Elementor is a powerful and versatile WordPress page builder plugin that allows users to create stunning and responsive websites without any coding knowledge. Launched in 2016, it quickly gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface, extensive features, and flexibility. Today, Elementor powers more than 5 million websites, making it one of the most popular WordPress page builders in the market.
With its innovative drag-and-drop editor, Elementor enables users to design their websites visually, seeing changes in real time. This feature not only simplifies the process of building a website but also saves time and effort. Additionally, Elementor offers an extensive library of pre-built templates and blocks, which can be easily customized to suit any niche or industry.
Elementor is compatible with most WordPress themes and plugins, making it an ideal choice for both beginners and experienced web designers. Whether you’re building a blog, an e-commerce store, or a portfolio site, Elementor provides all the tools and features needed to create a professional and fully-functional website.
In this review, we will explore the various features and benefits of Elementor, discuss its pricing and plans, and compare it to other popular WordPress page builders. By the end of this review, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of what Elementor has to offer and whether it’s the right choice for your website.
Key Features of Elementor
Elementor offers a wide range of features that make it easy for users to create professional and visually appealing websites. In this section, we will discuss some of the most notable features of Elementor.
Drag-and-Drop Editor
One of Elementor’s most significant features is its intuitive drag-and-drop editor. This feature allows users to design their websites visually by simply dragging and dropping elements onto the page. The editor offers a real-time preview, enabling users to see their changes as they make them.
The drag-and-drop editor includes a variety of widgets, such as text, images, buttons, and more, which can be easily customized to fit your design needs. Users can also adjust the layout, spacing, and positioning of each element to create a unique and visually appealing website.
Responsive Design Controls
With an increasing number of users accessing websites on mobile devices, having a responsive design is crucial. Elementor offers responsive design controls that allow users to optimize their websites for different screen sizes and devices. Users can easily switch between desktop, tablet, and mobile views within the editor and make adjustments as needed.
Image: Elementor responsive design controls
Elementor also provides advanced settings for controlling column widths, margins, padding, and other layout elements to ensure that your website looks great on all devices.
Pre-built Templates and Blocks
Elementor comes with a library of pre-built templates and blocks, which can be used as a starting point for your website design. These templates and blocks cover various niches and industries, making it easy for users to find a design that suits their needs.
Image: Elementor template library
Users can easily customize these templates and blocks using the drag-and-drop editor, adding their own content and adjusting the design elements as needed. This feature saves time and effort, allowing users to create a professional-looking website quickly and efficiently.
Elementor Pro Features
While the free version of Elementor offers a wide range of features, upgrading to Elementor Pro provides even more functionality and design options. Some of the most notable Elementor Pro features include:
- Theme Builder: This feature allows users to design and customize their entire WordPress theme, including headers, footers, single post layouts, and archive pages.
- WooCommerce Builder: Elementor Pro includes a dedicated WooCommerce builder, enabling users to design and customize their online store with ease.
- Popup Builder: Users can create and customize popups for various purposes, such as lead generation, announcements, or promotions, using Elementor Pro’s popup builder.
- Dynamic Content: Elementor Pro supports dynamic content, allowing users to display content from custom fields, post meta, or other sources on their website.
- Premium Widgets and Templates: Elementor Pro comes with additional premium widgets and templates, giving users even more design options and flexibility.
Image: Elementor Pro features
Ease of Use and User Experience
Elementor is designed with user-friendliness in mind, making it easy for both beginners and experienced web designers to create stunning websites without any coding knowledge. In this section, we will discuss the ease of use and user experience offered by Elementor.
Intuitive Interface
Elementor’s interface is clean, well-organized, and easy to navigate. The drag-and-drop editor is separated into two main sections: the editing panel on the left and the live preview on the right. Users can easily access all the widgets, templates, and settings from the editing panel, while the live preview allows them to see their changes in real-time.
Image: Elementor User Interface
The interface also includes helpful tooltips and prompts that guide users through the process of building their website, making it easy for even first-time users to get started with Elementor.
Customization Options
Elementor offers a wide range of customization options that allow users to create unique and visually appealing websites. With the drag-and-drop editor, users can easily adjust the layout, spacing, and positioning of each element on their page. They can also customize the colors, fonts, backgrounds, and other design elements to match their brand identity or personal preferences.
Image: Elementor Customization Options
Elementor’s advanced settings provide even more control over the design, allowing users to fine-tune their website’s appearance and functionality.
