Spectra
by Brainstorm Force
Extra Gutenberg blocks and full page templates that keep block editing viable without a page builder.
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What Spectra does
Extra Gutenberg blocks and full page templates that keep block editing viable without a page builder.
It sits in the blocks part of a WordPress stack and is sold by Brainstorm Force on a freemium basis. We recommend it in our blocks guides because it does that one job well without asking you to rebuild the rest of the site around it.
Every plugin adds work to a page request, so treat this as a decision with a cost. Record a speed test before you install it and run the same test afterwards, on the same page, so you know exactly what it charged you.
Real user ratings
Score
4.7/5
Reviews
1,870
Active installs
1,000,000+
Downloads
43.4M
Latest version
2.20.3
Last updated
2026-08-26
These figures come straight from the public WordPress.org plugin directory API for version 2.20.3, not from us. Check them yourself on the WordPress.org listing. Our own editorial score is 4.7/5.
Where Spectra ranks elsewhere
| Publisher | List | Position |
|---|---|---|
| WPBeginner | Best WordPress Page Builder Plugins | #13 of 15 |
Positions are read from the published articles themselves, so they reflect that publisher's order rather than ours. Lists get re-ordered over time, so follow the link if you want the current version.
What changed in the latest version
- Fix: This update addressed a security bug. Props to Manisha Dilshan for the responsible disclosure. Please make sure you are using the latest version on your website.
- Improvement: Added compatibility with WordPress v7.1.
- Fix: This update addressed a security bug. Props to Wordfence for reporting it responsibly to our team. Please make sure you are using the latest version on your website.
Release notes are the developer's own words, published on WordPress.org. Read the full changelog
Pros and cons
- Block-native, so pages stay much lighter than builders
- A free tier you can trial before paying
- Actively maintained and used on production sites we test
- Templates lean heavily on the Astra ecosystem
- The features most sites need sit in the paid tier
How to use it
- 1Install on a staging copy first if the site takes money.
- 2Work through the setup wizard and connect any external accounts it needs.
- 3Configure the one feature you installed it for, and leave the rest off.
- 4Test the result as a logged-out visitor on both mobile and desktop.
- 5Re-run our speed test to confirm the plugin has not cost you load time.
How it compares
Other blocks plugins we recommend, with their rating and pricing model.
| Plugin | Our rating | WordPress.org | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectra | 4.7 | 4.7 (1,870) | Freemium | Block-native, so pages stay much lighter than builders |
| GenerateBlocks | 4.9 | 4.9 (122) | Freemium | The smallest CSS footprint of any block library |
| Kadence Blocks | 4.8 | 4.8 (332) | Freemium | Design freedom without a page builder |
| Otter Blocks | 4.7 | 4.7 (249) | Freemium | Conditional display rules on any block |
| ProductX | 4.4 | n/a | Freemium | Store layouts in the block editor |
| ShopEngine | 4.5 | 4.6 (212) | Freemium | Modules you can switch off |
Alternatives
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