Architects can draw up plans by hand, but they’re more likely to use CAD software to realize their version faster, with less expense, and no sacrifice in quality. In a similar vein, web development agencies that use low-code or no-code tools as part of their workflows aren’t abandoning code. Instead, they’re prioritizing where human skill matters most.
Low-code tools handle templated layouts and client tweaks, while developers focus on performance optimization, security, and custom functionality—the structural engineering of a website. The result? Faster launches, happier clients, and fewer burnout-inducing CSS battles over padding adjustments. In this article, we talk to three agencies who use low-code tools as part of their stack, and discuss what advantages they realize from doing so.
King Grizzly’s Client-Centric Philosophy
Brian Erickson is one of the principals at King Grizzly, an agency he co-founded with his brother. The team at King Grizzly has deep web development experience, stretching back to the days before WordPress existed. They have the skills to do everything manually, but Erickson says they use Elementor for two reasons.
“We’ve got the development chops to create full custom websites, but in terms of hours spent, we just work faster using a tool like Elementor where we can,” he says. “The other reason is that it helps to create an understanding with clients. Our clients are typically mid-sized, not enterprise. With Elementor, the marketers and content creators at those organizations can use it to create content themselves.”
King Grizzly uses Elementor to grant clients “curated control.” The agency translates Figma designs into Elementor with centralized global styles—fonts, spacing, colors—ensuring one tweak updates the entire site. This prevents clients from accidentally breaking designs while granting them autonomy for content updates. In addition, if changes are needed down the road, the entire site can be updated from centralized controls instead of going through dozens of pages to make repetitive updates. Post-launch, clients receive video tutorials showing them how to do everything. “We always include one video that’s a technical walkthrough,” says Erickson. “It’s really for some developer down the road, so they can take 10 to 15 minutes and see how we build the site.”
Workflow Optimization
Part of the “curated control” King Grizzly offers is by enforcing strict design systems to avoid chaotic, ad-hoc styling. Global settings in Elementor act as a sort of “GitHub for non-developers,” eliminating hours-long scavenger hunts for inline styles. Custom code isn’t banned, but it is managed strategically: the WPCode plugin tracks PHP/JavaScript changes with revision histories, offering content editors and marketers a form of version control without technical jargon.
Future-Proofing
Erickson notes that the team is open and flexible when it comes to new tools. While Elementor works for 80% of clients, King Grizzly tests alternatives to ensure their chosen solution is still relevant and durable, and to learn approaches available in other tools. “Mid-market clients need reliability, not bleeding-edge tech,” Erickson says. “Clients pay us to solve problems and help their brands grow with tools they can understand, not to code sliders from scratch.”
Matchbox Sidesteps Page Builders with FSE
Cullen Whitmore, co-founder of Matchbox Design Group, notes that his agency often uses WordPress’s native Full Site Editing (FSE), including for content-heavy clients like Midwest BankCentre. The Block Bindings API connects core blocks (e.g., Paragraph, Image) to custom fields, letting marketers update bios or phone numbers without touching designs. “If your site isn’t easy to use, you won’t update it,” Whitmore says. Predefined style variations act as guardrails, allowing layout swaps without brand risks.
Workflow
By binding core blocks to ACF fields, Matchbox sidesteps page builders entirely. Designers prototype in FSE while content teams populate layouts with real data, enabling parallel workflows. “We’re not waiting for design ‘approval’ to start building. It’s agile, not waterfall,” Whitmore explains.
Future-Proofing
Prioritizing native tools over plugins avoids compatibility issues. When Gutenberg introduced block bindings, Matchbox connected ACF fields overnight—no third-party tools required. “No deprecated shortcodes or plugin conflicts,” Whitmore notes.
Adopting FSE requires patience, but Whitmore predicts more developers will learn to juggle FSE, block themes, and React. “The ‘coder vs. no-coder’ debate will feel outdated as core evolves.”
Gorilion: Scaling with Speed and Standardization
Sean Bryant is the founder of Gorilion, an agency he formally incorporated in 2020. He started developing websites while still in high school, eventually moving over to Drupal as it had “…post types and views and all these cool features for manipulating and displaying content,” he says. “I eventually moved over to WordPress because they had page builders and ACF fields and other technology that we needed.”
For Bryant, using Elementor as part of the build process helps to cement WordPress as “the best of both worlds. You’ve got the Squarespaces and Wixes of the world that are easy for mom-and-pops and marketing team members to edit and update. And then WordPress gives you the ability to code custom functionality. We essentially get the best of worlds with Elementor and WordPress. You get that nice, easy interface for the clients to edit and update, and then you’ve got the features to add your own elements and plugins, programming anything you need to go with it.”
Workflow
Gorilion’s formula prioritizes a smooth, speedy workflow: designers create pages with brand-approved assets, developers add custom features like eCommerce hooks, and clients review staging sites pre-loaded with integrations. “Designers aren’t waiting for devs to ‘translate’ Figma—they build most of the site themselves,” Bryant explains. “I QA it, then customize it, put in advanced loops and so on, anything you can’t do in Elementor. It’s helped a lot with our workflow, enabled us to build more sites faster, and made it easier for our clients to edit and market.”
When Coding is Best
Bryant draws a clear line: “If a client needs custom post types or API hooks, we code it—no shortcuts.” But for brochure sites or small e-commerce stores, Elementor reigns. “Why charge the client $100,000 for a fully custom-coded site, when you can do it for much cheaper by blending Elementor and custom coding? The site is easier to edit and manage for the client too.”
“Clients don’t care if you used a page builder, AI tools, or a magic wand,” Bryant says. “They care that you fixed their SSL cert before lunch. Build fast, communicate faster, and let tools handle the rest.”
Conclusion
Just as CAD software transformed architecture without diminishing the architect’s vision, low-code and no-code tools are redefining—not replacing—the craft of web development. The agencies profiled here exemplify how blending automation with expertise creates a win-win: clients gain intuitive control over their digital presence, while developers reclaim time to tackle high-impact challenges that demand human ingenuity.
The true power of these tools lies in restraint. By enforcing guardrails, standardizing workflows, and reserving custom code for strategic enhancements, they can help you to deliver faster launches, lower costs, and enduring solutions tailored to client needs.
As the industry evolves, the “code vs. no-code” debate grows increasingly irrelevant. The future belongs to agencies that wield tools pragmatically, prioritizing outcomes over dogma. The goal remains unchanged: build smarter, empower clients, and focus talent where it matters most. After all, a website’s success isn’t measured by how it’s built, but by how well it serves its purpose—and these agencies prove that sometimes, the right tool is the ultimate competitive edge.
Do you use low-code or no-code tools as part of your development stack? Let us know in the comments!