When it comes to Gutenberg VS Elementor, the opinions can vary. It will need a detailed analysis to decide the best option for your WordPress website. Let’s find out together!
WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS). Its interactive interface and beginner-friendly design make this platform ideal for building websites. Moreover, with the help of page builders like Gutenberg and Elementor, there is no need for coding to design website layouts in WordPress. Any user without the proper coding knowledge can customize designs and layouts in WordPress, revolutionizing how websites are built.
With the release of WordPress 5.0, Gutenberg replaced the classic editor in 2018. Elementor, on the other hand, was launched back in 2016 and is used by more than 11% of websites. Both block editors have their own popularity. A website’s design and layout massively affect its success. Hence, it is crucial to choose the right block editor for your site. Now, the question is whether to choose Elementor or Gutenberg. Let us compare both and find out together!
What is Gutenberg?
Gutenberg page builder is the standard block editor that replaced the classic WordPress editor. It was launched in 2018 and brought a revolutionary change to the platform. Gutenberg is the default WordPress editor. The original block editor was a text/ HTML content editor without the drag-and-drop function. With the Gutenberg block, page design became easier due to its intuitive interface. It allows users to use individual blocks from the easily accessible block library. You can drag the content elements onto the pages and posts and edit them using the sidebar settings.
The blocks of the Gutenberg editor include text, heading, images, gallery, buttons, calendar, and videos. You can simply add or remove them from your website. Similarly, there are numerous pre-built templates and patterns that make it easy to use. Anyone without coding can also easily customize their sites using the Gutenberg editor. There are around 100 content blocks that you can access. Many of these blocks integrate and embed from third-party services like Reddit, X, and more.
What is Elementor?
Elementor is also a popular WordPress page builder that was introduced in 2016. It is a powerful visual page builder with numerous features to create a visually appealing and advanced website. It is easy to use and beginner-friendly. It has a basic drag-and-drop interface with ready-to-import templates that anyone can use. Like with Gutenberg, there is no need for coding knowledge to create a custom site with Elementor. However, it does not use the basic WordPress website interface. Elementor is not built into the platform, so users must install the plugin (free and premium versions are available).
There are massive selections of stunning templates, page layouts, blocks, and widgets in Elementor’s extensive library. It has a variety of pre-built content widgets, including posts, landing pages, text editors, headings, text, testimonials, toggles, and more. Similarly, Elementor has special WooCommerce widgets and marketing tools built for pages and forms. It also has a theme builder feature for custom headers, footers, and archive pages. All designs are responsive, and the editor is available in more than 50 languages. Moreover, Elementor allows the customization of functionality using third-party apps such as Facebook, Stripe, and more.
Gutenberg VS Elementor: Comparison
Now that we have covered the introduction to Gutenberg and Elementor, let us compare them. We are comparing various features of the two, which are as follows:
Ease of use
The first feature we will compare between Gutenberg and Elementor is ease of use. This is a crucial factor for developers when making the choice.
Gutenberg has a drag-and-drop functionality and is straightforward to use. It is an extension of the WordPress admin panel. You can add and edit the blocks by simply dragging and dropping them on the interface. It is possible to customize the blocks and rearrange them from block settings to suit your needs. Similarly, you can add HTML Anchors and additional CSS classes from the block tab.
Elementor also has a drag-and-drop functionality with a semi-automatically generated grid system. It is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor. Compared to Gutenberg, the Elementor page builder has a unique interface. Hence, it will require slight learning but nothing too technical. You can also easily add widgets and customize them. It is also possible to add HTML anchors, attributes, and custom CSS in the widget or page settings.
Functionality
Another feature we will compare for Gutenberg VS Elementor is the functionality.
Gutenberg allows you to build complex, rich pages or posts using its drag-and-drop interface. It is simple and does not require coding experience. You can insert logos, columns, paragraphs, images, audio, videos, headings, and more. With the editor, you can instantly see the design you are making. Similarly, you can reuse the blocks, save templates, and use theme defaults or global modifications. Gutenberg also allows you to block pattern directories and support columns and nested blocks.
Elementor comes in a premium version, Elementor Pro, which offers various features for building complex sites swiftly. Its no-code drag-and-drop editor helps developers build pages intuitively. There are over 100+ widgets for building any kind of complex page and design. Similarly, you can easily access the 1500+ icon library on any widget. Elementor is a page builder that has a theme builder for designing any website element from header to footer. You can also use the collaboration tools to improve your workflow. Additionally, you can create attractive forms and interactive pop-ups with Elementor.
Flexibility and customization
Let us explore the flexibility and customization features of Gutenberg and Elementor.
Gutenberg offers you the ability to customize individual blocks, but the options are limited. You can change the block’s font size, colors, and alignment. Gutenberg has no pre-built templates but still provides a Full Site Editing experience (FSE) with compatible themes. You can customize any headers, footers, page templates, navigation, menus, theme blocks, and more of your WordPress site using the FSE.
Compared to Gutenberg, Elementor offers flexible design options. As a result, users can create a website tailored to their requirements. There are over 300+ designer-made, pre-built templates available in Elementor. There is no need to start from scratch. You can easily customize it and create your site exactly as needed. From backgrounds to headings, texts, buttons, images, colors, links, and form fields, you can select and customize them. The customization options are endless with Elementor.
Speed
The performance and speed of both block editors must also be considered when comparing Gutenberg VS Elementor.
