The WordPress community has many drag and drop page builders which are easy to use. These WordPress plugins let you create professional pages even if you have no design or development experience.
We compare the two most popular WordPress drag and drop page builders, Elementor Pro and Beaver Builder, in this article.
Both of these solutions allow you to make changes to your website using a visual editor, which will show the changes in real-time.
Elementor vs Beaver Builder
The builder also offers a full complement of widgets to construct any type of layout you can imagine. Elementor is a professional WordPress page builder that allows you to create custom layouts using a visual drag-and-drop interface. It has advanced design options, including custom positions, padding, margins, and global settings for colors and typographies. The builder also offers a full complement of widgets to construct any type of layout you can imagine.
Beaver Builder is a better option for developers because it offers clean code, a stable platform, and well-documented PHP, CSS, and JS options.
Elementor
Elementor has become the most popular WordPress page builder plugin in a very short amount of time since it was first launched in 2016.
“It” refers to the WordPress plugin Elementor. Elementor is active on over five million sites, which is the highest distinction at WordPress.org. This means that Elementor is not just the most popular “page builder plugin” — it is one of the most popular WordPress plugins, period.
The Elementor plugin has a free version that can be found on WordPress.org, and a paid premium version with more features. In this post, we’ll focus on the premium version.
Most people prefer Elementor because it offers a range of advanced features and design options. The development team regularly releases new features, so you always have access to new tools for your website.
Elementor Pro is popular among web designers because of its advanced design options, which include unique visual effects and positioning options. These features help you create websites that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Beaver Builder
Beaver Builder was launched in 2014 and has a large and friendly community of fans, although it is not as popular as Elementor.
Beaver Builder focuses more on providing a great page building experience rather than adding new features constantly like Elementor Pro.
This tool is not as versatile as Elementor Pro, however, it is sturdy and not bulky, which is why a lot of WordPress developers prefer it.
Using Elementor
If you have Elementor installed, you will see an “Edit with Elementor” link next to your posts and pages. Clicking this link will take you directly to the live editor.
In order to use Elementor, first click on the “Edit with Elementor” button. This button can be found on the top of each page in the WordPress block editor.
When using the WordPress classic editor, you can edit your posts and pages with Elementor by clicking on the “Edit with Elementor” button above the visual editor.
The Elementor interface has all options down the left-hand side of the page. You can click on the main content area to move sections and widgets around.
As content widgets are referred to as elements, though it is confusing as the search bar states “Search Widget” at the top of the panel, all elements are displayed in two columns.
The top section of the page contains essential elements such as text, headings, images, videos, and maps. The next section displays all pro elements, and then there are sections for general elements and WordPress widgets. The large volume of elements means that you need to scroll down the page to see them all.
To add content to your page, simply click on a content element and drag it to your desired location on the page. When you click on a content element, the panel on the left-hand side will change to show settings specifically for that element.
There are three sections to the settings: Content, Style, and Advanced.
The layout, styling, colors, and other aspects of a content element can all be changed. The visual editor used by Elementor makes it possible to see any changes being made in real time.
The panel begins with the Elementor logo in the center, with a button to the left and right.
The button on the left opens a settings box with options for site settings, the theme builder, and user preferences.
The reset button is on the right. If you click on it, it takes you back to the main panel where everything is displayed.
There are many options that can be modified in the site settings area, including global colors and fonts, typography, buttons, layouts, and more.
You can customize your view on the bottom panel by choosing between desktop, tablet, and mobile modes. You can also access your change history and revert back to previous versions of your layout if you need to.
The templates button in this menu lets you save your current layout as a template and access a library of templates.
Elementor’s interface is not as easy to use as Beaver Builder’s, but once you know how it works, you will be able to create professional layouts in minutes.
Some people prefer Beaver Builder because it is stable and lightweight instead of having lots of features.
Using Beaver Builder
To edit a page or post with Beaver Builder, click on the “Beaver Builder” link on the list page for posts and pages. This will launch the page builder on the front-end of your website.
If you create a new blog post or page, you will see an option to use the WordPress block editor or Beaver Builder.
You can convert existing content to be edited with Beaver Builder by using the conversion tool within the block editor settings. To do this, launch the Beaver Builder interface from the settings list.
You can also launch Beaver Builder from the classic editor.
If you are logged in and browsing your website, you will see an option to edit your layout using Beaver Builder at the top of each page.
I have tested dozens of WordPress page builders, and Beaver Builder is always the one that loads layouts, boxes, and settings the quickest.
When you open the page builder for the first time, you will see a basic toolbar across the top of the screen.
The text on the left-hand side of the screen is a note about the post or page you are currently editing. On the right-hand side of the screen, there is a plus (+) symbol and a button labelled “Done”. Clicking on the “Done” button will display buttons for discarding changes, saving the changes as a draft, publishing the page, or cancelling the action.
When you click on the plus symbol, the main page building panel will appear.
The default view for content modules is the standard modules, but you can switch the display to WordPress widgets or saved modules. (Note: modules, elements, and widgets are all the same thing.)
There are six content modules: Basic, Media, Actions, Layout, Info, and Posts. They are divided into categories and are all easily accessible.
The standard options are available. You can create duplicates, edits, deletions, and rearrange your columns, rows, and content modules.
cons on the right side of the editing box let you know what actions are possible. When you’re editing a column, row, or individual content module, a box appears with a variety of customization settings and styling options. The icons on the right side of the editing box let you know what actions are possible.
