In a surprising turn of events, Cwicly, the once-discontinued Gutenberg-powered page builder, has made a triumphant return as a free offering for the WordPress community. The announcement, made on their official website and social media channels, has been met with some enthusiasm and excitement from users and developers alike. We thought that this page builder was dead but we are glad that we were wrong because of the community around Cwicly and the innovation that it proposes to WordPress overall.
The Decision to Go Free
We don’t know the decision to come back as a free page builder for WordPress. However, we could argue that the developer has a passion and vision for this project beyond money. We understand that it was a dramatic change when Cwicly suddenly announced the cancellation of development. But, we are as shocked by the turns of events knowing that everything was settled on the dead of Cwicly.
As developers and designers, we understand the struggles of keeping a product updated, interesting, and continually enhanced in terms of UX. Also, the constant request from other developers to shift the development of a product is something that needs to be accounted for because it alters your vision for the product.
Some paid users supported Cwicly as a lifetime deal and now are complaining that they wasted their money. They consider that Cwicly as a free page builder is a stab in the back of those supporters from earlier days. Nevertheless, we think it is the opposite as we believe that it is better FREE than NOTHING. The developer could have gone to explore other projects but decided to come back and surprise the community by continuing the development of Cwicly.
What to Expect from the Free Version
The free version of Cwicly will offer a comprehensive set of features, including:
- Gutenberg Integration: Seamlessly extend the capabilities of the native block editor.
- Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Pro Integration: Create dynamic templates and data-driven content. Hopefully, Cwicly maintains the integration with ACF Pro even as a free plugin.
- Theme Building: Design custom themes and templates leveraging Full Site Editing.
- Layout Import/Export: Share and replicate designs across projects.
- Conditional Logic: Build dynamic content that responds to user interactions.
- Performance Optimization: Prioritize fast loading times and clean code.
While the free version will not include premium support, users can access community forums and documentation for assistance.
Impact on the WordPress Community
The return of Cwicly as a free page builder is expected to have a significant impact on the WordPress community. It will:
- Empower Users: Provide users of all skill levels with a powerful tool to create professional-looking websites.
- Foster Creativity: Encourage experimentation and innovation with Gutenberg-based designs.
- Expand Accessibility: Make advanced page-building features accessible to a wider audience.
- Strengthen the Community: Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among users and developers.
Looking Ahead
The developer has expressed their commitment to continuously improving Cwicly and adding new features based on user feedback. They might plan to explore potential monetization strategies through premium add-ons or services while ensuring the core functionality remains free for everyone. We could think of Cwicly as a free tool in the same way the Laravel framework works. The developer can create an ecosystem of paid tools that could benefit developers and designers using this page builder while offering it for free.
Conclusion
Cwicly’s revival as a free page builder marks a new chapter for the platform and a renewed commitment to the WordPress community. It represents a testament to the power of open-source software and the resilience of a passionate community. As users embrace this free offering, the future of Cwicly looks brighter than ever.