By Tara-Lynn | GoWithFlo | WordPress Web Designer (7+ years of Elementor experience)
Elementor is a drag-and-drop WordPress page builder that lets you design a professional website without writing code. It is developed by Elementor Ltd, powers over 21 million websites worldwide (approximately 13% of all websites globally), and offers both a free version and paid plans starting from $5/month (billed annually at $60/year). Elementor works as a plugin inside WordPress, giving you a visual, real-time editor for designing pages, headers, footers, and entire site templates. It pairs with SEO plugins like Rank Math and Yoast SEO, integrates with WooCommerce by Automattic for e-commerce, and includes built-in forms, pop-ups, and marketing tools in its Pro plans.
I’ve used both Elementor and Divi by Elegant Themes. I use Elementor for almost every client I work with. Here’s why.
Key Takeaways
- Elementor is a visual WordPress page builder with a free version and Pro plans from $5/month (billed annually).
- Over 21 million websites use Elementor, representing roughly 13% of all sites globally.
- Full drag-and-drop customisation with live preview, meaning changes appear in real time without refreshing.
- Strong SEO foundation when paired with Rank Math or Yoast SEO, giving you control over meta titles, descriptions, schema markup, and focus keywords.
- WooCommerce integration lets you build a functional online shop without code.
- Built-in marketing tools in Pro plans: forms, pop-ups, email integrations, and Stripe/PayPal payment buttons.
- Free version available to test before committing, with a 30-day money-back guarantee on all Pro plans.
If you’re building a website for your business and you’re not a developer, you’re going to need a web builder. A web builder is a drag-and-drop platform that handles the technical heavy lifting so you can focus on the actual website.
When you’re comparing options, you want something that is user-friendly, has templates that suit your style, and is flexible enough to grow with your business.
There are hundreds of platforms out there. But in the WordPress world, the conversation usually comes down to two: Elementor and Divi. I’ve used both. Here’s why Elementor wins for me, and for most of the small business owners I work with.
1. How Customizable Is Elementor for WordPress Websites?
Elementor’s customisation means full control over every element on your page, from layout structure and spacing to typography, colours, and responsive behaviour, all within a live visual editor that shows changes in real time.
“Fully customisable” is one of those phrases that gets thrown around so much it’s almost lost its meaning.
With Elementor, it actually means something.
You can build virtually any layout you can picture, adjust every element down to its padding and spacing, and make changes that take effect immediately in the live preview. No guessing. No refreshing. No “why does that look different on mobile.”
And because Elementor is genuinely intuitive to use, those changes don’t take half a day. When your business evolves and your website needs to keep up, you’re not locked into a rigid template or waiting on a developer to make minor tweaks.
Elementor Pro plans (from the Advanced Solo tier at $84/year) include 85 Pro widgets, a Theme Builder for designing headers, footers, and archive pages, and custom CSS support. The free version includes 32 widgets and core drag-and-drop functionality, which is enough to build a basic site and decide if the platform works for you.
2. Is Elementor Good for SEO?
Elementor supports SEO by generating clean, lightweight HTML and providing full compatibility with WordPress SEO plugins like Rank Math SEO and Yoast SEO. Together, they give you granular control over meta titles, meta descriptions, Open Graph tags, schema markup, and focus keywords for every page and post on your site.
If you want your website to actually be found on Google, the platform you build it on matters more than most people realize.
Elementor’s Editor V4 architecture has been redesigned for lighter DOM output, which means faster page loads and cleaner code for search engine crawlers to parse. Pair that with a plugin like Rank Math, and you have a solid technical SEO foundation without touching a line of code.
For small business owners trying to drive organic traffic, this combination does a lot of the foundational work for you. You can set your focus keyword, optimise your meta titles to stay under 60 characters, add schema markup for articles or local business, and manage internal linking, all from your WordPress dashboard.
If you’re not sure which platform is best for your business overall, our guide on choosing a website platform for your small business covers the important differences.
3. What Advanced Features Does Elementor Include?
Elementor Pro includes marketing and e-commerce features built into the page builder, reducing the need for separate plugins. These include a form builder with email marketing integrations, a pop-up builder, and full WooCommerce support for online shops.
Elementor isn’t just a design tool. It comes with marketing-ready features built in.
Forms, pop-ups, and email marketing integrations come standard in Pro plans, so you’re not cobbling together three different plugins to capture a lead or send someone to a thank-you page.
Want to add e-commerce to your site? Elementor works seamlessly with WooCommerce by Automattic, meaning you can build a functional online shop with product pages, cart, checkout, and order management, no coding required whatsoever. Advanced Solo and above include dedicated WooCommerce widgets for product grids, pricing, add-to-cart buttons, and checkout customisation.
Pro plans also include Stripe and PayPal payment button widgets, making it possible to accept payments directly on any page without a full e-commerce setup.
If you’re considering whether your business website should also sell products, Elementor makes it a genuinely practical option without requiring a separate platform.
4. Can You Try Elementor for Free Before Buying?
Yes. Elementor offers a fully functional free version available from the WordPress plugin directory, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid Pro plans.
Making multiple investments at once when you’re building a business website from scratch is a lot. Hosting, your domain, a theme, plugins, it adds up fast.
Elementor’s free version gives you 32 widgets, drag-and-drop editing, mobile responsive controls, and the core design experience. It’s enough to build a basic site and get a genuine feel for the platform before you spend anything.
When you’re ready to upgrade, Elementor Pro plans start at $60/year for the Essential plan (1 site, 57 Pro widgets) and go up to $204/year for the Expert plan (25 sites, 85 Pro widgets). All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
That’s a pretty low-risk way to decide.
