Elementor Free vs Elementor Pro : The Real Cost & Features You Actually Need (2025 Guide)

Choosing between Elementor Free vs Pro can be a crucial decision for your website project. Since its release in 2003, WordPress has evolved from a simple blogging platform into the backbone of website creation, with Elementor emerging as the leading visual editor, boasting the largest market share. With 53% of all website traffic now coming from mobile devices, having a responsive website builder is no longer optional for small businesses.

When comparing Elementor Free vs Pro features, the differences are substantial. While the free version includes 50 basic widgets necessary for site-building, Elementor Pro complements this with over 60 additional professional widgets designed for every type of website. The Elementor Pro plugin also offers advanced capabilities like Theme Builder, Custom Fonts integration, and WooCommerce Builder functionality. However, this comes at a cost – Elementor Pro pricing starts at $59 per year, which raises the question: are the premium features worth it for your specific needs?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what both versions offer, help you understand which Elementor Pro features actually matter for your project, and break down the value proposition across all pricing tiers. Whether you’re building your first website or managing multiple client projects, we’ll provide the insights you need to make the right investment decision.

Core Features in Elementor Free (2025)

Elementor’s free version comes packed with essential website-building capabilities that make it a standout choice for WordPress users looking to create professional websites without coding knowledge.

Drag-and-Drop Editor and Live Preview

The free Elementor editor transforms website creation through its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality. You can build and customize every element visually without writing a single line of code [1]. Furthermore, the live editing feature allows you to see your changes in real-time as you work, making the design process more efficient and precise. This visual approach eliminates the traditional disconnect between backend editing and frontend results, consequently reducing development time and frustration.

40+ Basic Widgets for Layout and Content

Elementor Free provides that covers most website building needs over 40 essential widgets[2]. These include:

• Content widgets: Heading, Text Editor, Image, Video
• Layout tools: Dividers, Spacers, Columns
• Interactive elements: Buttons, Image Carousels, Toggles
• Media integration: YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Google Maps

Each widget can be easily customized through the panel settings, giving you significant control over appearance and functionality without requiring premium features.

Mobile Responsiveness and Global Styling

In today’s mobile-first world, Elementor Free ensures your site looks perfect across all devices. The lets you preview and adjust your design specifically for desktop, tablet, and mobile views responsive editing feature[3]. Notably, you can set custom breakpoints that determine when your design switches between device views, with default breakpoints at 1024px for tablets and 767px for mobiles [3].

Additionally, the global styling options allow you to maintain design consistency by setting color schemes and typography choices that apply throughout your site [1].

Template Library Access and Website Kits

Despite being free, Elementor provides access to an extensive template library that accelerates the website-building process. You can choose from hundreds of pre-designed blocks, pages, and sections [4]. Even in the free version, you get access to two complete website kits [5] that can be imported with just a few clicks. These templates serve as excellent starting points, allowing you to customize them according to your specific needs rather than building everything from scratch.

What Elementor Pro Adds on Top of Free

Unlocking Elementor Pro gives you access to professional website-building capabilities that extend far beyond the free version’s functionality. The premium plugin transforms basic page-building into complete website creation with several powerful features.

Theme Builder for Header, Footer, and 404 Pages

The Theme Builder feature in Elementor Pro allows you to design every fundamental part of your WordPress site without coding, including headers, footers, and 404 pages. Unlike the free version, Pro lets you create custom templates that override your theme’s default layout, giving you complete control over your site’s appearance. Moreover, you can manage everything from one central dashboard, set display conditions, and make edits with a visual preview of all your site parts.

Popup Builder with Display Conditions

Elementor Pro’s Popup Builder enables you to create attention-grabbing modal windows that overlay your pages. You can design any type of popup—including full-screen modals, side banners, and slide-ins—using the same drag-and-drop interface. Primarily, what makes this feature powerful is the ability to set precise display conditions to show popups based on specific pages, user behaviors, or timing rules.

Form Builder with CRM Integrations

The built-in Form Builder lets you create unlimited forms with customizable fields perfectly matched to your page design. Beyond basic contact forms, you can collect information and store it directly in your Elementor account. Importantly, Pro allows integration with popular marketing and CRM tools, expanding your lead generation capabilities without third-party plugins.

