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Adds a visual drag-and-drop website builder with responsive controls and reusable styling tools for building WordPress pages.
Table of contents
Elementor and Divi are two mature visual WordPress builders, but they package the experience differently. Elementor starts with a capable free plugin and expands through Pro tiers. Divi is a paid theme-and-builder ecosystem with unlimited-site licensing. I compared the current editing model, theme building, dynamic content, WooCommerce, ecosystem, and licensing using vendor documentation and PluginSuggest profiles checked on September 25, 2026.
TL;DR
Elementor is easier to start with through its permanent free plugin and broad ecosystem, while Divi centers on an unlimited-site paid membership and a tightly integrated theme-and-builder workflow. The more important choice is how you want to build and license sites, not which one has the longer feature list.
Elementor vs Divi at a glance
| Compare |  Elementor Website BuilderFree; Pro Essential $59/year; Popup Builder requires Advanced Solo or higher |  Divi$89/year; $249 lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Premium |
| Starting price | Free; Pro Essential $59/year; Popup Builder requires Advanced Solo or higher | $89/year; $249 lifetime |
| Free version | Yes | No |
| Sites included | 1 site (Essential) | Unlimited websites |
| Lifetime option | No | Yes |
| Refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans | 30-day risk-free guarantee |
| Setup level | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
| WordPress.org rating | 4.5/5 (7,308) | Not available |
| Active installs | 10M+ | Not available |
| Best for | Elementor-built sites that want popup design, forms, dynamic content, and display rules inside the same visual builder. | Agencies, freelancers, and site owners that value unlimited-site licensing and a mature visual-builder ecosystem. |
| Not ideal for | Popup Builder is not included in Free or Essential; it requires Advanced Solo or a higher Elementor Pro plan. | Teams that want a native Gutenberg workflow or minimal builder dependency. |
| Tested version | 4.2.4 | Documentation reviewed Sep 2026; no local version test |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-14 23:50:00 | 2026-09-14 23:50:00 |
| Features | ||
| Theme builder | Paid plan Included with Elementor Pro Essential and above. | Yes Theme Builder covers headers, footers, posts, archives, 404, search, and product templates. |
| Template library | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic content | Paid plan Basic dynamic content is in Essential; fuller custom-field/post-type access requires higher plans. | Yes Modules and Theme Builder templates can pull WordPress and custom-field data. |
| WooCommerce builder | Paid plan Available on higher Pro tiers, not Essential. | Yes Divi includes WooCommerce modules and Theme Builder support for store templates. |
| Popup builder | Paid plan Available on Advanced and higher plans. | No No dedicated native popup builder verified in core Divi. |
| Form builder | Paid plan | Limited Contact Form module covers basic forms; advanced form workflows may require additional tools. |
| Responsive controls | Yes | Yes |
| Global styles | Yes | Yes |
| Custom code support | Paid plan Custom Code and custom CSS require higher Pro tiers. | Yes |
| Animations / interactions | Yes | Yes |
The first difference is how you enter the ecosystem
Elementor has a permanent free WordPress.org edition. That makes it practical to test the editor, containers, Grid, responsive controls, and core widgets before buying Pro. Paid tiers then add broader theme-building, popup, form, dynamic-content, and WooCommerce capabilities depending on the plan.
Divi does not have an equivalent permanent free WordPress.org edition. Its standard membership is paid, but one license can be used on unlimited websites. Elegant Themes currently lists Divi at $89 per year for unlimited sites and a $249 lifetime option, with promotional prices sometimes appearing on sale pages.
Visual editing and design systems
Both provide front-end visual editing, responsive controls, reusable templates, and site-wide design systems. Elementor has moved further toward an Atomic Editor model with shared classes and variables, while Divi 5 is the major modernization of Divi’s builder foundation.
For a team already familiar with Elementor, the editing vocabulary and huge third-party ecosystem can reduce onboarding friction. Divi feels more vertically integrated because the theme, builder, Theme Builder, layout library, and Elegant Themes ecosystem are designed as one stack.
Theme templates and dynamic content
Elementor Pro can visually design headers, footers, single templates, archives, and dynamic layouts. Higher professional tiers support custom fields and post types more deeply, which matters for directories, listings, portfolios, and other structured-content projects.
Divi Theme Builder can assign headers, footers, post templates, archives, search layouts, 404 pages, and WooCommerce templates. Dynamic Content can pull WordPress fields, featured images, custom fields, and store data into modules. Both can therefore move well beyond static landing pages.
Forms, popups, and marketing features
Elementor Pro includes a form builder and, on appropriate tiers, Popup Builder and marketing integrations. This can reduce the need for separate campaign plugins on marketing sites.
Divi includes a contact form module and many conversion-oriented modules, but advanced forms or campaign-style popup targeting may still involve an extension or a separate specialist tool. Divi Pro services such as Divi AI and Divi Cloud are recurring extras rather than part of the base lifetime license.
WooCommerce and client projects
Both can visually control WooCommerce presentation. Elementor’s professional tiers include WooCommerce widgets and templates for products, archives, cart, checkout, and account areas. Divi includes ecommerce modules and Theme Builder assignments for store templates.
For an agency, licensing changes the calculation. Divi’s base membership covers unlimited sites. Elementor’s paid plans use site-count tiers, so the relevant cost depends on how many active client sites need Pro and which feature tier each site requires.
Which workflow makes more sense
Elementor is easier to evaluate gradually because the free edition is substantial, and it has one of the largest WordPress builder ecosystems. It is a natural fit when teams already use Elementor add-ons, templates, or client workflows.
Divi makes more sense when unlimited-site licensing, a bundled theme-and-builder ecosystem, and long-term lifetime ownership are major priorities. Neither is builder-neutral: once templates, modules, forms, and dynamic layouts depend heavily on either system, migration should be treated as a rebuild project.
Before you commit
Build one representative page, header, footer, blog template, and WooCommerce template if relevant. Test responsive behavior, reusable styles, dynamic fields, forms, client handoff, and what your site looks like if the builder license lapses. Pricing checked September 25, 2026; verify the live checkout before purchase because promotions can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Elementor have a free version?
Yes. Elementor Core is a permanent free WordPress.org plugin with the visual editor, responsive controls, containers, Grid, and core widgets.
Does Divi have a free WordPress plugin?
No permanent free WordPress.org edition is part of the standard Divi product. Elegant Themes offers paid annual and lifetime memberships.
Can both build headers and footers?
Yes. Elementor Pro Theme Builder and Divi Theme Builder can both create site-wide headers, footers, and content templates.
Which is easier to license for many client sites?
Divi uses unlimited-site licensing on its standard annual and lifetime memberships. Elementor Pro uses plan-based site limits, so agency cost depends on the tier and number of sites.
Compare before you choose
Use structured feature, pricing, and editorial research to compare these WordPress plugins side by side.