Divi vs. Elementor: the ultimate and objective guide!

Divi or Elementor? I have long hesitated to engage in this type of article for two reasons:

1. I didn't want to take a position between two competing tools.
2. This article represents a crazy job (+5200 words)...

But in view of what I found on the web, I wanted to offer you my vision of this comprehensive guide because for the time being, I found only "overadvertising" articles that were not objective enough or not detailed enough.

Here, I propose a Battle Divi vs. Elementor Very objective. I will only comment in the conclusion...

I'll try to propose a real compare Divi to Elementor, step by step and functionality by functionality. I'm going to talk about strengths and weaknesses...

In short, the idea is not to influence you but rather to help you choose between Divi and Elementor.

However, what is comparable must be compared! So this article will present the Pro version of Elementor because the free version cannot be compared to DiviIt would be lost in advance...

Anyway, let's not waste any more time and let's go into the life of the subject...

1 – Divi or Elementor in a few digits

Let us begin with a broad vision of these two tools. It is good to explain the context to better understand the continuation of this comparison Divi vs. Elementor.

1.1 – Some figures about Divi

Divi is the flagship theme of the theme shop of Elegant Themes. He sees the light of day end of year 2013. The Divi Builder as an independent plugin will come out, in 2015.

As you may know, the Divi theme should not be confused with the Divi Builder. These are two different products.

The Divi Builder being a Page BuilderIt is he who will be the subject of this comparison with Elementor (not the Divi theme).

1.2 – Some figures about Elementor

Elementor is Divi's best challenger.

What has greatly contributed to its success: its free version – already very effective – is directly available on the official directory of WordPress plugins. This was not the case for most building pages of the time, often available only in premium version.

So in 2016, Elementor comes to change the landscape of free building pages by offering a very promising builder and accessible to all.

As soon as it is released, it proposes a page construction directly at the front-end while its competitors propose either a back-end construction or a back-end construction + front-end (of choice, which is the case with Divi).

1.3 – Comparison and summary table

Figures updated on 3 July 2020

Figures as at 3 July 2020	Divi	Elementor
Year of exit	Theme: Dec. 2013 Builder : Oct 2015	Free : May 2016 Pro: Dec 2016
Active facilities (free)	–	Free version: 5 Million
Pro licences sold	702.000	???
Number of employees	100	131
5 star reviews	7078 reviews 5 stars on 7317 (TrustPilot) or 97% of satisfaction	4930 reviews 5 stars out of 5308 (on WordPress) or 93% of satisfaction

When you see thatElementor already has more than 5 million active installationsIt could make you blush. Elegant Topics with "only" 702,000 licenses sold. And yet, these figures are not comparable !!!

Indeed, Divi licenses are sold for an unlimited number of sites which does not allow us to know exactly the number of sites that use Divi.

Imagine that every Divi license is used on an average of 10 sites, which would mean that Divi is used on 7.2 million sites.

For example, I myself use it on about twenty sites and I am far from having the productivity of an agency! So, this figure, you can only imagine...

2 – Divi vs. Elementor: a price story?

Now that we know a little more about the history of the two extensions, let's talk about money...

Indeed, it is often a criterion of choice for some users.

The pro licences of these two building pages do not work the same way. Again, it will be difficult to compare them. Their business model is different and this is also what can change the deal, depending on the needs you will have...

Divi's license offers 2 plans: an annual plan or a "life plan" that you only pay once... While Elementor does not propose a "life plan", you will have to pay again every year. In addition, Elementor offers 5 plans that differ according to the number of installations.

To better understand the price difference, I propose this table:

	Divi Annual	Divi Lifetime	Elementor Pro
1 site	$89 (each year)	$249 (only once)	$49(each year)
1 site after 10 years costs...	890$	249$	490$
3 sites	$89(each year)	$249 (only once)	$99(each year)
3 sites after 10 years cost...	890$	249$	990$
Between 3 and 25 sites	$89(each year)	$249 (only once)	$199(each year)
25 sites after 10 years cost...	890$	249$	1990$
Between 26 and 100 sites	$89(each year)	$249 (only once)	499$
100 sites after 10 years cost...	890$	249$	4990$
Between 101 and 1000 sites	$89(each year)	$249 (only once)	999$
1000 sites after 10 years cost...	890$	249$	9990$
Pro theme included	Yes	Yes	No
Bonus included	Bloom + Monarch	Bloom + Monarch	No

I think this table clearly explains the price differences between Divi and Elementor.

