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Comparison of Gutenberg and Elementor WordPress page builders with simplified interface illustrations on a blue background

Elementor vs Gutenberg: Which Page Builder Should You Choose in 2025?

Choosing between Elementor and Gutenberg for your WordPress website? This comprehensive comparison breaks down essential differences in features, performance, and usability to help you select the right page builder for your specific needs in 2025.

What Is Gutenberg? Understanding WordPress’s Native Block Editor

Gutenberg is the default WordPress block editor introduced in WordPress 5.0. It uses a block-based approach where each paragraph, image, heading, or widget is a separate block that can be manipulated individually. Since Gutenberg is part of WordPress core, it comes pre-installed with every WordPress installation, making it lightweight and accessible without additional plugins.

The WordPress block editor has evolved significantly since its initial release, with new blocks and functionality added in each major WordPress update, transforming Gutenberg from a basic content editor into a more comprehensive page building tool.

What Is Elementor? Exploring the Popular Page Builder Plugin

Elementor is a third-party page builder plugin specifically designed for WordPress. Since its 2016 release, it has become one of the most popular WordPress page builders with millions of active installations.

Unlike Gutenberg, Elementor is a dedicated page builder plugin that must be installed separately. It offers a visual drag-and-drop editor where you can design your pages while seeing exactly how they’ll look on the front end. This WYSIWYG approach makes Elementor appealing to users who want precise control over their designs without coding knowledge.

Elementor provides both a free version with basic functionality and Elementor Pro with advanced features for creating complex layouts and custom designs.

Ease of Use: Which Editor Is More User-Friendly?

Gutenberg’s Learning Curve

Gutenberg offers a straightforward editing experience with a block-based system. You select a content block type, place it where needed, and populate it with content. The interface shows most options only when a specific block is selected, reducing visual clutter but sometimes requiring exploration to find certain settings.

For basic content creation like blog posts, Gutenberg is easy to use effectively, even for beginners. However, creating complex layouts can be more challenging compared to dedicated page builders.

Elementor’s Intuitive Interface

Elementor provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface showing exactly what your page will look like as you build it. All design options appear in a consistent sidebar panel, making it easy to find settings for any element. While this presents more options initially, the organization becomes familiar quickly.

Elementor’s section-column-widget hierarchy offers a structured approach to building complex layouts that many users find easier to understand than Gutenberg’s block nesting.

Verdict on Usability

For beginners creating simple content: Gutenberg may be easier to start with since it’s built into WordPress and requires fewer concepts to learn.

For users wanting custom designs: Elementor provides a more intuitive visual design experience with comprehensive styling options.

Feature Comparison: What Can You Do With Each Editor?

Gutenberg’s Feature Set

Gutenberg includes a growing library of core blocks:

  • Text blocks (paragraphs, headings, lists)
  • Media blocks (images, galleries, videos)
  • Layout blocks (columns, group, cover)
  • Widget blocks (latest posts, categories, comments)
  • Embeds (YouTube, Twitter, Spotify)

The WordPress block editor supports reusable blocks, allowing you to save frequently used configurations for reuse across your site. Since Gutenberg is built into WordPress, it integrates seamlessly with all core WordPress features, and many plugins now offer custom Gutenberg blocks.

One standout option for extending Gutenberg’s capabilities is Nexa Blocks, providing 20+ premium blocks including sliders, containers, flip boxes, and more all designed to work with Gutenberg without requiring coding knowledge.

Elementor’s Feature Set

Elementor offers an extensive range of widgets:

  • Basic elements (headings, text, images, buttons)
  • Advanced widgets (forms, sliders, carousels, testimonials)
  • Theme elements (site logo, navigation menu, post content)
  • WooCommerce integration widgets

Elementor Pro unlocks additional features:

  • Theme Builder for creating custom headers, footers, and entire theme templates
  • Popup Builder for creating modal popups and overlays
  • Form Builder with advanced features and integrations
  • Global widgets that update across your entire site when edited

The page builder plugin also offers pre-designed templates and blocks for quick importing, significantly speeding up design.

Advanced Capabilities Comparison

Template Systems:

  • Gutenberg: Block patterns and reusable blocks
  • Elementor: Comprehensive template system with full page templates, sections, and global widgets

Layout Control:

  • Gutenberg: Improved capabilities but still has limitations
  • Elementor: More precise control with section-column structure and advanced positioning

Dynamic Content:

  • Both support dynamic content, but Elementor Pro’s Theme Builder provides more advanced options for custom post type templates and dynamic data

Block Extensions:

  • Premium block collections like Nexa Blocks enhance Gutenberg’s capabilities with advanced sliders, pricing tables, and icon boxes that rival Elementor’s functionality

Performance Impact: How Do They Affect Page Speed?

