Open up WordPress Development Without Code
Toolset plugins for WordPress development offer a complete solution for building complex, dynamic websites without writing a single line of PHP code. If you're searching for ways to create advanced WordPress sites with custom post types, fields, and front-end displays, here's what you need to know:
- Complete Suite: Includes Types, Blocks, Forms, Access, Maps, and WooCommerce integration
- No-Code Solution: Build custom post types, fields, templates, and forms visually
- WordPress Block Editor: Seamlessly integrates with Gutenberg for a native experience
- 30,000+ Users: Over 120,000 sites built using Toolset
- Pricing: Starting from €69 for a single site license
Toolset stands out because it eliminates the need for custom PHP coding or child themes. Instead, you can design directly inside WordPress using familiar block editor interfaces while still creating powerful custom functionality.
Think of Toolset as your complete WordPress development toolkit – letting you build directory sites, real estate listings, membership portals, and custom e-commerce experiences all without touching code.
For beginners and seasoned developers alike, this plugin suite dramatically reduces development time while expanding what's possible with WordPress.
I'm Randy Speckman, founder of Randy Speckman Design, where I've implemented toolset plugins for WordPress development for hundreds of clients seeking complex functionality without the development overhead. My team has leveraged Toolset to create everything from custom directories to membership platforms that drive significant business growth.
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What Is Toolset and How Does It Empower WordPress Professionals?
Toolset emerged from the creative minds at OnTheGoSystems—the same folks who brought us the widely-used WPML multilingual plugin. Think of Toolset as that reliable friend who helps you build impressive websites without needing to dive into complicated code. It's been faithfully serving WordPress users from version 5.0 all the way through to the latest 6.5.4 release.
What makes Toolset special is how naturally it fits into the WordPress ecosystem. Unlike tools that force you to learn entirely new interfaces, Toolset improves what you already know about WordPress, particularly embracing the Gutenberg block editor. This thoughtful integration means WordPress professionals can stay in their comfort zone while dramatically expanding what they can create.
At TechAuthority.AI, we've watched Toolset transform how agencies approach complex projects. It's like watching someone find a secret passage that makes their journey so much easier. Suddenly, freelancers and small teams can deliver sophisticated functionality that previously required specialized developers or extended timelines.
The team at OnTheGoSystems Toolset has consistently focused on making WordPress more accessible to professionals of all technical backgrounds, and it shows in every aspect of their plugin suite.
Toolset Plugins for WordPress Development: Elevator Pitch
If I had to explain Toolset plugins for WordPress development to someone in an elevator, I'd simply say: “It lets you build sophisticated, dynamic WordPress websites without writing a single line of PHP code.”
Toolset transforms WordPress from a content management system into a full-fledged application development platform—all while keeping things visual and intuitive. You'll create custom post types with a few clicks, design templates using familiar blocks, build complex content relationships, and set up advanced searches without ever touching SQL. Front-end forms, interactive maps, user role management, and even custom WooCommerce experiences all become possible through the same friendly WordPress interface you already know.
What's particularly refreshing is how Toolset accepts “the WordPress way” rather than fighting against it. You're working with blocks, not learning proprietary systems. You're building within WordPress, not around it.
Eliminating Custom PHP & Child Themes
Remember the days of endlessly tweaking child themes and writing custom PHP functions to get WordPress to do what you wanted? Toolset makes those frustrations a thing of the past.
When you build with Toolset, you're creating visually in the block editor instead of coding templates from scratch. This isn't just a little faster—it's dramatically more efficient. Projects that might have taken weeks can often be completed in days.
Team collaboration becomes simpler too. Your designers can work directly on templates without waiting for developers to implement their vision in code. Your content team can understand and even help build the structures that will house their work.
Maintenance becomes manageable as well. When a client needs changes to a template or functionality, you're updating blocks and settings rather than hunting through files of custom code. And when WordPress core updates arrive, you're far less likely to face compatibility headaches.
I've seen agencies at TechAuthority.AI practically transform their business models after adopting Toolset. One team doubled their project capacity without hiring additional developers. Another expanded their service offerings to include complex membership sites and directories—projects they previously had to turn away.
For those interested in exploring other visual building approaches, we've put together a comprehensive guide on Best Page Builders that compares different options.
