Elementor Review by Noshad Ali
In today’s digital landscape, having a professional website is non-negotiable for businesses and individuals alike. However, not everyone possesses coding knowledge or the budget to hire a professional developer. This is where WordPress page builders like Elementor come into play, revolutionizing the website creation process with their drag-and-drop functionality and extensive feature sets.
With over 11 million active installations worldwide, Elementor has established itself as a frontrunner in the WordPress page builder market. But does it truly live up to its reputation?
This comprehensive review dives deep into Elementor’s features, usability, performance, and value proposition to help you determine if it’s the right tool for your website building needs.
What is Elementor?
Elementor is a powerful WordPress page builder plugin that enables users to create stunning websites without writing a single line of code. Launched in 2016, this drag-and-drop website builder has rapidly grown to become one of the most popular WordPress plugins, serving millions of websites across the globe.
“Elementor transforms the way websites are built by providing intuitive visual tools that bridge the gap between imagination and implementation.”
At its core, Elementor operates on a visual, front-end editing system. This means you can see changes in real-time as you build your pages, eliminating the guesswork typically associated with traditional WordPress editing. The intuitive interface allows for pixel-perfect design control, making it accessible to beginners while offering advanced capabilities that satisfy professional designers.
Elementor works with virtually any WordPress theme, giving users the flexibility to either enhance their existing theme or build a site from scratch. This versatility has contributed significantly to its widespread adoption among bloggers, business owners, and web design professionals.
Key Features at a Glance
| Feature Category | What It Offers | Benefit to Users |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Editing | Real-time front-end design interface | What you see is what you get – no surprises |
| Widgets Library | 90+ design elements in Pro version | Complete toolkit for any design need |
| Responsive Design | Built-in mobile editing | Sites look perfect on all devices |
| Templates | 300+ pre-designed page templates | Jumpstart design process with professional layouts |
| Theme Builder | Custom headers, footers, archives, etc. | Complete site design control |
| Dynamic Content | Content pulled from database | Automated content updates across site |
Elementor Free vs Pro: Key Differences
Before diving into the extensive feature set, it’s important to understand that Elementor comes in two versions: Free and Pro. While the free version offers considerable functionality, Elementor Pro unlocks the plugin’s full potential.
Elementor Free Features:
- Basic drag-and-drop editor
- 40+ basic widgets
- Responsive editing
- 30+ templates
- Mobile-responsive design capabilities
The free version is perfect for simple websites and allows users to get a feel for the platform before investing in the premium version.
Elementor
- Drag and Drop Builder
- Pre-built Templates
- Compataible with almost all themes on WordPress
What Pro Adds:
- 50+ additional Pro widgets
- Theme Builder (header, footer, post templates, etc.)
- WooCommerce Builder
- Popup Builder
- Form Builder
- Global widgets and styles
- Dynamic content
- Role Manager
- 300+ Pro templates
- 10+ template blocks
- Priority support
For those looking to build professional websites with advanced functionality, Elementor Pro provides the necessary tools to create custom designs that stand out from template-based websites.
Version Comparison Table
| Feature | Elementor Free | Elementor Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Widgets | 40+ basic widgets | 90+ widgets (including Pro-exclusive) |
| Templates | 30+ basic templates | 300+ professional templates |
| Theme Building | ❌ Not available | ✅ Full site editing capabilities |
| WooCommerce | ❌ Basic only | ✅ Custom product pages & checkout |
| Popups | ❌ Not available | ✅ Advanced popup builder |
| Forms | ❌ Basic only | ✅ Advanced form builder with integrations |
| Dynamic Content | ❌ Not available | ✅ Full database integration |
| Support | Community forum | Priority professional support |
| Updates | Regular | Faster & more frequent |
| Price | Free | Starting at $59/year |
Elementor Pro Features in Detail
Theme Builder
One of Elementor Pro’s most powerful features is the Theme Builder, which allows complete customization of every part of a WordPress website. Users can design custom headers, footers, single post templates, archive pages, 404 pages, and more—all using the familiar Elementor interface.
This feature essentially transforms Elementor from a page builder into a complete website builder, giving users unprecedented control over their site’s design without switching themes or hiring a developer.
WooCommerce Builder
For online store owners, the WooCommerce Builder is a game-changer. It allows for complete customization of product pages, category pages, cart, checkout, and other essential e-commerce elements. This level of control makes it possible to create unique shopping experiences that align perfectly with brand identities and boost conversion rates.
