This post documents the tools I use to build and maintain my websites — specifically GeneratePress and GenerateBlocks.
It isn’t a comparison or a buying guide. It’s simply a record of what I’ve settled on after years of building, rebuilding, and maintaining WordPress sites as part of running online businesses.
This post contains affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclosure if you need more detail.
The Role These Tools Play
For me, website tools aren’t about design trends or clever features. They’re infrastructure.
I care about:
- stability
- performance
- low maintenance
- and not having to rethink the foundation every year
GeneratePress and GenerateBlocks sit in that category. They’re not exciting tools — and that’s exactly why they work.
Why I Use GeneratePress
GeneratePress is the WordPress theme I use across my sites.
I’ve been using GeneratePress Premium since 2017, and it has become a permanent part of my setup. That alone probably says more than a feature list ever could.
The free version handles the basics well, but the Premium plugin is what makes it practical long-term.
What matters to me:
- clean, predictable behaviour
- performance without constant optimisation
- controls that don’t require digging into code
- and a theme that stays out of the way
GeneratePress gives me that.
I’m not trying to build something flashy. I want a solid foundation that doesn’t fight me as the site evolves.
Why GeneratePress Premium Is Worth It (for me)
The Premium plugin doesn’t radically change what GeneratePress is — it just removes friction.
It adds:
- more layout control
- better workflow
- and the ability to adapt the site without rebuilding it
Most importantly, it lets me make changes without creating future maintenance debt.
That’s the real value.
Why I Use GenerateBlocks
GenerateBlocks is the block plugin I use alongside GeneratePress.
It’s intentionally small. There are only a handful of blocks, but they’re flexible enough to build almost anything once you understand them.
The blocks I actually use:
- Container
- Grid
- Headline
- Image
- Buttons
- Query Loop
That’s it.
Instead of learning dozens of one-off blocks, I learn a few deeply and reuse them everywhere.
GenerateBlocks is free in the WordPress repository, and the free version is genuinely usable.
Why I Also Use GenerateBlocks Pro
I use GenerateBlocks Pro because it improves consistency and reduces time spent repeating work.
The Pro features I actually rely on:
- pattern library (for fast layout starts)
- global styles (for consistency across pages)
- container links (for card-style layouts)
- copy/paste styles
- device visibility controls
- custom attributes when needed
None of this is essential on day one — but over time, it removes friction.
That’s the theme with these tools: they make it easier to keep a site tidy as it grows.
👉 Buy Your Copy Of GenerateBlocks Pro
What I Like About This Stack
What I’ve learned is that I don’t want my website tools to be a project in themselves.
This setup:
- doesn’t lock me into a page builder
- doesn’t break when WordPress updates
- doesn’t require constant tweaking
- and doesn’t push me toward over-design
It lets me focus on content, structure, and decisions — not layout mechanics.
What This Isn’t
This isn’t:
- the “best” setup for everyone
- a recommendation for designers
- a promise of better rankings or conversions
It’s simply the combination that has proved reliable for how I work.
That’s the only claim I’m making.
Closing
I use GeneratePress and GenerateBlocks because they let me build and maintain sites without turning the site itself into the work.
They’re quiet tools that stay out of the way — and that’s exactly what I want from infrastructure.
If I ever stop using them, I’ll document that decision too.
This post documents a tool decision based on long-term use. Affiliate links are included, but the choice to use these tools was made independently of any affiliate relationship.