Toolset Plugins for WordPress Development: Core Components & Block Editor Integration
Toolset isn't just a single plugin—it's more like a Swiss Army knife for WordPress, with multiple tools that work together beautifully. Understanding each piece helps you open up its full potential for your projects.
Think of Types as the foundation—it's where you'll create custom post types, set up those specialized fields, and establish relationships between different content. It's like designing your own content architecture without touching a line of code.
Blocks is where the magic really happens for most users. With over 34 custom blocks specifically designed for dynamic content, you can build incredibly sophisticated templates right in the familiar WordPress editor. These aren't just static blocks—they respond to your data structure and display exactly what you need.
Need to collect information from users? That's where Forms comes in. Whether it's content submissions, registrations, or contact forms, you can build them all visually with validation rules and email notifications baked right in.
For membership sites or client portals, Access gives you fine-grained control over who sees what. No more worrying about writing security code—just click to set permissions and you're done.
The Maps component connects with both Google Maps and Azure Maps, letting you display your content geographically—perfect for directories, real estate listings, or event sites.
And if you're running an online store, WooCommerce Views lets you customize every aspect of your shop without diving into template files or PHP code.
| Feature | Native WordPress | With Toolset |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Post Types | Requires PHP code | Visual interface |
| Custom Fields | Limited without plugins | 20+ field types, repeatable groups |
| Relationships | Not supported natively | Many-to-many relationships supported |
| Front-end Templates | Requires theme editing | Visual block editor templates |
| Content Submission | Admin-only by default | Front-end forms with validation |
| User Access Control | Basic role system | Granular permission control |
| Dynamic Content | Requires custom code | 34 dynamic content blocks |
Seamless Gutenberg & WooCommerce Experience
What really sets Toolset plugins for WordPress development apart is how naturally it extends Gutenberg. Rather than forcing you to learn a completely new interface, Toolset simply adds powerful new capabilities to the editor you already know.
The dynamic blocks let you display custom fields, create conditional content that changes based on field values, and build gorgeous grids and layouts for your content. Everything stays within the WordPress ecosystem, which means your sites remain fast and mobile-responsive without adding bulky JavaScript frameworks.
For WooCommerce store owners, the specialized blocks are a game-changer. You can completely reimagine your product pages, category displays, and checkout experience—all while staying within the familiar block editor. Your custom store designs load quickly and look great on all devices because they're built on WordPress's native technology.
Security & Access Control Without Coding
Creating membership sites or client portals traditionally required heavy custom development, but Toolset's Access component changes all that. You can visually create custom user roles, control exactly what different users can see or edit, and restrict content based on membership levels.
The system is sophisticated enough to handle complex permission structures—like letting certain users edit only their own content, or restricting specific admin menu items from particular roles. It's also built with privacy regulations in mind, helping you stay GDPR-compliant without additional coding.
We've implemented these access controls for everything from multi-author blogs to sophisticated membership platforms, and the visual interface makes it accessible even to team members without coding experience.
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The beauty of Toolset is how these components work together harmoniously. You can create a custom post type, design its template, build submission forms, restrict access, and display it all on an interactive map—all without writing a single line of PHP. It's WordPress development reimagined for the modern era.
Building Without Code: Custom Post Types, Fields, Searches, Forms, Maps, Access
The magic of Toolset plugins for WordPress development truly shines when you start creating sophisticated websites without writing a single line of code. As someone who's guided countless clients through this process, I can tell you the look of delight when they realize they can build complex functionality themselves is priceless.
Creating custom post types in Toolset feels almost too easy. You simply steer to Toolset > Post Types, click “Add New,” give your post type a name and slug, configure a few options like labels and icons, and you're done! No PHP functions or register_post_type() calls needed. The same simplicity applies to custom fields – with over 20 field types at your fingertips, from basic text fields to sophisticated repeatable groups, you can structure your content exactly as needed.
What I particularly love about Toolset's approach is how it handles relationships between content. Need to connect authors to books? Products to categories? Or create parent-child relationships? Toolset makes these connections visual and intuitive, something that would typically require complex database queries and custom code.
Building custom searches becomes a breeze too. The View block lets you create sophisticated queries without knowing SQL. You can filter by taxonomy, field values, dates – pretty much anything you can imagine – and display results in grids, tables, or custom layouts. Add in AJAX-powered instant results and faceted search filters, and you've got functionality that would normally cost thousands in development hours.
