- Visual Drag-and-Drop Editor: Build and customize pages in real time with a front-end visual interface inside WordPress.
- Pre-Built Templates & Blocks: Access professionally designed templates and sections to launch websites quickly.
- Theme Builder: Design headers, footers, blog layouts, and dynamic templates without editing theme code.
- WooCommerce Builder: Customize product pages, shop layouts, and checkout experiences visually.
- Responsive Design Controls: Fine-tune layouts, spacing, and typography for desktop, tablet, and mobile views.
- Advanced Styling Options: Control animations, motion effects, custom fonts, and global design settings.
- Popup & Form Builder: Create lead capture forms and popups with integrations to email marketing tools.
- Global Widgets & Design System: Reuse elements and manage site-wide styles from a central dashboard.
- Extensive Add-On Ecosystem: Expand functionality with third-party extensions and integrations.
Elementor
Drag-and-drop WordPress website builder with advanced design control
Updated March 6, 2026
Elementor Overview
Elementor is a popular drag-and-drop website builder for WordPress that helps users design custom pages without coding. It offers a visual editor, pre-built templates, responsive controls, and advanced design features through Elementor Pro.
Freelancers, agencies, and small businesses use it to build landing pages, business sites, and online stores with full layout control inside WordPress.
Key Features
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited Websites, 32 Free Widgets, 5 URL Accessibility Scans |
| Essential | $5/Mo (Billed Annually) | 1 Site, 57 Pro Widgets, 10 Cloud Templates |
| Advanced Solo | $7/Mo (Billed Annually) | 1 Site, 86 Pro Widgets, Popup Builder & Custom Code |
| Advanced | $9/Mo (Billed Annually) | 3 Sites, 86 Pro Widgets, 30 Cloud Templates |
| Expert | $17/Mo (Billed Annually) | 25 Sites, 86 Pro Widgets, Dynamic Content |
| One | $14/Mo (Billed Annually) / $19/Mo (Billed Monthly) | 25,000 Monthly One Credits, 1 Site, Priority Support |
Price details: https://elementor.com/pricing/
Pros
Competitor |
Pros |
|---|---|
| Wix | Elementor offers deeper design flexibility inside WordPress, especially for developers and agencies who want full control over themes and hosting. Unlike Wix’s closed ecosystem, users can choose any hosting provider and extend functionality with plugins. Pricing for a single site can also be lower long term compared to Wix’s higher-tier plans. |
| Squarespace | Compared to Squarespace’s structured layouts, Elementor gives more granular control over spacing, positioning, and custom design. It’s better suited for complex layouts and dynamic content. Businesses already using WordPress benefit from seamless integration without migrating platforms or giving up plugin flexibility. |
| Webflow | Elementor has a gentler learning curve than Webflow and works directly within WordPress, which many teams already know. Pricing is generally more accessible for freelancers building multiple small sites. Users can also leverage WordPress plugins instead of relying only on native features. |
| Beaver Builder | Elementor includes more built-in widgets, templates, and advanced styling options without requiring as many add-ons. The free version is also more feature-rich than Beaver Builder’s free offering. Designers often prefer its broader creative controls and animation capabilities. |
| Divi | Elementor provides a cleaner interface and faster onboarding for beginners compared to Divi’s feature-dense editor. Many users find its layout structure more intuitive. The ecosystem of third-party extensions and community tutorials is also larger and more active. |
Cons
Competitor |
Cons |
|---|---|
| Wix | Unlike Wix’s all-in-one setup, Elementor requires separate hosting, WordPress installation, and plugin management. Beginners may find the setup process more technical. Ongoing maintenance, updates, and compatibility checks also add responsibility that Wix users don’t typically face. |
| Squarespace | Squarespace offers tightly optimized templates with built-in performance tuning, while Elementor sites can slow down if overloaded with widgets and add-ons. Users must actively manage caching, hosting quality, and plugin conflicts to maintain performance. |
| Webflow | Webflow provides cleaner code output and stronger native design system tools for advanced front-end workflows. Elementor can generate heavier markup, which may impact speed if not optimized. Developers seeking pixel-perfect CSS control may prefer Webflow’s structure. |
| Beaver Builder | Beaver Builder has a reputation for stability and lightweight performance. Elementor’s frequent updates and feature expansions sometimes introduce compatibility issues with themes or plugins, requiring closer monitoring and testing before major site changes. |
| Divi | Divi offers lifetime pricing, which can be more cost-effective over many years. Elementor’s subscription model requires annual renewal for Pro features and support. Agencies managing many client sites may find long-term licensing costs higher. |
Reviews
- Reddit r/Wordpress: Performance complaints dominate the thread. One user compared Lighthouse scores and saw a custom template hit 97 while Elementor sat around 80–90 without caching, calling the speed gap “night and day.” Others described the front-end code as “bloated” and a “divception nightmare,” mentioned sites breaking after updates, criticized auto-renewal practices, and flat-out labeled it “completely rubbish and broken.”
- fatlabwebsupport.com Review: Years of maintaining client sites shaped a mixed take. The sidebar-based editor feels intuitive and beginners can build a basic layout in 30–40 minutes, plus the free version covers features others charge for. Ongoing maintenance paints a different picture, with frequent updates that break sites and a “just add another widget” culture that drags down performance over time.
- G2 Review (Rating: 4.4/5): Elementor Pro speeds up launches with templates and reusable blocks, and one reviewer liked the wide range of built-in widgets that reduced plugin sprawl and made setup smooth. Friction shows up with certain custom WordPress themes that don’t integrate easily, and the free version feels “extremely limited” unless a premium license is purchased.
- wpastra.com Review: Hands-on testing over years led to a generally positive but cautious view. The drag-and-drop editor and straightforward menus make it easy for beginners to build good-looking pages, and the free version offers decent value. At the same time, it still “significantly slows down page load times and adds HTTP requests,” requires frequent fixes and security updates, and locks most of the good features behind premium plans.
- Trustpilot Review (Rating: 4.9/5): Support for Elementor Hosting earns glowing praise. One customer highlighted evening support in North America and said Ray followed up to ensure everything worked, while others called the team “always reliable,” thanked Hazel and Patrick for quick troubleshooting, and summed it up as “Fast response! Best help!”
- wpcrafter.com Review: Long-term use left a strong impression. The live front-end editor, popup builder, and ability to create custom headers and post type layouts in the Pro version made building sites feel flexible and even enjoyable, and the free version packs enough features to turn a “boring website” into something professional. Frustrations remain, including weak template and block libraries, support unwilling to provide custom solutions, and third-party addons that commonly cause issues.