When comparing different e-commerce hosting options, having a flexible tool like Elementor’s WooCommerce Builder can significantly enhance your online store’s functionality.
WooCommerce Elements You Can Customize
| Store Element | Customization Options | Impact on Business |
|---|---|---|
| Product Pages | Layout, image gallery, pricing display | Higher conversion rates |
| Shop Pages | Filtering, sorting, product cards | Improved user experience |
| Cart | Mini-cart, cart page, upsells | Reduced abandonment |
| Checkout | Multi-step process, fields, design | Streamlined purchasing |
| Thank You Page | Custom messaging, next steps | Enhanced customer retention |
| My Account | Dashboard, orders, downloads | Better customer service |
Popup Builder
The Popup Builder enables the creation of customized popups for various purposes, such as email list building, promotion announcements, or special offers. Users can control display conditions, triggers, and animations to create non-intrusive yet effective popups that engage visitors and drive desired actions.
Elementor
- Drag and Drop Builder
- Pre-built Templates
- Compataible with almost all themes on WordPress
This feature eliminates the need for additional popup plugins, reducing potential plugin conflicts and improving site performance.
Form Builder
Elementor Pro includes a sophisticated form builder that goes beyond basic contact forms. Users can create multi-step forms, add custom fields, integrate with popular email marketing services, and set up advanced actions upon form submission. The form widgets are fully customizable, ensuring they blend seamlessly with the website’s design.
For bloggers and content creators looking to generate leads from their blogs, this feature provides a powerful tool without requiring additional form plugins.
Dynamic Content
The dynamic content feature allows elements to pull information from the WordPress database automatically. This means content can update dynamically across the site when changed in one location. For instance, a portfolio page can automatically display the latest projects without manual updates.
This feature is particularly valuable for content-heavy websites that require frequent updates, saving significant time in the long run.
Motion Effects
Motion Effects bring websites to life with subtle animations and interactions that enhance user experience. Options include scrolling effects, mouse tracking, and 3D tilt effects, all of which can be applied to any element on the page.
When used thoughtfully, these effects can significantly improve engagement and make a website memorable without sacrificing performance.
Motion Effects Categories
| Effect Type | What It Does | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Scrolling Effects | Elements animate as user scrolls | Creating narrative flow |
| Mouse Effects | Elements respond to cursor movement | Interactive experiences |
| Sticky Effects | Elements remain visible while scrolling | Important navigation or CTAs |
| 3D Tilt | Elements respond with perspective shift | Product showcases, cards |
| Entrance Animations | Elements animate when they enter viewport | Drawing attention to content |
The User Experience
As someone who has been designing WordPress websites with Elementor for over 8 years, the intuitive user interface stands out as one of its strongest features. The clean, organized sidebar houses all widgets and settings, while the main editing area provides a true WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) experience. This split-screen approach strikes an excellent balance between functionality and simplicity.
The learning curve for Elementor is remarkably gentle compared to other page builders. New users can start with basic drag-and-drop operations and gradually explore more advanced features as they become comfortable with the interface. The consistent editing experience across different types of pages (landing pages, blog posts, WooCommerce products) reduces cognitive load and accelerates the design process.
Elementor
- Drag and Drop Builder
- Pre-built Templates
- Compataible with almost all themes on WordPress
Elementor’s revision history is another standout feature for user experience. The ability to save revisions and revert to previous versions provides a safety net that encourages experimentation without fear of losing work. This feature has saved countless hours of rework over my years of using the platform for client projects.
Designer’s Perspective
Having worked with multiple page builders across hundreds of client projects, I can confidently say that Elementor provides the most intuitive design experience while maintaining the flexibility needed for complex projects. The consistent interface between different site elements—whether designing a homepage, blog template, or WooCommerce product page—significantly reduces project timelines and allows for more time perfecting the details that make websites stand out.
Elementor Templates
Elementor’s template library is extensive and diverse, offering solutions for virtually any industry or purpose. The templates are categorized by industry (such as business, e-commerce, or portfolio) and by type (pages, blocks, or popups), making it easy to find relevant options quickly.
The quality of these templates is consistently high, with modern designs that follow current web design trends. Even when using a template as a starting point, Elementor makes customization straightforward, allowing designers to maintain brand consistency while benefiting from professional layouts.