Learning Curve
While Elementor is designed to be user-friendly, there is still a learning curve involved, especially for users who are new to WordPress or website design. However, Elementor offers extensive documentation, video tutorials, and a supportive community that can help users quickly learn the ins and outs of the platform.
Image: Elementor learning resources
As users become more familiar with Elementor, they will find that the platform’s flexibility and customization options make it easy to create professional and unique websites without any coding knowledge.
User Experience
Overall, Elementor provides a smooth and enjoyable user experience, making it easy for users to design and customize their websites. The intuitive interface, extensive customization options, and helpful learning resources ensure that users of all skill levels can quickly create stunning and fully-functional websites.
Image: A collage of different types of websites built with Elementor
Pricing and Plans
Elementor offers both a free version and a premium version called Elementor Pro, which includes additional features and functionality. In this section, we will discuss the pricing and plans available for Elementor.
Free Version
The free version of Elementor is a powerful page builder that provides users with a wide range of features, including the drag-and-drop editor, responsive design controls, and access to a library of pre-built templates and blocks. This version is suitable for users who are just starting out with website design or those who want to create a simple and functional website without any additional bells and whistles.
Image: Elementor free version features
Elementor Pro Pricing
Elementor Pro is a premium upgrade that offers even more features and functionality, such as the theme builder, WooCommerce builder, popup builder, dynamic content, and additional premium widgets and templates. Elementor Pro is available in three pricing plans:
- Personal Plan – $49 per year
- For 1 site
- All Pro features included
- Plus Plan – $99 per year
- For 3 sites
- All Pro features included
- Expert Plan – $199 per year
- For 25 sites
- All Pro features included
Image: Elementor Pro pricing plans
All Elementor Pro plans include one year of updates and support, and users have the option to renew their subscription at a discounted rate after the first year. It’s important to note that if users choose not to renew their subscription, they will still be able to use Elementor Pro on their existing websites, but they will not receive any further updates or support.
Elementor Pro’s pricing structure is competitive compared to other premium WordPress page builders, making it an attractive option for users who want advanced features and functionality without breaking the bank.
It’s also worth mentioning that Elementor occasionally offers discounts and promotions on their Pro plans, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for these deals if you’re considering upgrading to Elementor Pro.
Third-Party Integrations and Add-ons
One of the strengths of Elementor is its compatibility with a wide range of third-party plugins and add-ons, allowing users to extend the functionality of their website and integrate with various tools and services. In this section, we will discuss some of the most popular third-party integrations and add-ons available for Elementor.
Marketing and CRM Integrations
Elementor offers seamless integration with popular marketing and CRM tools, enabling users to easily manage their email marketing campaigns, lead generation efforts, and customer relationship management. Some of the popular marketing and CRM integrations include:
- MailChimp
- ActiveCampaign
- ConvertKit
- GetResponse
- HubSpot
- Drip
- MailerLite
- Zapier
These integrations allow users to create custom forms, popups, and other lead generation elements using Elementor’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor and then connect them to their preferred marketing or CRM tool.
Social Media Integrations
Elementor provides a variety of social media widgets and integrations, making it easy for users to share their content and engage with their audience on various social platforms. Some of the popular social media integrations include:
- YouTube
Users can easily add social sharing buttons, embed social media feeds, or display their latest social media posts on their website using Elementor’s built-in social media widgets.
E-commerce Integrations
Elementor Pro includes a dedicated WooCommerce builder, allowing users to design and customize their online store with ease. Elementor’s compatibility with WooCommerce, the most popular e-commerce plugin for WordPress, ensures that users can create a fully-functional online store, complete with product pages, shopping carts, and checkout functionality.
Image: Elementor WooCommerce builder
In addition to WooCommerce, Elementor is also compatible with other popular e-commerce plugins and platforms, such as Easy Digital Downloads, Shopify, and BigCommerce.
Add-ons and Extensions
There are numerous third-party add-ons and extensions available for Elementor, which can further enhance the functionality and design options of the page builder. Some popular Elementor add-ons include:
- Essential Addons for Elementor
- Ultimate Addons for Elementor
- PowerPack for Elementor
- JetElements for Elementor
These add-ons offer additional widgets, templates, and customization options, allowing users to create even more unique and dynamic websites using Elementor.
Image: Elementor add-ons
In conclusion, Elementor’s compatibility with a wide range of third-party integrations and add-ons ensures that users can create a fully-functional and feature-rich website tailored to their specific needs and preferences.
