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Cover image for Crocoblock review: What makes it the perfect match for WP Umbrella
Mari from WP Umbrella
Mari from WP Umbrella

Posted on • Originally published at wp-umbrella.com

Crocoblock review: What makes it the perfect match for WP Umbrella

In this comprehensive Crocoblock review, we'll also explore how WP Umbrella enhances the maintenance experience, and show you why this really is the ultimate toolkit for WordPress users.

Building and maintaining WordPress websites can get overwhelming. That's where some really powerful toolsets like Crocoblock come in handy, carrying an impressive set of plugins and templates to build high-performant websites.

But building a website is just a fraction of that formula. It takes effective management and maintenance of such dynamic sites to have them run in the most optimized state regarding security and the general health of your site. That is where WP Umbrella steps in, ensuring seamless compatibility with websites built using Crocoblock: automated updates, performance monitoring, and a single easy management dashboard for one-click maintenance of Crocoblock-based sites.

TL;DR

Tracking various metrics on your WordPress site is crucial for its health, security, and performance. Metrics like uptime, login attempts, and user activity should always be monitored. WP Umbrella makes such tasks quite easy to manage. Since WP Umbrella is compatible with Crocoblock-built sites, you can manage everything on your site, from plugins and templates to other areas, in one dashboard.

Crocoblock overview

crocoblock website homepage

Crocoblock is a powerful WordPress toolkit that offers 20 plugins, including more than 200 widgets, along with over 60 dynamic templates for building highly customizable and dynamic websites. It's highly popular among developers and website owners for creating complex websites without any coding. With a focus on Elementor, Bricks, and WordPress editor integration, Crocoblock simplifies the building process to any level of user skills.

The beauty of Crocoblock lies not only in what it can build but also in how well it works with tools like WP Umbrella. WP Umbrella will let you manage every single aspect of your Crocoblock-powered website with ease, from plugin updates to security monitoring and backup management right from the WP Umbrella dashboard.

Crocoblock site maintenance with WP Umbrella's bulk management

WP Umbrella's Bulk Management feature is a powerful tool for anyone managing multiple websites. Instead of manually updating each plugin or theme individually, WP Umbrella allows you to handle everything from one dashboard, saving you a lot of time and effort.

In the Bulk Management tab in your WP Umbrella account, you'll find easy access to the following areas.

Plugins

wp umbrella plugins management

In this section, you'll keep all your JetPlugins (like JetEngine, JetSmartFilters, JetElements, etc.) up to date with just a few clicks. 

crocoblock website plugins section

This feature allows you to Update (activate, deactivate, or delete) these plugins across multiple sites at once, ensuring everything runs smoothly and a plugin update won't break your site.

By automating this process, you'll eliminate the risk of running outdated plugins, which can lead to vulnerabilities or compatibility issues. This ensures that your websites remain optimized without manual intervention, saving countless hours of repetitive work.

Themes

wp umbrella themes management

Managing website themes or Elementor-based designs created with Crocoblock is also simplified. WP Umbrella lets you Update (or delete) themes across several websites, making maintenance efficient and streamlined.

crocoblock website themes section

Core

wp umbrella core management

In the Core section, you can update your WordPress core, making sure it's up-to-date and secure across all your websites.

Database

wp umbrella database management

In the Database section, you can perform essential database maintenance tasks: optimize the performance of your Crocoblock-powered websites, keeping them efficient. This centralized control ensures your website's performance and security are always optimized.

wp umbrella database optimization options

Automating updates and monitoring through WP Umbrella means that you no longer need to worry about keeping plugins, themes, or databases up to date individually across multiple sites. WP Umbrella guarantees that your Crocoblock-built websites remain efficient and secure at all times.

Additional features

Individual developers or agencies building sites with Crocoblock assets might be interested in the following tools provided by WP Umbrella.

  • Alerting allows users to get real-time notifications when critical events occur, such as a site going down, plugin failure, or the emergence of security vulnerabilities.
  • With the Reporting feature, agencies can manage many websites and run comprehensive reports on issues like uptime and plugin updates, along with performance metrics.
  • Labels are great for organizing and categorizing websites within WP Umbrella. Crocoblock developers managing lots of projects label the websites on criteria such as project type, client, or features of the site; for example, "Ecommerce" to show "WooCommerce + JetWooBuilder" websites.
  • White Label allows agencies to put their brand on the WP Umbrella dashboard and reports. This will complete a professional, cohesive service for clients managing Crocoblock sites.
  • With Google Analytics Integration, one can trace page views, bounce rate, and conversions generated from the dynamic content directly in the WP Umbrella dashboard for data-driven optimization.

How to edit website content with Crocoblock?

Crocoblock offers a suite of JetPlugins designed to enhance the functionality of Elementor/Gutenberg/Bricks-powered websites. These plugins add specific features, allowing users to create dynamic, data-driven, and highly interactive websites. 

Below is a quick overview of the key JetPlugins, with their primary customization features.

