The WPML team compared three Gutenberg block plugins to find the best ones for building complete, multilingual websites in the block editor.
Plugins covered: Spectra (by Brainstorm Force), Essential Blocks (by WPDeveloper), Toolset (by OnTheGoSystems). All three are WPML-compatible.
Feature Matrix at a Glance
| Feature | Spectra | Essential Blocks | Toolset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block library (free / paid) | 37 free / 12 paid | 57 free / 13 paid | — free / 34 paid |
| Templates and starter sites | 100s templates / 310 starter sites Requires Starter Templates (free) | 1,400+ templates / 280+ starter sites Requires Templately (free) | — |
| Dynamic content | Premium | Premium | Premium |
| Loop builder | Premium | Premium | Premium |
| AI features | Included Full layouts. 1,000 credits/month, then 200,000 annually for $39/year. | Included Text and images only. Requires your own OpenAI API key. | — |
| Custom post types & fields | — | — | Premium |
| WPML compatibility | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible |
| Stand-out strengths | Built-in AI layout generator; 37 free blocks; 310 starter sites | 57 free blocks; 1,400+ templates; AI text and image generation | Custom post types, fields and taxonomies; dynamic content; loop builder; 34 paid blocks |
| Considerations | Dynamic content and loop builder require Pro; Starter Templates is a separate (free) add-on | AI requires your own OpenAI API key; dynamic content and loop builder require Pro | No free plan; no templates or starter sites |
What Gutenberg Block Plugins Do
Gutenberg block plugins extend WordPress's built-in editor with additional blocks, templates, and advanced features. Below are the main capabilities to look for. Per-plugin support for each capability is shown in the matrix above.
Expand Your Block Library
Buzzwords: Gutenberg Blocks, Gutenberg Widgets.
Beyond default WordPress blocks, Gutenberg block plugins add unique blocks that let you add sliders, accordions, boxes, advanced galleries, and more.
Templates & Starter Sites
Buzzwords: Pre-built sites, Gutenberg templates, Pattern library.
Templates are pre-designed sections or pages you can insert and customize. Starter sites go further — they import a complete, multi-page website with content and design already in place, giving you a working foundation rather than a blank canvas.
Dynamic Content
Buzzwords: Custom fields, Post meta, Dynamic tags, Field binding.
Dynamic content lets you build a single template — for a post type, an archive, a product page — and populate it with different data per entry. Design the layout once; the blocks pull in the right title, image, or field for each item automatically.
Loop Builder
Buzzwords: Query loop, Post grid, Custom queries, Archive templates.
A loop builder lets you design a layout for a single post or item, then apply it automatically to every item in a list. You control what shows up, in what order, and can filter by category, tag, custom field, or any other criteria.
AI Features
Buzzwords: AI generation, Layout AI, Content writing, AI templates.
AI in block plugins can mean generating text, images, or entire page layouts from a prompt. Some plugins generate full page layouts from a description — solving the blank-page problem entirely. Others focus on text and image generation, letting you write copy and create visuals without leaving the editor.
Custom Post Types & Fields
Buzzwords: CPTs, Custom taxonomies, Custom fields.
WordPress ships with posts and pages. Custom post types let you add your own content structures — properties, events, team members — each with their own fields and taxonomies to keep everything organized and queryable.
What They Look Like
| Spectra | Essential Blocks | Toolset |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Other Gutenberg Block Plugins That Work With WPML
Besides the list of plugins which we covered in detail, other Gutenberg block plugins are compatible with WPML, but offer less functionality and a less convenient translation process.
| Plugin | Last Tested by WPML Team |
|---|---|
| Ghost Kit | 13.04.2026 |
| Lazy Blocks | 13.04.2026 |
| Nexter Blocks | 02.04.2026 |
| Stackable | 11.11.2025 |
| PublishPress Blocks | 03.11.2025 |
| Premium Blocks for Gutenberg | 06.08.2025 |
Conclusion
All three plugins are WPML-compatible and work well for multilingual sites. For standard page building, Essential Blocks offers the most generous free tier, while Spectra adds a built-in AI layout generator that's hard to match at its price. If your site needs structured custom content — post types, fields, and queryable data — Toolset is in a different category entirely and is the only option here built specifically for that use case.