Elementor has become one of the most widely used WordPress page builders, empowering both beginners and professionals to design custom websites without writing code. But like any tool, it has strengths and limitations.
This article breaks down the key pros and cons of using Elementor, helping you decide whether it’s the right builder for your website or clients.
Pros of Using Elementor
1. Beginner-Friendly Drag-and-Drop Builder
Elementor’s intuitive visual interface allows you to see changes in real time.
-
No coding required
-
Easy for beginners and non-tech users
-
Faster design workflow
2. Massive Template & Block Library
Elementor includes hundreds of professionally designed templates, including:
-
Landing pages
-
Homepage layouts
-
Contact pages
-
Pop-ups (Pro)
This accelerates website creation and ensures consistent branding.
3. Extensive Widget Collection
Elementor offers 40+ free widgets and 100+ pro widgets, including:
-
Forms
-
Sliders
-
Carousels
-
Pricing tables
-
Countdown timers
These allow dynamic functionality without extra plugins.
4. Full Theme Builder (Pro Feature)
With Elementor Pro, you can design:
-
Headers
-
Footers
-
Blog archives
-
Single post layouts
-
Product pages (WooCommerce)
This makes Elementor a powerful all-in-one website customization tool.
5. Mobile Responsive Controls
You can style for desktop, tablet, and mobile independently:
-
Adjust padding, margin, and font sizes
-
Hide/show elements per device
-
Fine-tune mobile layouts easily
6. Strong Community & Add-On Ecosystem
Thousands of third-party add-ons expand Elementor with:
-
Advanced widgets
-
Animation tools
-
Template packs
-
Design enhancements
This versatility makes Elementor future-proof and adaptable.
Cons of Using Elementor
1. Can Slow Down Website Performance
Elementor loads additional scripts, style sheets, and DOM elements, which may cause:
-
Longer page load times
-
Lower performance scores in Core Web Vitals
-
Heavier pages compared to block-based themes
You may need caching or optimization plugins (e.g., WP Rocket).
2. Locked Into Elementor’s Ecosystem
Once you build pages with Elementor:
-
Disabling it leaves behind shortcode-like clutter
-
Rebuilding pages in Gutenberg or another builder is time-consuming
This “page builder lock-in” makes migration difficult.
3. Some Key Features Are Paywalled
To access advanced features, you need Elementor Pro:
-
Theme Builder
-
Popup Builder
-
Dynamic content
-
Form builder
-
WooCommerce builder
Ongoing subscription costs may be a downside for some users.
4. Can Become Overwhelming for Beginners
With so many widgets, settings, and controls, new users may experience:
-
A steep learning curve
-
Confusion over design best practices
-
Inconsistent styling without global settings
Guided templates help, but it can still feel like “too much” initially.
5. Compatibility Issues with Some Themes & Plugins
Elementor generally plays well with most tools, but you may encounter:
-
Conflicts with poorly coded themes
-
Issues after major WordPress or Elementor updates
-
Occasional widget bugs or styling inconsistencies
Testing updates on a staging site is recommended.
6. Heavier Editing Interface
The editor can feel slow on:
-
Older computers
-
Shared hosting
-
Large or widget-heavy pages
This affects workflow efficiency for some users.
Is Elementor Worth Using?
Elementor is an excellent choice if you want:
-
Full design control
-
A visual drag-and-drop interface
-
Fast website creation
-
Professional templates and widgets
However, it may not be ideal if your priority is:
-
Maximum website performance
-
Long-term flexibility without builder lock-in
-
A lightweight, minimal setup
Elementor remains one of the best page builders available, especially for small businesses, agencies, and creators who want high-quality designs with minimal coding.