Why ACF Flexible Content Still Beats Gutenberg for Professional WordPress Development

After recently completing a WordPress project using the Gutenberg block editor, I've come to a very clear conclusion: The classic editor is still by far the best way to set up projects. When combined with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Flexible Content still provides a better visual development experience and better client usability.

Don't get me wrong – Gutenberg has its place in the WordPress ecosystem. But when it comes to building solid, maintainable websites for clients, the traditional approach often delivers better results. Here's why.

The Double Stylesheet Dilemma

One of the most frustrating aspects of Gutenberg development is managing two separate stylesheets:

Editor Styles vs Frontend Styles

With Gutenberg, you're essentially building two versions of your design:

• **Frontend styles**: How the site looks to visitors
• **Editor styles**: How blocks appear in the WordPress admin

This means double the work for every design element. You style your blocks for the frontend, then have to recreate similar styles for the editor – and keeping them in sync is a constant battle.

With ACF Flexible Content, you build once. The admin interface is clean and functional by default, and clients see exactly what they're editing without the false promise of "what you see is what you get" that rarely delivers. For my this is where worpdress falls down other modern web apps like Payload CMS with Next.js.

The UI Complexity Problem

Gutenberg's Learning Curve

The Gutenberg interface, while visually appealing, introduces unnecessary complexity for many clients:

• **Block navigation** can be confusing for non-technical users
• **Nested blocks** create a maze of settings panels
• **Block variations** add decision paralysis
• **Toolbar options** scatter controls across multiple locations

I've watched clients struggle to find where to edit simple text because it's buried three blocks deep in a column inside a group inside a section.

ACF's Simplicity

With ACF Flexible Content:

• Fields are clearly labeled and organized
• The editing experience is linear and intuitive
• Clients know exactly where to find each content element
• There's no guessing about what can be edited where

Development Speed and Maintainability

The Gutenberg Development Tax

Building with Gutenberg blocks requires:

1. Block registration with complex JavaScript

2. Attribute definitions for every field

3. Edit component for the editor view

4. Save component for the frontend

5. Deprecation handling for block updates

6. Block.json configuration files

That's a lot of overhead for what could be a simple content section.

ACF's Efficient Approach

With ACF Flexible Content:

```php

// Define your flexible content field in ACF

// Create a simple template file

// Style it once

// Done.

```

The development is straightforward:

• Define fields in the ACF interface (or via PHP/JSON)
• Create clean PHP templates
• Write your styles once
• Focus on the actual design and functionality

Client Handoff and Training

The Gutenberg Training Challenge

Training clients on Gutenberg often involves:

• Explaining the block concept
• Teaching block navigation
• Showing multiple ways to achieve the same result
• Troubleshooting layout breaks from incorrect block usage
• Creating detailed documentation for block-specific features

Many clients end up frustrated, accidentally breaking layouts by moving blocks incorrectly or adding incompatible block combinations.

ACF's Intuitive Experience

With ACF Flexible Content:

• "Here's your content sections"
• "Click 'Add Row' to add a new section"
• "Fill in the clearly labeled fields"
• "Save"

The training takes minutes, not hours.

Real-World Performance

Gutenberg's Overhead

Every Gutenberg block adds:

• Additional JavaScript to parse
• Extra DOM elements for block wrappers
• Editor-specific markup that serves no frontend purpose
• Increased database complexity with block comments

For a simple brochure site, this overhead is unnecessary.

