Gutenberg vs Elementor (2025): Which WordPress Page Builder Should You Use?

Nov 14, 2025 |

12 minutes read

In 2025, building a professional and high-performing website is more accessible than ever, thanks to WordPress and its ecosystem of page builders. Two of the most widely used tools for creating visually compelling websites are Gutenberg—the native WordPress block editor—and Elementor, a third-party drag-and-drop builder. Choosing the right one can have a significant impact on your workflow, website performance, and design flexibility.

This guide will provide a comprehensive, head-to-head comparison of Gutenberg and Elementor, helping you understand their strengths, limitations, pricing, and best use cases for different types of websites.

What is Gutenberg?

Gutenberg, introduced in WordPress 5.0 in 2018, represents a shift from traditional text-based editing to a block-based system. Every piece of content paragraphs, headings, images, videos, buttons, or even complex layouts is treated as a block that can be moved, customized, and reused. This modular approach allows users to structure content without relying on shortcodes or custom HTML.

Since WordPress 5.9 and beyond, Gutenberg has evolved into a Full Site Editing (FSE) tool, allowing users to edit headers, footers, templates, and other theme elements directly from the WordPress interface. This reduces the need for additional page builder plugins in many cases.

Key Features of Gutenberg

Extensive Block Library: Over 100 native blocks and thousands of additional blocks via plugins like Spectra, Kadence Blocks, and Ultimate Blocks.

Full Site Editing (FSE): Design entire themes visually, including headers, footers, and template layouts.

Reusable Patterns: Save and reuse layouts or sections across multiple pages or posts.

Accessibility: WCAG-compliant design ensures websites are accessible to all users.

Performance: Lightweight and optimized, resulting in faster page loading and better SEO performance.

Integration: Works seamlessly with most modern WordPress themes and plugins.

Pros of Gutenberg: Free, lightweight, integrated with WordPress, and simple for content creation.

Cons of Gutenberg: Advanced visual customization is limited without third-party plugins, and learning Full Site Editing may require a short adjustment period.

What is Elementor?

Elementor, launched in 2016, is a drag-and-drop page builder plugin that provides full visual control over website design. Unlike Gutenberg, Elementor is a standalone plugin with both free and premium (Pro) versions. It’s widely used by designers, agencies, and marketing teams for creating highly customized websites without touching code.

With over 13 million active installations, Elementor continues to innovate in 2025, offering advanced widgets, global styling options, and responsive design features.

Key Features of Elementor

Visual Drag-and-Drop Editing: Design pages in real time with a true WYSIWYG interface.

Widget Library: 100+ widgets in the free version; 300+ in Elementor Pro, covering forms, sliders, animations, and eCommerce tools.

Theme Builder: Customize headers, footers, archive pages, and single post templates visually.

Responsive Editing: Separate layouts for desktop, tablet, and mobile views.

Global Styles: Apply consistent typography, colors, and spacing site-wide.

Integrations: Supports WooCommerce, Mailchimp, HubSpot, and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF).

Motion Effects and Animations: Add dynamic visual effects for engaging page experiences.

Pros of Elementor: Complete visual control, rich library of design elements, easy for non-developers to build custom layouts.

Cons of Elementor: Can add extra code and slow down websites if not optimized; many advanced features require the Pro version starting at $59/year.

Feature	Gutenberg	Elementor
Ease of Use	Simple block editing; minimal interface	True visual drag-and-drop; intuitive for designers
Design Flexibility	Depends on theme; limited advanced styling	Full pixel-perfect control; animations and templates
Performance	Lightweight and fast	Can be heavier; requires optimization
Pricing	Free	Free basic; Pro starts at $59/year
SEO	Clean code and native optimization	Good with proper optimization
Learning Curve	Beginner-friendly	Slightly steeper
Reusability	Reusable blocks and patterns	Global widgets and templates

Detailed Comparison

1. Ease of Use
Gutenberg is excellent for bloggers and content creators focused on writing and publishing. Its block interface is straightforward, and adding media or layouts is simple. Elementor excels for those who prefer visual design freedom, making it ideal for designers, marketers, and agencies building landing pages or portfolios.

2. Design Capabilities
Elementor outperforms Gutenberg in visual creativity. It offers a wider range of widgets, animations, and ready-made templates. Gutenberg can achieve professional designs but often requires extra plugins and some familiarity with Full Site Editing.

3. Performance
Gutenberg websites tend to load faster because the editor is built into WordPress, generating clean code. Elementor adds additional CSS and JavaScript, which can impact performance. However, optimization plugins and caching can mitigate these effects.

4. Customization and Control
Elementor allows complete control over layout, typography, spacing, and interactive elements. Gutenberg offers growing flexibility with FSE and global styles but still relies on theme capabilities for full customization.

5. Pricing Considerations
Gutenberg is completely free, making it attractive for small blogs and budget-conscious businesses. Elementor’s Pro version, required for advanced features like Theme Builder or WooCommerce widgets, starts at $59/year for a single site and scales up for multiple sites.

6. SEO and Accessibility
Both builders are capable of producing SEO-friendly and accessible websites. Gutenberg’s native integration with WordPress ensures minimal code bloat, while Elementor requires attention to optimization and clean usage of effects for best SEO results.

Who Should Use Gutenberg?

Gutenberg is ideal for:

– Bloggers or content-focused websites
– Developers looking for lightweight, modular design
– Businesses prioritizing performance and speed

Summary: Free, lightweight, integrated, fast, and secure. Limited advanced design capabilities without plugins.

Who Should Use Elementor?

Elementor is ideal for:

– Designers, freelancers, and agencies
– Marketing teams creating landing pages and portfolios
– eCommerce businesses requiring advanced design and product layouts

Summary: Powerful visual design, extensive widgets and templates, suitable for advanced, creative layouts. Requires careful optimization and investment for Pro features.

Expert Recommendation (2025)

Rather than choosing one exclusively, many professionals combine both Gutenberg and Elementor. Use Gutenberg for content-heavy pages such as blog posts, product descriptions, and documentation to ensure speed and SEO optimization. Use Elementor for landing pages, portfolios, and promotional content where visual appeal and creative control are key.

This hybrid approach leverages the strengths of both tools, creating fast, functional, and aesthetically impressive websites.

WordPress builder tools for effortless site design

The Way Forward

In 2025, both Gutenberg and Elementor continue to evolve. Gutenberg offers simplicity, speed, and native integration, while Elementor provides creative freedom and advanced design capabilities. Understanding your website’s goals, your design requirements, and your budget will help you choose the right tool—or combine both for optimal results.