5. What Support Does Elementor Offer?
Elementor Pro members get ticket-based support with responses typically within hours. The Elementor Facebook community has over 100,000 members worldwide for peer support.
Getting stuck on your website at an inconvenient hour is a rite of passage for small business owners. Elementor at least makes sure you’re not stuck alone.
Pro members get access to support via ticket, with a response typically within hours rather than days. Priority support is included with the One and One Agency plans.
If you’re on the free plan or just want a faster answer from someone who’s already wrestled with the same widget, the official Elementor Facebook community has over 100,000 members worldwide. Most questions are answered quickly by people who’ve already run into the same thing.
Elementor also has over 6,500 five-star reviews on WordPress.org, which gives you a reasonable sense of how the broader community rates the experience.
Elementor vs Divi: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Elementor (by Elementor Ltd) | Divi (by Elegant Themes) |
|---|---|---|
| Editor type | External plugin, works with any WordPress theme | Comes with its own theme or as a plugin |
| Live editing | Real-time visual editing with instant preview | Visual builder with live editing |
| Free version | Yes, fully functional free plugin | No free version (requires Elegant Themes membership) |
| Pricing (1 site) | From $60/year (Essential) | From $89/year (Elegant Themes annual) or $249 lifetime |
| WooCommerce support | Full WooCommerce builder (Advanced Solo+) | WooCommerce support with Divi modules |
| Pro widgets / modules | 85 Pro widgets | 200+ design modules |
| Pop-up builder | Built-in (Advanced Solo+) | Requires Divi Bloom or third-party plugin |
| Theme Builder | Full header/footer/template control | Full header/footer/template control |
| Community size | 100,000+ Facebook group members | Large community, active third-party ecosystem |
| Learning curve | Lower, more intuitive for beginners | Moderate, more options can feel overwhelming |
Both are solid WordPress page builders. The reason I use Elementor for most clients is the combination of a more intuitive interface, a functional free version for testing, and the fact that its Pro features are structured so you’re not paying for things you don’t need at the start.
Before You Start: What You Need to Use Elementor
Elementor runs on WordPress, which means you’ll need WordPress hosting before you can install anything. If you’re not sure which host to choose, this guide on choosing a WordPress host covers the important differences without the jargon.
If you’re still deciding whether WordPress is the right platform for your business at all, our post on website platforms for small business is a good starting point. And if Squarespace is also on your shortlist, here’s an honest comparison of what Squarespace does and doesn’t do well.
If you already have a business website that needs refreshing rather than a full rebuild, we’ve covered 4 practical ways to upgrade your existing site without starting from scratch.
FAQ: Elementor for Small Business Websites
Is Elementor free to use?
Yes. Elementor offers a fully functional free version available from the WordPress plugin directory. The free version includes 32 widgets, the core drag-and-drop editor, and responsive design controls. It is suitable for building a basic website. Pro features like the Theme Builder, Pop-up Builder, WooCommerce integration, and Custom CSS require a paid plan starting at $60/year.
What is the difference between Elementor and Elementor Pro?
Elementor (free) includes the core drag-and-drop editor and 32 basic widgets. Elementor Pro adds 57 to 85 additional Pro widgets (depending on the plan tier), a Theme Builder for designing headers, footers, and archive templates, a Form Builder with email marketing integrations, a Pop-up Builder, WooCommerce support, Custom CSS, and dynamic content capabilities.
Can I use Elementor to build an online shop?
Yes. Elementor Pro (Advanced Solo plan and above, from $84/year) includes full WooCommerce integration with dedicated product page widgets, cart and checkout builders, product grids, and payment button widgets for Stripe and PayPal. You can design a fully custom online shop without writing code.
Does Elementor slow down my website?
Elementor’s Editor V4 architecture is designed to produce lighter, cleaner HTML output than earlier versions. Like any page builder, the impact on speed depends on how the site is built, how many widgets are loaded, and the quality of your hosting. Pairing Elementor with a quality WordPress host and using image optimisation (available in the One plans) keeps performance strong.
Is Elementor or Divi better for beginners?
Both Elementor and Divi are drag-and-drop WordPress page builders designed for non-developers. Elementor tends to have a lower learning curve and a more intuitive interface for first-time users. Elementor also offers a free version, which lets beginners test the platform before committing financially. Divi requires an Elegant Themes membership starting at $89/year with no free option.
Do I need a developer to use Elementor?
No. Elementor is designed for non-developers who want to design and manage their own WordPress websites. The drag-and-drop interface, pre-built templates, and visual editing tools handle the technical work. However, if you want a custom-built site with advanced functionality, working with a developer or web designer can save significant time and produce a more polished result.
Want Someone to Handle This Part for You?
Your website is usually the first thing a potential client sees. It either does the work of converting them, or it quietly sends them elsewhere.
With over 7 years of Elementor experience, I help business owners get their WordPress sites set up properly from day one. That means:
- Finding the right hosting for your site and budget
- Installing WordPress and your theme
- Building a custom plugin and licence list so you’re not paying for things you don’t need
- Setting up the GWF builder so your site is built on a clean, solid foundation
You don’t have to figure all of this out on your own.
Let’s talk about your website | Explore Web Design Services
Written by Tara-Lynn | GoWithFlo | WordPress Web Designer, Developer & Systems Strategist | gowithflo.work
Tara-Lynn has 7+ years of experience building WordPress websites with Elementor for service-based businesses, healthcare professionals, and wedding vendors. She specialises in clean web design, backend systems, and getting your site to actually convert visitors into clients, without the tech headaches.
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