Divi vs Elementor: The Ultimate WordPress Page Builder Showdown

Deciding between Divi vs Elementor for your WordPress site? This article directly compares their features, performance, and ease of use to help you choose the best page builder for your needs. This guide is for WordPress users, freelancers, agencies, and beginners evaluating page builders. Choosing the right page builder can impact your site’s performance, design flexibility, and long-term costs.

• Elementor is more popular, with over 9.3 million sites, and has a user rating of 4.6 stars; however, Divi offers more robust features for freelancers and agencies.
• Performance-wise, Elementor outperforms Divi on complex layouts, whereas Divi has made significant speed improvements and performs better in mobile tests.
• Both page builders have unique strengths: Divi excels in A/B testing and conditional logic, while Elementor stands out with its user-friendly interface and AI tools for layout generation.

Quick Comparison: Divi vs Elementor

When it comes to page builders, Divi and Elementor are often the first names that come to mind. Both have carved out significant user bases, with Elementor boasting over 9.3 million live websites compared to Divi’s 1.9 million. This popularity isn’t just about numbers; Elementor holds an impressive average user rating of 4.6 stars out of 5, showcasing high customer satisfaction.

Divi tends to attract freelancers, agencies, and website owners who appreciate its robust feature set and the comprehensive ecosystem offered by Elegant Themes. On the other hand, both Elementor and Divi are popular among casual users, marketers, and agencies who value their intuitive interfaces and extensive customisation options. Both page builders offer drag-and-drop functionality, theme building, and dynamic content integrations, making them versatile tools for a native wordpress page builder for a variety of users.

However, choosing between Divi and Elementor isn’t solely about features; performance, user interface preferences, and specific needs also play crucial roles. As we delve deeper into each aspect, you’ll see how these two heavyweights stack up against each other and where they shine the brightest.

Divi vs Elementor: Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Divi	Elementor
Popularity	1.9+ million live websites	9.3+ million live websites
Pricing Structure	$89/year (unlimited sites), $249 lifetime (unlimited sites), $289/year Pro plan	Free version; Pro starts at $59/year for 1 site, tiered by site count
Free Version	No	Yes
Template Library Size	350+ templates, 2,500+ layouts in 177 layout packs	300+ templates, 100+ website kits
Unique Features	Built-in A/B testing, conditional logic, role editor, Divi Presets, lifetime plan	Popup Builder, AI tools (layout generation, AI Site Planner), Theme Style, vast third-party ecosystem
Performance Highlights	98 desktop PageSpeed, built-in CSS/JS optimization, 14 HTTP requests, better mobile performance	Slightly faster on complex layouts, more HTTP requests, 75/100 mobile score, faster out-of-the-box for complex layouts
Target User Types	Freelancers, agencies, advanced users, those seeking long-term value	Beginners, intermediate users, those wanting a free version, users valuing ease of use and AI tools

Performance Analysis

Performance is a critical factor when selecting a page builder. A slow website can frustrate users and negatively impact SEO. Both Divi and Elementor have made strides in optimising performance, but there are nuances to consider.

Elementor has a slight advantage in performance, particularly on more complex page layouts, whereas Divi has significantly improved its backend performance with updates, achieving up to 700% speed gains. Let’s break down their performance metrics in more detail.

Fresh Website Speed Test

To establish a baseline, we conducted speed tests on a newly created WordPress website using GTmetrix. A default WordPress theme made 15 total page requests, serving as our control. This helps us understand the impact each page builder has on a site’s speed.

Both Divi and Elementor were tested under similar conditions. Understanding the performance of a default theme enables us to accurately assess how much each page builder contributes to load time and overall website speed. This baseline is essential for a fair comparison.

Elementor Performance

Elementor’s performance is generally strong, especially on more complex pages. However, it can increase load time and page size, which might affect user experience. The performance tests were conducted using the free version of Elementor, which lacks some optimisation features available in Elementor Pro.

One notable limitation is that Elementor lacks a built-in feature to optimise CSS and JavaScript, which can result in slower performance compared to Divi. To mitigate this, users often turn to optimisation plugins like Autoptimize or WP Rocket. Despite this, Elementor’s mobile performance score is a respectable 75/100.

Elementor’s fully loaded time averages 2.9 seconds, which is competitive but slightly slower than some optimised setups. Overall, Elementor delivers balanced performance, particularly when combined with additional optimisation tools.

Divi Performance

Divi has made significant strides in performance, narrowing the gap with its competitors. Notably, Divi’s desktop score on Google PageSpeed Insights is 98, indicating excellent performance. This is a testament to the extensive optimisations undertaken by Elegant Themes.

