settings > Page Builder > Widgets | Off, unless an older site uses them | These widgets date back to Page Builder 1; loading them for nothing adds dead code. |
| Upgrade Teaser and Installer Settings > Page Builder > General | Off | Removes the Premium promo and the SiteOrigin Installer menu, with no effect on your pages. |
| Active Widgets Bundle widgets Plugins > SiteOrigin Widgets | Only the ones you use | Each widget can be turned off on its own; fewer active widgets means less code loaded and a smaller attack surface. |
- Open a Page Builder page on a phone: columns should stack with no horizontal scrolling.
- After turning on Inline Styles, clear your cache and compare a few pages.
- Before turning off a Widgets Bundle widget, make sure no page uses it, or it will disappear from those pages.
Page Builder security: flaws that need a Contributor account
Almost every published Page Builder vulnerability requires a logged-in account, usually Contributor. They matter most on sites with several writers or open registration. The most notable ones:
- CVE-2026-2448, fixed in 2.34.0: local file inclusion through the Post Loop widget template, exploitable by a Contributor, with a risk of code execution (CVSS 8.8).
- CVE-2026-13295, fixed in 2.34.4: stored XSS through layout data, with a Contributor account (CVSS 6.4).
- CVE-2026-97256, fixed in 2.36.1: PHP object injection limited to Editor accounts (CVSS 7.2).
- CVE-2026-110506 and CVE-2026-110507, fixed in 2.38.0: stored XSS in the builder interface, and reading other authors’ drafts through the Post Loop widget, both with a Contributor account.
Turn on automatic updates for Page Builder and the Widgets Bundle (see our guide to automatic plugin updates) and only give the Contributor role to people you trust. WP Masquerade Pro hides the plugin folder and the siteorigin, so and sow handles of its scripts and stylesheets, but the panel-grid, so-panel and sow-* classes stay visible: that makes the plugin harder for bots to spot, without replacing updates.
What WP Masquerade hides for SiteOrigin Page Builder
Pro Handled by WP Masquerade Pro only
The free version does not know the traces specific to SiteOrigin Page Builder: without Pro, only generator tags are removed, as for any plugin.
Free version
Handled by WP Masquerade Pro only
With Pro
- folder name
- tag IDs
- generated-file folders
Still visible
- CSS classes
panel-grid, so-panel, sow-*
These traces stay because the plugin needs them to work (scripts, styles, cookies) or because they come from the server.
SiteOrigin Page Builder FAQ
Is SiteOrigin Page Builder really free?
Yes. The builder and the Widgets Bundle are free with no site limit. SiteOrigin Premium is optional: it adds addons and email support.
What happens to my pages if I deactivate Page Builder?
With Copy Content on, text and images stay in the content, but the column layout is gone. Turn on Copy Styles before a migration to keep it, then check every important page.
Can I use Page Builder with the Block Editor?
Yes: insert the SiteOrigin Layout block to place a Page Builder grid inside block content. With the Widgets Bundle, a SiteOrigin Widget block also lets you insert a single widget.
How much does SiteOrigin Premium cost?
The official page lists $29 per year for one site, $49 per year for up to five sites and $99 per year for unlimited sites, shown as discounts from $60, $96 and $180. Every plan includes all 45 addons and a 60-day money-back guarantee.