Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

BLOCS VS DevKinsta

Compare BLOCS VS DevKinsta and see what are their differences

BLOCS logo BLOCS

Visual web design app.

DevKinsta logo DevKinsta

Design, develop, and deploy WordPress sites locally
  • BLOCS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-21
  • DevKinsta Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-29

BLOCS features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Blocs offers a highly intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that makes it accessible for users with little to no coding experience. Its visual design approach allows users to build and modify websites quickly and efficiently.
  • Responsive Design
    Blocs automatically creates responsive websites that look and function well on a variety of devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. This ensures a seamless user experience across different platforms.
  • Customizable Pre-made Blocs
    The app provides a variety of pre-made blocs (sections) that can be easily customized to fit the specific needs of a project. These ready-to-use components speed up the creation process significantly.
  • Integration with Third-Party Tools
    Blocs supports integration with various third-party tools and services, including CMS platforms like WordPress, enabling more dynamic and feature-rich websites.
  • Export and Self-Hosting
    Users can export their projects and host them on their own servers. This flexibility allows for greater control over the website and its data.
  • Regular Updates and Community Support
    Blocs benefits from regular updates and a strong community of users, offering a wealth of tutorials, forums, and resources for troubleshooting and learning.

Possible disadvantages of BLOCS

  • Mac-Only
    Blocs is currently available only for macOS, which limits its accessibility to Windows and Linux users who might prefer or require cross-platform software.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, mastering some of the more advanced functionalities can require a significant investment of time and effort, particularly for users who are not familiar with web design principles.
  • Limited Built-in CMS Options
    Compared to dedicated CMS platforms, Blocs has fewer built-in content management capabilities, which might necessitate the use of third-party CMS solutions for larger or more complex sites.
  • Template Customization Restrictions
    Although Blocs offers customizable templates, there can be limitations in how extensively these templates can be modified, potentially restricting creative freedom for more advanced users.
  • Cost
    Blocs is a paid software with a one-time purchase fee, which might be a considerable investment for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets. Additionally, some features may require additional purchases such as custom blocs or templates.

DevKinsta features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    DevKinsta offers a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for developers to set up and manage local WordPress environments, even for those with limited technical skills.
  • One-click WordPress Installation
    It allows users to deploy WordPress with just one click, significantly speeding up the development process by eliminating manual setup tasks.
  • Integrated Development Tools
    DevKinsta includes essential development tools like email testing, database management, and site management, which are integrated into the platform for streamlined workflows.
  • Free of Charge
    It is available for free, making it an accessible option for developers and teams looking to reduce costs while maintaining productivity.
  • Seamless Kinsta Integration
    It allows for easy connection to Kinsta hosting accounts, enabling quick deployment of local projects to the live environment.

Possible disadvantages of DevKinsta

  • Limited to WordPress
    DevKinsta is specifically designed for WordPress development, which limits its utility for developers working with other platforms or frameworks.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running DevKinsta, especially with multiple instances, can consume a significant amount of system resources, potentially slowing down other processes.
  • Lacks Advanced Features
    While suitable for basic development needs, it may lack some advanced features required by experienced developers, like complex site configurations or custom server setups.
  • Dependency on Docker
    DevKinsta relies on Docker, which can introduce compatibility issues or additional learning curves for users not familiar with this technology.
  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to other development environments, DevKinsta has a smaller community, which might result in less available peer support and fewer shared resources or plugins.

Analysis of BLOCS

Overall verdict

  • Blocs is a strong contender in the field of visual web design tools, especially for those familiar with macOS. It offers a balance between ease of use and functionality, with a clean user interface and powerful features. However, its suitability largely depends on the user's specific needs, such as their preferred platform and design requirements.

Why this product is good

  • Blocs is a visual web design application targeted toward users who may not be proficient in coding. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for beginners and a time-saver for professionals. The tool is particularly focused on Mac users and integrates well with macOS features. Its design emphasizes ease of use and flexibility, which can be beneficial for web designers looking for efficiency and simplicity. The app includes pre-made templates, responsive design support, and customization capabilities, catering to a wide range of design needs.