You can see that annual licences constitute a substantial budget after a number of years, be it for Divi or Elementor.

For example, a site created with Elementor costs more than a site created with Divi Lifetime from the 5th year of the site.

The number of sites that can be created with a single license also accounts for and increases the budget over the years.

This suggests that if your job is to create sites for your customers, Divi is more advantageous. Conversely, if you need a page builder for your personal site, Elementor will be more advantageous for the first 4 years (in case you use a free theme).

To learn more about rates, I propose these two articles:

• Licence prices Divi
• How much does Elementor Pro cost

3 – Theme, Theme Builder, Page Builder: help!

If you start with WordPress, you certainly had to document yourself about it and you had to meet some kind of weird terms.

When we begin to discover the universe of themes and page builders, some words often come back: Theme, Page Builder, Theme Builder, Visual Builder, modules, widgets, etc.

I understand we can lose it!

3.1 – Glossary to see more clearly

To see more clearly in this WordPress jungle, here are some explanations.

WordPress theme

WordPress necessarily needs a theme to work. These are the themes that determine the appearance (design) of your site.

There are lots of themes! Some are free (or freemium) and other Premiums.

The free themes are often bridled and this is why users prefer to use paid themes but richer in possibilities and features.

Builder Page

These are Page builders.

To image this, builders pages allow you to build, brick after brick, layout (layout) of your pages or articles.

Builder pages act only on the "content" part from your page (or article). In other words, on the part where you have the right to write = the same used by the WordPress editor.

To understand better, I advise you to read this article dedicated to the fundamentals of the theme, the building page and WordPress.

Theme Builder

Builders Themes allow action on parts of the site that are not accessible using a Page Builder.

For example, a builder theme will act on the header of your siteon footer and on special pages such as category archives, product archives, etc.

It's a very useful feature to get a completely customised site.

Divi and Elementor Pro both have a builder theme (Free Elementor does not have this feature).

Read this article that explains how Divi Builder Theme works.

WooCommerce Builder

WooCommerce Builder is the term used for page builders acting on the WooCommerce product sheets. Some Builder Pages do not allow to be used on the products of the shop.

Divi Builder or Elementor Pro allow build WooCommerce product sheets But this is not the case with Elementor Free.

Modules

Widgets

In other words, Widgets of Elementor are the equivalents of Divi Modules.

Add-ons

These are additional features, often provided by third party extensions.

These add-ons are available as plugins but we prefer the term add-ons because they are not functional if the "parent plugin" is not active.

There are add-ons for Gutenberg (the WordPress editor), Divi and Elementor.

Pop-Up Builder

One popup builder is a feature that allows to create PopUps with Modules or Widgets of a Page Builder.

Divi or Elementor Free do not allow this functionality but Elementor Pro Allows it.

Learn more about the PopUp Builder from Elementor.

3.2 – Comparison as a table

This table will allow you to quickly compare what is possible to do with Divi or Elementor.

	Divi Builder	Elementor (free)	Elementor Pro
Need a theme?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Focus*	Theme Divi	Astra, Neve, OceanWP	Hello theme (free)
All themes compatible?	Yes	Most of them.	Most of them.
WooCommerce Builder?	Yes	No	Yes
Feature of Theme Builder?	Yes	No	Yes
Free add-ons?	+	+++	+++
Popup Builder feature?	No. Use PopUp for Divi (free).	No	Yes
Back-office construction?	Yes	No	No
Construction in Front-Office?	Yes	Yes	Yes

*I'm talking about "theme of choice" but you can, of course, use these page builders on any theme, except those that are incompatible. The Hello theme is the theme proposed by the developers of Elementor. You wonder why I didn't quote it in the elementor column for free? Because this is a theme that needs a Builder Theme to be totally effective and the free version of Elementor does not offer this feature. Read my review about this.

4 – Modules vs. Widgets: Which building page is the richest?

Now let's go to the most interesting part of the Builder Pages: the features brought by their modules or widgets.

