Can AI coding platforms replace traditional page builders?

Will AI make page builders obsolete in the next 12 months? Or are we just swapping one trap for another? This guide breaks down what AI coding platforms can actually do, where they fall short, and how a smarter hybrid approach is already winning.

Tools like Framer AI, Builder.io, and ChatGPT’s Code Interpreter promise to automate code generation and streamline development.

But can they truly replace established page builders like Webflow, Elementor, and Wix?

Picture this: A freelance developer needs to build a landing page overnight. With Framer AI or Builder.io, they can generate an entire layout in seconds. Meanwhile, a small business owner with zero coding knowledge drags and drops elements in Webflow to create a functional website.

Both approaches work, but do they scale? Do they produce clean, maintainable code?

Let’s break down the differences.

AI coding platforms vs. page builders: What’s the difference?

AI website generators function by analyzing user prompts and automatically generating code or design elements.

Platforms like v0.dev allow users to describe a layout, and the AI produces HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Some tools even integrate logic, making it possible to generate interactive components without manually coding them.

This approach brings numerous advantages such as:

Speed: AI can generate complete sections of a website in seconds.
Customization: Full control over the output (assuming the user has coding knowledge).
No reliance on plugins: Unlike WordPress or Elementor, AI-generated websites aren’t weighed down by third-party plugins.

But what AI tools can’t do as page builders?

They can not offer consistency. AI-generated designs may lack uniformity across different pages.

Even being “smart” AI code doesn’t always follow design best practices.

On the other hand, page builders like WordPress and Webflow offer structured, template-based systems for creating websites. Even though they are not as fast as AI regarding website building, they allow beginners and developers to build sites quickly.

There is no need for coding knowledge, and built-in templates and themes follow the design through the pages.

Other things that make website building a nightmare are plugin dependency and limited customization.

Let’s break this down by what really matters: speed, flexibility, and maintainability.

AI coding platforms vs page builders: Features comparison

Before going to code analysis and the development process, let’s cover the pros/cons of both, focusing on flexibility, speed, and maintainability.

Feature #1: Speed and performance

AI tools can generate layouts and even functional components in seconds, reducing manual effort. They’re particularly powerful for rapid prototyping and generating boilerplate code.

Traditional page builders offer a no-code or low-code approach, allowing users to build entire sites visually. While they’re quick to set up, the drag-and-drop nature can introduce bloated code and performance issues.

Feature #2: Flexibility and customization

AI-generated code can be fully customized, but it often requires a developer to refine and optimize the output. These tools are best suited for developers who need assistance with repetitive tasks rather than a full website solution.

Page builders offer extensive customization options through UI elements, but advanced customizations often require diving into custom CSS or JavaScript, which can be limiting.

Feature #3: Accessibility

AI coding platforms still require users to understand code, making them more suitable for developers than non-technical users.

Page Builders are designed for ease of use, making them ideal for non-developers. However, complex modifications can bring a need for developers.

AI coding platform vs page builders: which one wins?

Here’s how they compare in real-world use.

AI tools win over speed and customization (if you know how to code), while page builders are more scalable and easy to update and manage without breaking layouts.

So, use AI tools if you're a developer looking for full control over code.

Use page builders if you need ease of use and long-term maintainability.

A hybrid approach (AI-generated templates + CMS) could be the best of both worlds. ( more about this later)

But before that, let’s get to the code.

Can AI code be good quality code?

While AI coding tools generate websites quickly, the code quality is often questionable. Let’s break down the key issues:

Code structure

AI-generated code can be messy, redundant, and inconsistent. Unlike a well-structured, manually written codebase, AI tools often create unnecessary divs, inline styles, and inconsistent class naming conventions.

Example:

AI might generate multiple similar CSS classes for buttons across different sections (.btn-1, .btn-2, etc.) rather than following a DRY principle with a reusable .btn class.
Accessibility features like proper heading hierarchy, ARIA labels, and semantic HTML are often overlooked by AI.

Handling reusable components

One of the major limitations of AI-generated sites is the lack of reusable components. While page builders offer systems for managing global components like headers and footers, AI platforms often require users to manually copy and paste code across different pages.

