Last updated: March 2026

What Divi Quick Sites actually produces

Divi Quick Sites (launched 2024) generates full multi-page websites from a single text prompt — complete layouts, AI-generated text, images, color schemes, and automatic navigation. But all of it is generated in Divi’s proprietary format.

Divi shortcode format

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.24.0"]
  [et_pb_row _builder_version="4.24.0"]
    [et_pb_column type="4_4"]
      [et_pb_text _builder_version="4.24.0"
        text_text_color="#1e3a5f"
        text_font_size="18px"]
        Your content here.
      [/et_pb_text]
    [/et_pb_column]
  [/et_pb_row]
[/et_pb_section]

Native block equivalent

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Your content here.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

Divi content is stored as shortcodes in wp_postmeta, not standard HTML. It requires Divi Theme + Divi Builder to render. Native blocks are standard HTML stored in wp_posts.

What happens when you want to leave Divi

The core issue with Divi AI: you can generate a full site in 2 minutes, but you can’t take it with you.

1. Deactivate Divi — Your pages show raw shortcodes: [et_pb_section]...[/et_pb_section]. The site is broken.
2. Switch themes — Same result. Divi content only renders through Divi.
3. Export content — WordPress export includes the shortcodes, not rendered HTML. Importing into a non-Divi site gives you unreadable markup.
4. Use a conversion tool — Partial results. Divi to Gutenberg converters exist but lose formatting and advanced module features.

With native blocks: Deactivate the theme and content still renders (blocks are part of WordPress core). Switch themes and content structure is preserved. Export produces standard block markup that transfers cleanly.

Divi and WordPress 7.0: The compatibility gap

WordPress 7.0 ships April 9, 2026 with three AI features that work exclusively with native blocks:

• WP AI Client — generates native block markup (not Divi shortcodes)
• Abilities API — discovers block-based capabilities (not Divi modules)
• MCP Adapter — connects external AI tools to WordPress blocks (not Divi)

Divi AI and WordPress 7.0 AI are parallel systems that don’t interact. Using Divi means choosing Divi’s AI over WordPress core’s AI — and missing every future AI improvement WordPress ships.

Performance: Divi vs clean block themes

Divi loads its entire framework on every page. Clean block themes only load what WordPress core needs.

Divi AI vs EditNative: Head-to-head

When Divi AI is the right choice

• You’re already invested in Divi (Lifetime License, established sites)
• Your team is productive in Divi’s Visual Builder
• You need Divi-specific features (split testing, Divi marketplace modules)
• Portability is not a priority — you plan to stay on Divi indefinitely

When native blocks are the right choice

• You’re starting fresh and want a portable foundation
• WordPress 7.0 AI compatibility matters to your workflow
• Performance is a priority (PageSpeed 90+)
• You want to use external AI tools (Claude, Cursor) with MCP
• You want zero plugin dependencies
• You plan to iterate on your site over years without lock-in risk

Frequently asked questions

Related comparisons

• Elementor AI vs Native Blocks: Output Comparison
• Best Block Theme for WordPress 7.0’s New AI Features
• WordPress 7.0 AI Features: Everything You Need to Know
• EditNative WordPress 7.0 Readiness Guide
• Full Comparison: EditNative vs Page Builders

Last updated: March 2026

What each approach actually generates

The simplest way to understand the difference is to look at the code. Here’s how a basic heading renders in each system.

Elementor AI output

<section class="elementor-section elementor-section-boxed"
  data-id="abc123" data-element_type="section">
  <div class="elementor-container">
    <div class="elementor-column elementor-col-100">
      <div class="elementor-widget-wrap">
        <div class="elementor-element elementor-widget">
          <div class="elementor-widget-container">
            <h2 style="color: #1e3a5f; font-size: 36px;">
              Your Heading
            </h2>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>

Native block output (same heading)

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Your Heading</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

The native block version is roughly 90% less code. No wrapper divs. No inline styles. No proprietary data attributes. Design tokens from theme.json replace hardcoded hex values.

5 reasons the output format matters

1. Portability

Elementor: Content is stored in Elementor’s proprietary format in wp_postmeta. Deactivating Elementor breaks your entire site. Migrating requires conversion tools that lose formatting.

Native blocks: Content is stored as standard HTML in wp_posts. Deactivating the theme doesn’t break content. Switching themes preserves all content and structure.