  • JetSmartFilters is a great plugin for implementing advanced filtering options for products, blog posts, or custom post types. With JetSmartFilters, you can easily create dynamic, filterable content that visitors can navigate through with criteria like categories, tags, and attributes, ensuring that your content is displayed based on user preferences.
  • JetEngine enables the creation of custom post types, taxonomies, and meta fields. With JetEngine, you can build dynamic content structures for your site. It allows you to create complex layouts and custom content templates, making it ideal for websites that require data-driven features, like directories or portfolios.

https://youtu.be/sIvu6n5ZyqE?list=PL26jaHWVtLFxD1yBmvWTqGbKckit4Ochc

How to use dynamic field widget in WordPress

  • JetBooking is ideal for websites offering services like rentals or accommodations. JetBooking allows you to create dynamic booking forms that are easily editable within Elementor. Also, you can manage availability, set booking parameters, and customize the booking process to fit their business needs.
  • JetReviews lets you integrate review and rating systems directly into content like posts, products, and custom post types. With JetReviews, you can easily manage and display customers' reviews, helping to increase engagement and build trust with your audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVuUOmANZtw

How to create a commenting system

  • JetAppointment is a plugin that adds appointment scheduling features. With its help, you can easily build custom appointment forms and calendars directly within Elementor, allowing you to manage their schedules and offer customizable booking experiences to visitors.
  • JetElements provides a wide range of pre-designed widgets for Elementor that you can use to enhance your content. With JetElements, you can easily edit content by adding sliders, pricing tables, testimonials, and more, improving the overall design and UX of your site without custom coding.

https://youtu.be/HfkQG6GomW8?list=PL26jaHWVtLFwNoIKugA42oaA3cado-x4Q

How to create a portfolio website in WordPress

  • JetGridBuilder simplifies the process of creating customizable, responsive grid layouts for posts, products, and custom post types. With its drag-and-drop interface, JetGridBuilder allows you to edit and display dynamic content in grid formats, making it visually appealing and organized.
  • JetPopup allows the creation of attention-grabbing pop-ups that can display dynamic content like promotions, announcements, or forms. JetPopup offers full customization, making it easy to edit and manage pop-ups that are triggered by specific actions or time settings.

https://youtu.be/5r8PByGOUps?list=PL26jaHWVtLFxJ3EpwTf6BjUkxvWrFUjRz

Create awesome popups using JetPopup

  • JetProductGallery was specifically designed for WooCommerce; with its help, you can create product galleries with sliders and carousels. Also, you can easily edit and customize the way product images are presented, offering a more immersive shopping experience.
  • JetWooBuilder helps customize WooCommerce product pages by adding dynamic elements like custom product grids and category layouts. With JetWooBuilder, you can create entirely custom templates for your products, offering more control over how products are displayed and edited.

https://youtu.be/7dDfhwp_Kns

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  • JetBlocks is a plugin for adding custom headers and footers. JetBlocks will let you add login forms, navigation menus, and other essential elements to the site's structure, ensuring that these can be customized and edited to suit the specific needs of your website.
  • JetStyleManager adds advanced styling options for JetPlugins blocks and widgets. With JetStyleManager, you can easily edit the look and feel of their content, ensuring that every element is styled to match the site's design and branding.

https://youtu.be/wrqdiMuEpzI?list=PL26jaHWVtLFxJ3EpwTf6BjUkxvWrFUjRz

Crocoblock JetStyleManager tutorial

  • JetBlog enhances blog layouts by adding widgets like post carousels, smart tiles, and text tickers. JetBlog makes it easy to edit how blog content is presented, giving you dynamic options for engaging visitors with different post formats and layouts.
  • JetTabs adds stylish and responsive tabbed or accordion content blocks. JetTabs allows you to organize and present content in a compact, user-friendly format, making it easier to edit and structure information on your site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fwPAyNwfmw

How to create elementor dynamic FAQ with Crocoblock plugins

  • JetTricks adds interactive visual effects to your website, like parallax scrolling and hotspots. JetTricks allows you to enhance content with eye-catching effects, ensuring that your site offers a more engaging experience without the need for custom code.
  • JetSearch provides advanced AJAX search functionality. With JetSearch, you can create fast, dynamic search experiences, allowing visitors to quickly find relevant products, posts, or custom content with real-time results.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8KmZSWAeIM&t=18s

7 things you can do with JetSearch for Elementor

  • JetCompareWishlist enhances WooCommerce stores by allowing you to create product comparison features and wishlists. With this plugin, you can customize how comparison lists and wishlists are presented, improving the overall shopping experience.
  • JetMenu is perfect for creating fully customizable mega menus. JetMenu gives you control over the structure and design of your site's navigation, making it easy to edit and display dynamic content within the menus, like icons, badges, and images.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ZMSQiUSRg

Designing Elementor mega menu like Puma has with Ed Herzog

  • JetThemeCore is a powerful tool for creating and managing theme parts such as headers, footers, and page templates. With JetThemeCore, you can edit and design custom themes or individual parts of the theme within Elementor, ensuring full control over the site's layout.
  • JetFormBuilder is a highly customizable form-building plugin that can help you create complex forms with features like conditional logic and calculated fields. JetFormBuilder simplifies the process of creating and editing forms that fit a wide range of business needs, from simple contact forms to advanced data capture solutions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxW5d0tvUro

How to create user login form with the reset password feature

Each of these plugins integrates seamlessly with WP Umbrella, allowing you to manage updates and monitor performance across multiple sites via the Bulk Management feature. WP Umbrella's centralized dashboard ensures that your Crocoblock plugins and themes are always up-to-date, optimizing both performance and security.

crocoblock pricing plans

Crocoblock offers flexible pricing options tailored to meet a variety of needs. Whether you're looking for free tools or a more comprehensive solution, there's something for everyone.

