Divi vs. Elementor – Isn’t that comparing apples with oranges?
Are you already familiar with WordPress? Then you’ll also know the difference between themes and plugins (if not – I explain all WordPress basics here).
Divi is a theme.
Elementor (Pro) is a plugin.
But why is it even possible to compare these two products?
Because they perform the same function. Both are page builders for WordPress and allow you to visually design your website. Without programming, simply by drag’n’drop.
Divi has chosen the approach of a theme, Elementor extends existing themes with the same functionality. Neither approach is better or worse, but each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Divi – a theme
With Divi* you get a WordPress theme with a visual page builder. You don’t have to worry about choosing a theme and the Page Builder is optimally integrated into the theme.
(Divi is also available as a plugin in the form of Divi Builder. However, this only makes sense in special cases – in 99% of cases you should use the Divi theme).
Elementor – a plugin
Elementor* can be combined with various themes. This is flexible and allows you to choose the best theme for you.
My recommendation: use the official theme from Elementor: Hello. Free, fast and optimized for Elementor.
So you see – the comparison between Divi and Elementor is legitimate.
Elementor or Elementor Pro?
Elementor is available in two versions. Once in the free version, which is available in the WordPress plugin repository. And the “Pro” version*, which is subject to a charge.
Only the paid Pro version of Elementor also includes the Theme Builder, which you can use to design templates, popups and landing pages, so I will limit myself here to the comparison between Divi and Elementor Pro. Even when I talk about “Elementor”, I always mean the Pro version.
Recommended themes for Elementor Pro
Since Elementor Pro is “only” a plugin, you still need a theme. You could theoretically use Divi for this, but that would make the site very slow and would have no real advantage.
My recommendations for themes that work very well with Elementor Pro:
- Hello is a free theme from Elementor itself. The theme is very lean and works perfectly with Elementor. The Hello theme offers hardly any comfort functions (e.g. prefabricated headers or layouts), but is still my recommendation. Because you create the header and footer directly with Elementor anyway, so a theme that is as lean as possible, such as Hello, is an advantage.
- Astra comes with many settings for working with Elementor, even in the free version. You don’t start from scratch, as with Hello, and you don’t have to implement every detail yourself. Astra Pro is also available as an option, which offers additional templates, layouts and setting options.
- GeneratePress is also available in a free and a paid version, lean and performance-oriented.
The winner is…
In this discipline, there is – in my opinion – a clear draw. None of the approaches is better or worse. The flexibility of Elementor Pro comes at the price of a little more complexity. You trade the simplicity of Divi (in this area ;-) ) for less flexibility.
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Differences in operation between Divi and Elementor
The most important criterion for visual page builders is and remains the user interface. How easy is it to create a website with it?
On the plus side, both competitors support drag’n’drop and allow you to “click together” your website without programming. This is very easy and in most cases the page will look the same in the editor as it is displayed to your visitors.
So gone are the days when you had to save and reload to see your changes.
Another convenient function: copying and pasting elements is possible – both page builders support right-clicking and shortcuts to make your workflow easier.
But now to the differences:
Divi
Divi shows you all the options in an overlay directly on the page. There you select the settings in various tabs, changes are displayed immediately and live on the page in the background.
You can add new elements (sections, lines or modules) by selecting an existing element and pressing the “+” that appears.
You will find further global options and functions at the bottom of the screen.
Divi is more playful and needs more space for the elements.
Elementor Pro
In Elementor and Elementor Pro, all modules and options are displayed in an area on the left. This means you always have the whole page in view, but no longer have the entire screen width available for your website.
You can add new elements (flexbox containers, grids or elements) via drag’n’drop from the left-hand column.
The UI is less playful, responds more quickly and makes better use of the available space.
And the winner is….
Both page builders have different concepts to achieve the same goal. The winner for me is clearly Elementor, as it is quicker to use and more information is displayed on the screen.
With Divi, you notice the outdated technical basis, which results in more sluggishness. Unfortunately, this is a no-go if you want to work quickly and professionally. Maybe that will change with Divi 5, but that will take some time…
Available modules in Divi and in Elementor
Both page builders come with many “standard functions” of a page builder.
Divi relies on sections, rows and columns, whereas Elementor uses modern containers (keyword “CSS Flexbox” and “CSS Grid”), which can be used to create more flexible layouts. Divi is lagging behind here.
Accordion, tabs, icons, videos and so on are standard features of both page builders.
If one of the two page builders is missing a module, then there are extensions from a third-party provider that provide the function.
Note: the number of modules is constantly changing. The pure number is therefore only of limited significance!
Divi
Divi currently offers 38+ different modules.
Unfortunately, this is relatively little and for many basic functions you have to install an extra plugin.
Elementor Pro
Elementor Pro currently comes with 56+ modules, some of which are only included in the paid Pro version.
