Elementor for WordPress
by Elementor Ltd.
Visual website builder and theme/eCommerce design system for WordPress
Features
- Visual drag-and-drop page builder (real-time WYSIWYG editor)
- Theme Builder: header, footer, single post, archive, 404 and other template parts
- Large widget library (basic widgets in Free, 80+ advanced widgets in Pro tiers)
- Responsive design controls (desktop / tablet / mobile)
- Popup Builder and Form Builder (lead capture, modal/popup campaigns)
- Template library & Website Kits (pre-built pages and full-site kits)
- WooCommerce Builder and dedicated eCommerce widgets
- Global widgets and global style system (theme styles, fonts, colors)
- Role manager and editing permissions for teams
- Integrations: WooCommerce, major marketing/email CRMs, tools via webhooks and third‑party plugins
- Elementor AI (content & design assistance — generate copy, suggest layouts, image ideas)
- Performance options: lazy-load images, optimized CSS delivery (varies by setup/plugin additions)
Superpowers
Elementor makes professional WordPress design accessible to non-developers while still satisfying power users and agencies. Its main strengths:
- Rapid visual prototyping: build pixel-accurate pages and iterate instantly without code.
- End-to-end site design: Theme Builder + Templates + Popups let you design a whole site visually, not just pages.
- WooCommerce-first design tools: create custom product pages and shop layouts without editing PHP templates.
- Large ecosystem: many templates, third-party addons, and community resources speed delivery for clients.
Who this is for
- Freelancers and designers who want fast, visual control over WordPress sites.
- Agencies managing multiple client sites (scalable licensing plans).
- Small businesses and eCommerce stores using WooCommerce.
What you’d gain by using Elementor
- Faster time-to-design and reduced developer dependency.
- Ability to create consistent, brand-aligned sites with reusable templates and global styles.
- A mature plugin ecosystem for extensions, widgets, and integrations.
Pricing (summary)
Elementor uses a tiered annual subscription model (prices change; check official site):
- Free: $0 — core page builder, basic widgets and templates
- Personal / Essential: (single site) — entry Pro plan (typical historical range ~59/yr)
- Business / Advanced: (multiple sites) — mid tier for freelancers/small agencies (~$99/yr for 3 sites historically)
- Expert / Agency: (many sites) — enterprise/agency tiers (from ~999/yr for 1,000 sites historically)
- Optional: Elementor-hosted plans that bundle managed WordPress hosting + Pro (priced separately)
Notes:
- Pricing and exact plan names vary over time. Always confirm current tiers and limits at the official pricing page.
- All paid plans typically include updates and support for the subscription period and a money-back guarantee window.
Practical usage examples
- Landing page for a marketing campaign: use pre-built template, swap content, connect Form widget to email provider, publish in hours.
- Custom WooCommerce product page: use WooCommerce Builder to design product templates with dynamic product widgets (price, gallery, add-to-cart).
- Agency multi-site rollout: create a site kit and clone it across client installs; use Expert/Agency license to cover many domains.
- Lead generation: build modal popups with built-in targeting (page rules, exit intent) and integrate with Mailchimp / ActiveCampaign.
Performance and technical notes
- Builder adds assets (CSS/JS) to pages; optimized delivery depends on plugin settings and caching layers. Use asset optimization plugins, caching (server or plugin), and good hosting for best results.
- Elementor tries to avoid leaving shortcodes and messy markup on deactivation, but complex sites may still require cleanup when removing page-builder plugins.
- For high-scale sites, test theme + plugin combinations and use staging to validate performance.
Limitations & trade-offs
- Page builders can increase page weight — careful optimization required for best Core Web Vitals.
- Deep customizations sometimes still require custom CSS or small PHP hooks.
- Plugin conflicts are possible with other page builders or poorly coded third-party plugins.
Recommended workflow (quick)
- Install WordPress on chosen host and required plugins (Elementor free + Elementor Pro if purchased).
- Import a Website Kit or template, or start from blank canvas.
- Set global styles (fonts, colors) in Site Settings.
- Build key templates (header/footer/single product) in Theme Builder.
- Create pages with widgets and responsive adjustments, add forms/popups as needed.
- Test on staging, optimize assets (minify, cache, lazy-load), then deploy.
Resources
- Official site: https://elementor.com
- Documentation & Guides: https://elementor.com/help/
- Elementor Community & Addons: many third-party addons and template marketplaces