Now Reading: Elementor Free vs Pro: Which One Should You Choose?
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Elementor Free vs Pro: Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re building a WordPress website, you’ve probably heard about Elementor—one of the most popular page builder plugins today. But here’s the big question: Elementor Free vs Pro, which version is right for you?
The Elementor Free version comes with all the basics you need to design beautiful pages without coding. It’s perfect for beginners, personal blogs, and small sites. On the other hand, Elementor Pro unlocks advanced features like the Theme Builder, WooCommerce integration, Pro widgets, and marketing tools that make it ideal for businesses, online stores, and professional web designers.
In this Elementor Free vs Pro comparison, we’ll break down every difference—from Elementor Free features to Elementor Pro pricing—so you can decide if upgrading is worth it. Whether you’re a blogger, small business owner, or running an e-commerce store, this guide will help you understand the benefits, limitations, and real value of both versions in 2025.
We’ll also look at speed and performance, templates, customization options, and even Elementor Pro WooCommerce features. By the end, you’ll know exactly which version fits your needs and budget—without wasting time or money.
What is Elementor?
Elementor is a drag-and-drop page builder plugin for WordPress. It allows you to create custom pages and designs without touching a single line of code. Whether you’re making a blog, portfolio, or e-commerce store, Elementor gives you control over the look and feel of your site.
With Elementor, you work visually—you see changes in real-time as you make them. This makes it easy for beginners and still powerful enough for professionals. There are two main versions—Elementor Free and Elementor Pro. The free version is packed with essential tools, while the Pro version adds advanced features that take your site to the next level.
Why it’s Popular for WordPress
Elementor has become one of the most downloaded WordPress plugins. Here’s why:
- It’s beginner-friendly but still has advanced options.
- It works with almost any theme.
- It allows you to design your site exactly how you want.
- It’s fast to learn—no coding needed.
This flexibility is why so many people end up comparing Elementor Free vs Pro before building or upgrading their websites.
Understanding Elementor Free
The Elementor Free version gives you the basic tools to create beautiful pages. You get:
- A drag-and-drop editor.
- 40+ free widgets like headings, text, images, videos, buttons, and icons.
- Responsive design controls so your site looks good on phones, tablets, and desktops.
- Basic templates to start quickly.
While these tools are enough for many basic websites, they have limits. For example, in Elementor Free vs Pro, the free version does not have advanced widgets like forms, sliders, or price tables. You also can’t edit headers and footers without Pro.
Who Should Use Elementor Free?
Elementor Free is perfect if:
- You’re a beginner learning website design.
- You want a personal blog or portfolio.
- You’re building a simple website without complex features.
If you need more design freedom, advanced widgets, or tools for marketing, you might start considering Elementor Pro.
Understanding Elementor Pro
The Elementor Pro version builds on everything in the free version and adds:
- 60+ Pro widgets, including forms, sliders, and pricing tables.
- Theme Builder to customize headers, footers, and archives.
- WooCommerce Builder for online stores.
- Popup Builder for marketing campaigns.
- Global widgets for faster design.
- Motion effects and advanced animations.
These features give you more control and allow you to create a unique, branded site. In the Elementor Free vs Pro debate, this extra control is often the deciding factor for professionals.
Who Should Use Elementor Pro?
You should consider Elementor Pro if:
- You run a business or e-commerce site.
- You want to use advanced marketing tools.
- You need full control over your theme design.
- You build websites for clients.
If you value design flexibility and professional tools, Elementor Pro is worth the investment.
Elementor Free vs Pro: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
In Elementor Free, you can create basic layouts, change colors, fonts, and spacing. But in Elementor Pro, you get advanced customization like custom positioning, shape dividers, motion effects, and global styles. Pro lets you design entire site templates, not just individual pages.
Widgets and Templates
- Elementor Free: Around 40+ widgets and 30 basic templates.
- Elementor Pro: Over 100 widgets and 300+ professional templates.
If you compare Elementor Free vs Pro, the Pro version clearly offers more options, which saves time and gives your site a more polished look.
Theme Builder and WooCommerce Support
With Elementor Free, you can’t customize headers, footers, or blog post layouts. In Elementor Pro, the Theme Builder lets you edit every part of your site, and WooCommerce support helps create product pages, shop layouts, and checkout designs.