Modules, sections and columns can be saved in the “Library” (Divi) or as a “Template” (Elementor Pro). This allows you to save and reuse your own elements in your design. This saving is not limited to your website – you can also save modules on your computer and import them into another website.
Both page builders also allow you to insert elements “globally“. If you change a global element on one page, it will automatically change on all pages. This function is useful, for example, for call-to-actions, recurring addresses or similar and complements the Theme Builder.
As mentioned above, there are countless extensions for both page builders, which add further modules or provide missing functions.
The winner is…
Elementor Pro. Because more and better modules are supplied without additional plug-ins and FlexBox containers are used, which enables modern layouts.
Divi is no longer up to date here and is unfortunately falling further and further behind.
Elementor & Divi: Templates
Both page builders offer you ready-made templates. You can import these, modify them as you wish and use them to quickly design your own website.
Divi
Divi now offers over 160 layout packs – with a total of almost 1,200 individual page templates.
Unfortunately, the quality varies greatly and only a handful of templates are implemented with Divi 4’s Theme Builder.
However, there is usually something for every taste.
Elementor Pro
Elementor does not offer nearly as many templates. However, the quality is consistently higher.
Alternatively, the Astra theme also offers ready-made website templates for Elementor and you can also find them at Themeforest*.
The winner is…
As with the modules, the number of templates is not a good comparison value. New ones are constantly being added. Elementor has made up a lot of ground here in recent years, which is why there is currently a tie.
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Expandability of Divi and Elementor
For me as a WordPress developer, the expandability and flexibility of the page builder is important. But even if you are “only” creating a simple website, you will want to use the Page Builder, which can be flexibly adapted to your requirements.
Divi
It is quite easy to insert your own CSS in Divi. However, the elements that you can expand are predefined.
This is easier for beginners to learn. However, it restricts you if you want to implement something that is not intended.
To program extensions and your own modules with Divi, you need many modern tools. You must be familiar with React and JSX as well as Node.
The documentation is inadequate and there is no official developer forum.
In my experience, the official Divi support is not technically fit .
Divi offers relatively few options for extending existing modules. These offer no or few hooks and filters.
Elementor Pro
With Elementor Pro, you need to be a little more experienced with CSS, but you can also work with media queries and address and redesign any element.
If you want to expand Elementor or Elementor Pro, you will find detailed information in the very good documentation. You only need basic PHP & JS knowledge and not a complex tool stack.
Elementor also actively runs a Github project where developers can exchange information efficiently.
Elementor Pro offers well-documented hooks and filters for every conceivable possibility and is therefore very easy to expand.
The winner is…
… clearly Elementor (Pro). There is a Github repo, Elementor can be extended with hooks and filters and the barrier to entry is lower.
Elementor also offers many convenient functions that make professional work easier. The “Finder”(Cmd+E or Ctrl.+E), which is always and everywhere available, allows you to quickly switch between pages and templates.
Elementor also indicates when another user wants to edit the same page. With Divi, on the other hand, it happens that you overwrite each other’s changes… annoying and no longer necessary these days.
Elementor & Divi: the theme builders in comparison
The theme builders can be used to design templates for pages, posts, custom post types, 404 pages or similar. The basic functions are very similar, the operation is slightly different.
Both theme builders allow you to define the header, footer and content area and assign templates to different areas of your website.
There is therefore a tie in this category.
Elementor & Divi: advanced functions and other differences
Responsive design with Divi & Elementor
Both page builders offer you the option of adapting your site to tablets and mobile devices. The operation is different again, but you can reach your goal with both tools.
Divi
Elementor Pro
Layout flexibility
Divi offers you the regular layout (columns only), a special page layout and the full-width layout. This wealth of options is only sufficient for simple layouts.
Elementor Pro, on the other hand, offers “Flexbox containers” and also“CSS grids”. These can be nested and configured as required. This allows you to create any layout you like.
Containers are far more flexible and offer more options than the old, rigid “section-row-column” system that Divi still uses.
Elementor clearly wins here again. The developers move with the times and use modern functions (such as CSS variables) so as not to restrict your development drive.
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Global styles with Divi and Elementor Pro
Divi offers the “standard settings” for modules. Unfortunately, this function is somewhat hidden, so it is not very well known. This allows you to define settings for all modules on your site in one place.
Perfect and absolutely necessary to create a consistent design.
Elementor Pro, on the other hand, lags a little behind here. The recently introduced “Theme style” function and the default settings are a step in the right direction. According to the official roadmap, “CSS selectors” are on the program for Elementor, so this function should be delivered soon.
Editing texts with Divi and Elementor
In Divi, the style of the text, all headings, links, bulleted lists and quotations can be defined for each text module. Right down to the smallest detail.
This flexibility is great if it is used correctly. Otherwise, as already mentioned, inconsistent designs will result and you will click your mouse to death when making changes. :-)
Elementor offers no comparable way to edit the appearance of texts so easily. Texts can be formatted as in Divi, but the styles cannot be customized at all in the editor.
