CompareBricks
Native AI vs Bricks
Bricks is a theme-based visual builder known for clean output and developer-grade controls, with filters, forms, popups and WooCommerce templates in every plan. Version 2.4 added experimental AI Abilities for your own AI client. Native AI is a plugin that works with your theme, with SEO, analytics, a CRM and store tools also built in, and its own AI agent.
Choose Bricks if…
you’re a developer who wants developer-grade CSS control, every feature in every plan with a lifetime option, and you’re happy building on the Bricks theme.
Choose Native AI if…
you want the AI built in — designing whole sites from a description, editing pages with your design system, and working across SEO, analytics, a CRM, your store and reports — with AI credits included, nothing to connect, and one plugin instead of a stack of them.
Feature by feature
What each has built in, without other plugins. “Paid add-on” means a separate purchase from the same company.
| Feature | Native AI | Bricks |
|---|---|---|
| AI designs a whole website from a description | YesPages, header, footer, design system and forms, built with native elements | PartlyWith your own AI client (experimental in 2.4) |
| AI edits pages with real, editable elements | YesUses your design system; one undo reverts it | PartlyWith your own AI client (experimental in 2.4) |
| An AI agent that works across the whole site | YesContent types, plugins, popups, analytics, reports — it plans and asks before anything risky | PartlyExperimental: Bricks advises keeping it off on production sites |
| Visual builder | Yes120+ elements, layers, per-breakpoint styling | Yes |
| Theme builder: headers, footers and templates with conditions | Yes | YesWith template conditions |
| Design system: tokens and global classes | Yes | YesStyle Manager: classes, variables and palettes |
| Dynamic data, custom fields (ACF) and query loops | YesEvery ACF field type, repeaters, galleries | YesACF, Meta Box, JetEngine, Toolset, Pods and ACPT |
| Filters for shops and listings | YesLive counts, no page reloads | YesAjax filters and sorting, WooCommerce filters |
| Forms with an inbox and integrations | YesMulti-step, logic, 20 integrations | YesSubmissions saved when switched on |
| Popups with conversion stats | Yes | Yes |
| Interactions and motion | Yes | Yes |
| Mega menus | Yes | Yes |
| AI blog writer and content calendar | YesPosts written with photos, planned and scheduled on a calendar | No |
| SEO, with AI that fixes it across the site | Yes | PartlyTitles, descriptions, robots and Open Graph |
| Custom permalinks, bulk address changes and redirects | YesFormats per content type, preview and undo | No |
| Analytics inside WordPress | YesCookieless by default | No |
| Cookie consent: a banner that holds back trackers until allowed | YesA cookie scan, Google Consent Mode and a consent log | No |
| CRM, email campaigns and automations | Yes | No |
| WooCommerce: shop pages and running the store | YesOrders, stock, sales, refunds and reports | PartlyWooCommerce builder; no store management |
| Memberships: plans and members-only content | YesSold as WooCommerce products, with rules and drip | No |
| Online courses (LMS): lessons, quizzes, certificates | YesDrip, groups, grading and reports; the AI writes courses | No |
| Security: firewall, sign-in protection and malware scan | YesTwo-factor, your own sign-in address, one-click repairs | No |
| Automations across your plugins and apps (like Uncanny Automator) | YesWooCommerce, LMSs, memberships, CRMs, forms, webhooks, schedules and the AI | No |
| Email delivery (SMTP) with a log | Yes | No |
| Code snippets with safe mode | Yes | PartlyCode element and custom CSS and JavaScript |
| Role and capability editor | YesAllow or deny, with backups | No |
| Client site reports (PDF, scheduled) | Yes | No |
The AI
Bricks
Bricks 2.4 (September 2026) adds experimental AI Abilities: you connect your own AI client (Codex, Claude or Copilot) through the WordPress Abilities API and MCP Adapter, and it can work with pages, elements, templates, classes, queries and WooCommerce setup. Bricks advises keeping it off on production sites while it’s experimental. There’s no Bricks AI fee; you pay your AI provider.
Native AI
An agent that builds with the same elements you edit: it designs whole sites from a description, edits any page with your design system, and works across the site — content types, plugins, popups, analytics and reports — planning bigger work for your approval, with an undo for everything. AI credits come with every plan.
What it costs
Bricks
- Starter $79/year 1 site
- Business $149/year 3 sites
- Agency $249/year Unlimited sites
- Ultimate Lifetime $599 once Unlimited sites
As listed on Bricks’s website in October 2026.
Native AI
- Free trial $0 1 website, AI credits to start, no card
- Pro $99/month 3 websites, 3,000 AI credits every month, every feature
What you’d add to Bricks to match
- AI blog writer and content calendarPublishPress · $129/year
- Custom permalinks, bulk address changes and redirectsPermalink Manager Pro · €39/year (about $45; renews at €35)
- Analytics inside WordPressMonsterInsights · $199/year (first year $99.50)
- Cookie consent: a banner that holds back trackers until allowedCookieYes · $100/year ($10 a month)
- CRM, email campaigns and automationsFluentCRM · $129/year (first year $103)
- Memberships: plans and members-only contentMemberPress · $399/year (first year $199.50)
- Online courses (LMS): lessons, quizzes, certificatesLearnDash · $399/year
- Security: firewall, sign-in protection and malware scanWordfence · $149/year
- Automations across your plugins and apps (like Uncanny Automator)Uncanny Automator · $240/year
- Email delivery (SMTP) with a logWP Mail SMTP · $99/year (first year $49)
- Role and capability editorUser Role Editor Pro · $29/year
- Client site reports (PDF, scheduled)ManageWP · $1/site a month
About $1,929 a year for one site at those plugins’ prices, on top of Bricks — see the full list.
What Bricks does well
- Every feature in every plan, and a lifetime option.
- Developer-grade CSS controls: classes, variables, components and a query builder.
- Filters, forms, popups and mega menus built in.
- Lean output without jQuery.
- An open approach to AI: bring any MCP client.
Do I have to rebuild my Bricks pages?
No. Native AI only renders what you build with it, so pages made with Bricks keep working. Build new pages with Native AI, and move the others over when it suits you.
Can I try Native AI first?
Yes. A new account starts with a free trial: a license for one website and AI credits, no card needed. Describe your business on the home page and watch it design your home page.
How were these compared?
From each product’s own website and documentation, in October 2026. Products change; if something here is out of date, tell us and we’ll correct it.
Sources
One plugin. One agent. Your whole site.
Start free: a license for one website and AI credits to build with, no card needed. Describe your business and watch Native AI design your home page.