Marketing and SEO Tools
Elementor Pro includes tools like Popup Builder, custom forms, and integrations with email marketing platforms. These features help capture leads and grow your audience—something Elementor Free doesn’t offer.
Pricing and Value for Money
Elementor Free Cost
This one’s simple—Elementor Free is completely free. You can install it from the WordPress plugin directory without paying a cent. It’s a great way to start and see if you like using Elementor before investing.
Elementor Pro Cost Plans
Elementor Pro has several pricing plans:
- Essential Plan: 1 website — around $59/year.
- Advanced Plan: 3 websites — around $99/year.
- Expert Plan: 25 websites — around $199/year.
In the Elementor Free vs Pro decision, cost is important. If you’re just starting, free might be enough. But if you want professional tools and plan to grow your site, Pro offers strong value for money.
Elementor Free vs Pro: Performance and Speed
When talking about Elementor Free vs Pro, speed is a key factor. Both versions use the same core plugin, so basic page loading times are similar if you use simple designs. However, Elementor Pro has more advanced widgets and effects, which can slow down a page if not optimized.
For example, adding motion effects, sliders, and multiple animations in Pro may create a heavier page compared to a minimal layout in Free. When considering the question, Is Elementor Free with WordPress, it’s important to note that this is not because Elementor Pro is slow—it’s because extra features naturally require more resources.
To keep performance high, whether you use Elementor Free or Pro:
- Compress your images before uploading.
- Use caching plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache.
- Keep your design clean instead of overloading with effects.
So, in the Elementor Free vs Pro discussion, performance depends more on your design choices than the plugin version itself.
Mobile Responsiveness
Both Elementor Free and Elementor Pro offer mobile responsive controls. You can edit how your site looks on desktop, tablet, and phone. Pro goes a step further by adding more control over element positioning and visibility. For example, in Pro you can hide certain widgets on mobile while showing them on desktop.
If mobile traffic is important for your site, these Pro features can help create a better user experience.
Elementor Free vs Pro for Bloggers
If you’re starting a blog for the first time, Elementor Free may be more than enough. It gives you clean layouts, basic styling tools, and mobile-friendly designs without any cost. Many personal blogs run entirely on the free version for years.
However, bloggers often upgrade when they need custom post layouts or want to add advanced features like email signup popups, related posts sections, or content gates.
Advanced Blogging Tools in Pro
With Elementor Pro, bloggers can:
- Create custom single post templates.
- Add call-to-action banners.
- Use the Popup Builder for email capture.
- Style archive and category pages.
In the Elementor Free vs Pro choice, new bloggers often start free and switch to Pro once they want more control over their site’s branding and user engagement.
Elementor Free vs Pro for Businesses
For a small business, a basic website with services, contact info, and a few images might work fine with Elementor Free. But most businesses want to stand out—and that’s where Elementor Pro shines.
With Pro, you can design a fully branded site, add contact forms, integrate booking systems, and use marketing tools like popups or promotional banners. This makes it easier to turn visitors into customers.
E-commerce and Online Stores
If you run an online store, the Elementor Free vs Pro decision is simple—Pro is the better choice. Elementor Pro’s WooCommerce Builder lets you create custom product pages, shop layouts, and checkout designs. You can also add upsell offers, special banners, and advanced product grids to increase sales.
Free doesn’t offer this deep WooCommerce integration, so online stores usually skip straight to Pro.
Pros and Cons of Elementor Free vs Pro
Pros of Elementor Free
- 100% free to use – No subscription or hidden costs.
- Beginner-friendly – Simple drag-and-drop interface perfect for new WordPress users.
- Good selection of basic widgets – Includes essential design elements for building functional pages.
- Compatible with most WordPress themes – Works seamlessly without theme conflicts.
Pros of Elementor Pro
- 100+ advanced widgets and templates – Unlocks premium design elements and ready-to-use layouts.
- Full theme building control – Design headers, footers, and every part of your site without coding.
- Built-in WooCommerce and marketing tools – Ideal for online stores and lead generation.
- Professional-level customization – Greater control over styling, animations, and dynamic content.
Cons of Elementor Free
- Limited advanced features – Lacks tools like the Theme Builder and Popup Builder.
- Basic design flexibility – Not as powerful for complex, custom websites.
Cons of Elementor Pro
- Annual subscription required – Must renew to keep receiving updates and premium features.
