Looking to build a WordPress website but not sure which page builder to choose?

Elementor is one of the most popular page builders out there, and for good reason.

Think of it as your website’s building blocks – you can drag and drop elements anywhere you want, design entire pages without touching code, and create professional-looking websites in minutes instead of hours.

Here at WPArena, we know how important it is to pick the right tools for your website. We’ve been a long-standing voice in the WordPress community for over 16 years here at WPArena, and let us tell you – we’ve seen it all. 

From clunky old page builders to the sleek solutions we have today, we’ve tested and tinkered with pretty much every WordPress plugin out there. We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best as we have the right knowledge to guide you regarding everything WordPress.

With Elementor being such a big player in the WordPress space right now, we thought it was time to share what we’ve learned after using it on countless client projects and our own sites. We’re not just going to tell you what features it has – anyone can do that. Instead, we’ll break down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and most importantly, whether it’s worth your money. Let’s dive in!

Our comprehensive Elementor review will cover:

• What is Elementor?
• How does it work?
• Pros & Cons
• Features
• Pricing overview of different plans
• Comparison with other alternatives
• Should you use Elementor?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

By the end of this review, you’ll know exactly if Elementor is the right choice for your website.

Elementor, The WordPress Builder

Ever tried building a WordPress website and wished you could just drag and drop things exactly where you want them? That’s exactly what Elementor, the WordPress builder, does.

Born in 2016, Elementor has grown from a simple page builder to WordPress’s most-loved design tool, now used by over 17 million websites worldwide. Think of it as your website’s personal LEGO set – you get all the building blocks you need to create pretty much anything you can imagine.

The best part? You don’t need to write a single line of code. Just pick from over hundreds of ready-to-use elements (images, text boxes, buttons, or even complex features like forms and sliders), drag them where you want, and boom – your website starts taking shape right before your eyes.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, Elementor makes it super easy to build professional-looking websites. You can start with their pre-designed templates (they have tons of them!), customize them to match your style, or create something entirely from scratch.

And here’s what makes it really special: everything you create is exactly what you’ll see on your live site. No more surprises when you hit that publish button!

Ready to get started? Download the Elementor Website Builder plugin from WordPress.org and unlock powerful design tools for your website!

Here are some standout features which we will soon be taking a look at:

• Mobile-Responsive Designs That Adapt to Any Device
• Design Freedom Without Coding
• AI-Powered Website Creation
• Build Your Entire Website, Not Just Pages
• Smart Templates That Save Time
• Conversion-Optimized Forms
• Popups That Get Attention
• WooCommerce Store Builder
• Engaging Motion Effects
• Global Design System
• Dynamic Content Integration
• Customizable Content Displays with Loop Builder
• Development Tools and Custom Code
• Performance and Speed Optimization
• Convenient Building Tools
• Flexible Role Management for Collaboration
• Extensive Third-Party Integrations
• Regular Updates and Support

How Does It Work?

Let’s break down how Elementor works in simple terms. It’s much easier than you might think!

The Basic Layout

When you first open Elementor, you’ll see two main parts on your screen:

• A large preview area where you’ll see your page exactly as it will appear to visitors
• A sidebar on the left that holds all your building tools and settings

Think of the preview area as your canvas, and the sidebar as your toolbox. Pretty straightforward, right?

Building Your Page

Creating a page with Elementor is a lot like playing with building blocks:

1. Start by adding a section (think of it as a row)
2. Choose how many columns you want in that section
3. Drop your content blocks (called widgets) into these columns
4. Click on any element to edit it right there on the page

The best part? You can see every change you make instantly. No more switching between preview and edit modes!

Cool Features That Make Life Easier

Elementor comes with some really handy tools that you’ll love:

• Right-click options for quick actions like copy/paste and duplicate
• A ‘Navigator’ view that shows your page structure (super helpful for complex layouts!)
• Undo/redo buttons (because we all make mistakes!)
• Mobile preview so you can check how your page looks on different devices

Pro tip: You can hide the sidebar with one click when you want to see your page in full screen. It’s perfect for getting a real feel of how your visitors will see your site.