WooCommerce Builder for Product Pages

For online stores, Elementor Pro provides dedicated WooCommerce functionality to design and customize every part of your store. This includes product pages, shop archives, and transactional pages like the cart and checkout. Indeed, this integration allows you to create consistently branded shopping experiences without coding skills.

Custom Code, CSS, and Global Widgets

Elementor Pro includes powerful customization options:

• Add HTML, JavaScript, and CSS snippets to your site
• Implement custom styling at site, page, or element level
• Create global widgets that update across your entire site when edited once

The built-in code linter checks your code and notifies you of errors, ensuring everything works properly.

Advanced Motion Effects and Custom Fonts

Pro users gain access to advanced motion effects that add interactivity as visitors scroll through pages. These include sticky elements, scroll snap, Lottie animations, and hover effects. Additionally, you can upload your own custom fonts and icons to create a unique website design that matches your brand identity perfectly.

Elementor Free vs Pro: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

 

Let’s break down the fundamental differences between Elementor Free and Pro by examining specific feature categories that impact your website creation process.

Design Tools: Custom Fonts, CSS, and Animations

When it comes to design flexibility, Elementor Pro substantially outperforms the free version. Primarily, Pro allows you to upload  that align perfectly with your brand identity. Besides advanced styling options, Pro users can add custom CSS directly to widgets and blocks, providing granular control over design elements. The motion effects in Pro version include sticky headers, advanced animations, and scroll effects that simply aren’t available in the free version. Custom fonts and icons

Marketing Tools: Popups, Forms, and CTAs

Marketing capabilities represent one of the starkest contrasts between versions. Elementor Pro includes a comprehensive feature, allowing you to show popups based on specific triggers and user behaviors. The Pro version also features a robust form builder that integrates directly with popular CRM tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and HubSpot. These marketing tools eliminate the need for additional plugins, streamlining your tech stack. popup builder with extensive display conditions

eCommerce Tools: WooCommerce Widgets and Checkout

For online stores, Elementor Pro provides dedicated WooCommerce functionality that’s entirely absent from the free version. Pro includes specialized widgets for product pages, including Add to Cart buttons, product prices, titles, descriptions, ratings, breadcrumbs, upsells, and stock information. You can also design custom checkout flows and category pages, enhancing the shopping experience throughout your store.

Dynamic Content: ACF and Custom Post Type Support

Although the free version allows basic content creation, Pro unlocks dynamic content capabilities. Pro integrates with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) and custom post types, enabling content-rich websites with intricate designs. This functionality lets you create templates that automatically populate with WordPress content through dynamic tags. Importantly, whereas Theme Builder in the free version lacks custom field support, Pro fully supports these advanced content features.

Support and Updates: Community vs Premium Access

Support options differ significantly between versions. Elementor Pro includes premium 24/7 support through your dashboard. The free version relies on community forums and documentation, which, although extensive, can’t match dedicated support for resolving complex issues quickly. Both versions receive updates, but Pro users gain access to new features first, along with performance improvements and bug fixes.

Elementor Pro Pricing and Plan Breakdown (2025)

Examining Elementor’s 2025 pricing structure reveals strategic options for different website needs. The platform offers four distinct plans with varying capabilities and site allowances.

Essential vs Advanced vs Expert vs Agency Plans

Elementor Pro’s pricing tiers start with the Essential plan at $59/year for single-site owners [6]. The Advanced plan costs $99/year for up to three websites [7], perfect for small businesses or freelancers managing multiple projects. For growing businesses, the Expert plan at $199/year supports up to 25 websites [7], whereas the Agency plan at $399/year covers up to 1,000 websites [7], catering to web development firms with numerous clients.

Number of Sites and Widgets per Plan

Each tier offers increasing widget access. The Essential plan includes 50+ Pro widgets suitable for basic websites [6]. Subsequently, the Advanced plan expands this to 82+ Pro widgets [6], unlocking advanced marketing tools and eCommerce capabilities. Both Expert and Agency plans maintain the same widget count but differ primarily in site allowances and support level.