To change enumerations, links, headings or quotations per text block or globally with Elementor, you need to write your own CSS instructions.
Popups, forms and maintenance mode with Divi and Elementor
Divi does not offer the possibility to create popups. You need an extra plugin for this, which is subject to a charge.
Elementor Pro, on the other hand, offers the option of designing pop-ups. You therefore do not need an additional plugin to design call-to-actions or appealing login forms.
Speaking of forms – the Divi Form Builder is unfortunately very simple and does not offer many functions. Elementor Pro, on the other hand, has a strong focus on flexible, well-functioning forms. Setting up forms is easy with Elementor and you have a lot of setting options.
Elementor Pro also comes with its own maintenance mode. So you need to install one less plugin to display a “Coming soon”. This is good for the security and performance of your website.
Dark Mode from Divi and Elementor
For the nerds among us :-)
As you can see from the screenshots in this article, Elementor has a dark mode and displays the user interface dark if desired. With Divi, on the other hand, you need sunglasses if you work late at night…
And the winner is…
For me, Elementor wins when it comes to advanced functions, because you don’t have to use additional plugins as often and Elementor already has a lot of functions.
Divi has slowed down considerably here in recent years.
Elementor & Divi: the prices
Divi
Divi is not free to try, but you do have a 30-day money-back guarantee. This works without any problems.
For USD 89,-/year you get the Divi Theme and can use it on as many websites as you want.
If you pay a one-off fee of USD 249, you can use Divi on as many websites as you like for the rest of your life. Even on customer websites – this is exactly what makes Divi so interesting for many web designers.
By the way, here you can get Divi 20% cheaper*!
Elementor Pro
Elementor can be tried out free of charge. Elementor Pro also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
For USD 59/year you get Elementor Pro for one website, for USD 99/year for three websites.
If you pay USD 199/year, you can use Elementor Pro on up to 25 websites – for more websites there are correspondingly larger packages.
By the way, here you can find current discount promotions from Elementor*.
If you only need a page builder for your own website, then Elementor Pro in the “Essential” version is the cheapest solution.
For web developers, of course, Divi’s lifetime deal looks unbeatably cheap, as the costs are only incurred once. My only question here is whether a one-off investment supports the developer in the long term and promotes long-term product development?
Should you use Elementor Pro or Divi?
As you have already noticed, the two opponents have nothing in common in many areas. Every now and then Divi is ahead, then Elementor Pro again. The decision for or against a page builder is also not easy in terms of price.
Nevertheless, I strongly recommend that you use Elementor Pro.
Countless projects have shown that Elementor is more stable and easier to use.
While Elementor is constantly releasing new versions with useful functions and bug fixes, Divi has hardly done anything for years. The manufacturer is completely rebuilding Divi in order to be back on a technically up-to-date platform. Until Divi 5 is released, however, there will be no further development of Divi.
Elementor Pro* is more modern, more stable, easier to use and much better suited for professional WordPress developers as well as for beginners.
The simple expandability and the large number of modules also justify the (low!) annual subscription fee. You can find out more about Elementor in comparison to other page builders (Enfold, WP Bakery Builder, Oxygen, Gutenberg) in my presentation about Elementor.
That’s my conclusion after using both page builders in many projects. Do you have a different opinion? Have I overlooked something in my comparison? I look forward to your comment!
Let’s just build websites,
Michael
PS: You can try out both page builders without risk – the 30-day guarantee works without any problems. And if you use this link, you will receive an additional Divi an additional 20% discount*. Just in case you like Divi :-)
Frequently asked questions
Is Divi faster than Elementor?
Unfortunately, this cannot be answered in general terms and depends on several factors.
For the frontend, the caching plugins used and the images used are particularly important.
My experience with the backend is that Elementor loads consistently faster and is quicker to use than Divi.
Can Elementor be used with Divi?
Yes, you can – but it doesn’t really make sense. Because both page builders offer a very similar function and would make your website much slower.
This only makes sense if you switch from Divi to Elementor, or vice versa. Then you can use both page builders for a short time.
Is Divi the same as Elementor?
Yes and no. Both are page builders for WordPress, but they have different approaches. In principle, however, you can create professional websites with both systems.
Can I switch from Divi to Elementor?
Yes, you can. However, it does involve some effort because you have to create a lot of new content.
I have summarized the steps involved and why it is definitely worth switching from Divi to Elementor here.
2 Responses
I prefer Divi for its all-in-one solution and seamless integration between the theme and builder. The lifetime deal is a great value, especially for managing multiple websites, and its extensive module library gives me the flexibility I need for diverse projects.
Thanks for your comment, Fien.
Regarding the lifetime deal: you should definitely reconsider this. While it looks like a good deal for you, it’s not a good deal for Divi. That’s why they stopped promoting their lifetime deal on their website. They are a business, and they need money to operate and improve the product… if they only sell lifetime deals they have to rely on getting new customers in… that’s no good business case…