2. Performance

Elementor: Loads its own CSS framework (~300KB+), JavaScript runtime, and renders through its own engine. Typical PageSpeed: 50–75 on mobile.

Native blocks: Uses WordPress core’s built-in rendering. Theme CSS is typically 15–50KB total. Typical PageSpeed with a clean block theme: 90–100 on mobile.

3. WordPress 7.0 AI compatibility

Elementor: WordPress 7.0’s AI Client generates native block markup. Elementor AI generates Elementor markup. These are two separate, incompatible systems.

Native blocks: Full compatibility with WP AI Client, Abilities API, and MCP Adapter. Every WordPress AI improvement benefits native block sites automatically.

4. Design token cascade

Elementor: Styles are set per-element with inline CSS. Changing your brand color means updating every element.

Native blocks: theme.json defines design tokens once. Change primary from blue to green, and every element using --wp--preset--color--primary updates automatically.

5. Long-term maintenance

Elementor: Requires Elementor plugin (and often Elementor Pro) to be active forever. Plugin updates can break layouts.

Native blocks: WordPress core maintains the block system. Your content is part of WordPress itself, not a plugin dependency.

Elementor AI vs EditNative: Feature comparison

When Elementor AI is the right choice

Being honest builds credibility. Elementor makes sense when:

• You already have an established Elementor site and migration cost is too high
• Your team knows Elementor’s interface and productivity would drop switching
• You need Elementor-specific features (form builder, popup builder, WooCommerce builder)
• You don’t care about portability and plan to stay on Elementor indefinitely

When native blocks are the right choice

• You’re starting a new project and want a clean foundation
• You want to use WordPress 7.0’s AI features when they ship April 9, 2026
• Portability matters — you may switch themes, hosts, or AI providers
• Performance matters — you target 90+ PageSpeed scores
• You want AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor) to generate directly usable output
• You want zero plugin dependencies in your theme

How to migrate from Elementor to native blocks

1. Export content from Elementor (use Jetstork or manual copy)
2. Install a clean block theme — EditNative Starter is free
3. Recreate pages using block patterns (EditNative ships 34 ready-to-use patterns)
4. Use AI to accelerate — paste content into Claude with EditNative’s AI setup prompt
5. Test, adjust, launch

Frequently asked questions

Related comparisons

• Divi AI vs Native Blocks: Portability Comparison
• Best Block Theme for WordPress 7.0’s New AI Features
• WordPress 7.0 AI Features: Everything You Need to Know
• EditNative WordPress 7.0 Readiness Guide
• Full Comparison: EditNative vs Page Builders

EditNative solves this. It’s a free WordPress block theme built specifically for AI-assisted site building. You get the speed of AI generation with the cleanliness of native WordPress blocks.

What You Need

• Claude (claude.ai or Claude Code) with Chrome MCP, or ChatGPT, or Cursor
• A WordPress site (any host works)
• EditNative Starter (free download from editnative.com)

Step 1: Install EditNative in One Prompt

Visit editnative.com and scroll to the “Set Up Your Site in One Prompt” section. Copy the entire prompt and paste it into Claude.

If you’re using Claude with Chrome MCP, the AI can download, install, and activate the theme automatically through your browser. No manual uploading needed.

Without browser automation, installation takes 30 seconds: download the zip, upload via Appearance > Themes > Add New, and activate.

Step 2: Generate Pages with AI

Once installed, tell the AI what your site is about. EditNative ships with 25 curated patterns that the AI knows how to use: hero sections, feature grids, testimonials, pricing cards, FAQ accordions, and full-page layouts for landing pages, about pages, and contact pages.

The AI assembles pages from these patterns using WordPress’s native block format. Every element uses design tokens from theme.json, so colors, spacing, and typography stay consistent across your entire site.

Step 3: Edit Natively in the Site Editor

This is where EditNative is different. After the AI builds your pages, open Appearance > Editor and click any block to edit it. Switch between 6 style variations. Everything works exactly like WordPress is supposed to.

No proprietary formats. No plugin dependencies. No “you need our builder to edit this.” Just clean WordPress blocks.

Why This Matters

AI-generated WordPress sites typically have three problems: inline styles that override theme settings, hardcoded values that make global changes impossible, and non-standard markup that the Site Editor can’t parse. EditNative prevents all three by giving the AI a structured system to work within.

Get Started

Download EditNative Starter for free, copy the setup prompt, and build your first site in minutes. It’s the fastest way to get a WordPress site that actually stays maintainable.