Elementor vs. Gutenberg: Which is Better? (2025 Comparison)
If you’re building a WordPress website, choosing the right page builder plugin is crucial. Elementor and Gutenberg are two of the most popular options in 2025, each with its unique strengths.
Should You Use Elementor or Gutenberg as Your Page Builder?
Both are powerful tools, but they serve different types of users. In this post, we’ll break down the pros, cons, performance, ease of use, flexibility, and SEO-friendliness of each to help you choose the right one in 2025.
What Is Elementor?
Elementor is a drag-and-drop page builder plugin for WordPress. It lets users design complex, custom layouts without writing code.
✅Pros of Elementor:
- Visual drag-and-drop interface
- Huge library of pre-built templates
- Advanced features: animations, forms, pop-ups, sliders
- Compatible with most themes
- Great for agencies, freelancers, and non-coders
❌ Cons:
- Can be resource-heavy, slower on shared hosting
- Pro version is required for advanced widgets (starts at 60 USD/year)
- Slight learning curve for complete beginners
What Is Gutenberg?
Gutenberg is the default WordPress block editor, introduced in WordPress 5.0. It replaces the classic editor and lets you build content using “blocks.”
✅ Pros of Gutenberg:
- Built-in – no plugin required
- Faster performance (lighter than Elementor)
- Works well with most themes and core features
- Keeps content clean (less shortcode clutter)
- Ideal for bloggers and minimalists
❌ Cons:
- Limited design flexibility without add-ons
- More difficult to create complex layouts
- Some advanced features require extra plugins
Performance: Speed & Optimization
| Feature | Elementor | Gutenberg |
|---|---|---|
| Page speed | Slower (unless optimized) | Faster (lean code) |
| Code output | More complex (lots of divs) | Cleaner HTML structure |
| Plugin bloat | Higher | Lower |
👉 If speed is your top priority, Gutenberg wins.
Design Flexibility
- Elementor is unbeatable for pixel-perfect, advanced design.
- Gutenberg is improving but still more basic (unless extended with plugins like Kadence Blocks or Stackable).
Pricing
| Tool | Free Version? | Paid Features |
|---|---|---|
| Elementor | ✅ Yes | Pro starts at 60 USD/year |
| Gutenberg | ✅ Built-in | Free (some block plugins are paid) |
Ease of Use
- Elementor is easier for non-technical users who want visual control.
- Gutenberg is more comfortable for writers and bloggers who want simplicity and speed.
SEO & Content Cleanliness
- Gutenberg creates cleaner, faster-loading pages (better for SEO).
- Elementor can still rank well — but it may need extra optimization (e.g., caching, image compression, lazy loading).
Final Verdict: Elementor vs. Gutenberg
| Choose Elementor if: |
| You want full design control and beautiful pages |
| You build websites for clients or agencies |
| You don’t mind paying for Pro features |
| Choose Gutenberg if: |
| You want fast performance and simplicity |
| You’re a blogger, writer, or minimalist |
| You prefer native WordPress features without plugins |
Bonus: Can You Use Both?
Yes! You can use Gutenberg for blog posts and Elementor for landing pages or homepages. Many sites combine both to get the best of each.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, both Elementor and Gutenberg are excellent tools, and the right one depends on your goals. If you're building sleek business sites, Elementor is hard to beat. If you're focused on speed, SEO, and clean code, Gutenberg is the winner.
đź’¬ Which one do you prefer – Elementor or Gutenberg? Let us know in the comments!
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