Cloud Templates and Global Features by Tier

Alternatively, Elementor offers a Cloud Website option at $99/year [7] that includes hosting on Google’s platform with Cloudflare CDN integration. This service provides 100GB bandwidth, 20GB storage, and supports up to 100k monthly visits [8]. The Essential plan offers basic template access, whereas higher tiers include expert website kits [8] with exclusive designs.

Is Elementor Pro Worth It for One Site?

For single-site owners, the Essential plan provides excellent value through Theme Builder, Form Builder, and marketing tools [6]. Ultimately, if your website requires advanced marketing features or eCommerce functionality, even the base Pro plan delivers substantial benefits over the free version.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee Explained

Elementor stands behind its product with a straightforward 30-day refund policy [9]. This no-questions-asked guarantee applies to first-time purchases [9], giving you adequate time to test all features. Upon requesting a refund, you’ll lose access to Pro widgets and features [9], with payments returned to your original payment method typically within 24 hours for PayPal or 5-10 business days for credit cards [9].

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Website Needs

After examining Elementor Free vs Pro features, the differences become abundantly clear. The free version certainly provides a robust foundation with its drag-and-drop editor, 40+ widgets, and mobile responsiveness capabilities. Most beginners and hobbyists will find these tools sufficient for creating basic websites.

However, professional features like Theme Builder, Popup Builder, and WooCommerce integration make Elementor Pro worth considering for serious website owners. Additionally, the advanced marketing tools and dynamic content capabilities significantly enhance what your website can accomplish without requiring multiple third-party plugins.

When deciding which version suits your needs, consider your specific requirements. Do you need custom headers and footers? Will you create marketing popups? Are you building an online store? The answers to these questions will guide your decision.

The pricing structure offers flexibility based on your project scope. Single-site owners might find the perfectly adequate, while businesses managing multiple websites should consider the higher tiers for better value. Essential plan at $59/year

Undoubtedly, Elementor Pro represents a worthwhile investment for anyone seeking professional results without coding knowledge. The 30-day money-back guarantee furthermore eliminates the risk, allowing you to test all premium features before fully committing.

Whether you choose the free version or decide to upgrade, Elementor continues to stand as the leading WordPress page builder for good reason – it empowers users at all skill levels to create responsive, visually appealing websites that meet modern design standards.

FAQs

Q1. What are the main differences between Elementor Free and Pro? Elementor Pro offers advanced features like Theme Builder, Popup Builder, Form Builder with CRM integrations, WooCommerce Builder, custom code capabilities, and advanced motion effects. The free version provides basic drag-and-drop editing, 40+ widgets, and mobile responsiveness, while Pro expands these capabilities significantly.

Q2. Is Elementor Pro worth the investment for a single website? For single-site owners, Elementor Pro can be worth the investment if you need advanced marketing features, e-commerce functionality, or custom design capabilities. The Essential plan at $59/year provides valuable tools like Theme Builder and Form Builder that can significantly enhance your website’s functionality and design.

Q3. How many websites can I build with different Elementor Pro plans? Elementor Pro offers various plans to suit different needs. The Essential plan supports 1 website, the Advanced plan covers up to 3 websites, the Expert plan allows up to 25 websites, and the Agency plan supports up to 1,000 websites.

Q4. Does Elementor Pro include premium support? Yes, Elementor Pro includes premium 24/7 support through your dashboard. This is a significant advantage over the free version, which relies on community forums and documentation for support.

Q5. Can I try Elementor Pro risk-free? Elementor offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for first-time purchases. This allows you to test all Pro features without risk. If you’re not satisfied, you can request a refund within 30 days, and your payment will be returned to your original payment method.

References

[1] – https://elementor.com/features/editor/

[2] – https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/

[3] – https://elementor.com/help/mobile-editing/

[4] – https://wpkoi.com/10-must-know-elementor-features-for-boosting-your-website-design/

[5] – https://www.websiteplanet.com/website-builders/elementor/

[6] – https://elementor.com/pro/

[7] – https://athemes.com/reviews/is-elementor-pro-worth-it/

[8] – https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/elementor-pro-worth-it/

[9] –https://elementor.com/help/refund-policy/