Gutenberg’s Performance

As part of WordPress core, Gutenberg is optimized to work efficiently. It generally adds minimal bloat compared to page builders and produces clean HTML with relatively lightweight CSS when using core blocks, resulting in faster loading times.

Performance varies depending on which blocks you use and whether they come from third-party plugins. Well-developed block plugins like Nexa Blocks are designed with performance in mind, adding functionality without significantly impacting load times.

Elementor’s Performance

As a third-party page builder, Elementor adds additional CSS and JavaScript to your website. The free version is more lightweight than Pro, but both add more code than Gutenberg.

Elementor has made significant improvements to its performance in recent updates, introducing features like improved asset loading and font optimization. Despite these improvements, Elementor pages typically have larger file sizes than those built with Gutenberg alone.

Elementor offers built-in tools to optimize performance, including reduced asset loading, improved CSS generation, and font optimization options.

Performance Test Results

Gutenberg offers better performance, but the difference may not outweigh Elementor’s additional features for many users. Extending Gutenberg with optimized block plugins provides a middle ground, adding functionality while maintaining good performance.

For more on optimizing WordPress site speed, see our guide to the best WordPress speed optimization plugins.

Pricing: Gutenberg vs Elementor Cost Comparison

Gutenberg Cost

Gutenberg is completely free and built into WordPress. There are no premium versions or paid upgrades for the core editor.

You may purchase premium plugins that add custom blocks, such as Nexa Blocks with plans starting at $29/year for a single site and options for agencies covering multiple sites.

Elementor Pricing

Elementor offers both free and premium options:

Elementor Free:

  • Basic widgets and templates
  • Limited styling options
  • Single website usage

Elementor Pro (as of 2025):

  • Essential: $59/year for 1 site
  • Advanced: $99/year for 3 sites
  • Expert: $199/year for 25 sites
  • Agency: $399/year for 1000 sites

Elementor Pro includes Theme Builder, Popup Builder, WooCommerce Builder, and advanced features that significantly extend the page builder’s capabilities.

Value Assessment

For basic needs or tight budgets: Gutenberg provides excellent value at zero cost.

For users needing advanced blocks and templates: Extending Gutenberg with premium block collections ($29-$99/year) may offer better value than Elementor Pro.

For professional websites or agencies: Elementor Pro’s capabilities may justify the investment, particularly for complex projects.

Design Flexibility: Which Offers Better Creative Control?

Gutenberg’s Design Capabilities

Gutenberg follows a content-first approach with styling options that align with your WordPress theme, maintaining consistent site appearance without extensive customization.

The block editor offers basic styling options:

  • Typography controls
  • Color settings
  • Spacing adjustments
  • Basic animations

For advanced designs, you can supplement Gutenberg with specialized block plugins like Nexa Blocks, which add design-focused blocks with more styling options.

Elementor’s Design Capabilities

Elementor provides comprehensive design controls to customize virtually every aspect of your page, with immediate visual feedback as you make changes.

Design features include:

  • Advanced typography with custom fonts
  • Detailed spacing controls (margin, padding, width, height)
  • Flexible layouts with precise positioning
  • Motion effects and animations
  • Custom CSS integration

Elementor Pro’s Theme Builder extends this design control to your entire site, allowing custom headers, footers, archives, and single post templates.

Creative Freedom Verdict

For theme-consistent styling: Gutenberg provides sufficient controls while maintaining design harmony.

For enhanced capabilities with Gutenberg: Premium block extensions add significant design functionality.

For maximum design flexibility: Elementor offers the most comprehensive visual design tools and customization options.

Theme Compatibility: How Well Do They Work With WordPress Themes?

Gutenberg and Themes

Since Gutenberg is part of WordPress core, all properly developed themes should be compatible with it. Most modern themes include specific styling for Gutenberg blocks for proper front-end display.

Block themes (designed for Full Site Editing) work exceptionally well with Gutenberg, allowing more customization directly through the editor. The block editor works with most WordPress themes without requiring additional plugins, making it reliable regardless of theme choice.

Elementor and Themes

Elementor works with most WordPress themes, but experiences vary. Some themes are specifically “Elementor-friendly” with dedicated integration features.

For optimal Elementor results, consider:

  • Using Elementor’s Hello theme (a lightweight starter)
  • Choosing themes designed for Elementor
  • Using Elementor Pro’s Theme Builder to override theme templates entirely

When using Elementor’s Theme Builder, the theme becomes less important as you can create custom templates for all site parts.

Theme Considerations

With an existing theme: Test both editors with your theme to determine which provides better integration.