Recommended for

  • Web designers seeking a Mac-compatible visual design tool
  • Beginners in web design who prefer not to code
  • Freelancers and small business owners wanting to quickly create websites
  • Designers who appreciate a clean, intuitive interface and pre-designed templates

BLOCS videos

Blocs 3 Review - The Best Web Design Tool for Mac

More videos:

  • Review - How I make websites in Blocs 3 for Mac
  • Review - Blocs app review

DevKinsta videos

DevKinsta Review: First Look at a New WordPress Local Environment

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Install WordPress Locally with DevKinsta (on Mac and Windows)
  • Demo - Crunchify DevKinsta Review and Demo

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to BLOCS and DevKinsta)
CMS
85 85%
15% 15
Website Builder
100 100%
0% 0
WordPress
0 0%
100% 100
Website Design
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using BLOCS and DevKinsta. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare BLOCS and DevKinsta

BLOCS Reviews

10 Best Website Design Software in 2020: Handpicked Collection
You can choose any template from pre-designed layouts provided by the Blocs. The software also works offline which means you can create the page offline and publish it once connected to the internet.

DevKinsta Reviews

8 Best MAMP Alternatives (Definitive List)
If youโ€™re a Kinsta user, youโ€™ll be happy to know that DevKinsta enables you to push websites to staging with a click. This means you can work on projects locally, push them to staging, and then to production without manually copying files. Moreover, DevKinsta can import copies of your Kinsta sites so you can work on them locally.
Source: kinsta.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DevKinsta should be more popular than BLOCS. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

BLOCS mentions (2)

  • Is RapidWeaver a thing?
    Canโ€™t comment on RapidWeaver but Iโ€™ve seen a webpage made with blocs in the wild. Source: over 3 years ago
  • UX / UI Design Portfolio โ€ข Blocs App Mockup in Figma
    I build and maintain my portfolio in Blocs App for Mac. Source: over 3 years ago

DevKinsta mentions (8)

  • WpEngine - yes / no or ...?
    More recently I've been working with Kinsta. Although they are more expensive, the platform is way more developer friendly. You can manage your own deployment pipeline through GIT or use their DevKinsta development tool. They also offer application hosting. The biggest attraction to me is their support and CDN which automatically optimises images and serves WebP. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Your favourite software to develop Wordpress locally on Ubuntu?
    Sorry, I thought Laragon was cross platform. DevKinsta runs on Linux. You might give it a try. It requires Docker. https://kinsta.com/devkinsta/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Wordpress
    You can use local server for development (e.g. Local WP or DevKinsta...). When you create a new website, wizard will ask you for an address - simply provide domain of old website. It will work without any problems ๐Ÿ‘ Then when you finish new website all you need to do will be transferring files and database and update wp-config.php database connection settings ๐Ÿ˜‹. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Dream Universal, Develop Local: A look at PHP Local Development Tools.
    I recently used Dev Kinsta to test some theme options for a project. I was quite happy with the results. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • How can I start learning WordPress without buying a domain?
    I wrote this script to run on my Macbook - https://github.com/systmweb/valetpress also have a look at DevKinsta which is great https://kinsta.com/devkinsta/. Source: about 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing BLOCS and DevKinsta, you can also consider the following products

Webflow - Build dynamic, responsive websites in your browser. Launch with a click. Or export your squeaky-clean code to host wherever you'd like. Discover the professional website builder made for designers.

Local by Flywheel - Provides a simple, local development environment with a friendly GUI.

SquareSpace - Squarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website. Pages, galleries, blogs, e-commerce, domains, hosting, analytics, 24/7 support - all included.

BionicWP - WordPress hosting, come for the speed & stay for the support

WiX - Create a free website with Wix.com. Customize with Wix' website builder, no coding skills needed. Choose a design, begin customizing and be online today

EasyWP - Get a WordPress website online in under 60 seconds