Gutenberg is integrated with WordPress and is the default block editor. As a result, the designs are more performance-friendly and provide a straightforward build. Due to its few additional features, Gutenberg is efficient and does not affect your website’s speed. It has fewer CSS and JavaScript files that reduce the site’s loading speed. Gutenberg is faster than Elementor.
Elementor sits atop WordPress like a separate layer. It is a highly customizable page builder. However, its advanced block designs can slow down the site’s performance. The advanced features with extra CSS, JavaScript, and dependencies can make pages heavier. Complex designs often impact the website’s performance and page speed. But, it is possible to build a fast-loading website with proper optimization.
Compatibility with themes and plugins
The next category for comparison between Gutenberg and Elementor is their compatibility with WordPress themes and plugins.
Since Gutenberg is integrated with WordPress, it works with almost all WordPress themes and plugins. As it is the default editor, third-party developers align with Gutenberg. The page builder works especially seamlessly with a block-based design. Many themes have native block patterns or templates to optimize with Gutenberg. Similarly, most WordPress plugins are designed to integrate with the page builder seamlessly. Advanced plugins like WooCommerce or SEO plugins integrate with Gutenberg easily without extra setup.
Elementor also works well with most WordPress themes and plugins. The 5.9 version of WordPress or above or PHP 7.4 or above works more effectively with these themes and plugins. It is a page builder plugin. Elementor works best with Elementor-compatible themes. You can also override a theme’s default design to create custom templates, headers, and footers. Elementor is also compatible with most WordPress plugins. However, it heavily relies on third-party Elementor add-ons, which can cause plugin conflicts or performance issues. Popular plugins like WooCommerce, Yoast SEO, or Advanced Custom Fields have Elementor widgets for deeper integration.
Pricing
The final factor for comparison between Elementor and Gutenberg is pricing.
Gutenberg is free to use as it is the default WordPress editor.
Elementor has some free options. However, you must get the premium version of Elementor for advanced features. The different plans and prices are as follows:
- Free: $0 for over 40 free widgets.
- Essential: $59 per year for 57 pro widgets. It supports a single site and features like theme builder, dynamic content, popup builder, form builder, eCommerce, and more.
- Advanced Solo: $74 per year with 86 pro widgets. It supports one website, a theme builder, dynamic content, a popup builder, a form builder, eCommerce, collaborative notes, and 24/7 support.
- Advanced: $89 per year and comes with 86 pro widgets. It supports up to three sites, theme builder, dynamic content, popup builder, form builder, eCommerce, collaborative notes, and 24/7 support.
- Expert: $159 per year, and comes with 86 pro widgets. It supports up to 25 websites. Similarly, the plan offers a theme builder, dynamic content, popup builder, form builder, eCommerce, collaborative notes, and 24/7 support.
Gutenberg VS Elementor: Summary
Take a quick look at the summary of the comparison between Gutenberg and Elementor:
| Features | Gutenberg | Elementor |
| Ease of use | Beginner as well as developer-friendly with an intuitive interface. | Beginner-friendly with a unique interface. |
| Functionality | Limited block-based layouts with block pattern directories, support columns, and nested blocks. | Advanced features with over 100+ widgets and 1500+ icon libraries on any widget. |
| Customization | Moderate customization that depends on the theme and block library. | Highly customizable with custom templates and global styling options. |
| Blocks/ Widget | 23 blocks | 40 free and more widgets on the premium version. |
| Speed | Lightweight and fast. | Relatively slower due to heavy features. |
| Compatibility | Compatible with almost all WordPress themes and plugins. | It may have plugin issues as it heavily relies on third-party Elementor add-ons. |
| Pricing | Free | Free and premium versions. |
Which Is Better For Your WordPress Website?
It’s time to give the verdict on Elementor VS Gutenberg: which is better for your WordPress website? Well, it depends on the objective, functionality, customization, and budget you require. Based on your requirements, you can tailor your dream site.
The Gutenberg block editor allows for an easier, faster, more responsive, and, above all, free-to-use website builder. Moreover, Gutenberg comes integrated with WordPress. You need not worry about WordPress themes and plugin compatibility. It is suitable for beginners without coding knowledge. There are pre-built patterns and templates; however, compared to Elementor, the customization and flexibility in Gutenberg are limited. If you are thinking of building a lightweight website and quickly setting it up, you can use Gutenberg. Similarly, it is also ideal for those with limited budgets and looking to create simple websites.
Elementor is one of the perfect page builders for highly complex websites. It offers extensive customization options, enabling users to create more personalized sites. Elementor is an editor that allows an easy-to-use and responsive interface, making the user experience seamless. However, the free version has limited options, and you need to purchase the premium version for advanced features. Using these advanced features also requires some learning. If you have a flexible budget and are looking to build a complex site, use Elementor.
At Last
Now that you have adequate information on Gutenberg and Elementor, you can decide which is best for your WordPress site. Remember, choosing the right page builder is crucial for your website. It can make or break your site. Both Gutenberg and Elementor have their pros and cons. For a simple and easy-to-use editor, Gutenberg is the best choice. Meanwhile, Elementor is the best option for wider customization and add-ons. Both are the best WordPress page builders. So, between Gutenberg VS Elementor, which one suits you the best?
Thank you for reading to the end. For any problem related to WordPress, hosting, or web design, Sampression is here for you. Visit our website or contact us directly for more information!