Performance metrics from Pingdom indicate that Divi maintains excellent load times and reasonable page sizes, averaging 14 HTTP requests. Divi also includes a built-in feature to minify and combine CSS and JavaScript, thereby reducing HTTP requests and improving performance.

While Elementor generally loads faster in everyday use cases, Divi performs better in specific mobile performance tests. This makes Divi a strong contender for users prioritising both desktop and mobile performance.

User Interface Comparison

The user interface is where the magic happens, and both Divi and Elementor have distinct approaches. Divi uses a floating-panel interface that provides a full-screen design view, whereas Elementor employs a fixed sidebar for a more structured workflow. This choice often depends on personal preference, as both interfaces have their strengths.

Elementor’s user-friendly interface is designed for beginners and offers a free version to get started quickly. Divi, on the other hand, refers to its design elements as Modules, whereas Elementor calls them Widgets. Both page builders offer a wide range of building blocks for creating visually appealing layouts.

Elementor Interface

Elementor’s interface is clean and intuitive, featuring a live preview on the right and a fixed sidebar on the left. This structured layout enhances organisation and facilitates users’ management of design elements. The fixed sidebar interface provides direct access to elements, making navigation straightforward.

Adding widgets in Elementor is a breeze:

• Simply drag them from the fixed sidebar and adjust settings right there.
• Styling options are conveniently located in tabs within the sidebar, labelled Content, Style, and Advanced.
• Changes are displayed live on the page, allowing for real-time adjustments.

Elementor also supports inline editing, enabling users to edit text directly on the page. Clicking an element highlights it with a pink outline and displays relevant settings in the sidebar. This design makes Elementor particularly beginner-friendly, simplifying the editing process.

Divi Interface

Divi’s interface is distinguished by its use of floating buttons and widgets, offering a full-screen live preview. While this can be overwhelming for some users due to the number of visible icons, it provides a high degree of flexibility and control over the design process.

Divi supports both front-end and back-end visual editing, allowing users to choose their preferred workflow. Users can modify content via inline editing and pop-up windows that display module options. This flexibility is a significant advantage for those who prefer a Divi page builder approach to design, particularly when creating a basic Divi website.

Right-click options in Divi enable quick duplication of modules or copying settings, streamlining the editing process. Hovering over a module reveals edit icons, granting customisation options directly within the layout. These features make Divi a versatile tool for both beginners and advanced users.

• Floating buttons and widgets for a full-screen live preview
• Supports both front-end and back-end visual editing
• Inline editing and pop-up windows for module options
• Right-click options for quick duplication or copying settings
• Edit icons appear on hover for direct customisation

Elementor vs Divi: Modules and Widgets

In Divi, design elements are called “modules,” while in Elementor, they are called “widgets.” Both serve as the building blocks for creating page layouts. Both Elementor and Divi offer drag-and-drop interfaces with inline editing, but they use different approaches to how they work.

Modules and widgets are the building blocks of any page builder, and both Divi and Elementor offer a rich selection. Divi’s modules are highly customizable, allowing users to create unique layouts tailored to their needs. Elementor, by contrast, refers to these building blocks as widgets.

Both page builders offer a range of modules and widgets that enable users to create complex, visually appealing layouts. The customisation options available in Divi’s modules and Elementor’s widgets enhance design flexibility and responsiveness, catering to a wide range of design requirements.

Elementor Widgets

Elementor offers a wide variety of widgets to enhance design capabilities. The free version includes more than 30 basic widgets, whereas Elementor Pro offers 68 widgets. This extensive selection allows users to create diverse and dynamic content.

Additional widgets can be added through third-party add-ons, further expanding design options. These customizable builder plugins enable users to create a wide variety of content types, enhancing the overall design flexibility of their WordPress sites, including a popup builder.

Divi Modules

Divi Builder includes 48 modules, with more than 100 design modules available for creating unique layouts. One of Divi’s standout features is its A/B testing module, which allows users to conduct split tests to optimise their designs using a Divi test page.

Advanced modules in Divi include tabs, toggles, and accordions. These modules offer extensive customisation options, including layout adjustments and styling features. Third-party plugins can also be integrated with Divi Builder to enhance its functionality.

The combination of these modules makes Divi a powerful tool for creating visually appealing and highly functional websites. Whether you’re looking to add simple elements or complex interactive features, Divi’s modules provide the flexibility needed to achieve your design goals.

Styling and Design Options

Styling and design options are crucial for creating a unique and professional-looking website. Both Divi and Elementor offer:

• Extensive customisation of design elements, giving users control over how their website looks
• Options for styling elements that are pretty similar
• Availability of custom CSS
• Ability to copy styles

These innovative styling options enable users to create visually appealing websites without advanced coding skills. Both page builders and Beaver Builder excel in this area, making it easier for users to implement their design visions with a loop builder using a WordPress page builder.

