<b>Template libraries: the speed-vs-bloat trap</b>

<b>Template libraries: the speed-vs-bloat trap</b>
Those 1000+ template packs are a sales feature that quietly tanks performance. Import one and you inherit its DOM and CSS habits, not just its look.

Tested across Elementor, Astra Starter Templates and Divi packs: imported pages average 2-3x more DOM nodes than a hand-built equivalent, plus extra Google Fonts and unused global colors that linger in your design tokens.

Pros:
— Genuine head start on layout and copy structure
— Good for proving a concept to a client fast
Cons:
— Bloated markup you'll spend longer cleaning than building
— Imported fonts and colors pollute your global settings

Verdict: use templates as a wireframe reference, then rebuild the keepers natively.

Best for: rapid client mockups — never as the foundation of a page you'll keep long-term.