First, Crocoblock provides several free tools, including JetGridBuilder, JetFormBuilder, and JetStyleManager. These plugins can bring dynamic functionality to any WordPress site without costing a dime. And, of course, a Kava Theme, a lightweight and responsive theme that integrates perfectly with Elementor and all Crocoblock products, giving a solid foundation for building websites.

For those looking for paid options, Crocoblock offers two main paths:

  • Individual plugin plans --- if you only need specific plugins, you can opt for individual licenses. Prices range from $19 to $43 yearly for single-site licenses or $29 to $88 for use on unlimited sites. This is a great option if you only need to enhance certain features of your website.
  • All-Inclusive subscription --- for developers managing multiple sites or wanting access to everything Crocoblock has to offer, the all-inclusive subscription is the best value. This gives access to all plugins, templates, and additional perks at $199/year for one site or $399 for unlimited sites. For those seeking long-term value, there's even a Lifetime plan option available, priced between $750 and $999 depending on the number of sites.

Support, Documentation, and Knowledge Base

crocoblock knowledge base

All in all, Crocoblock scores full marks in support and documentation of all kinds. A subscriber who has a valid license has more than enough channels to get support, such as live chat, the ticketing system, and even Zoom calls. Being able to arrange a Zoom call to troubleshoot or guide them is pretty cool and really unparalleled in the entire WordPress world. This personalized support, if you are an agency juggling tight deadlines or complex projects, is worth its weight in gold.

Other than support, there's the Knowledge Base. It boasts a thousand documents organized by product and type. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced developer, you can find detailed guides and step-by-step tutorials useful to help you not to miss a word on what every feature of Crocoblock's plugins is able to do.

Crocoblock pros and cons

Let's weigh the advantages and potential challenges of using Crocoblock. While its powerful features make it an excellent choice for building dynamic websites, there are some considerations to keep in mind depending on your project's complexity and budget. Here's a quick look at the pros and cons of using Crocoblock.

Pros

Seamless Elementor, Bricks, and WordPress editor integration

Crocoblock is designed to work effortlessly with Elementor, Bricks, and WordPress editor. This tight integration allows users to create highly customizable and visually stunning websites without writing any code.

Wide variety of plugins for dynamic content

Crocoblock adds advanced functionalities to your website booking systems and enhances WooCommerce to dynamic content creation with JetEngine. All sorts of use cases under the umbrella are covered, making it ideal for creating interactive, data-driven websites.

Pre-built templates for fast website building

It offers dynamic templates for users who want to get up and running as quickly as possible. Besides, all these templates are pre-constructed, and only wait for your command and a bit of customization to let you establish a professional-looking website without having to start from scratch.

100% compatible with WP Umbrella for easy maintenance and management

Mass-managing Crocoblock-built sites with WP Umbrella makes such processes way easier to handle. It helps you simplify the maintenance of your site and makes sure that your websites created with Crocoblock are always secure and optimized.

Scalability for developers

The flexibility of Crocoblock plugins and templates means that developers will have the capability to create everything from small and simple sites to large, complex projects.

Cons

Steep learning curve

While the integration with Elementor makes Crocoblock more approachable, advanced functionalities (for creating dynamic content and custom post types with JetEngine and complex filtering with JetSmartFilters) require increased knowledge of how WordPress works.

Cost may be prohibitive for small sites with limited budgets 

Crocoblock has a number of subscription plans, but the full bundle of access to all their plugins and templates isn't cheap. This price may be slightly high for relatively small businesses and personal websites, where company or personal budgets might be tight.

Occasional plugin compatibility issues

While Crocoblock is designed to work seamlessly with WordPress and Elementor (as well as Bricks and Gutenberg), a few compatibility issues may arise for end-users with third-party plugins. Normally, these issues are minor and can be fixed using one or another method, adding complexity to the website management process.

Final takeaway

Crocoblock is the prime toolkit for creating dynamic and absolutely customizable WordPress websites. Its flexibility and powerful integrations, mainly with Elementor, make it the darling of any developer. But what really crowns Crocoblock is the compatibility of this tool with WP Umbrella. Keeping track of your websites powered with Crocoblock has never been simpler. WP Umbrella will ensure that everything on your site --- from updating plugins to performance monitoring --- is provided in one place through one unified dashboard.

If you use Crocoblock with WP Umbrella, the process of your site management will be eased just for nothing, at least saving a lot of time on creating and developing your website instead of supporting it.

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