bwt
// plugin

Elementor

by Elementor

The page builder behemoth. Drag-and-drop visual editing, free core, Pro adds widgets and theme builder.

Visit Elementor → Docs WP.org
// decision data
Lighthouse
78 / 100
Tested May 30, 2026
Accessibility
WCAG AA
9 axe issues
Open CVEs
0
No known open advisory
Last release
May 25, 2026 v3.27.2
WP.org rating
4.5
7.3K reviews · 10M+ installs
Builder plugin Free, Pro from $59 GPL AI aware Since 2016 Tested up to WP 7.0.1 Requires WP 6.8+ PHP 7.4+
// editorial verdict

Elementor is the largest WordPress page builder by install count. Free core ships with the drag-and-drop editor and basic widgets. Pro adds advanced widgets, the theme builder (header, footer, archive templates), popup builder, WooCommerce builder, and Elementor AI for content and image generation. Public company since 2022, headquartered in Israel.

Pros

  • Mature feature set with regular new releases
  • Largest pre-built template library of any WordPress page builder
  • Pro Theme Builder removes the need for a separate theme builder plugin
  • Elementor AI integrated for content and image generation

Cons

  • Adds significant page weight; Lighthouse scores typically 15-20 points lower than non-builder sites
  • Pro renewal pricing has increased steadily since 2022
  • Markup is verbose and not always accessibility-clean by default
When to pick Elementor

Pick Elementor for visual designers and non-developers who need a familiar drag-and-drop interface. Strong choice when client editing is the primary use case and the design system is templated rather than custom-coded.

When to avoid Elementor

Avoid for performance-critical sites or for developers who prefer the native block editor. Page weight overhead is unavoidable.

// faq

Frequently asked questions

Is Elementor free?
Yes. Elementor's free version ships the drag-and-drop editor and basic widgets. Elementor Pro ($59 per year for a single site) adds advanced widgets, the theme builder (header, footer, archive templates), popup builder, WooCommerce builder, and Elementor AI.
Does Elementor slow down WordPress?
Yes, noticeably. Elementor adds significant page weight; expect Lighthouse scores 15-20 points lower than a non-builder site at equivalent visual complexity. The 2026 container layout system improved things; it's still not a performance-first choice.
What is Elementor AI and is it worth it?
Elementor AI generates copy, images, and custom CSS directly inside the page builder. Bundled with Elementor Pro. Useful as a productivity accelerator for client work; the output quality matches GPT-4-class for copy and is decent for AI image generation.
Should I pick Elementor or Bricks?
Pick Elementor if your team is already trained on it, you need the largest template library, or you value the maturity and ecosystem. Pick Bricks if performance matters more than ecosystem and you prefer a lifetime license over annual renewals.
// activity & context

Recent releases

  1. v3.27.2 May 25, 2026

    AI image generation improvements

  2. v3.27.1 May 2, 2026

    Theme builder template fix

  3. v3.27.0 April 14, 2026

    New: enhanced container layout controls

  4. v3.26.4 March 26, 2026

    WooCommerce builder bug fix

  5. v3.26.3 March 8, 2026

    Patch release

  6. v3.26.2 February 20, 2026

    Popup builder mobile fix

  7. v3.26.1 February 1, 2026

    Maintenance release

  8. v3.26.0 January 14, 2026

    New widget: dynamic loop builder

// similar plugins
// methodology

Performance testing

Tested on Kinsta Starter (Google Cloud C3D, Iowa). Configuration: Elementor Hello theme, single landing page with hero, mobile, 4G simulated, cold cache. 5 runs, median reported. Raw Lighthouse JSON downloadable on request.

Vulnerability tracking

Open and recently closed CVE counts pulled from Patchstack and Wordfence Intelligence on every build. Last disclosure date reflects the most recent public CVE for this plugin, not necessarily the most recent vendor patch.