Performance and Optimization
Website performance is crucial for providing a positive user experience, improving search engine rankings, and increasing conversion rates. Elementor is designed with performance in mind, offering various optimization features that help users create fast-loading and well-optimized websites. In this section, we will discuss the performance and optimization aspects of Elementor.
Lightweight Code and Minification
Elementor generates clean and lightweight code, which ensures that your website loads quickly and efficiently. The plugin also offers built-in minification options for CSS and JavaScript files, which can further reduce the file size and improve the loading time of your website.
Image: Elementor minification settings
Responsive Design and Mobile Optimization
As we discussed earlier, Elementor provides responsive design controls that allow users to optimize their websites for different screen sizes and devices. These controls ensure that your website looks great and performs well on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
Elementor also supports lazy loading for images, which means that images are only loaded when they become visible on the screen. This feature can significantly improve the loading time of your website, especially on mobile devices with slower internet connections.
SEO-Friendly Markup
Elementor generates SEO-friendly markup that allows search engines to easily crawl and index your website. The plugin also offers various SEO settings, such as custom title tags, meta descriptions, and schema markup, which can help improve your website’s search engine visibility and rankings.
Image: Elementor SEO Settings
Compatibility with Performance Plugins
Elementor is compatible with popular performance and caching plugins, such as WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, and Autoptimize. These plugins can further optimize your website’s performance by enabling features like browser caching, GZIP compression, and image optimization.
Image: Elementor compatibility with performance plugins
Performance Best Practices
While Elementor offers various optimization features, it’s essential for users to follow performance best practices to ensure the best possible performance of their website. Some of these best practices include:
- Using a high-quality hosting provider
- Keeping WordPress, themes, and plugins up-to-date
- Optimizing images for the web
- Minimizing the use of unnecessary plugins
- Implementing a content delivery network (CDN)
By following these best practices and utilizing Elementor’s built-in optimization features, users can create fast-loading and well-optimized websites that provide a positive user experience and perform well in search engine rankings.
Elementor Support and Community
Having access to reliable support and a vibrant community is essential when using any software, especially for users who are new to website building or WordPress. Elementor offers extensive support resources and boasts an active community of users who are eager to help and share their expertise. In this section, we will discuss the various support options and community resources available for Elementor users.
Documentation
Elementor provides comprehensive documentation that covers all aspects of using the plugin, from getting started to advanced features and customization options. The documentation is well-organized and easy to navigate, making it simple for users to find the information they need.
Image: Elementor documentation
Users can also use the search function on the Elementor website to quickly find relevant articles and tutorials related to their specific needs or issues.
Video Tutorials
In addition to written documentation, Elementor offers a library of video tutorials that cover various topics, such as using the drag-and-drop editor, working with templates, and optimizing your website for performance. These videos are helpful for visual learners and provide step-by-step guidance on using different features and functionalities within Elementor.
Image: Elementor video tutorials
Support Tickets
Elementor Pro users have access to premium support via support tickets. The Elementor support team is knowledgeable and responsive, providing timely assistance with any issues or questions that users may have. Users can submit support tickets directly from their Elementor account dashboard or through the Elementor website.
Image: Elementor support ticket submission
It’s important to note that support tickets are only available to Elementor Pro users. Free users can still access the documentation and video tutorials but do not have access to one-on-one support.
Community Forums and Facebook Group
Elementor has an active community of users who are eager to help and share their expertise with others. Users can participate in the Elementor Community Forum or join the Elementor Facebook Group to ask questions, share tips and tricks, and connect with other Elementor users.
Image: Elementor community forum and Facebook group
These community resources are valuable for users of all skill levels, as they provide a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help users learn more about using Elementor and overcome any challenges they may face.
In conclusion, Elementor offers extensive support resources and a vibrant community that ensures users have access to the information and assistance they need to create successful websites using the plugin. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out with website design or an experienced web designer looking to expand your skills, Elementor’s support and community resources provide valuable guidance and insights.
Continuous Development and Updates
Elementor is committed to continuous development and improvement, ensuring that users have access to the latest features, enhancements, and bug fixes. In this section, we will discuss the ongoing development and updates provided by the Elementor team.
Frequent Feature Updates
Elementor frequently releases new features and improvements based on user feedback and industry trends. These updates ensure that Elementor remains a cutting-edge page builder that caters to the evolving needs of its users.
