Elementor Vs Beaver Builder: Which WordPress Page Builder Is Right for You?
Choosing the right WordPress page builder can make or break your website design experience. Two of the most popular options on the market are Elementor and Beaver Builder, each with devoted followings and unique strengths.
In this comprehensive comparison of Elementor vs Beaver Builder, we’ll help you determine which page builder best fits your needs, budget, and skill level.
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Description: Elementor is an amazing website builder plugin for WordPress. Elementor makes it easy to create beautiful and high converting websites yourself without having to learn code. |
Description: Beaver Builder is an intuitive, user-friendly page builder plugin for WordPress that enables users to create and customize beautiful, professional-looking websites without needing coding knowledge. It offers drag-and-drop content blocks, responsive design capabilities, and live preview editing. |
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Elementor is an amazing website builder plugin for WordPress. Elementor makes it easy to create beautiful and high converting websites yourself without having to learn code.
- 100% Flexible
- No Coding Necessary
- Thousands of Pre-Built Templates
- Wordpress Only
Beaver Builder is an intuitive, user-friendly page builder plugin for WordPress that enables users to create and customize beautiful, professional-looking websites without needing coding knowledge.
It offers drag-and-drop content blocks, responsive design capabilities, and live preview editing.
Software: Elementor | Affiliate Program
Table of Contents
What Are Elementor and Beaver Builder?
Both Elementor and Beaver Builder are drag-and-drop WordPress page builders that allow you to create custom website designs without writing code. They replace the traditional WordPress editor with visual design interfaces, making it easier for beginners and professionals alike to build stunning websites.
Elementor launched in 2016 and quickly became one of the most popular page builders, known for its extensive widget library and modern interface. It currently powers millions of websites worldwide.
Beaver Builder debuted in 2014, making it one of the pioneers in the WordPress page builder space. It’s gained a reputation for stability, clean code, and a focus on developers and agencies.
User Interface and Ease of Use
When comparing Elementor vs Beaver Builder, the user experience differs significantly.
Elementor’s Interface
Elementor features a sleek, modern interface with a left sidebar that houses all widgets and settings. The real-time editing experience is smooth, with changes appearing instantly on the canvas. The interface feels intuitive for users familiar with modern design tools, though the abundance of options can initially overwhelm beginners.
The editor includes a navigator panel for managing complex layouts, inline text editing, and contextual right-click menus that speed up workflow. Elementor’s interface is more visually polished and feels contemporary.
Beaver Builder’s Interface
Beaver Builder takes a simpler approach with a cleaner, more minimalist interface. The toolbar appears at the top of the screen, and module settings open in overlay panels. This design philosophy emphasizes simplicity and reduces visual clutter.
While some might find Beaver Builder’s interface less flashy, many users appreciate its straightforward approach. The learning curve is generally gentler, making it an excellent choice for WordPress beginners who might feel overwhelmed by feature-rich interfaces.
Winner: Tie – Elementor wins on modern aesthetics and features, while Beaver Builder wins on simplicity.
Features and Widgets
The battle of Elementor vs Beaver Builder becomes more distinct when examining features.
Elementor Features
Elementor shines with its extensive widget library, offering over 100 widgets in the Pro version (and 40+ in the free version). These include advanced elements like animated headlines, price tables, progress bars, social media embeds, testimonials, and WooCommerce widgets.
Key Elementor features include:
- Theme Builder for creating custom headers, footers, and templates
- Popup Builder for designing promotional popups
- WooCommerce Builder for custom product pages
- Motion effects and animations
- Custom CSS and font options
- Global widgets and colors
- Form builder with integrations
Beaver Builder Features
Beaver Builder takes a more curated approach with fewer but well-crafted modules. The focus is on essential building blocks that cover most website needs without overwhelming users.
Key Beaver Builder features include:
- Themer addon for custom theme elements
- Robust module system with high customization
- White label options for agencies
- Multisite support
- Landing page templates
- Photo and gallery modules
- Solid form integration
- Better stability and fewer conflicts
Winner: Elementor – The sheer number of widgets and built-in features gives Elementor the edge for users wanting more options out of the box.
Performance and Page Speed
Page speed is crucial for SEO and user experience, making this a critical factor in the Elementor vs Beaver Builder debate.
Elementor Performance
Elementor has historically been criticized for generating heavier code and adding more CSS and JavaScript files, which can impact page load times. However, recent updates have improved performance significantly. The team has introduced features like lazy loading, improved asset loading, and DOM optimization.
That said, complex Elementor pages with many widgets can still become slow if not optimized properly. Users need to be mindful of widget usage and implement caching and optimization plugins.
Beaver Builder Performance
Beaver Builder consistently receives praise for generating cleaner, more lightweight code. The pages built with Beaver Builder typically load faster out of the box because the builder adds less overhead. It’s designed with performance in mind, making it popular among developers who prioritize speed.
The code quality is generally superior, resulting in fewer conflicts with themes and plugins. This makes Beaver Builder an excellent choice for clients who need fast-loading websites without extensive optimization.
Winner: Beaver Builder – Better performance and cleaner code generation give Beaver Builder a clear advantage.
Design Capabilities and Flexibility
Both builders offer extensive design control, but with different approaches.
Elementor Design Options
Elementor provides granular control over every design element with extensive styling options. You can adjust spacing, typography, colors, backgrounds, borders, and effects for virtually every element. The responsive design controls are excellent, allowing different settings for desktop, tablet, and mobile views.