If you want my opinion, it is not really the number that counts but rather their usefulness and the options that are proposed with each module (or widget). Because a module without many customization options is most often uninteresting.

Each Page Builder therefore embarks modules that also contribute to their success.

4.1 – Modules or widgets on the builder page

Module – Widget	Divi Builder	Elementor Free	Elementor Pro
Agreement	x	x	x
Alert	0	x	x
Menu anchore	0	x	x
Animated Headline	0	0	x
Call to Action – Call to Action	x	0	x
Archive Title	0	0	x
Archive Post	0	0	x
Audio – SoundCloud	x	x	x
Author Box	0	0	x
Lateral bar – Side column	x	x	x
Back and forth	x	x	x
Blog – Post	x	0	x
Blockquote	0	0	x
Icon box	0	x	x
Image box	0	x	x
Shop	x	0	0
Button	x	x	x
Map – Google Map	x	x	x
Plink screen card	x	0	0
Search – Search Form	x	0	x
Code – HTML	x	x	x
Code in full width	x	0	0
Short code	0	x	x
Comments – Post Comments	x	0	x
Bar counter – Progress bar	x	x	x
Circle counter	x	0	0
Number counter – Meter	x	x	x
Countdown	x	0	x
Full screen header	x	0	0
Featured Image	0	0	x
Internal Section	0	x	x
Slider	x	0	0
Slider full width	x	0	0
Slider Video – Media Carousel	x	0	x
Slider Slide – Carousel images	x	x	x
Slider full screen	x	0	0
Slider	0	0	x
Email optin	x	0	0
Facebook Button	0	0	x
Facebook Comments	0	0	x
Facebook Embeds	0	0	x
Facebook Page	0	0	x
Flip Box	0	x	x
Contact form	x	0	x
Gallery	x	x	x
Image	x	x	x
Image in full width	x	0	0
Read more	0	x	x
Icon List	0	x	x
Menu – Nav Menu	x	0	x
Full screen menu	x	0	0
Post navigation – Post navigation	x	0	x
Rating by star	0	x	x
Tab	x	x	x
Person	x	0	0
Portfolio	x	0	x
Filter portfolio	x	0	0
Fullscreen portfolio	x	0	0
Post info	0	0	x
Post Excerpt	0	0	x
Summary – Icon	x	x	x
Login – Login	x	0	x
Reviews	0	0	x
Social Follow – Social media icons	x	x	x
Button share	0	0	x
Separator – Spacer	x	x	x
Logo Site	0	0	x
Title Site	0	0	x
Sitemap	0	0	x
Tariff Table – Price Table	x	0	x
Table if content	0	0	x
Price List	0	0	x
Text – Text Editor	x	x	x
Position Title – Post Title / Title Page	x	0	x
Title of full screen position	x	0	0
Title (h2, h3, etc.)	0	x	x
Testimony	x	x	x
Testimonial Carousel	0	0	x
Template	0	0	x
Video	x	x	x
Yoast BreadCrumbs	0	0	x
TOTAL	47	30	66

This table shows that Elementor as a free version does not offer certain necessary widgets (such as the display of the latest articles). This means that you will quickly be tempted to switch to the pro version.

We can also see in this picture that Elementor Pro has a large advantage over the modules embedded in the Divi Builder: almost twenty more!

However, note that some features are included in the options of some modules. It is not because a module or widget is missing that it is not possible to achieve the same purpose.

All this complicates this comparative Divi vs Elementor because precisely, certain features intertwine. If you use both pages builders, you know what I'm talking about...

4.2 - The modules or widget of WooCommerce Builder

The modules of the Divi WooCommerce Builder are active only if WooCommerce is installed on your site. As regards the WooCommerce widgets from Elementor, they are only available in the pro version.

Module – Widget	Divi Builder	Elementor Pro
Archive Product	0	x
Archive description	0	x
Woo Add to Cart – Add-to-cart	x	x
Custom Add to Cart	0	x
Woo Cart Notice	x	0
Woo Comments	x	0
Woo Description – Short Description	x	x
Woo Gallery	x	0
Woo Image – Product Image	x	x
Woo Additional Information – Additional Information	x	x
Woo Meta – Product Meta	x	x
Woo Breadcrumb	x	x
Woo Price – Product Price	x	x
Woo Related Products – Product Related	x	x
Woo Rating – Product Rating	x	x
Woo Stock – Product Stock	x	x
Woo Tab – Product Data Tab	x	x
Woo Title – Product Title	x	x
Woo Upsell – Upsells	x	x
Cart Menu	0	x
Product	0	x
Product Category	0	x
WooTrade Page	0	x
TOTAL	16	20

Elementor Pro offers 4 additional WooCommerce widgets compared to Divi. Note that Divi also offers the same features as these missing widgets but in the form of embedded options in other modules.

