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After using both Elementor and Divi over the last year or so, I think now would be the best time to compare and give my honest opinion and analysis of both.
At the time of writing this I am using the Divi page builder across 3 of my own websites and 1 client website – one of those websites being this very website you’re reading right now. Yes, this exact page you are reading right now is using the Divi page builder.
In comparison I’m using Elementor across 2 of my other websites.
For depth, clarity and overall comparison I’m going to add in a 3rd option to this mix. And no, it’s not going to be another page builder but rather a comparison with going to a marketplace such as ThemeForest and purchasing a theme.
Now, it’s worth noting that this isn’t exactly a scientific comparison as every theme you buy from ThemeForest will come with different costs, functionality, user experience etc. But, to give a better review I think at least a few words on this option, would give you a better understanding of not only the individual differences and what to expect but a better insight to building and designing websites as a whole.
For this option, I have experience in setting up 3 client accounts using a theme I bought at themeforest and 1 website I sold last year that also used a theme bought from the same marketplace.
So here’s how a portion of mine and my clients portfolio of websites look like in terms of page builders:
Elementor: 2 websites
Divi: 4 Websites
Themeforest: 4 Websites
Visual Page Builders: Why Use Them?
Now, whether you’re looking to build your own website or do it for your clients – I’ve found have a page builder not only makes designing the website so much easier but also gives us better control over how the end results.
Purchasing a theme from a marketplace, uploading it and then editing the features it provide can work but just isn’t as cusmizable or as efficient as it could be. And then usually, you can only use that theme across one site. Finally, one off themes tends to come heavy loaded which can slow your website down and effect your SEO.
With far more customization options, functionality and more often than not better customer service I have now moved all my sites away from purchasing heavy loaded themes from marketplaces and solely rely on using a page builder.
While the upfront cost is usually more than buying a stand-alone theme, the ability to use the page builder across multiple sites, the speed differences and, as you’ll see below, the ability to get a high quality free option – building a website using a page builder makes far more sense.
So with that little introduction let’s dig deeper into the individual components of all three options…
Frontend Interface
Both Elementor and Divi come with a drag and drop interface that allows you to pick and choose the positions of your modules.
This usually involves creating a ‘placeholder position’ first. Do you want your module to take up the whole width of the screen or would you rather a split structure allowing for multiple modules across the same space?
Divi:
Divi is able to access, edit and build your website using their ‘Visual Builder’ option.
From here you simply add a new section with your preferred structure layout and then start dragging and dropping your modules in.
Divi’s interface allows you to build and design your pages in 4 modes; wireframe, desktop, tablet and phone. This is a very handy feature as you’ll want to make sure your pages look and perform well across all platforms before hitting publish.
Elementor:
Elementor has a similar layout with an addition of a left hand sidebar to navigate the modules and edit the sections.
Again, Elementor also uses the idea of creating new sections or rows and then choosing the desired structure of that row before being able to drag and drop your modules in.
Elementor also comes with the ability to view desktop, phone and tablet too.
Divi vs Elementor: Frontend Interface
In terms of user experience, I do tend to like Elementors left hand ‘Elements’ section. When you build pages it’s nice to have everything presented in front of you without having to click and search.
That said however, with Divi’s interface you’ve not only got multiple viewing modes but with the visual editor you’re essentially editing the page as a visitor would see it which adds more simplicity to the whole page building experience.
Modules
Modules are essentially what turn your blank page into a visually pleasing and use engaging piece of content.
Both Elementor and Divi offer a wide range of modules however as you’ll see below there is one glaring difference between the two.
Divi
At the time of writing this Divi currently has 46 modules available to use including but not limited to; text, blurb, tabs, call to actions and a HTML code editor.
The important thing to note here is that Divi includes ALL of their modules in their package. Elementor is a little different however…
Elementor
As Elementor runs both a free and paid option, and of course the modules you have access too depends on the option you choose.
Within the free option you’ve got all the basic modules needed to build a decent looking webpage but if you’re looking to build websites for clients you’re going to need to upgrade to their paid option.
For example, modules such as; testimonials carousel, pricing tables and portfolio and some WooCommerce modules are missing from the free option – all important modules you’ll likely need to build client websites.
Divi vs Elementor: Modules
Divi wins hands down here if you’re comparing it with the free option. The paid option of Elementor however not only offers more modules to work with but does so at two different price points – something we’ll get onto below.
Support
This should go without saying, but the level of support you receive from a company really goes a long way to shaping your opinion about the products and services you use.
Divi
I was literally in touch with Divi support the other regarding an issue that had arisen on one of the pages on this website.
After contacting them I waited no more than 12 hours for a reply and got a great response that solved my issue. Everything was clear and
In general due to the amount of products on offer at the company, the level of support and the knowledge that support comes with tends to be of a really high standard. They know what they’re talking about.
Elementor
In terms of Elementor I haven’t needed to contact them to ask for support, so I haven’t had the first hand experience dealing with their support team.