Image: Elementor feature updates
Some recent feature updates include:
- Full site editing capabilities with the Theme Builder
- WooCommerce Builder for designing online stores
- Popup Builder for creating custom popups
- Dynamic content support for displaying custom fields and post meta
These frequent updates demonstrate Elementor’s commitment to providing users with a powerful and versatile website building solution.
Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
In addition to new features, Elementor also regularly releases bug fixes and performance improvements to ensure the plugin runs smoothly and efficiently. The development team actively addresses any issues reported by users and strives to maintain a high level of stability and performance.
Compatibility with WordPress Updates
Elementor is fully compatible with the latest versions of WordPress and works seamlessly with the Gutenberg editor. The Elementor team closely follows the development of WordPress and ensures that their plugin remains compatible with any changes or updates to the core platform.
Image: Elementor compatibility with WordPress updates
This compatibility ensures that users can continue using Elementor without any disruptions or conflicts when updating their WordPress installation.
User Feedback and Feature Requests
Elementor values user feedback and encourages users to submit feature requests and suggestions for improvement. The development team actively considers user feedback when planning updates and new features, ensuring that Elementor remains a user-centric solution that meets the needs of its diverse user base.
Image: Elementor user feedback and feature requests
In conclusion, Elementor’s commitment to continuous development and updates ensures that users have access to a constantly evolving and improving website-building solution. With frequent feature updates, bug fixes, performance improvements, and compatibility with the latest WordPress releases, Elementor remains a powerful and reliable option for creating stunning and functional websites.
Elementor Ecosystem and Marketplace
The Elementor ecosystem and marketplace offer a wide range of third-party products, services, and resources that complement the core Elementor plugin and enhance its capabilities. In this section, we will discuss the various elements that make up the Elementor ecosystem and marketplace.
Third-Party Add-ons
As mentioned earlier, there are numerous third-party add-ons available for Elementor that provide additional widgets, templates, and customization options. These add-ons extend the functionality of Elementor and allow users to create even more unique and dynamic websites.
Some popular third-party add-ons for Elementor include:
- Essential Addons for Elementor
- Ultimate Addons for Elementor
- PowerPack for Elementor
- JetElements for Elementor
These add-ons often receive regular updates and support from their respective developers, ensuring compatibility with the latest versions of Elementor and WordPress.
Image: Elementor third-party add-ons
Elementor Template Marketplace
The Elementor template marketplace offers a wide range of pre-built templates and blocks created by both Elementor and third-party designers. These templates can be easily imported into your Elementor projects, providing a great starting point for your website design or adding specific sections or features to your existing site.
Image: Elementor template marketplace
Users can find templates for various industries and use cases, such as online stores, portfolios, blogs, and business websites. The Elementor template marketplace is continuously expanding, offering users an ever-growing selection of high-quality designs to choose from.
Elementor Experts Platform
Elementor Experts is a platform that connects Elementor users with professional designers, developers, and marketers who specialize in using Elementor to create websites. Users can browse the profiles of experts, view their portfolios, and hire them for their projects.
Image: Elementor experts platform
The Elementor Experts platform is a valuable resource for users who need assistance with their website projects or are looking for professional help to take their website to the next level. It also provides an opportunity for experienced Elementor users to showcase their skills and offer their services to the community.
Elementor Affiliate Program
The Elementor affiliate program allows users to earn commissions by promoting Elementor Pro to their audience. Affiliates receive a unique referral link and promotional materials, such as banners and email templates, to help them promote Elementor Pro. Commissions are earned for every new user who purchases Elementor Pro through the affiliate’s referral link.
Image: Elementor affiliate program
The Elementor affiliate program is a great opportunity for users to monetize their website or blog and support the continued development of Elementor.
In conclusion, the Elementor ecosystem and marketplace offer a wealth of resources, products, and services that enhance the core functionality of Elementor and provide users with additional tools and options for creating stunning and functional websites. From third-party add-ons and templates to the Experts platform and affiliate program, the Elementor ecosystem ensures that users have access to a comprehensive and ever-growing suite of resources to help them succeed with their website projects.
Elementor for Agencies and Freelancers
Elementor is an excellent tool not only for individual users but also for agencies and freelancers who design and develop websites for clients. In this section, we will discuss the various features and benefits that make Elementor an attractive option for agencies and freelancers.