5 - The layouts to download: Divi or Elementor?

For a long time, the themes and building pages have offered their users to download pre-built layouts. This is what we call "layouts".

These layouts especially help WordPress users who don't have "art fibre" or who don't have time to waste.

How does it work? Layouts are created by designers and made available to users who only need to click on a button to import the layout template. Then, users only need to modify texts, images and colors.

It's more than magic because anyone will be able to create and design their site in a flash.

On this side, Divi and Elementor Pro offer a beautiful range of layouts to download. The free version of Elementor is obviously less rich than the pro version.

5.1 – The Layouts of Divi

When you activate the Divi Builder (or Visual Builder) on a page or article, a screen appears to offer you the type of layout you want:

By choosing the option "Select layout", you will access the complete library of Divi layouts.

Then you can choose from 1260 layouts in 170 packs. This figure is in constant evolution since the Elegant Themes add 1 new layout pack every week, more than one 30 layouts per month (Each pack consists of 7 to 9 layouts).

Each layout pack allows you to build most of the pages of a site with the same harmony: home, contact, blog, portfolio, shop, etc.

The images imported with these layouts are free of rights and can be used in your commercial projects.

5.2 - The Layouts of Elementor

Like Divi, Elementor allows you to import all-ready layouts.

When you activate Elementor on one of your pages or articles, you see a small grey icon. By clicking on it, you will access the template library.

The models are split into 2 categories: Blocks or Pages.

Here, no concept of "pack". You will then have to look for the pages that are in harmony based on their visual or name. For example: hotel, restaurant, agency.

You will also see a red badge indicating "pro". This means that these layouts are only available in the pro version of Elementor.

As for "blocks", it is a part of a layout. It could also be called a page section. Thus, you can import only a few parts of a page instead of the complete layout.

These "blocks" come in part from the layouts proposed in the "page" section.

Elementor then offers 210 pages + 340 blocks. Be careful, these numbers correspond to the pro version. As a free version, only a few layouts are available.

5.3 - Quick comparison in a table

This small table allows you to quickly compare the layouts offered by Divi or Elementor :

	Divi	Elementor Pro
Blocks (section or part of page)	0	340
Pages	1260	210
Layout packs (7 to 9 layouts)	170	0

If Divi is poorer in modules (widgets), he catches up with its rich layout.

6 - Features: Divi or Elementor?

Apart from modules, widgets and layouts, Elementor and Divi offer other features.

These are directly integrated into the builder page and are not necessarily visible at first glance.

	Divi	Elementor (pro)
1 – Library Management	x	x
2 – Import/Export	x	x
3 – Browser	x	x
4 – Responsive Mode	x	x
5 – Background	x	x
6 – Element Global	x	x
7 – Dynamic Content	x	x
8 – Integration in Gutenberg	x	0

This table shows that the two Builders Pages are equivalent in all respects (or almost), at least in the most important features that one can expect from a page builder!

Also read: 8 Divi features you should use!

6.1 – Library Management

Divi and Elementor perfectly manage the "library" functionality, each in its own way, but the result is the same.

The library Elementor or Divi allows to store at a given location, sections, modules or even entire layouts for later use.

The library can be used as a backup as well as storage to save time.

Divi Library

For save a template in the Divi Library, just click on the icon of the "arrow in a circle". Your entire layout will be stored in the library.

Of course, you can save modules, sections or lines in the same way. You do not have to record the entire layout.

Then you will find these saved items in the Divi Library.

Go to the tab Bibliothèque Divi. You will find all your registered models.

Elementor model

The library of models of Elementor is managed in the same way. When you want to save a layout in your "models", just click on the triangle at the bottom left. Then select the option "Save as a Model".

You will give a name to your layout that you will then find in Models > Registered Models.