ACF's Clean Output

ACF Flexible Content outputs exactly what you tell it to – nothing more, nothing less:

• Clean, semantic HTML
• No unnecessary wrapper elements
• Minimal JavaScript requirements
• Efficient database storage

The Right Tool for the Right Job

When Gutenberg Makes Sense

Gutenberg excels for:

• **Content-heavy blogs** where authors need formatting flexibility
• **Page builders** for DIY website owners
• **Sites with multiple content creators** who need visual editing
• **Projects requiring** extensive user customization

When ACF Flexible Content Wins

ACF Flexible Content is superior for:

• **Professional brochure sites** with structured content
• **Client websites** where consistency is crucial
• **Projects with specific design requirements**
• **Sites where clients** should edit content, not design

Best Practices for ACF Development

If you're convinced to try ACF Flexible Content, here are my recommended practices:

1. Structure Your Flexible Content Thoughtfully

```php

// Organize sections logically

• Hero Sections
• Content Sections
• Call-to-Action Sections
• Gallery Sections
• Contact Sections

```

2. Create Reusable Components

Build a library of flexible content layouts that can be reused across projects:

• Two-column content
• Testimonial sliders
• Team grids
• Service cards
• FAQ accordions

3. Provide Clear Field Labels and Instructions

```php

'label' => 'Section Title',

'instructions' => 'Enter the main heading for this section. Keep it under 60 characters for best display.',

```

4. Use Conditional Logic Wisely

Show/hide fields based on user selections to keep the interface clean:

• Only show video URL field if "Video" background type is selected
• Display alignment options only for certain section types
• Hide advanced settings behind a toggle

5. Implement Preview Images

Help clients visualize their options:

```php

'layouts' => [

'two_column' => [

'label' => 'Two Column Layout',

'display' => 'block',

'preview_image' => '/path/to/preview.jpg'

]

]

```

The Migration Path

If you're currently using Gutenberg and want to migrate to ACF:

1. Audit your current blocks – List all block types and their data

2. Create equivalent ACF fields – Map block attributes to ACF fields

3. Build migration scripts – Convert block data to ACF format

4. Test thoroughly – Ensure all content transfers correctly

5. Train your clients – Show them the simpler editing experience

Common Objections Addressed

"But Gutenberg is the future of WordPress!"

True, Gutenberg is WordPress's direction, but that doesn't make it the best solution for every project. WordPress's strength has always been its flexibility to choose the right tools for each job.

"ACF is another dependency"

ACF is one of the most stable, well-maintained plugins in the WordPress ecosystem. It's been around for over a decade and powers millions of professional websites.

"Clients want visual editing"

In my experience, clients want easy editing. They care more about being able to update their content quickly and without breaking things than seeing a pseudo-preview while editing.

Performance Comparison

Let me share some real numbers from recent projects:

Gutenberg-based Site:

• Page weight: 2.4MB
• Requests: 47
• Load time: 3.2s
• Admin load time: 4.8s

ACF Flexible Content Site:

• Page weight: 1.1MB
• Requests: 28
• Load time: 1.7s
• Admin load time: 2.1s

The ACF site is leaner, faster, and more efficient.

Making the Choice

When starting a new WordPress project, ask yourself:

1. Who will be editing the content? Tech-savvy users might handle Gutenberg; most clients prefer ACF's simplicity

2. What type of content? Blog posts might benefit from Gutenberg; structured pages work better with ACF

3. What's the maintenance plan? Gutenberg blocks need updates; ACF fields are more stable

4. What's the development timeline? ACF is significantly faster to develop

5. What's the performance requirement? ACF typically delivers better performance

Conclusion

While Gutenberg represents WordPress's vision for the future, it's not always the best choice for professional development today. The classic editor with ACF Flexible Content provides:

• **Faster development** with less complexity
• **Better client experience** with intuitive editing
• **Superior performance** with cleaner output
• **Easier maintenance** with simpler architecture

For agencies and freelancers building professional brochure websites, ACF Flexible Content remains the more practical, efficient choice. It allows us to deliver better results faster, and ultimately, that's what matters to our clients.

The beauty of WordPress is that we have choices. While Gutenberg continues to evolve, ACF Flexible Content remains a powerful, proven solution for creating professional, maintainable websites that clients can actually use.

Ready to Build Better WordPress Sites?

Whether you're team Gutenberg or team ACF, I can help you create a WordPress website that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations. Let's discuss your project and find the perfect solution for your requirements.