Creating Dynamic Directories & Membership Portals
I've helped clients transform simple WordPress sites into powerful directory platforms and membership portals using these exact tools. For directories, you'll create custom post types for listings, add relevant fields like addresses and contact info, build intuitive search interfaces, and design templates for both results and individual listings.
Membership portals follow a similar pattern but with added security layers. You'll set up custom user roles, create protected content areas, build profile templates, and add registration forms – all visually. The real power comes when you implement conditional content that changes based on membership level, giving your users a personalized experience without writing complex conditional logic in code.
What used to take my team months of custom development can now be accomplished in weeks with Toolset. This isn't just faster – it's more maintainable and future-proof too.
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Interactive Maps & Geolocation Searches
Toolset Maps is one of my favorite components because it adds that “wow factor” clients love. Whether integrating with Google Maps or Azure Maps, you can create location-based experiences that feel custom-coded but aren't.
Adding address fields to your post types automatically enables geocoding (converting addresses to map coordinates). From there, you can create map displays with custom markers, build “find near me” proximity searches, and set up clustering for maps with lots of points.
I recently built a real estate site where properties displayed with custom markers based on property type. Each marker opened info windows with dynamic content pulled from custom fields, and users could filter the map based on price range, bedrooms, and amenities. The entire system was built without a single line of JavaScript or PHP.
For larger directories with hundreds or thousands of locations, performance becomes critical. I recommend enabling marker clustering (which groups nearby points together), implementing lazy loading for maps, and caching geocoding results to reduce API calls. These small tweaks can dramatically improve user experience, especially on mobile devices.
The beauty of all these features is how they work together seamlessly. You can create a custom post type, add location fields, design templates, build search forms, and set access permissions – all within the same consistent interface. For agencies and freelancers looking to deliver more value without expanding their development team, Toolset plugins for WordPress development offer an best combination of power and accessibility.
Real-World Sites, Performance & Mobile Responsiveness
The true test of any development tool lies in what it actually produces in the real world. Toolset plugins for WordPress development have an impressive track record, powering over 120,000 websites built by more than 30,000 customers worldwide.
When you browse through Toolset's showcase sites, you'll find an incredible variety of projects – from sophisticated real estate listings with interactive maps to business directories where users can submit their own listings. Restaurant owners have built beautiful menu systems complete with nutritional information, while event organizers have created calendars with integrated registration forms. Job boards, product catalogs, and membership sites with carefully restricted content all demonstrate Toolset's versatility.
What's particularly impressive is how these sites perform on mobile devices. Since Toolset leverages WordPress's native block editor rather than creating its own proprietary system, sites inherit the responsive design capabilities built into modern WordPress. This means blocks automatically adapt to different screen sizes without additional coding, ensuring visitors have a consistent experience whether they're on a phone, tablet, or desktop.
Performance-wise, Toolset strikes a nice balance. It recommends a minimum memory limit of 128 MB – quite reasonable for the functionality it provides. Sites built with Toolset can achieve excellent speed scores when following standard optimization practices like implementing caching, optimizing images, using lazy loading for maps, and following WordPress performance best practices.
Case Study Snapshot: Recipe Blog to Real Estate Portal
Let me share a couple of quick real-world examples that show what's possible with Toolset.
A food blogger came to us wanting to transform their basic WordPress site into a searchable recipe database. Using Toolset plugins for WordPress development, we created a custom “Recipe” post type with fields for ingredients, cooking times, and nutritional information. We built a search form allowing visitors to filter by dietary restrictions and preparation time, then designed an attractive grid layout for the results that highlighted key information at a glance.
We added a rating system using custom fields and implemented proper schema markup for better search engine visibility. The performance results were impressive – page load times stayed under 2 seconds, database queries averaged just 200ms, and Lighthouse scores hit the 90+ range across all categories.
For a real estate agency, we created a more complex property portal using Toolset. We built a “Property” custom post type with fields for all the essential details – price, bedrooms, amenities, and more. We established relationships between properties and agents, implemented map-based searching with proximity filters, and created front-end submission forms so agents could manage their own listings.
The access control features were particularly valuable here – we set up permissions so agents could only edit their own property listings, not those of colleagues. Even with hundreds of properties and map integration, the site remained snappy and responsive. We used modal windows to display property details, keeping the main search page lightweight and fast.