The visual workflow is more intuitive for designers, and the ability to create highly custom designs without code is exceptional. Elementor also includes shape dividers, gradient backgrounds, and advanced positioning options.
Beaver Builder Design Options
Beaver Builder offers strong design capabilities but with a more structured approach. The customization options are comprehensive but presented in a more organized manner. While you might have fewer preset style options, the fundamental design controls are all present.
The responsive editing is straightforward, and the module system allows for consistent styling across your site. Beaver Builder’s approach works well for those who prefer working within defined parameters rather than endless possibilities.
Winner: Elementor – More creative freedom and advanced design options make Elementor the choice for design enthusiasts.
Pricing Comparison
Price is often a deciding factor in the Elementor vs Beaver Builder comparison.
Elementor Pricing
Elementor offers a generous free version with core functionality, making it accessible to everyone. The Pro version pricing includes:
- Essential: $59/year (1 site)
- Advanced: $99/year (3 sites)
- Expert: $199/year (25 sites)
- Agency: $399/year (1000 sites)
The free version is feature-rich enough for basic websites, while Pro unlocks theme builder, popup builder, WooCommerce builder, and premium widgets.
Beaver Builder Pricing
Beaver Builder does not offer a free version but includes:
- Standard: $99/year (unlimited sites)
- Pro: $199/year (unlimited sites + Beaver Themer)
- Agency: $399/year (unlimited sites, Themer, white label, multisite)
All plans include unlimited site usage, which is advantageous for agencies and developers managing multiple client sites.
Winner: Elementor – The free version and lower entry price make Elementor more accessible, but Beaver Builder’s unlimited site licenses offer better value for agencies.
Template Libraries and Starting Points
Both builders provide templates to jumpstart your design process.
Elementor Templates
Elementor boasts an extensive template library with hundreds of professionally designed templates, page layouts, and blocks. The variety spans multiple industries and design styles, from minimalist to elaborate. You can import entire kits or individual sections.
The template library is well-organized and searchable, making it easy to find relevant starting points. Premium users get access to even more templates.
Beaver Builder Templates
Beaver Builder offers a solid collection of templates, though smaller than Elementor’s library. The templates emphasize clean, professional designs that prioritize usability over flashiness.
While the selection is more limited, the quality is consistently high, and the templates serve as excellent foundations for custom work.
Winner: Elementor – The larger template library provides more variety and inspiration.
Support and Documentation
Quality support can significantly impact your experience when issues arise.
Elementor Support
Elementor provides extensive documentation, video tutorials, and an active community forum. Pro users receive priority support through the ticketing system. The knowledge base is comprehensive and regularly updated.
The large user base means abundant third-party tutorials, courses, and resources are available across YouTube and various blogs.
Beaver Builder Support
Beaver Builder is renowned for exceptional customer support. The support team is responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. Documentation is thorough and well-written, with clear examples.
The community, while smaller than Elementor’s, is highly engaged and supportive. The focus on developer-friendly features means excellent technical documentation is available.
Winner: Beaver Builder – Superior direct support and better documentation quality give Beaver Builder the advantage.
WooCommerce Integration
For online stores, WooCommerce integration is essential.
Elementor and WooCommerce
Elementor Pro includes dedicated WooCommerce widgets and a full WooCommerce Builder that allows complete customization of shop pages, product pages, and archive pages. The visual editing experience extends seamlessly to e-commerce elements.
Beaver Builder and WooCommerce
Beaver Builder integrates well with WooCommerce but requires more manual setup and doesn’t include as many dedicated e-commerce widgets. The Themer addon helps create custom WooCommerce templates, but the process is less intuitive than Elementor’s approach.
Winner: Elementor – Better out-of-the-box WooCommerce functionality makes Elementor the superior choice for online stores.
Target Users
Understanding who each builder serves best helps clarify the Elementor vs Beaver Builder decision.
Who Should Choose Elementor?
Elementor is ideal for:
- Beginners wanting extensive features without coding
- Designers prioritizing creative freedom and visual options
- WooCommerce store owners
- Users wanting a free, feature-rich starting point
- Those who value a large template library
- Marketers needing popup and form building tools
Who Should Choose Beaver Builder?
Beaver Builder is perfect for:
- Developers and agencies valuing clean code and performance
- Users managing multiple client sites (unlimited site licenses)
- Those prioritizing website speed and SEO
- People wanting stability and fewer plugin conflicts
- Agencies needing white label solutions
- Users who prefer simplicity over feature abundance
Final Verdict: Elementor Vs Beaver Builder
Both Elementor and Beaver Builder are excellent WordPress page builders, but they serve different needs.
Choose Elementor if you want: More features, extensive design options, better WooCommerce integration, a free version to start with, and the largest template library. Elementor is perfect for users who want maximum creative control and don’t mind a slight performance trade-off.
Choose Beaver Builder if you want: Better performance, cleaner code, superior support, unlimited site licenses, and a more streamlined workflow. Beaver Builder excels for developers, agencies, and anyone prioritizing website speed and stability.
Ultimately, both builders can create stunning websites. Your choice in the Elementor vs Beaver Builder debate should depend on your priorities: feature abundance and design flexibility (Elementor) or performance and code quality (Beaver Builder).
Consider starting with Elementor’s free version to test the interface, or take advantage of Beaver Builder’s money-back guarantee to experience its streamlined approach.
The good news? You can’t go wrong with either choice. Both are industry leaders that will serve you well for years to come.