Example:

A manually coded site (or a Webflow project) allows for a single header component that updates across all pages.
An AI-generated site requires you to edit multiple HTML files separately if you need to update the navigation.

Code optimization

AI-generated pages can be unoptimized, with excessive inline styles and redundant scripts.

Debugging and extending AI-generated code

AI is not perfect at debugging. Developers often find that AI-generated code works initially but contains subtle bugs or inefficient logic when extended.

AI-generated JavaScript might work for a simple contact form but lacks proper validation handling, requiring manual fixes.

Example: AI-Generated Code Before & After Cleanup

Before (AI-generated code):

html
CopyEdit
<div class="btn-1">Click Me</div>
<div class="btn-2">Click Me</div>

Issues: Creates unnecessary duplicate styles, and lacks semantics.

After (Cleaned Up Code):

html
CopyEdit
<button class="btn">Click Me</button>

Fixes: Uses semantic HTML and a reusable class.

Key AI Code Problems:

❌ Messy structure – Unnecessary

wrappers, inline styles.

❌ Poor accessibility – Lacks proper heading hierarchy and ARIA labels.

❌ SEO risks – May omit metadata, structured data, or proper alt text.

Resume: AI code can’t build for you

I won’t argue here that you should or should not use an AI code tools, instead, I want to conclude that the best option for developers is to approach AI code as a starting point rather than a fully functional solution.

AI is inevitable, so instead of ignoring it, learn ways to outsmart AI and use it as a powerful tool for your development task as an assistant, not as an ultimate solution.

AI + CMS = A hybrid approach that gives a solution

Rather than picking sides in the AI vs. page builders debate, what if you could combine the best AI features with CMS?

What would happen if you choose to top building pages and instead start building reusable and flexible content?

As I mentioned earlier in the text, both approaches are incomplete, so why wouldn’t you try to choose a structured approach?

AI coding tools are great for speed and automation, while CMS-driven sites provide scalability, structured content, and long-term maintainability.

A hybrid approach allows developers to use AI's speed while maintaining full control over the content and structure.

How it works: AI generates, CMS manages

This concept is based on simple logic. Use the benefits of both to make your life easier. Here’s the possible workflow:

Use AI for fast prototyping

AI can generate layouts, components, or even full-page structures in seconds. Instead of manually coding boilerplate sections (e.g., a hero section or a pricing table), developers can use AI tools like Framer AI or Builder.io to create an initial version.

Refine and optimize the code

AI-generated code still needs a developer’s touch. This step involves cleaning up unnecessary elements, improving accessibility, and ensuring semantic HTML for SEO and maintainability.

Integrate with a CMS for content management

AI generates the front-end structure.
A CMS (like BCMS) stores and delivers content dynamically.
Developers connect the CMS to the AI-generated templates, ensuring a scalable, editable system for non-technical users.

Benefits of this hybrid approach

Scalability: A CMS allows easy content updates without breaking the layout.
Customization: AI provides flexibility while developers refine the final product.
Efficiency: AI speeds up development, and the CMS ensures long-term manageability.
Better performance: Unlike bloated page builders, this approach keeps the codebase clean and optimized.

Example: AI + CMS in action

To understand my idea and suggestion, here is a real case:

Imagine you’re building a multilingual website in Next.js.

Host content on BCMS: Store articles in BCMS.
Fetch content: Retrieve articles from BCMS for translation.
User preference: Add a translation button for language selection.
AI translation: Send content to AI for real-time translation and receive the response.
Frontend update: Display translated content without modifying the original BCMS data.

Want to see how this looks?

Luckily, we wrote a step-by-step tutorial for this example. Learn more: Building a multilingual website in Next.js with AI-powered translation

Conclusion: AI as a tool, not a replacement

AI isn’t here to replace developers or even page builders entirely. Instead, it’s a tool that, when used correctly, can improve development workflows.

The best approach isn’t to choose AI over CMS or page builders but to integrate them strategically.

Rather than seeing AI as a website builder, think of it as an assistant, helping developers generate code faster, while a CMS ensures structured content and long-term site management.

By leveraging AI for speed and a CMS for scalability, developers get the best of both worlds: automation without compromise.