Now while this only touches the surface, that could be testament of how well Elementor is built and the lack of support needed. That said, however , that is just 1 opinion from one customer.
The support for the free version is obviously limited but you do get 1 years support and updates after purchasing one of the paid packages.
Divi vs Elementor: Support
As I’ve only had to reach out to Divi on one occasion since installing the page builder and the level of support I got was clear, concise and solved my issue – I have no gripes here. With Elemento I haven’t even needed their support.
It is worth mentioning however, that if you go with the free option of Elementor don’t expect too much. The paid version offers support for as long as the license lasts. Which in this case is 1 year for all 3 paid options.
User Experience
In this section I just want to explore the overall user experience of both page builders. User experience involves anything from; crashing, bugs, ease of use and the overall learning curve and design experience.
Divi
While in general Divi is easy to understand, navigate and use there are a few areas of the interface that can be a bit too much for the average Joe Soap building his very first website.
In fact I remember when I first used Divi to build a landing page. A little confused and overwhelmed were probably the best ways to describe how I felt.
Since then, and interestingly enough, since I’ve used Elementor more, using and navigating myself around Divi’s interface has become easier.
Elementor
I’ve found Elementor to be a better option especially for beginners and small business or website owners.
Everything seems a little more user friendly for the average person and with the left-hand ‘Elements’ grid you’ve literally got everything you need at a move of your mouse.
The learning curve with Elementor was far less of that than Divi.
Divi vs Elementor: User Experience
While it might sound like I’m singing the praises of Elementor on this particular section it’s worth bearing in mind who will be using it.
Are you a beginner? Or maybe you just need to set up your first website? If so, then Elementor is probably the best option to go for in terms of learning and over user experience.
If however, you’re a bit more seasoned in developing and designing websites, while Elementor can get the job done you might feel yourself a little restricted – and that is where Divi really starts to come into its own space.
Speed
When mentioning speed I’m referring to both the speed of the page builder itself and the speed effects it has on our websites.
In this day and age, speed matters. So for that reason we’ll address here…
Divi
Because of the amount of weight this page builder brings you may see some noticeable difference in speed if you’re using a page speed checker – for the average website visitor you’ll likely be okay.
Elementor
Elementor tends to load my websites slightly faster although this does change depending on the tester I’m using and the amount of visitors I have onsite at the time.
Divi vs Elementor: Speed
If we compare in terms of SEO rankings. I have multiple websites ranking well using both page builders.
If you’re a speed freak then you might want to test this on your own sites as my testing variables will likely be different to yours. And what’s causing my sites to slow down may well in fact be different to the things that are impacting your site.
Cost & License Usage
There’s no doubt about it, cost matters. But, not always because one is more priced more than others. We need to know what value we’re getting for our money and whether that value stacks up against what we as individuals need.
Divi
Divi comes with 2 paid options; $89 per year and $249 for lifetime access.
This sort of pricing model is especially useful if you’re looking to build multiple sites whether that’s your own or those for your clients.
For $249 to literally own the program for life – it’s a steal. You’ll also be able to get access to lifetime updates and everything else (plugins, themes and unlimited website usage) that comes with Divi.
Elementor
Elementor prices their page builder a little differently. Instead of 2 price points Elementor effectively has 4 different price points depending on your usage;
- Free, $49 (1 site)
- $99 (3 sites)
- $199 (1000 sites).
Divi vs Elementor: Costs and License Usage
Generally speaking I prefer the pricing model of the Divi builder. That said, for beginners and those who are just looking to build the odd basic site using a page builder the free option of Elementor will suffice.
If you’re looking to use Elementor for more sites in your portfolio or for clients sites you’re probably better going with the $199 option. A thousand websites is a lot. And while some people will surpass this amount most will not. So, in theory you could save yourself $50 over the course of a ‘lifetime’.
Elementor vs Divi: Which Visual Page Builder is Best For You?
There is no doubt they are both mammoth of page builders. The level of service you get, the design capabilities and the ability for even a beginner to make a website look really professional can’t be underestimated.
That said, there are a few differences between the two that should be mentioned and will ultimately decide which page builder you should choose…
Divi
In general, Divi’s ability to position itself as ‘developer friendly’ is a great option for web developers and anyone building out client based websites.
You’ve not only got all the customization options that most page builders have but you’ve also got the ability to create your own custom library of templates in addition to the huge amount of templates they already have.
In Summary? If you’re a developer or looking to design and redesign websites for clients (especially useful for drop servicing businesses) then Divi is the probably the best option to go with.
Elementor
While Elementor does pack a serious punch, and definitely holds its own against the more custom options that Divi provides, the user interface and functionality serves a purpose far more suited for individual businesses and beginners.
Does that mean developers can’t use Elementor? Hell no, of course they can. I just feel that Divi is far more developer friendly.
In Summary?: If you’re a beginner or only looking to use a page builder across a handful of sites then Elementor is your best option.
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