WordPress switched to the block editor as the default in 2018. Since then, the question of which editor to use has been a regular debate. I still use Classic Editor on most of my sites. Here is why, and when you should consider doing the same.
What the Block Editor Does Well
The block editor is genuinely good at some things. If you want to build complex page layouts — columns of content, full-width sections, custom designs for landing pages — the block editor makes that possible without a separate page builder plugin. For people building custom-looking sites, this is a real advantage.
It is also where WordPress development is heading. New features are being built for the block editor. The classic editor is maintained but not actively expanded. Long term, the direction of WordPress is clearly toward blocks.
Why I Stick With Classic Editor
For a site where I am mostly writing text articles, the block editor adds friction. Every paragraph is a block. Every heading is a block. Pasting in content from a text file sometimes creates weird formatting that takes time to fix.
The classic editor is a text area. You write. You format with buttons when needed. You are done. There is almost no interface to learn or fight. If you have been using a word processor, you already know how to use the classic editor.
For fast publishing — write an article, paste it in, add a title and meta description, set a category, publish — classic editor is faster. When you are running multiple content sites and you want to publish without thinking about the interface, that speed matters.
Compatibility Is Another Factor
Some older themes and plugins have quirks with the block editor. Not serious problems usually, but odd visual glitches or layout issues. Classic editor avoids those compatibility questions entirely because it works the same as it always did.
If you are using a simple theme like GeneratePress free and writing standard blog posts, compatibility is unlikely to be a major issue with either editor. But plugins that include shortcodes often work with less friction in classic editor.
The Real Question Is What You Are Building
If you are building a site where the design and layout of each page matters, the block editor is probably the better choice. If you are building a content site that is mostly articles with standard formatting — which covers most niche sites and blogs — classic editor is faster and simpler. The end result for readers looks the same either way.
The Classic Editor plugin is officially supported by WordPress until at least 2025, and likely beyond. It is not going away anytime soon.
What to Do If You Are Starting Fresh
Try both. Spend a week writing in the block editor. Spend a week writing in the classic editor. See which one you actually enjoy more. A tool you like using is better than a tool you fight every time you open it, regardless of which one is more feature-rich on paper.
If you choose classic editor, install the Classic Editor plugin, set it to use the classic editor for all post types, and you are done. The option is right there in Settings after you install the plugin.