18 October 2023
Elementor Free vs Pro? If you’ve been considering this question for a while, this article is for you.
The free version of Elementor is one of the most popular page builder plugins in WordPress’ plugin repository. However, it also offers the paid version, which unlocks a bunch of additional functionality.
So, do you need to get out your money and pay for Elementor Pro? Or will you be satisfied with the free version available in the plugin repository?
Here, we’ll help you answer that question by comparing Elementor Free vs Pro. Then, we’ll make some recommendations for which one to choose depending on your website needs.
Let’s get started!
Elementor is a leading page builder plugin for WordPress that allows users to create stunning websites through a drag-and-drop interface.
It has a live editing interface that allows you to view changes in real time while you create your website. The Elementor core version is free and offers many essential features that are useful to many people.
For those looking for more advanced features, Elementor offers a Pro version that significantly improves design capabilities.
The Pro version offers users access to a number of premium widgets, website templates, and many design options, allowing for greater customization and freedom when creating unique layouts.
One standout feature of Elementor Pro is the theme builder, which helps you to customize every part of your website—headers, footers, and more—all without any coding skills.
Learn more in our complete Elementor review.
To summarize the main differences between Elementor Free vs Pro, check out the image below:
Overall, when you upgrade to Elementor Pro, you are technically getting some additional Elementor addons to the existing free plugin.
That’s all! Everything else remains the same.
As a result, you don’t have to worry about upgrading, breaking your site, or causing any other problems. Everything will be OK!
Let’s start by highlighting the main differences between the free and pro versions.
If you’ve used the free version of Elementor, you’re likely familiar with the widgets listed below.
As you can see, there’s a lot to get your teeth into.
When you upgrade to the pro version, you have access to more widgets. The image below shows the additional pro features that become accessible when you upgrade.
You don’t need all of these widgets to build awesome-looking sites, but they can help you create better designs and pages or speed up the process.
Furthermore, by using the Elementor Pro version, you eliminate the need for some third-party plugins.
For example, instead of using a form plugin, you can create customized forms directly from your Elementor interface with the Form widget. Similarly, the Countdown widget allows you to add an urgency and scarcity countdown timer. The Table of Contents widget allows you to create a dynamic table of contents for your WordPress post.
Additionally, if you run a WooCommerce store, you’ll like the addition of a number of WooCommerce-specific widgets.
Read out our detailed guide on how to build a WooCommerce website.
However, using Elementor Pro isn’t the only way to add extra widgets.
A plugin like Ultimate Addons for Elementor also adds additional widgets to the free version of Elementor (as well as Elementor Pro, if you have both).
Elementor has a large template library. However, most of them are only available in Elementor Pro.
Elementor Pro allows you to use every page template and block in the library.
While this is a bonus, you can find plenty of templates for the regular version of Elementor without purchasing Elementor Pro.
For instance, if you use the Astra theme, you may create stunning websites without having to pay for Elementor.
Using the Elementor theme builder, you can customize every element of your WordPress website.
From creating custom headers and footers to single pages and single posts, you can easily customize them all.
The best part is that you can visually create them without knowing how to code, regardless of your WordPress theme.
You may also customize the layout of your online store with Elementor’s WooCommerce builder. Just ensure that you are using an Elementor WooCommerce-compatible theme to make things easy.
Overall, if you want to build everything with Elementor, choosing Elementor Pro is a great option.
Another feature of Elementor Pro that the free plugin does not provide is the WooCommerce Store Builder. Elementor Pro includes WooCommerce-specific widgets to help you create and customize your storefront:
This includes widgets for:
This feature makes it very easy to build and customize each part of your online shop. You can visually design your single product page, archive product page, and other store pages, irrespective of the WordPress theme.
Keep in mind that these widgets are only available if WooCommerce is installed and activated on your website.
Popup Builder is a feature that is only accessible in the pro version of Elementor. You may use this feature to create any type of popup. These include lead capture, email subscription, exit intent, and so on.
Furthermore, if you don’t know what kind of popup you want to create, Elementor has readymade templates you can use. Plus, it also allows you to select where your popup to display and set triggers to show your popup at the right moment.