Elementor Styling

Elementor features a sidebar with three tabs for managing design elements: Content, Style, and Advanced. This organised layout makes it easy to access and modify styling options. Users can apply custom CSS at the element level with Elementor Pro, enabling more precise styling.

Elementor’s design capabilities include responsive settings that enable distinct styles for different device types. Additionally, Elementor offers motion effects, allowing users to add dynamic animations and transitions to elements, enhancing the visual appeal of their websites.

Divi Styling

Divi introduces a feature called Divi Preset, which enables users to save and reuse custom design settings across different modules. This feature enhances efficiency and consistency in design. Divi’s responsive settings allow for different styles based on the device being used, ensuring optimal viewing experiences.

The design tab in Divi allows adjustments for animations, colours, shadows, and other visual elements. Custom CSS features enable users to add custom CSS before and after main elements, providing greater design flexibility. Adding custom CSS makes these styling options make Divi a powerful tool for creating visually stunning websites.

Template Libraries

Template libraries are a valuable resource for users seeking to expedite the design process. Both Divi and Elementor offer extensive template libraries that cater to users at different skill levels. These libraries are accessible to beginners and flexible for advanced users, making them a versatile tool for building websites.

Customization is a key feature of these template libraries. Both page builders allow users to extensively adjust custom templates, from colours and fonts to layout, ensuring that the final design aligns with their vision.

Elementor Templates

The free version of Elementor offers:

• More than 40 block templates
• Over 30 full-page templates

Elementor Pro extends this by providing:

• Access to over 300 full-page templates
• More than 100 complete Template Kits

These templates are organised into categories, facilitating the identification of the appropriate design for any project.

Elementor’s templates can be customised extensively, allowing users to create unique designs without starting from scratch. This flexibility makes the Elementor template library a valuable resource for both beginners and advanced users.

Divi Templates

Divi offers:

• Over 350 templates, providing a broad selection for users
• More than 2,500 individual page layouts, ensuring versatile design options
• Pre-designed templates organised into themed collections called Layout Packs, which consist of multiple full-page templates

Users can:

• Save custom designs in Divi as templates for later reuse, greatly enhancing design efficiency
• Manage and organise their custom designs, making the template library not only extensive but also highly adaptable for diverse user needs

Theme Building Capabilities

Theme building is a significant feature that enables users to create custom themes without requiring programming knowledge. Both Divi and Elementor excel in this area, providing tools that will allow users to design custom headers, footers, and other theme elements. This capability is crucial for users who want complete control over their website’s design.

These advanced features allow users to create cohesive and visually stunning websites. We will explore the theme-building features and capabilities of each in greater detail.

Elementor Theme Builder

Elementor includes a theme builder feature that allows users to create custom headers, footers, and archive pages. To use this feature, a base theme like Hello Elementor is required. Access to the Elementor theme builder requires an Elementor Pro subscription. Still, it can be used with any WordPress theme, including popular options like Astra and the default 2024 theme, making it a valuable theme-building Elementor tool.

One of the standout features of Elementor’s theme builder is the ability to control which content a template will apply to when publishing. This flexibility enables users to create highly customised and targeted designs using the Elementor page builder, thereby enhancing the overall user experience of their websites.

Divi Theme Builder

To access the Divi Theme Builder, users should navigate to Divi. From there, they can locate the Theme Builder option. This tool allows users to:

• Create custom headers and footers, providing a tailored theme design that fits their unique needs
• Add modules
• Customize styles
• Incorporate dynamic content within templates

The Divi Theme Builder offers both a back-end interface and a front-end visual builder, making it easy to use for a variety of design workflows, including a page builder plugin. This dual approach ensures that users have the flexibility to choose the method that best suits their working style, including the Divi Builder Elegant Themes.

Unique Features

Both Divi and Elementor offer distinct features that distinguish them from other page builders. These features address diverse user needs and enhance the overall functionality of each platform. While Divi focuses on advanced features like A/B testing and conditional logic, Elementor excels with its AI capabilities and extensive add-on ecosystem.

Understanding these unique features can help users determine which page builder aligns best with their specific requirements, whether they’re looking for advanced marketing tools or innovative design capabilities.

Divi Unique Features

Divi offers a built-in A/B testing feature that allows users to compare different versions of their modules to optimise performance. This is particularly useful for marketers looking to improve conversion rates. Additionally, Divi includes built-in conditional logic in its form modules, enabling users to show or hide specific fields based on user input.

The role editor in Divi allows administrators to manage modules and settings access based on different user roles, enhancing security and usability. These standout features collectively enhance Divi’s usability and effectiveness for marketers and developers.

