Elementor Technology Intelligence

What is Elementor?

Elementor is a visual drag-and-drop page builder for WordPress that enables users to create professional websites without coding. It provides real-time frontend editing with a live preview, allowing designers and non-developers to build complex page layouts within the WordPress ecosystem.

Launched in 2016 by Yoni Luksenberg and Ariel Klikstein in Israel, Elementor rapidly became the most popular WordPress page builder with over 5 million active installations. The plugin disrupted traditional WordPress development by making sophisticated design accessible through visual tools. Elementor offers both a free core plugin and a Pro version with advanced features like theme building, WooCommerce integration, and dynamic content.

Key Features

Visual Editor

• Live Editing: Real-time changes visible as you edit
• Drag-and-Drop: Position elements with precision
• Responsive Mode: Preview and edit for desktop, tablet, mobile
• Undo/Redo: Complete revision history
• Right-Click Menu: Quick actions for elements

Widgets (90+ Elements)

• Basic: Heading, text, image, video, button, spacer
• Advanced: Carousel, tabs, accordion, toggle, counter
• Forms: Contact forms with integrations (Pro)
• WooCommerce: Product grids, cart, checkout (Pro)
• WordPress: Posts, archive, site elements (Pro)

Theme Builder (Pro)

• Headers: Custom sticky and mega menu headers
• Footers: Site-wide footer templates
• Single Post: Blog post and page templates
• Archive: Category and archive page designs
• 404: Custom error pages

Dynamic Content

Connect widgets to WordPress fields, custom fields (ACF, Pods), and WooCommerce data for dynamic, data-driven pages.

Use Cases

Business Websites

Small businesses create professional websites without hiring developers. Elementor templates provide starting points for services pages, about pages, and contact sections.

WordPress Agency Workflow

Web agencies use Elementor to accelerate client site development. Theme Builder enables complete site design without custom theme development.

E-commerce Stores

WooCommerce stores customize product pages, shop layouts, and checkout experiences. Elementor's WooCommerce widgets provide design control beyond standard themes.

Landing Pages

Marketers create campaign landing pages within WordPress. Forms integrate with email marketing platforms for lead capture.

Portfolios

Designers and creatives build portfolio sites showcasing their work. Gallery and carousel widgets display projects effectively.

Membership Sites

Combined with membership plugins, Elementor designs member-only content areas, login pages, and account dashboards.

Development and Customization

Custom Widget Development

// Create custom Elementor widget
class My_Custom_Widget extends \Elementor\Widget_Base {
    public function get_name() {
        return 'my_widget';
    }

    public function get_title() {
        return 'My Custom Widget';
    }

    protected function _register_controls() {
        $this->start_controls_section('content_section', [
            'label' => 'Content',
            'tab' => \Elementor\Controls_Manager::TAB_CONTENT,
        ]);

        $this->add_control('title', [
            'label' => 'Title',
            'type' => \Elementor\Controls_Manager::TEXT,
            'default' => 'Default Title',
        ]);

        $this->end_controls_section();
    }

    protected function render() {
        $settings = $this->get_settings_for_display();
        echo '<h2>' . esc_html($settings['title']) . '</h2>';
    }
}

Custom CSS

/* Target Elementor elements */
.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title {
    font-family: 'Playfair Display', serif;
}

/* Custom section styling */
.elementor-section.my-custom-section {
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
}

Hooks and Filters

// Add custom category for widgets
add_action('elementor/elements/categories_registered', function($elements_manager) {
    $elements_manager->add_category('my-category', [
        'title' => 'My Custom Widgets',
        'icon' => 'fa fa-plug',
    ]);
});

// Enqueue custom scripts for frontend
add_action('elementor/frontend/after_enqueue_scripts', function() {
    wp_enqueue_script('my-custom-script', plugins_url('/js/custom.js', __FILE__));
});

Pricing and Comparison

Pricing

• Free: Core widgets and editor functionality
• Essential: $59/year - 1 site, Pro widgets, Theme Builder
• Expert: $199/year - 25 sites, all features
• Agency: $399/year - 1,000 sites, VIP support

Key Benefits

• Largest Ecosystem: Most third-party addons and templates
• Active Community: Extensive tutorials and support
• Regular Updates: Consistent feature additions
• Theme Builder: Complete site design capability
• WooCommerce: Deep e-commerce integration

Considerations

• Performance impact with many widgets
• Content lock-in with Elementor shortcodes
• Learning curve for advanced features
• Ongoing subscription for Pro features

Comparison

• vs Divi: More widgets, larger ecosystem; Divi better bundled value
• vs Beaver Builder: More features; Beaver more stable/lightweight
• vs WPBakery: More modern; WPBakery older but still popular
• vs Gutenberg: More powerful; Gutenberg is native/lighter