The main panel contains four tabs: Modules, Rows, Templates, and Saved.
To use the rows tab, drag a premade row structure to your content area. premade rows with different column variations are available. Once you have added a row structure, you can add content to the columns.
You can view saved rows and modules in the saved tab, and access them from the rows tab as well.
Although Beaver Builder falls short in some areas compared to Elementor Pro and Divi Builder, it excels in others.
The interface loads quickly and has a well-designed layout that is easy to understand. This saves time when creating custom layouts.
Elementor Pricing
The lowest priced plan starts at $49 per year and allows you to use the plugin on one site. The most expensive plan, which is $199 per year, allows you to use the plugin on up to 1,000 sites.
Elementor Pro offers five pricing plans, with the main difference being the number of sites on which the plugin can be used. The lowest priced plan starts at $49 per year for one site, while the most expensive plan is $199 per year for up to 1,000 sites.
In addition to the features offered on the lower-tier plans, the higher-tier plans also offer some exclusive website kits as well as VIP support on the two highest tiers.
If you only plan to use Elementor Pro on one site, it is cheaper than Beaver Builder. However, if you plan to use it on more than 25 sites, it is more expensive.
If you plan to use the plugin on more than 25 sites, it will be more expensive than other page builders you can find.
These higher-priced plans will really only affect agencies or freelancers who build lots of websites for clients:
The plans are for a one-year license, and you will need to renew your license to continue receiving support and updates after the first year. Additionally, Elementor will lock the Pro widgets after the first year.
If you want to keep using Pro widgets, you will need to renew your license.
Currently, Elementor Pro does not offer a renewal discount, so the price will stay the same every year.
Beaver Builder Pricing
Beaver Builder provides three pricing plans, which all permit use on an unlimited number of sites.
If you have multiple WordPress sites, Beaver Builder offers excellent value. However, if you only want a builder for a single site, it is more expensive than Elementor Pro.
Most people will be fine with the cheapest Standard plan, as this already gives you access to the full page builder functionality. You only need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan if you want one or more of these three features:
- The Beaver Builder theme (this isn’t that valuable in 2021 as there are lots of great lightweight themes such as GeneratePress or Astra)
- WordPress multisite support
- White labeling (useful if you build client sites)
Elementor vs Beaver Builder: Pros and Cons
Elementor
Pros
- Has more features, including the popup builder, universal design system, and more.
- Gives you more design options, including unique details like Motion Effects, custom positioning, and so on.
- Has a much larger and more useful template library, including complete website kits.
- Much cheaper if you only need a builder for a single site.
- It gives you access to theme building in the core plugin, whereas Beaver Builder makes you purchase an add-on.
- It’s the most popular page builder, which means there’s a huge community (for community support) and tons of third-party add-on plugins.
- Useful interface features like right-click support, copy/paste for elements or styles, Navigator, and so on.
Cons
- More expensive if you plan to use it on lots of WordPress sites (e.g. 25+ sites).
- The interface layout isn’t as customizable.
- No renewal discount after the first year.
Beaver Builder
Pros
- The interface is very fast, stable, and glitch-free.
- You can customize the interface layout by dragging the interface windows around, which lets you adjust it to your workflows.
- Very stable in general. It’s rare that a Beaver Builder update causes issues.
- Allows usage on unlimited sites on all plans, which offers great value if you plan to use it on lots of sites.
- Offers a 40% renewal discount.
Beaver Builder Cons
- Not as many features as Elementor Pro.
- Not as many advanced design options.
- More expensive if you only plan to use it on a single site.
- Limited template selection in comparison to Elementor Pro.
- No right-click support in the interface.
Should You Use Elementor or Beaver Builder?
- It gives you more features, such as Elementor Popup Builder. You probably noticed a theme in the hands-on comparison where Elementor Pro has more features than Beaver Builder in pretty much every area.
- You get more design options, which is why Elementor Pro is especially popular with web designers (because web designers love taking advantage of those cool Motion Effects and other unique options).
- Elementor is more popular, which means it’s easier to find community support and you can find more Elementor extensions.
- If you’re on a tight budget, the free version of Elementor is much more functional than the free version of Beaver Builder.
If you’re looking for an easy way to add visuals to your WordPress site, Elementor is a great option. Elementor Pro is especially designed for those new to web design.
Although both are great choices, you can’t go wrong with Beaver Builder.
There is a general preference among web developers and advanced users for Beaver Builder over Elementor. The main reason for this is that Beaver Builder is seen as being more stable and having a less complicated interface than Elementor.
The other big differentiator is price. In general, the dynamic goes like this:
- Elementor Pro is cheaper if you just need a tool for a single site.
- Elementor Pro and Beaver Builder are equally priced for up to three sites if you just need a page builder. Beyond three sites, Beaver Builder is significantly cheaper.
- If you need theme building, Elementor Pro is cheaper for up to 25 sites. Beyond 25 sites, “Beaver Builder + Beaver Themer” is significantly cheaper.
If you plan to use Elementor Pro for only your own websites, it will likely be less expensive than if you plan to use it for client websites. On the other hand, if you build websites for a living, Beaver Builder will probably be less expensive.
In addition to the initial discount, Beaver Builder also offers a 40% renewal discount, whereas Elementor Pro does not. This means that Beaver Builder will be significantly cheaper in the second year and beyond, as opposed to Elementor Pro whose price will stay the same.
Given the aforesaid discrepancies, you are now able to select the equipment that best complies with your needs and finances!
0 comments