Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued) vs. Elementor

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Adobe Business Catalyst was a cloud-hosted system for building and managing web content and online stores with a built-in CRM framework in addition to sales, service, and marketing features including eCommerce and Email Marketing tools. It has been end of life (EOL) since 2020.N/A
Elementor
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Elementor is a Wordpress page builder and creative toolkit featuring a drag and drop live editor, 100+ widgets, and tools to landing pages and popups.
$11.99
per month
Pricing
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)Elementor
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Lite
$11.99
per month
Basic
$14.99
per month
Business
$24.99
per month
Grow
$32.99
per month
Expert
$149.00
per year
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)Elementor
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPrices reflect deployment via WordPress. Options are also available for use with WooCommerce. A discount is offered for annual billing.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)Elementor
Considered Both Products
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
We use Adobe Muse and this was our introduction to BC, we did not have a choice in this topic. But we have a good experiance with Adobe products generally as we also use most products within Adobe CC
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
Adobe Business Catalyst has Web Apps which makes all the difference between them and competitors. Without that, BC would be behind many of the other CMS systems out there. Being a hosted system without any maintenance needs also puts it ahead of others. LightCMS is easier for …
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
I would say that all things considered Adobe Business Catalyst is an excellent product. It does have some short-comings, but it is fantastic all around. It has a nice way of tying everything in your digital presence together nicely. If you do not have a ton of money to spend on …
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
The largest competitor in my portfolio is GoDaddy. I tend to use them for larger products or for all inclusive domain registration and web presence. I prefer using BC for most everything due to its simplistic nature. It is a very streamlined product and is easy to add users …
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
As far as the CMS for BC goes, there is none out there that compares. In the past we have utilized Joomla, Wordpress, Mambo, Drupal, Concrete 5 and others. None of them were as easy to use and train on that Adobe's Business Catalyst. Our alternative to BC is WordPress when our …
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
We prefer Adobe Business Catalyst over WordPress. Adobe Business Catalyst websites are more secure and you don't have to update plug-ins. Saving our clients in cost over time.
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
I have worked with BigCommerce, ExpressionEngine, WordPress and other custom content management systems. The speed of the setup and ease of use are the primary reasons I choose BusinessCatalyst over other systems. While the CRM and Email platform are not as extensive as others, …
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
I use Wordpress along with Adobe Business Catalyst for CMS but I strongly prefer BC, mainly because of constant Wordpress updates that I have to manage.
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
Business Catalyst is extremely easier to use and navigate than most other options. In comparison to other CMS systems, the setup time is minimal and very straight forward.
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
I prefer Adobe Business Catalyst to the open source competitors because they require a bit of upkeep to keep versions and plug-ins updated; BC does the versioning and updating for you.
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
All-in-one solution, no need to worry about compatibility
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
Adobe Business Catalyst is our favorite web content management system - it has everything built in and, being in the cloud, never needs manual updating like the open source stuff out there. It's contact database isn't as robust as SalesForce or Sugar, but it works and is …
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
BC may not be as customizable as these two, but it is a much more of a secure option.
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
Business Catalyst outperforms other CMS systems out there. Because it's a hosted content management system maintained by Adobe we have to spend less time worrying about server setup, maintenance, and security and more time building better websites. We also don't have to worry …
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
We didn't really used many products before deciding to use Business Catalyst. When we started we developed sites using an old product (GoLive) and then created a few sites in Wordpress. We didn't like that fact that Wordpress needed an add-on every time we wanted additional …
Chose Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
WordPress, out of the box, is a very powerful platform. It, however, might need a lot of third-party plugins to make it do exactly what a client needs. In contract, Business Catalyst, out of the box, has many more features. For certain clients, a solution like BC is the perfect …
Elementor
Chose Elementor
In the wordpress environment Elementor is by far the best builder, there are new things coming to market like Breakdance, but their time is still to be decided in the future. Also overall in the entire web builder category, Elementor is unbeatable, having the power of WordPress …
Chose Elementor
I prefer it to most of them because it's cost effective and I really like WordPress a really good feature base to build websites on. Bricks is WP-based too, but I find Elementor easier to use.
Chose Elementor
We initially chose WYSIWUG web builder as the key platform for all website development projects. While we still rate the product almost an 8.5/10, we found much better SEO (Search engine optimization) outcomes through wordpress and accordingly migrated to the same. Going …
Chose Elementor
Elementor is a bit of a different platform than, say, easyTithe, Robly, and Apptivo, but it is comparable to Shopify. I feel like Elementor and WooCommerce are a lot easier to use than Shopify, and it doesn't come with such high fees. For our business, it was no choice! …
Chose Elementor
We've used Divi and Enfold as well, both of those have a similar goal for visual editors and usability and work well - but Elementor feels more polished and has great support.
Chose Elementor
We weighed Elementor against the classic/native WordPress editor and Gutenberg. Elementor provides more functionality and with a greater ease of use than its competitors.
Chose Elementor
Actually, we switch to Squarespace after working with Elementor for a year. Squarespace is giving us best results and more freedom to make changes or add new stuff to the site
Chose Elementor
I use Optimize Press on a business website. It has a conceptually similar WYSIWYG page builder. They provide a sales funnel capability with their theme, which is why I use them.