- Potential performance issues if overused – Adding too many effects and widgets can slow down site speed.
Final Tip: When comparing Elementor Free vs Pro, think about your project’s needs. If you want advanced design control, Pro is worth the investment. If you only need basic layouts, Free may be enough.
Which One Should You Pick?
Ask yourself:
- Do I need custom headers, footers, and post layouts?
- Am I running an e-commerce store?
- Do I want advanced marketing features?
If you answered “yes” to most of these, Elementor Pro will give you what you need. If your answers are “no” and you just want a basic site, Elementor Free is enough.
Long-Term Considerations
Even if you start with Elementor Free, you can upgrade to Pro anytime without losing your work. Many people start free, learn the basics, and then upgrade when they feel limited. This makes the Elementor Free vs Pro choice less stressful—you can grow into Pro when your site demands it.
Tips to Get the Best Out of Elementor Free or Pro
Whether you choose Elementor Free or Elementor Pro, keeping your website fast is key. Elementor gives you design freedom, but performance depends on how you use it. Here’s how to get the best speed:
- Use lightweight themes – Themes like Hello Elementor or Astra work best with Elementor because they are built for speed.
- Optimize images before uploading – Use tools like TinyPNG to compress images so they load faster.
- Limit heavy animations – Motion effects look nice but can slow down a page if overused.
- Use a caching plugin – Plugins like WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache store a fast version of your site for quicker loading.
- Keep Elementor updated – Updates fix bugs and improve performance.
In the Elementor Free vs Pro choice, both versions benefit equally from these tips. Even the most advanced Pro site will be slow if it’s not optimized.
Design Tips for Beginners
If you’re new to Elementor, start simple. Don’t try to use every widget on one page. Instead:
- Pick a consistent color palette.
- Use no more than two or three fonts.
- Keep enough white space so the design looks clean.
- Choose templates as a base and customize them instead of starting from scratch.
This approach works whether you’re using Elementor Free or Elementor Pro, but Pro gives you more creative tools to enhance your designs.
Alternatives to Elementor
If you’re not sure about Elementor Free vs Pro, you can explore other page builders:
- Gutenberg – Built into WordPress, good for simple layouts.
- Beaver Builder Lite – A lightweight free version with basic drag-and-drop tools.
- SiteOrigin Page Builder – Another free option with a grid-based design approach.
These are good for testing if you prefer a different interface, but Elementor remains the most popular for flexibility and ease of use.
Other Paid Page Builders
If Elementor Pro isn’t your style, other premium page builders include:
- Divi Builder – Comes with unlimited usage for one price, strong design library.
- Beaver Builder Pro – Focuses on stability and clean code.
- Brizy Pro – Offers a modern, minimal interface.
Still, most people who compare Elementor Free vs Pro end up sticking with Elementor because it balances power and simplicity.
Final Verdict on Elementor Free vs Pro
The decision between Elementor Free vs Pro comes down to what you need right now and what you plan for the future.
- If you’re a beginner or have a small project, Elementor Free gives you everything you need to design clean, mobile-friendly pages without spending money.
- If you run a business, sell products, or need advanced customization, Elementor Pro is worth every dollar. It’s not just about more widgets—it’s about the ability to control your entire website design, marketing, and user experience.
The best part? You can start with Elementor Free, learn the basics, and upgrade to Pro whenever you’re ready. As highlighted in this Elementor AI Website Builder Review, this flexibility makes Elementor one of the smartest choices for WordPress users.
Finally
Choosing between Elementor Free vs Pro isn’t about which is “better” in a general sense—it’s about which is better for you.
- Elementor Free is an amazing starting point. It gives you all the essential tools to create a clean, professional-looking website without paying a single cent. It’s perfect for personal blogs, portfolios, or basic business sites that don’t need complex features.
- Elementor Pro unlocks the full potential of the builder. You get advanced widgets, theme building, WooCommerce tools, and marketing features that help you design a truly custom and high-performing site.
If your website is the main way you connect with customers, generate leads, or sell products, then investing in Pro will likely pay off many times over. But if you’re just starting out or building a small personal project, the free version will serve you well.
And remember—there’s no rush. You can always start free and upgrade later without losing your designs. In the Elementor Free vs Pro journey, the choice is entirely in your hands, and either way, you’re working with one of the best page builders available for WordPress.