Be careful! Elementor sends this model library in indexing! I guess this isn't very good for SEO. So, make sure you put the Elementor Models library in No Index via your SEO extension (like Yoast).

Learn more about the Template Bookshop of Elementor.

6.2 – Import/export functionality

Divi and Elementor propose a import/export functionality. This allows you to export a layout or a section of your site to import to another site.

Or vice versa, you can recover an external layout and import into your site!

This feature is just great and saves you a lot of time.

Learn more about import/export with Divi.

6.3 - Navigation within a layout

This feature may seem futile but it is not. The "layers" for Divi is equivalent to the "browser" for Elementor.

In a blink of an eye, you will visualize the composition of your layout. It is ideal for moving certain sections into long pages.

Of course, if you correctly name the sections that make up your layout, it will be easier to recognize them within the browser.

However, I do not know if this is possible with Elementor (I have not yet found how to name a section...).

6.4 – Responsive Management

Fortunately, Elementor like Divi allow to act on the responsive of your site.

Just enable the view you want to control: desktop, tablet or mobile.

For more information, see this Guide to Responsive with Divi or documentation for Elementor.

6.5 – History Management

We all have the right to make a mistake, and Divi as Elementor understood!

You may return to subsequent actions if you have changed your mind or in case of error.

Be careful, if you leave the page builder, the history will return to zero.

6.6 - Global element functionality

If you need to place recurring items within your articles or pages, you can save crazy time thanks to the Global element functionality.

Thus, you will save time at the time of insertion but also at the time of updating this element (which will be done on all pages that use it).

Learn more about Global elements Divi or Elementor Global Elements.

6.7 - Dynamic content

The Dynamic Content is a feature that allows you to transform any module (or widget) into a dynamic element that extracts its content from the database.

You can turn any static element into a dynamic element that automatically updates when its connected content is changed.

Divi or Elementor manage this feature that may be very useful to you. Imagine if your client decides to change the tagline or even the website title! Your content connected to this dynamic element will be updated in an instant!

Learn more about dynamic elements of Divi or on dynamic content by Elementor.

6.8 – Integration in Gutenberg

This feature is offered only by Divi, these are the Divi Layout Blocks. It is possible to use some Divi modules within pages or articles that use the native WordPress editor.

This is very interesting because you do not have to activate the Divi Builder on an item to simply insert only one or two modules.

Read the full article dedicated to Divi modules in Gutenberg.

7 – Elementor, Divi & UX: what we love, what we hate...

The two building pages presented here are, in my opinion, the best that is being done right now. However, they have good and bad sides. Let's say the perfect 100% doesn't exist yet...

Often, it is a user experience history (UX).

So when I'm asked, "You advocate me Divi or Elementor ? »I always say the same thing: "you must try to see which tool best suits you and your needs« .

Because, yes, THE ready answer does not exist.

Is it like you're asking a photographer if it's better to choose Canon or Nikon? Both do the same thing, in the end, right? Both take pictures. Then it's User experience which will cut and affinity you have with the mark.

Are you more comfortable with one or the other? If you don't try both, how do you make your own opinion?

7.1 – Four reasons to adopt Elementor

1. If you disable it, it does not leave traces on your page, unlike Divi.
2. Some of the design options offered by some of Elementor's widgets are very nice. I am thinking for example of the carousel of logos, the galleries of images and the separators of sections which have more choice than the divi dividers.
3. I love the animated headline widget. Learn more about Animated Headlines.
4. An ecosystem grew rapidly around Elementor (we talk about it later). As a result, you will find a lot of additional widgets (free or freemiums) on the official WordPress directory.

7.2 – Four Reasons to Crisis with Elementor

1. Control panel remains fixed to left of screen. If we work on a small computer, the remaining space is just to understand the construction. To remedy this, add an add-on (additional addition).

2. We can't activate Elementor on the fly. When you visit a page from the front-end. So we have to go through page administration to activate the builder. This is not the case with Divi which offers both possibilities.
3. There are not many display options. The layout can only be viewed as seen, unlike Divi which offers several display modes (in grid, wired, hover).
4. To leave the manufacturer, you will need to click two or three times to return to the back office. We just can't leave the builder in 1 click (the hamburger icon on the top left, then "return to the WordPress editor"). It's pretty annoying.