White Labeling and Branding
Elementor Pro offers white labeling options, allowing agencies and freelancers to replace the Elementor branding with their own company name and logo. This feature gives a more professional appearance to the websites they create for clients and helps establish their brand identity.
Image: Elementor white labeling options
Collaboration Features
Elementor’s collaboration features make it easy for agencies and freelancers to work together on projects with their team members or clients. Users can create multiple roles and access levels, ensuring that each team member has the appropriate permissions for their tasks.
Image: Elementor collaboration features
Additionally, Elementor includes features like revision history and autosave, which help prevent data loss and allow users to easily revert to previous versions of their work if needed.
Efficient Workflow
Elementor’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface and extensive library of pre-built templates and blocks enable agencies and freelancers to work more efficiently and complete projects faster. By streamlining the website design process, Elementor allows agencies and freelancers to take on more projects and increase their revenue potential.
Image: Elementor efficient workflow
Scalability and Multi-Site Support
Elementor Pro’s pricing plans offer support for multiple websites, making it an affordable and scalable solution for agencies and freelancers who manage multiple client projects. The Expert Plan, for example, supports up to 25 websites, providing ample capacity for growing agencies and freelancers.
Image: Elementor Pro pricing plans
Elementor is also compatible with WordPress Multisite installations, allowing users to manage multiple websites from a single dashboard.
Elementor Experts Platform
As mentioned earlier, the Elementor Experts platform connects Elementor users with professional designers, developers, and marketers who specialize in using Elementor to create websites. This platform provides an opportunity for agencies and freelancers to showcase their skills, expand their client base, and grow their business.
Image: Elementor expert’s platform
In conclusion, Elementor offers a comprehensive suite of features and benefits that make it an attractive option for agencies and freelancers who design and develop websites for clients. With white labeling options, collaboration features, efficient workflow, scalability, and the Elementor Experts platform, agencies and freelancers can streamline their processes, improve their productivity, and grow their businesses using Elementor.
Conclusion: Is Elementor the Right Choice for Your Website?
Elementor is a powerful and versatile website-building solution that caters to a wide range of users, from beginners to experienced web designers. In this conclusion, we will summarize the key points discussed throughout this article and help you determine if Elementor is the right choice for your website.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Ease of use: Elementor’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for users of all skill levels to create stunning and functional websites without any coding knowledge.
- Responsive design: Elementor offers extensive responsive design controls, ensuring your website looks great and performs well on all devices.
- Template library: With a vast library of pre-built templates and blocks, Elementor users can quickly create websites or add specific sections and features to their existing sites.
- Theme Builder: Elementor Pro’s Theme Builder allows users to design and customize every aspect of their website, including headers, footers, and single post templates.
- Third-party integrations: Elementor is compatible with a wide range of third-party plugins and add-ons, enabling users to extend the functionality of their website and integrate with various tools and services.
- Performance and optimization: Elementor generates clean and lightweight code, offers built-in minification options, and supports lazy loading for images, ensuring optimal website performance.
- Support and community: Elementor provides comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, support tickets (for Pro users), and an active community forum and Facebook group to assist users with any questions or challenges they may face.
- Continuous development and updates: Elementor is committed to ongoing development, frequently releasing new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements, and maintaining compatibility with the latest WordPress releases.
- Ecosystem and marketplace: The Elementor ecosystem and marketplace offer a wealth of third-party add-ons, templates, and resources that enhance the core functionality of Elementor and provide users with additional tools and options.
- Suitability for agencies and freelancers: With white labeling options, collaboration features, efficient workflow, scalability, and the Elementor Experts platform, Elementor is an excellent choice for agencies and freelancers who design and develop websites for clients.
Considering these key features and benefits, Elementor is an excellent choice for many users looking to create a website. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out with website design, an experienced web designer looking to streamline your workflow, or an agency or freelancer seeking a powerful and scalable solution, Elementor offers a comprehensive suite of tools and resources to help you succeed.
However, it’s essential to consider your specific needs, preferences, and budget when choosing a website-building solution. While Elementor offers a free version with basic features, you may need to invest in Elementor Pro or additional third-party add-ons to access more advanced functionalities. Additionally, if you prefer a more hands-off approach or require extensive e-commerce features, you might consider alternative website builders, such as Wix, Shopify, or Squarespace.
In conclusion, Elementor is a robust and versatile website builder that caters to a wide range of users and use cases. By considering the key features and benefits discussed in this article, you can determine if Elementor is the right choice for your website and confidently embark on your website-building journey.