Pros and Cons

Let’s dive into what makes Elementor shine and where it could use some improvement. After all, no tool is perfect, right?

What We Love About Elementor:

1. User-Friendly Design The drag-and-drop interface is a game-changer – even if you’ve never built a website before, you’ll feel right at home. No coding needed!
2. Feature-Rich Free Version Unlike many other page builders, Elementor’s free version is actually useful. You can build pretty impressive sites without spending a dime.
3. Powerful Design Options Want to get creative? Elementor gives you tons of control over spacing, animations, and responsive design. Plus, the theme builder and popup creator (in Pro) are seriously impressive.
4. Extensive Widget Library From basic text blocks to advanced sliders and forms, you’ve got all the building blocks you need. And if that’s not enough, there’s a huge marketplace for third-party extensions.
5. Strong WooCommerce Integration If you’re running an online store, you’ll love the WooCommerce features, especially the customizable cart and checkout pages.
6. Thriving Community Need help? Elementor’s huge community means you’ll find tutorials, tips, and support everywhere – from YouTube to Facebook groups.

Where Elementor Could Improve:

1. Performance Impact Let’s be honest – Elementor can slow down your site if you’re not careful. You’ll need to pay attention to optimization and follow best practices.
2. Learning Curve While basic use is simple, mastering all features can be overwhelming at first. The interface sometimes feels like it has too many options.
3. Pricing Structure A few pain points here:
   • Elementor Cloud is on the pricey side
   • No lifetime license option (unlike some competitors)
   • Most advanced features are premium-only
   • Gets expensive for agencies needing multiple site licenses
4. Regular Updates Required While frequent updates keep things secure and running smoothly, they can sometimes be a bit of a hassle to manage.

Features

Mobile-Responsive Designs That Adapt to Any Device

Create websites that look perfect on any device with ease. Elementor automatically adjusts designs to fit screens of all sizes, from large desktops to small smartphones. Customize how your content appears with device-specific controls – like adding animations for desktops only or enlarging text on tablets. Preview and tweak everything using device preview mode and responsive controls.

Design Freedom Without Coding

Elementor’s visual design system lets you control every pixel without any coding. Adjust colors, spacing, typography, and layouts through an intuitive interface. The Pro version offers advanced positioning, animations, and scroll effects, allowing you to craft pixel-perfect designs.

AI-Powered Website Creation

Elementor AI takes your website creation to a new level. Generate product descriptions, custom visuals, and even code snippets instantly. With support for 25 languages, the AI Copilot can help you create global content and streamline your workflow.

Build Your Entire Website, Not Just Pages

With Elementor Pro’s Theme Builder, design every part of your website – headers, footers, single post layouts, and archive pages. Create templates that display content dynamically, perfect for blogs, products, and custom post types.

Smart Templates That Save Time

Use Elementor’s professionally designed templates or save your own custom templates to reuse across your site. With an extensive library, including Astra templates for Elementor users, you can kickstart your designs in no time.

Conversion-Optimized Forms

Elementor’s built-in form builder lets you create anything from simple contact forms to multi-step forms without extra plugins. Integrate with popular email marketing services, CRMs, or Zapier for limitless possibilities.

Popups That Get Attention

Create various popups – from welcome mats to notification bars – and control when they appear based on user behavior. Use popups for signups, announcements, promotions, and more, all tailored to maximize engagement.

WooCommerce Store Builder

Transform your WooCommerce store with Elementor Pro’s e-commerce features. Customize product pages, shop layouts, and even the checkout experience to optimize conversions and enhance user experience.

Engaging Motion Effects

Add life to your website with motion effects, such as parallax backgrounds, sliding animations, and interactive mouse tracking. All effects work smoothly across devices and can be adjusted for different screen sizes.

Global Design System

Maintain brand consistency easily with global colors, typography, and style settings. Update once, and your changes apply site-wide, which is ideal for larger sites or client projects.

Dynamic Content Integration

Show dynamic content from WordPress, such as custom fields and related posts. Elementor integrates with plugins like ACF, Pods, and Toolset, offering flexibility to display content dynamically.