Elementor Unique Features

Elementor includes a built-in pop-up builder that enables users to create customised pop-ups. This feature is handy for creating promotional messages, subscription forms, and more. Elementor also leverages AI to assist with layout generation, using a dedicated AI button for layout descriptions.

Elementor’s Elementor AI capabilities extend to creating entire containers using AI features, enhancing site design efficiency. Additionally, Elementor offers a unique AI Site Planner to help users strategize and plan their website layout. These innovative features make Elementor a powerful tool for both novice and advanced users.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing is often a deciding factor when choosing a page builder. Divi and Elementor offer different pricing structures, catering to various budgets and needs. Divi provides an annual subscription or a one-time payment for lifetime access. Elementor offers a range of subscription plans, including a completely free version.

When comparing pricing options, it’s essential to consider your specific needs to determine which page builder offers better value for money. Let’s break down the pricing plans for each.

Divi Pricing

Divi provides two premium pricing options. These options are the Basic and Pro plans. The cost of Divi’s yearly license is $89, which includes unlimited personal and client websites. For a one-time fee of $249, users can purchase a lifetime license for Divi, making it a cost-effective option in the long run.

Both of Divi’s pricing plans provide access to the Divi theme, Divi Builder plugin, and other Elegant Themes products. The Pro Plan includes additional features, including Divi AI, Divi Cloud, and Divi VIP. Access to all Elegant Themes products is included with the purchase of Divi, and a discount of up to 25% can be applied at checkout with a code.

Divi’s one-time fee for lifetime use is comparable to Elementor’s annual license, which may be more costly over time. This makes Divi a compelling option for users looking for a long-term investment in a page builder.

Elementor Pricing

Elementor offers a free version, making it accessible to beginners and those on a tight budget. For users needing more advanced features, an Elementor basic website offers a range of subscription plans that cater to different site requirements, from one site to up to 1,000 sites.

The ‘Popular’ plan of Elementor includes:

• Site usage limits, allowing usage on up to 3 websites
• Promotional events like the Elementor Black Friday sale can help save money when subscribing
• A discount is available for Elementor Pro

Elementor Pro’s yearly subscription is based on the number of websites, with limits applied for each tier. This tiered pricing model enables users to select the plan that best suits their requirements and budget.

Support and Community

Support and community resources are crucial for users who need assistance or want to share knowledge. Here’s how Divi and Elementor compare:

• Divi provides more flexible support options, including live chat.
• Elementor offers ticket-based support.
• Both page builders have active communities.
• Both have comprehensive knowledge bases.

Understanding the support options and community resources available can help users make an informed decision. Let’s explore the support systems of both page builders in more detail.

Divi Support

Divi’s support includes:

• A live chat feature, which is uncommon for WordPress themes and plugins
• 24/7 live chat support
• Community forums
• A detailed knowledge base

The upcoming Support Centre will provide users with direct access to documentation and resources throughout the entire website.

Additionally, the Support Centre will include a feature to monitor system status and alert users to potential compatibility issues. These support options make Divi a reliable choice for users seeking comprehensive assistance.

Elementor Support

Elementor support options include:

• Free version users have access to documentation and community help.
• Elementor Pro customers benefit from 24/7 premium support via a ticket system.
• Pro version users also have access to a detailed public knowledge base.

Some users have found Elementor’s support less helpful than expected. However, the combination of ticket-based support and a robust community forum ensures that most issues can be resolved.

Summary

Choosing between Divi and Elementor ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Divi excels with its robust features, extensive customisation options, and lifetime pricing plan. Elementor, by contrast, offers a more beginner-friendly interface, advanced AI capabilities, and a comprehensive free version.

Both page builders are exceptional tools for creating stunning WordPress websites. By understanding the strengths and unique features of each, you can make an informed decision that best suits your project requirements and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the disadvantage of using Elementor?

Using Elementor can slow down your website and lead to compatibility issues with themes and plugins. Plus, it may restrict your control over SEO elements, which is crucial for your site’s visibility.

Which page builder is better for beginners, Divi or Elementor?

Elementor is the better choice for beginners as it offers an intuitive interface and a structured workflow that makes building pages easier. You’ll find it straightforward to get started and create your desired designs quickly.

Does Divi offer a free version like Elementor?

No, Divi doesn’t have a free version like Elementor. You’ll need to purchase a premium license, which provides either an annual subscription or a one-time payment for lifetime access.

Can I use Divi and Elementor with any WordPress theme?

Absolutely, you can use Divi and Elementor with any WordPress theme. However, pairing them with themes such as Hello Elementor or Astra often gives you the best experience.

What unique features does Divi offer?

Divi stands out with its built-in A/B testing, conditional logic in form modules, and a role editor for custom user access. These features facilitate the tailoring of the website experience and enhance functionality.