Starting from scratch: Consider whether you prefer theme-driven design (favoring Gutenberg) or page builder-driven design (favoring Elementor).

For more about WordPress themes, check our article on creating free portfolio websites which discusses theme selection.

Future-Proofing: Which Editor Has Better Long-Term Prospects?

Gutenberg’s Future

As part of WordPress core, Gutenberg has guaranteed long-term support and development. WordPress has committed to the block editor as its primary editing experience, with Full Site Editing extending capabilities beyond post content to the entire site.

The WordPress community has increasingly embraced Gutenberg, creating a robust ecosystem of blocks and tools. Premium block libraries like Nexa Blocks demonstrate the growing market for Gutenberg extensions, suggesting continued innovation.

Since Gutenberg is built into WordPress, you won’t face compatibility issues with major updates each update typically brings editor improvements.

Elementor’s Future

As a third-party plugin, Elementor must adapt to WordPress changes. The Elementor team has demonstrated commitment to maintaining compatibility with WordPress developments.

Elementor has a large user base and active development team, suggesting continued support and updates. The company regularly releases new features and performance improvements.

However, as WordPress enhances Gutenberg’s capabilities, the gap between what requires a dedicated page builder and what can be accomplished with the core editor may narrow over time.

Long-Term Strategy Recommendation

For maximum future-proofing: Develop skills in both editors, using Gutenberg for content-focused pages and Elementor for design-intensive projects.

For simplicity and guaranteed support: Gutenberg offers the security of being part of WordPress core.

Which Page Builder Should You Choose?

Choose Gutenberg If:

  • You prefer working with the native WordPress editing experience
  • Performance is a top priority for your website
  • You primarily create blog posts and simple content pages
  • You want to avoid premium plugin costs
  • You value long-term compatibility with WordPress core updates
  • You’re comfortable adding custom CSS or using block extensions like Nexa Blocks

Choose Elementor If:

  • You need to create complex custom layouts without coding
  • Visual design control is more important than maximum performance
  • You want to create custom theme designs without coding skills
  • You need specialized features like popup builders or custom forms
  • You value visual, drag-and-drop interface design
  • You want access to a large pre-designed template library

Consider Using Both If:

Many professional WordPress developers use both tools for different purposes:

  • Gutenberg for standard content pages and blog posts
  • Elementor for landing pages, specialized templates, and custom designs

The two editors can coexist on the same WordPress site, allowing you to leverage the strengths of each where appropriate.

FAQs About Elementor vs Gutenberg

Can I use Elementor and Gutenberg together?

Yes, you can use both editors on the same WordPress site. Many users create blog posts with Gutenberg while using Elementor for landing pages or special layouts.

Is Elementor Pro worth it compared to Gutenberg?

For professional designers, agencies, and users needing advanced features like Theme Builder or Popup Builder, Elementor Pro often justifies its cost through time savings and design capabilities. For simpler websites or blogs, Gutenberg’s free functionality may be sufficient, especially when enhanced with quality block plugins.

Which is easier to learn, Elementor or Gutenberg?

For absolute beginners, Gutenberg may be easier to start with due to its simpler interface and fewer options. However, many users find Elementor’s visual editing approach more intuitive once they understand the basics.

Does Elementor slow down my website compared to Gutenberg?

Yes, Elementor typically adds more code to your pages than Gutenberg, which can impact page speed. However, with proper optimization, an Elementor site can still achieve good performance scores. The difference is most noticeable on complex pages with many elements.

Which page builder works better with WooCommerce?

Elementor Pro provides dedicated WooCommerce Builder features for customizing product pages, archive pages, and cart/checkout experiences. While Gutenberg offers basic WooCommerce blocks, Elementor currently provides more comprehensive e-commerce design capabilities.

Key Takeaways

  • Gutenberg is WordPress’s native block editor free, performance-focused, and deeply integrated with WordPress, which can be enhanced with premium block collections like Nexa Blocks.
  • Elementor is a third-party page builder plugin offering more visual design control but at the cost of some performance and a potential subscription fee.
  • Choose based on your priorities: performance vs. design flexibility, simplicity vs. feature richness, free vs. premium tools.
  • Both editors continue to evolve, with Gutenberg gaining more page builder features and Elementor improving performance.
  • Many professional WordPress users leverage both tools, using each where it excels.

Want to learn more about WordPress page builders? Check out our in-depth guide to the best WordPress drag and drop page builders or explore how to create custom Gutenberg blocks for WordPress. If you’re interested in other WordPress tools, read about top WordPress backup plugins to ensure your site’s security.

For beginners, our guide on how to create a free WordPress website provides step-by-step instructions to launch your first site.

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