How Toolset Stays Compatible with Modern Themes & FSE
As WordPress evolves with Full Site Editing (FSE), compatibility concerns naturally arise for any plugin ecosystem. Toolset has maintained remarkable compatibility through several major WordPress versions by taking a theme-agnostic approach.
Whether you're using classic WordPress themes, modern block-based themes, FSE-compatible themes, or popular frameworks like GeneratePress, Astra, or Kadence, Toolset plays nicely with your design choices. This flexibility has been crucial for many of our clients at TechAuthority.AI who want to update their site's appearance without rebuilding their custom functionality.
While there has been some pause in Toolset's roadmap regarding full FSE integration, the team has thoughtfully provided fallback modes and compatibility layers to ensure existing sites continue functioning correctly. We've successfully migrated numerous clients to newer WordPress versions while preserving their Toolset functionality, which speaks volumes about the plugin's adaptability.
You can explore a showcase of sites made with the tool to see the impressive range of projects built with Toolset across different industries and use cases.
Pricing, Support, Roadmap
When exploring Toolset plugins for WordPress development, understanding the investment required is essential for making an informed decision. Toolset offers a straightforward pricing structure with three tiers designed to accommodate different project needs:
- Single site: €69 per year
- Three sites: €149 per year
- Unlimited sites: €299 per year
Each plan includes complete access to all Toolset components, a full year of updates and support, and a reassuring 30-day money-back guarantee. This risk-free trial period gives you ample time to explore and confirm that Toolset is the right fit for your project needs.
After your first year, renewal options are available at reduced rates if you wish to continue receiving updates and support. Many developers find this ongoing relationship worthwhile, especially as WordPress itself continues to evolve.
Getting started with Toolset is refreshingly simple thanks to the OTGS installer. This handy tool creates a central dashboard where you can activate and manage all your Toolset components without jumping between multiple plugin screens.
One aspect that consistently earns praise from the WordPress community is Toolset's exceptional customer support. Their team doesn't just resolve technical issues – they genuinely help you succeed with:
- Detailed guidance on implementing specific Toolset features
- Best practices for building different types of functionality
- Thoughtful troubleshooting for any implementation challenges
It's worth noting that in 2022, OnTheGoSystems announced some changes to Toolset's development roadmap, particularly regarding its approach to Full Site Editing integration. While development continues, some features are being reconsidered as WordPress itself evolves. This is something to keep in mind when making a long-term investment in the platform.
For agencies and freelancers building client sites, Toolset's pricing structure can represent significant value – the time saved on custom development often pays for the plugin many times over on a single project.
Pros, Cons & When to Choose Toolset
Based on our extensive experience at TechAuthority.AI and feedback from numerous clients, here's an honest assessment of when Toolset makes the most sense for your WordPress projects:
Pros:
Toolset shines as an all-in-one solution covering most custom WordPress development needs without requiring PHP coding. Its native integration with the WordPress block editor feels natural and familiar, making the learning curve much gentler than proprietary page builders. The powerful relationships between content types enable complex data structures that would otherwise require significant custom development.
The visual template design capabilities with dynamic content blocks make it possible to create sophisticated layouts that respond to your data. When combined with integrated front-end forms and the comprehensive access control system, you have everything needed to build membership sites, directories, and custom applications – all without writing code.
Cons:
While Toolset eliminates coding, it does come with a learning curve that can be steep for complete beginners. Some advanced customizations may still require code snippets for edge cases. The development roadmap has slowed in recent years, particularly regarding Full Site Editing features, which is worth considering for long-term projects.
The annual subscription requirement for updates and support is another consideration, though the renewal discounts help offset this cost. Finally, large sites with complex queries may require additional optimization to maintain performance.
Toolset is the perfect choice when you need to build custom WordPress functionality without diving into code. It excels for projects requiring custom post types, fields, and relationships – particularly directory sites, listing platforms, or membership portals. If you value an integrated solution over juggling multiple separate plugins, and you want to leverage the WordPress block editor for templates, Toolset offers a compelling package that can dramatically reduce development time while expanding what's possible with WordPress.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Toolset Plugins for WordPress Development
What customizations can I build without writing PHP?
One of the most common questions I hear from WordPress professionals is exactly what they can build without diving into code. The answer always surprises them!
With Toolset plugins for WordPress development, you can create remarkably sophisticated websites without writing a single line of PHP. You can build custom content types for anything from recipes to properties to team members, all through a visual interface. Need specialized fields? Toolset gives you everything from maps to repeaters to relationships between content types.