Customizable Content Displays with Loop Builder

Show your posts, products, or custom content in grids, sliders, or any custom layout using the Loop Builder. Add filters, sorting, and pagination to make your content easily navigable.

Development Tools and Custom Code

Elementor includes tools for developers to extend functionality. Add custom CSS, create custom widgets, or use hooks. The editor is designed with code highlighting and error checking to enhance the development experience.

Performance and Speed Optimization

Built with performance in mind, Elementor includes features like lazy loading, font optimization, and reduced asset loading. The editor responds instantly, even on complex pages, keeping your workflow smooth.

Convenient Building Tools

Work faster with context menus, keyboard shortcuts, and a powerful search tool. Copy and paste styles, save widget presets, and use the navigator to jump between page sections effortlessly.

Flexible Role Management for Collaboration

Assign roles with different capabilities to manage team members, clients, or contributors. Lock down design areas while allowing content updates, making it ideal for client sites.

Extensive Third-Party Integrations

Elementor integrates seamlessly with various third-party plugins and services, from marketing tools and SEO plugins to analytics and social media platforms, creating a complete website ecosystem.

Regular Updates and Support

Stay updated with the latest features, templates, and design trends through Elementor’s regular updates. With a strong community and dedicated support, help is always available when you need it.

Pricing Overview of Different Plans

Elementor offers several plans to suit different needs, whether you’re building a single website, managing a few sites for clients, or running a large web design agency. Here’s a breakdown of Elementor’s pricing and plans, with a summary of the key features in each tier.

Essential Plan – $59/year

• Best for: Individuals or beginners managing a single website.
• Features:
  • 1 website license
  • Access to 57 Pro widgets
  • Theme and Form Builders
  • Basic support available 24/7
  • Dynamic content features to create interactive elements
  • Essential eCommerce support, including WooCommerce integrations

This plan is ideal for personal websites or small businesses looking for an affordable solution with essential website-building features. While it covers most basic needs, it doesn’t include advanced marketing tools like Popup Builder or role management.

Advanced Solo Plan – $79/year

• Best for: Professionals with a single, more feature-rich website, including eCommerce.
• Features:
  • 1 website license
  • 86 Pro widgets (additional widget options compared to the Essential plan)
  • Popup Builder, Form Integrations, and Custom Code/CSS options
  • Advanced customization and basic collaboration features

With enhanced tools for creating dynamic and visually rich sites, this plan is well-suited for individuals building more complex websites, including eCommerce stores, service-based businesses, or blog sites with added interactivity.

Advanced Plan – $99/year

• Best for: Freelancers or small businesses managing up to 3 websites.
• Features:
  • Licenses for up to 3 websites
  • 86 Pro widgets
  • Full access to Theme Builder, Popup Builder, and Form Builder
  • Collaborative notes and eCommerce support

The Advanced plan is a good choice for those running multiple sites, such as portfolios or client sites. This plan provides access to advanced marketing tools, including popup forms and landing page builders, making it suitable for users looking to scale their online presence.

Expert Plan – $199/year

• Best for: Freelancers, designers, or agencies managing up to 25 websites.
• Features:
  • Licenses for up to 25 websites
  • Priority 24/7 support
  • Includes Global Custom CSS, Collaborative Notes, and Role Manager

With increased website capacity and collaborative tools, this plan is aimed at professionals who handle multiple client sites. Features like Global Custom CSS allow for streamlined design management across all sites.

Agency Plan – $399/year

• Best for: Large agencies managing up to 1,000 websites.
• Features:
  • Licenses for up to 1,000 websites
  • All Pro features included, along with advanced support

The Agency plan is a complete solution for web design agencies needing extensive license capacity and support across a high volume of client sites.

Quick Comparison Chart

The structured pricing of Elementor allows flexibility for different user types, from individuals to large agencies, with each tier providing a clear set of features and site capacity. Whether you’re an individual looking for simple design tools or an agency needing robust collaborative features, Elementor offers a plan that caters to your specific requirements.

Comparison with Other Alternatives

When choosing a website builder, Elementor is often compared to other popular options like Beaver Builder, Divi Builder, Weebly, Squarespace, and Wix. Here’s a look at how Elementor stacks up against these competitors.