7.3 - Four reasons for adopting Divi

1. The multitude of layouts to download. Most of them are very creative and are perfect for low-budget projects.
2. Intuitiveness and UX of the builder. It is certain that when you use it for the first time, you will be a little lost (like Elementor, elsewhere) but as soon as you understand how it works, it is very easy to customize sections or modules. The user experience (UX) is also at the rendezvous. For example, the options panel is moveable as desired and does not encroach on the screen width (this is just one example among so many).

3. There are lots of tutorials and resources on the web that deal with Divi. A large community was born around this tool. By choosing this builder, you will never be lost! You will certainly find a solution to your problem.
4. Constantly evolving or improving. Divi updates about 3 times a month and implements every time an improvement or new feature. It is reassuring to choose a building theme or page that evolves according to needs and is maintained seriously by its developers.

7.4 - Four reasons for crisis with Divi

1. Translations in French look like nothing! You will need to add a plugin to get Divi in "good" French. Better yet, keeping Divi in English is a solution to consider.
2. The publisher takes charge twice. This is not always the case, but it is annoying when it happens.
3. If you disable Divi, many traces will remain on your pages. Then it will be necessary clean Divi shortcodes with a plugin.
4. Sometimes you click on a text to edit it and the cursor "bars". It's annoying! Therefore, it is better to edit the text from the settings of the module itself.

8 – Resources, community, freebies...

Already, the WordPress community is "rich", at the base. So it's not surprising that "good tools" are also popular and supported by their users and third party developers.

Besides Elementor and Divi have a beautiful community.

8.1 – Elementor Community

Although Elementor is more recent, the community fully supports it! There is a case of looking at the number add-ons and plugins that are available on the official WordPress directory. He's talking about himself.

But be careful, most of these extensions are freemiums. However, there is already something to do with the many free versions.

Do not fall into the trap, either, to install dozens of additional extensions just because they are "free"! This could have an impact on your site (red tape, bugs, conflicts, increased risk of security breaches).

8.2 – Divi Community

On the Divi side, the community has been well established for years. There are lots of websites and marketplaces which propose free and paid resources (Divi Den, Aspen Grove, Divi Cake, etc.). Find the list of these resource sites here.

Beyond these sites, the community also finds itself in Official MeetUps "Divi Nation". The movement counts more than 6500 members on 57 groups and in 20 countries. See you here to find MeetUp Divi closest to you.

More recently, Divi formalized the future launch of its MarketPlace to collect in the same place all Divi resources, whatever is free or paid.

The idea is to create a Official Divi Resource Directory. Nothing is yet explicit and it is not known whether these resources will be available directly from the back office of WordPress (like the directory of WordPress themes and extensions) or whether they will be embedded in the Divi Builder (like layouts)... Read this article to learn more about Divi Marketplace or to apply as a "creator".

Finally, you will find some free plugins on the official WordPress directory But the resources available here are "small committee". Also discover 14 free Divi extensions.

9 – Divi or Elementor? I'm asking you the question!

Well, you know, I have a little inclination for Divi, otherwise, I wouldn't hold this blog...

But this has not always been the case! At first, I had a hard time finding my brands and understanding how to tame it to succeed in making nice websites with...

It's like everything, actually!

When you learned to drive, you weren't comfortable at first... Well with WordPress, it's the same thing. That you chose Divi or Elementor, you will necessarily need time to adapt.

Once you master one of these two tools, you can no longer change them. It is the human being that is made so...

That's why we see everything on social networks: Arf Divi is shit! or Beurk Elementor sucks!

Simply because these people have a habit and don't want to change it. And then, the choice they make is obviously the best!

So to conclude, I'll tell you a little secret: I use Divi daily for my own sites and those of my clients. On the other hand, I am not bounded and it is Elementor who is part of my WordPress training program (at FCC and in training organization).

Why? Because it is a good product that has the advantage of offering a free version on the official WordPress directory.

I think it's fairer not to push students, jobseekers or people undergoing retraining to buy a premium product.

On the other hand, if Elegant Themes proposed a free version of Divi on the official WordPress directory, it is this tool that I would propose in my trainings, without any doubt.

Now it's your turn, in comment!