For those looking to create landing pages quickly, Elementor’s template library provides a significant head start, reducing design time while ensuring professional results.
Template Categories
| Category | Available Templates | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Business | 75+ templates | Corporate sites, service businesses |
| E-commerce | 50+ templates | Online stores, product pages |
| Portfolio | 30+ templates | Creatives, agencies, freelancers |
| Blog | 40+ templates | Content creators, publishers |
| Landing Pages | 60+ templates | Marketing campaigns, lead generation |
| Membership | 25+ templates | Courses, subscription services |
| Blocks | 100+ section templates | Enhancing existing pages |
| Popups | 45+ templates | Promotions, lead capture, notifications |
Performance and Speed
Website performance is a critical factor for user experience and search engine optimization. Historically, page builders have been criticized for adding bloat and slowing down websites. Elementor has addressed these concerns with several performance optimizations in recent updates:
- Improved Asset Loading: Elementor now loads only the necessary CSS and JavaScript files for the elements used on a page, reducing unnecessary code.
- Responsive Images: The platform automatically generates and serves appropriately sized images for different devices, improving loading times on mobile.
- Optimized Code Output: Clean code generation reduces the HTML bloat commonly associated with visual builders.
- Font Loading Options: Users can choose how and when fonts load, preventing render-blocking resources.
When combined with proper web hosting and standard optimization practices (image compression, caching, etc.), Elementor-built websites can achieve excellent performance scores and fast loading times.
Performance Optimization Tips
| Optimization Area | Recommendation | Impact Level |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization | Use WebP format, proper dimensions | High |
| CSS/JS Minification | Enable built-in optimization | Medium |
| Fonts | Use system fonts or limit web fonts | Medium |
| Hosting | Choose performance-focused hosting | Very High |
| Caching | Implement page and browser caching | High |
| CSS Print Method | Use external CSS method | Medium |
| Widgets | Remove unused widgets | Medium-Low |
| Lazy Loading | Enable for images and videos | High |
Pricing Plans
Elementor Pro offers several pricing tiers to accommodate different needs and budgets:
Plan Comparison
All plans include access to the full feature set, with differences primarily in the number of websites supported and access to expert website kits. Occasionally, Elementor offers special discounts that provide excellent value for new customers.
When evaluating these costs, it’s important to consider the alternatives—custom development would cost significantly more, while more limited tools might require additional plugins to achieve the same functionality.
Elementor vs Competitors
The WordPress page builder market is competitive, with several strong contenders vying for market share. Here’s how Elementor compares to its main competitors:
Detailed Comparison Table
| Feature | Elementor | Divi | Gutenberg | Beaver Builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | Sidebar + Visual Editor | Visual Builder | Block-Based | Floating Panel |
| Ease of Use | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Templates | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Features | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Theme Building | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes (with addon) |
| WooCommerce | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Pricing | From $59/year | $89/year or $249 lifetime | Free | From $99/year |
| Updates | Frequent | Regular | Very Frequent | Regular |
| Community | Very Large | Large | Very Large | Medium |
Elementor vs Divi
Divi, by Elegant Themes, offers a lifetime payment option that appeals to many users. However, Elementor’s more intuitive interface and cleaner code output give it an edge in usability and performance. Divi has recently added AI capabilities, which is an area where Elementor is still catching up.
**I am using Divi theme as well and will make a complete review separately.
Elementor
- Drag and Drop Builder
- Pre-built Templates
- Compataible with almost all themes on WordPress
Elementor vs Gutenberg
Gutenberg is WordPress’s native block editor, included with all installations. While it has improved significantly, it still lacks the advanced design capabilities and pre-built templates that make Elementor a preferred choice for complex layouts. Gutenberg shines for content-focused sites, while Elementor excels for design-heavy projects.
Who Should Use Elementor?
Elementor is versatile enough to serve various user groups:
Ideal User Profiles
| User Type | How Elementor Helps | Recommended Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners & DIY Website Owners | Intuitive interface, templates | Essential ($59/year) |
| Freelancers & Agencies | Workflow efficiency, client management | Expert ($199/year) |
| Bloggers & Content Creators | Engaging layouts, popups for lead generation | Essential ($59/year) |
| E-commerce Store Owners | WooCommerce Builder, conversion optimization | Advanced ($99/year) |
| Marketers | Landing pages, A/B testing capabilities | Essential or Advanced |
For Beginners and DIY Website Owners
The intuitive interface and template library make it possible to create professional-looking websites without technical knowledge.