Looking for a popup plugin? Check out the 13 best WordPress popup plugins to build engaging popups.
Using Elementor Pro, you can easily connect your favorite marketing and CRM tools to your website. Elementor offers an extensive range of integrations, ranging from email marketing tools to third-party WordPress plugins and social networks.
Here is a list of some of the possible integrations with Elementor Pro.
Marketing Tools
WordPress Plugins
Social Networks
Elementor already comes with plenty of built-in styling options, allowing you to build visually stunning pages without touching a single line of code. However, if you have CSS knowledge, Elementor can help you achieve certain styles that aren’t available by default in Elementor.
Elementor Free and Pro both support custom CSS. However, with Elementor free, the process is more challenging since you cannot apply custom CSS straight to a widget. Instead, you must apply custom CSS through the theme customizer or the HTML widget.
In contrast, adding custom CSS is much easier in Elementor Pro. You can easily add your own CSS to a specific widget using the custom CSS menu in the settings panel.
If all of the above features aren’t enough to convince you, here is another reason to consider upgrading to Elementor Pro.
You can use Elementor Pro to add custom fonts and Typekit fonts to your projects. Additionally, link to Adobe Fonts and select from hundreds of Google Fonts.
Do you want to use icons and submit your own SVG files? All of this is achievable with the pro version. You get access to over 5,300 beautiful icons right from your Font Awesome Pro license.
Users of Elementor Pro also get access to Global Widgets. This feature allows you to build a widget and set it to Global, which means that any changes you make to the specific widget will be applied to any other places it’s used on your site.
This can help you save a lot of time. For example, if you use a Call To Action (CTA) widget and want to edit its font or color, you wouldn’t have to edit it on each page where you placed it. Simply edit it once, and the changes will be applied to all occurrences of it on your site.
Elementor offers support to all of its users. They have an in-house support team, as well as articles, a knowledge base, and video tutorials. All of these can help you solve your page builder problems.
Do you need further assistance? Elementor Pro users get premium 24/7 support, with queries addressed within a day.
We now know that the Elementor Pro version comes with extra features and widgets to help you optimize your workflow. However, it does come at a price.
While the price can vary, it all depends on the number of licenses you need and the kind of support you are looking for.
If you only want to use an elementor on a single site, the Essential plan is your best option. However, if you want an eCommerce functionality or want a popup builder to build an email list to drive more traffic to your site, you need an Advanced Solo plan that comes with both the features and more.
If you’re working on multiple websites and need Elementor Pro for all of them, select an Advanced or higher plan based on your requirements.
If any of these apply to you, you’ll probably be fine with the free version.
If any of these apply to you, you’ll probably want to pay for Elementor Pro.
Elementor is a powerful WordPress page builder that is available in both free and paid versions. If you’re just starting out, the free version of Elementor is a great way to get started with page building. It offers a wide range of features and widgets that can help you create beautiful and functional pages.
However, if you’re looking for more power and flexibility, or if you need to build more complex websites, then Elementor Pro is definitely worth considering. It offers a number of additional features, such as the Theme Builder, WooCommerce integration, and dynamic content, that can help you take your website to the next level.
Get Started With Elementor Pro
We hope our article shows you the main difference between Elementor Free and Pro and helps you decide whether Elemetor Pro is worth it.
For more, check out these other Elementor articles as well:
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Elementor Free offer a good range of feature set and customization options for creating a visually appealing website. Elementor Pro simply adds additional features, allowing you greater control over the website’s design. If you want to build a basic yet beautiful website, Elementor Free is a great option.
No. The free version of Elementor does not offer hands-on support or page builder updates. To access 24/7 help, you must upgrade to the premium version.
Yes, Elementor Pro works with most WordPress themes. It is built to be compatible with any theme, giving you total control over the style and layout.
Yes, but you’ll need to purchase a plan that supports multiple sites, such as the Advanced or Expert plans.
Yes, upgrading from Elementor Free to Pro retains your designs and seamlessly unlocks premium features for further customization.