Essential Blocks For Gutenberg: Ultimate Blocks Library For Gutenberg
- Free version
- Yes
- Price
- From $39/year
- Category
- Blocks
Not announcedBlack Friday deal for Essential Blocks
Essential Blocks vs Smart Post
Essential Blocks wins 2 of the 2 points we can measure. Here's how they compare on price, features, ratings and deals.
At a glance
| Feature | Essential Blocks | Smart Post |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.7/10 (better) | 8.5/10 |
| Starts at | $39/year | $39/year |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| Refund window | 14 days | 14 days |
| Billing | Subscription | Free + paid plans |
| Active installs | 100K+ (better) | 20K+ |
| Last Black Friday | – | – |
| Category | Blocks | Blocks |
| Vendor | Essential Blocks | Smart Post |
| Black Friday 2026 | Not announced | Not announced |
Which should you choose?
Choose Essential Blocks if…
- Sites built with the WordPress block editor
- Agencies building client sites on Gutenberg
Choose Smart Post if…
- Bloggers and news sites showing post lists
- Agencies building content layouts in Gutenberg
Features
Essential Blocks
- 70+ advanced blocks
- Ready templates
- WooCommerce blocks
- Global block styling
- Modular control
- Dynamic tags and ACF support
- WPML compatibility
Smart Post
- Post grid, carousel and slider blocks
- Advanced post query builder
- Front-end live filter
- Saved templates
- Global style settings
- Page builder blocks
Pros and cons
Essential Blocks
- Free version is listed on WordPress.org
- Blocks can be switched off individually to keep pages light
- Pro plans cover multiple sites, including 100-site plans
- 14-day money-back guarantee on Pro plans
- Pro blocks need a paid plan and the free plugin must stay active
- Updates and premium support stop when a license expires
- Some WordPress.org support threads report difficulty changing colors across blocks
Smart Post
- Free version on WordPress.org with post grid and carousel blocks
- Works with Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi and other page builders
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited Sites plan for agencies
- Post badges, image galleries and featured video modules are Pro only
- Paid plans renew yearly for updates and support
- Header, footer and mega menu builders are still listed as upcoming
Pricing plans
Essential Blocks
StarterStarts here
$39/year
1 site
- 70+ advanced blocks
- 6000+ ready templates
- 1 month of updates and support
Innovator
$112/year
5 sites
- Premium and dynamic blocks
- WooCommerce blocks
- 3 months of updates and support
Visionary
$244/year
100 sites
- All Pro blocks
- Dynamic tags and ACF support
- 6 months of updates and support
Smart Post
Single SiteStarts here
$39/year
1 site
- All Pro features
- Standard support for 1 year
- Automatic updates for 1 year
Five Sites
$99/year
5 sites
- All Pro features
- Priority support for 1 year
- Automatic updates for 1 year
Unlimited Sites
$199/year
Unlimited sites
- All Pro features
- Priority support for 1 year
- Automatic updates for 1 year
Essential Blocks vs Smart Post questions
Is Essential Blocks better than Smart Post?
On our comparison Essential Blocks comes out ahead on 2 of 2 measurable points. The right pick still depends on what you build.
Which is cheaper, Essential Blocks or Smart Post?
Essential Blocks starts at $39/year and Smart Post starts at $39/year.
Can I get Essential Blocks or Smart Post cheaper on Black Friday?
Both are on our Black Friday tracker. We'll add each discount the moment it goes live.
Both products
Post Grid and Page Builder Blocks for Blog & News Websites
- Free version
- Yes
- Price
- From $39/year
- Category
- Blocks
Not announcedBlack Friday deal for Smart Post