Elementor vs. Beaver Builder

Elementor offers a broader range of design options than Beaver Builder, with features like a popup builder, better WooCommerce support, and dynamic content management. Elementor also includes a built-in theme builder in its Pro version, whereas Beaver Builder requires a separate add-on for that functionality. Additionally, Elementor has a larger template library and a more extensive third-party extension marketplace, making it a powerful choice for users looking for flexibility and design depth.

On the other hand, Beaver Builder is known for its lightweight performance, prioritizing stability and speed. This makes it a reliable option for users who value performance and want a simpler tool for managing unlimited sites at a lower price point per site.

Elementor vs. Divi Builder

Elementor and Divi are both feature-rich, but Elementor edges out with its user interface, which many find more intuitive and easier to work with. Elementor also provides better WooCommerce integration, a free version, and a popup builder. Additionally, Elementor’s single-site license is more affordable than Divi’s, making it more budget-friendly for smaller projects.

Divi, however, offers some distinct advantages like a more extensive template library (with over 2,000 templates) and built-in A/B testing for marketing. Divi’s lifetime license option is also attractive for users managing multiple sites, as it becomes cost-effective in the long run.

Elementor vs. Spectra

Compared to Elementor and Divi, Spectra is a lightweight builder designed with a native WordPress interface. It doesn’t offer as many templates or widgets as Elementor, but it is more affordable, with low-performance impact and a free version. Spectra also supports block-based presets and wireframing tools, making it a good choice for those who prefer a simpler, Gutenberg-compatible experience.

Elementor vs. Weebly, Squarespace, and Wix

Unlike Elementor, which is a WordPress plugin, Weebly, Squarespace, and Wix are all-in-one website builders. Weebly and Squarespace are great for users who want an easy drag-and-drop experience with access to templates without needing a WordPress setup. Squarespace, in particular, stands out for its visually appealing themes and robust eCommerce features.

Wix, with over 110 million users, is also known for its ease of use and flexibility in customization, offering powerful eCommerce options. However, none of these platforms provide the level of design control, integration with WordPress, or advanced features like Elementor’s theme builder, making Elementor a preferred choice for WordPress users looking for extensive design capabilities.

Should You Use Elementor

Selecting the right page builder depends on your goals, technical skills, and budget. Elementor is a top choice for many WordPress users, especially those who value design flexibility and an intuitive, visual editing experience. Here’s a closer look at where Elementor excels and when it might be worth considering alternatives.

For Beginners and Small Business Owners

Elementor is particularly appealing to beginners and small business owners due to its user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface. Unlike traditional WordPress development, Elementor requires no coding knowledge, allowing even non-technical users to create professional-looking websites. The free version is sufficient for basic sites, and the Essential plan offers additional features for a reasonable upgrade cost, making it a scalable option for growing businesses.

For Agencies and Freelancers

For agencies and freelancers managing multiple projects, Elementor can enhance productivity with its reusable design elements, theme builder, and white-labeling options. These features help streamline workflows and maintain consistency across projects, allowing faster delivery and improved project profitability. Clients also benefit from Elementor’s easy-to-navigate interface, making post-launch content updates manageable with minimal training.

When to Consider Alternatives

While Elementor is versatile, it may not be the ideal choice for every project. Its feature-rich design can add overhead, impacting site performance if not optimized properly. For high-traffic websites or performance-critical pages, lighter alternatives like Gutenberg may be more suitable. Similarly, Divi’s lifetime pricing model or Beaver Builder’s simplified interface might appeal more to users prioritizing long-term cost-efficiency or ease of client use, respectively.

Final Thoughts on Elementor

Elementor stands out for its balance of flexibility, affordability, and usability, making it a solid option for a broad range of users—from solo entrepreneurs to established agencies. The platform offers advanced design tools, WooCommerce integration, and marketing features, making it well-suited for both standard websites and e-commerce. While other page builders may better suit specific needs, Elementor’s robust community, extensive resources, and comprehensive feature set make it an excellent starting point for most WordPress users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)