For Freelancers and Agencies
The efficiency gains from using Elementor translate directly to profitability for freelance designers and agencies handling multiple client projects.
For Bloggers and Content Creators
The ability to create engaging layouts for blog posts and landing pages helps content stand out in a crowded digital space.
For E-commerce Store Owners
The WooCommerce integration provides the tools needed to create conversion-optimized product pages and shopping experiences.
For Marketers
The ease of creating and testing different landing pages, popups, and forms makes Elementor an excellent tool for marketing campaigns.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Intuitive, user-friendly interface
- Extensive template library
- Comprehensive feature set with Pro version
- Regular updates and improvements
- Strong community support
- Works with most WordPress themes
- No coding required for advanced layouts
Cons:
- Free version has limitations
- Can impact page loading speed if not optimized properly
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Some features require third-party integrations
- Occasional conflicts with certain plugins
Final Verdict
After using Elementor for over 8 years on countless client projects, it remains the most versatile and powerful WordPress page builder on the market. The combination of an intuitive interface, comprehensive features, and regular updates creates a platform that evolves with web design trends and user needs.
“Elementor has transformed my design process from time-consuming coding to efficient visual creation, allowing me to deliver higher quality websites in less time. This efficiency has been crucial in scaling my WordPress design business while maintaining exceptional quality standards.”
For beginners, Elementor removes the technical barriers to creating professional websites. For experienced designers, it accelerates workflow without compromising creative control. The Pro version, in particular, offers exceptional value with features that would otherwise require multiple plugins or custom development.
While no tool is perfect, Elementor’s strengths significantly outweigh its limitations. As with any WordPress plugin, optimal performance requires attention to best practices, but the results are well worth the effort.
For those serious about creating standout WordPress websites efficiently, Elementor Pro is an investment that quickly pays for itself in time saved and design possibilities unlocked. Whether building a simple blog, complex business site, or e-commerce store, Elementor provides the tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive digital landscape.
Final Score Breakdown
| Aspect | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | 9.5/10 | Intuitive, clean, and well-organized |
| Feature Set | 9/10 | Comprehensive with Pro version |
| Templates | 9.5/10 | Extensive library with high-quality designs |
| Performance | 8/10 | Good with proper optimization |
| Value for Money | 9/10 | Excellent ROI for professionals |
| Support & Documentation | 8.5/10 | Extensive resources and active community |
| Updates & Development | 9/10 | Regular improvements and new features |
| Overall Score | 9/10 | Highly Recommended |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elementor good for beginners?
Yes, Elementor’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it accessible for beginners while offering advanced capabilities for professionals. The visual editing experience eliminates the need for coding knowledge.
Does Elementor slow down your website?
When properly optimized, Elementor-built websites can perform well. Recent updates have improved loading times, and following standard optimization practices (caching, image compression, quality hosting) will ensure good performance.
Can I use Elementor with any WordPress theme?
Yes, Elementor works with virtually all WordPress themes. However, some themes are specifically designed to complement Elementor, offering additional compatibility features.
What happens if I stop renewing my Elementor Pro license?
If you don’t renew your license, you can continue using the version you have, but won’t receive updates, support, or access to new templates. For security and feature improvements, keeping the license active is recommended.
Can I transfer my Elementor Pro license to another site?
Yes, you can deactivate Elementor Pro on one site and activate it on another, as long as you stay within the number of sites allowed by your license plan.
How does Elementor compare to Divi and Beaver Builder?
Elementor offers more pre-built templates than Beaver Builder and a more intuitive interface than Divi. Each has strengths, but Elementor provides the best balance of features, usability, and performance for most users.
Is it worth upgrading to Elementor Pro?
For most users, yes. The additional widgets, Theme Builder, WooCommerce Builder, and other Pro-only features significantly expand what’s possible with your WordPress site and often eliminate the need for multiple other plugins.
This comprehensive review of Elementor is based on over 8 years of hands-on experience designing WordPress websites for clients across various industries. Having witnessed Elementor’s evolution from its early days to its current position as a market leader, this review reflects both practical expertise and an understanding of how Elementor fits into the broader website development ecosystem.