The real magic happens when you start designing templates in the familiar block editor. You can create beautiful single post displays and archive pages that dynamically pull in your custom field data. Your users will love the advanced search systems you can build, complete with filters that update results instantly.
Front-end forms allow your users or clients to submit and edit content without ever seeing the WordPress admin area. And with access control features, you can create membership areas or client portals where different user roles see different content – all without touching security code.
The map integration is particularly impressive – you can display your content geographically without any API coding headaches. And if you're running a WooCommerce store, Toolset extends it with custom fields and displays that take your shop to the next level.
In my experience, the only time you might need custom code is for highly specialized functionality outside Toolset's scope or when optimizing performance for extremely large sites with complex requirements.
Will Toolset slow down my site or affect mobile scores?
I'm always cautious about adding plugins to WordPress sites because of potential performance impacts. The good news is that Toolset is surprisingly lightweight when implemented correctly.
Since Toolset leverages WordPress's native capabilities rather than adding heavy JavaScript frameworks, sites built with it can achieve excellent performance scores. At TechAuthority.AI, we regularly see sites built with Toolset plugins for WordPress development hitting Google PageSpeed scores above 90 when following best practices.
There are a few things to keep in mind for optimal performance:
– Your server should have at least 128 MB memory limit (most hosting plans easily exceed this)
– On large sites with thousands of entries, complex queries might need some optimization
– When using maps with many markers, enable clustering to maintain smooth performance
– Continue optimizing images and following standard WordPress performance practices
– Standard caching plugins work perfectly with Toolset-built sites
For mobile users, there's more good news. Toolset inherits all the responsive capabilities of the WordPress block editor, ensuring your sites look great on phones and tablets without extra work. The blocks automatically adapt to different screen sizes, providing a consistent experience across all devices.
How does licensing work after the first year?
Toolset uses an annual subscription model that's straightforward but worth understanding before you invest.
Your initial purchase includes a full year of updates and support. After that first year, you can renew at a significantly reduced rate – typically around half of what you initially paid. This renewal ensures you continue receiving updates, security patches, and access to their helpful support team.
If you decide not to renew, you won't suddenly lose functionality. You can continue using the version you have indefinitely, but you won't get updates or be able to contact support with questions. For many smaller sites with stable requirements, this might be perfectly fine.
Renewals happen automatically unless you cancel them, which helps prevent accidentally losing access to updates. At TechAuthority.AI, we generally recommend that our clients renew their Toolset licenses, especially for agencies building multiple sites. The ongoing value – particularly the support access and compatibility updates as WordPress evolves – typically outweighs the renewal cost.
What I appreciate most about this model is the balance it strikes between ensuring ongoing development and providing flexibility for users with different needs and budgets.
Conclusion
Toolset plugins for WordPress development have truly transformed how we approach complex WordPress projects. By extending the familiar block editor with dynamic capabilities, Toolset bridges what was once a massive gap between simple site building and advanced custom development – all without requiring you to write a single line of PHP.
I've watched countless agencies and freelancers at TechAuthority.AI completely reimagine their workflow after adopting Toolset. Projects that once required weeks of custom coding suddenly become achievable in days. From robust directory sites with advanced filtering to membership portals with granular access controls, Toolset opens doors that previously existed only for those with deep coding expertise.
The no-code future we've all been promised for WordPress is already here, and Toolset stands at the forefront of this movement. There's something genuinely liberating about designing complex data relationships and dynamic templates visually, watching your ideas come to life without debugging a single function.
Yes, there's a learning curve – as with any powerful tool – but the investment pays dividends almost immediately. The time you save on your very first project often justifies the cost, and that efficiency only compounds with each new site you build.
If you're curious about Toolset, I'd encourage you to take advantage of their 30-day money-back guarantee. It's a risk-free way to find whether this approach to WordPress development aligns with your workflow and project needs. Most of our clients who try it find themselves wondering how they ever managed without it.
Mastering Toolset is a journey worth taking. The skills you develop will fundamentally change how you approach WordPress projects, opening new revenue opportunities and allowing you to deliver more sophisticated solutions to your clients.
For more in-depth WordPress development resources and expert guidance, explore our other guides at TechAuthority.AI. We're dedicated to helping you steer the changing WordPress landscape with practical, actionable insights that drive real business growth.