Chose Elementor
I have used the built-in Gutenberg content builder and Visual Composer before. Neither of these are truly "front-end" page builders. They allow you to build with blocks the content you want, but you can not see it live as you design it. That is the true value Elementor has …
Chose Elementor
Thrive leads and thrive architect is a pain to update, they've changed version and name in recent years. I am unable to update because every time there was an upgrade or new release of the plugin it caused issues with my website's functionality which has left me stuck updating …
Chose Elementor
I previously used Wix with another company, and when I switched companies, the company I switched to was already using WordPress/Elementor. I could have switched the company to Wix if I had wanted to, but I enjoy the flexibility that Elementor allows, something that Wix isn't …
Chose Elementor
I ended up asking Elementor for a refund so I could use another theme. They were quick to refund me and ask what they could do better in the future. I ended up choosing OShine, which worked great for me, but now I wish I would've gone with Oxygen as it seems to be a little tiny …
Chose Elementor
Elementor is relatively cheap and easy to use, but comes with a number of performance issues which ruin the experience in the long run. Right now, we've switched to Webflow and Unbounce for the same ease of use, but with improved performance
Chose Elementor
We wanted to use WordPress and not depend on the Tilda with annual fees, so we installed wordpress and bought a template on Envato market, and the selected template already had a built-in Elementor, which I just tweaked to fit my needs. Also we don't want to learn a completely …
Chose Elementor
Elementor stuck out as the clear leader for their online support and ease of use. Wordpress has started to adopt some of the core features of Wordpress, which means that they must have been good and seen as a clear necessity, but the Elementor still has the clear lead on …
Chose Elementor
I tried a couple of website builders for Wordpress and Visual Composer was the only other that I considered using. Elementor is a better product like the price difference proves. I will choose Elementor whenever possible because it makes sense from a business perspective.
Chose Elementor
Before Elementor, I developed our site using the WordPress plugin Divi. While the editor was great, I found that the site load times (even with image optimization) were unacceptably slow. The Elementor editor is on par with Divi (better in way[s], less intuitive in others), but …
Chose Elementor
Before using Elementor we used Divi by Elegant Themes, and the biggest improvements are in load speed and reduced bloat. Elementor editor loads faster and makes web design a more enjoyable process. I would highly recommend Elementor over Divi. It’s also helpful that Elementor …
Chose Elementor
We've used everything from Divi to Brizy to Gutenberg and beyond. For us, Elementor ticks all the boxes. Though Divi has its fanbase, it doesn't allow a client to switch easily down the road whereas Elementor does. Divi and Elementor were our final two choices as we went …
Chose Elementor
I am not finding the builders that I have used in the past in the prepopulated area. The builders that we have used in the past include Divi, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, Instapages, as well as the classic editor and Gutenberg. I will say that Beaver Builder is probably a close …
Chose Elementor
I tried Visual Composer and Divvy and no one is at the level of Elementor. It is very intuitive and easy, highly recommend.
Chose Elementor
Elementor is relatively inexpensive for the features offered. It's simpler than some competitors and allows teams to play around with site content without overwhelming them with sophisticated features.
Chose Elementor
WP Bakery and Divi both serve similar needs, but we have chosen to go full-tilt with Elementor due to the excellent infrastructure, support, and value it brings.
Features
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)Elementor
Platform & Infrastructure
Comparison of Platform & Infrastructure features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
6.6
Ratings
14% below category average
Elementor
3.0
Ratings
87% below category average
API7.90 Ratings4.00 Ratings
Internationalization / multi-language00 Ratings2.00 Ratings
Security
Comparison of Security features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
-
Ratings
Elementor
6.9
Ratings
16% below category average
Role-based user permissions00 Ratings6.90 Ratings
Web Content Creation
Comparison of Web Content Creation features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
-
Ratings
Elementor
7.9
Ratings
2% above category average
WYSIWYG editor00 Ratings7.50 Ratings
Code quality / cleanliness00 Ratings8.50 Ratings
Admin section00 Ratings9.50 Ratings
Page templates00 Ratings10.00 Ratings
Library of website themes00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Mobile optimization / responsive design00 Ratings6.90 Ratings
Publishing workflow00 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Form generator00 Ratings4.00 Ratings
Web Content Management
Comparison of Web Content Management features of Product A and Product B
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)
-
Ratings
Elementor
6.2
Ratings
17% below category average
Content taxonomy00 Ratings7.70 Ratings
SEO support00 Ratings5.00 Ratings
Bulk management00 Ratings5.00 Ratings
Availability / breadth of extensions00 Ratings6.10 Ratings
Community / comment management00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
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Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)Elementor
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User Ratings
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)Elementor
Likelihood to Recommend
6.0
(0 ratings)
8.5
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.4
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.7
(0 ratings)
7.0
(0 ratings)
Availability
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.2
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.6
(0 ratings)
2.0
(0 ratings)
Online Training
8.6
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.6
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
8.2
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
8.2
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Adobe Business Catalyst (Discontinued)Elementor
Likelihood to Recommend
The service provision is good the accounts customer service is poor so I would struggle to give BC a better than average review, if only they could offer customers a better accounts service then the value would be much higher.
Read full review
I would recommend this for the ease of use and price. It is a good value for any website developer or designer to be able to create multiple websites a year with super simple coding. If you've got a way to speed up your website without using WP Rocket, then it's even better! I think this software is specifically made for someone with a coding background and would recommend that you have a background with Wordpress to make using this software even easier
Read full review
Pros
  • The Web Apps element of Business Catalyst is unique among hosted CMS systems. It helps us solve unique challenges without involving heavy-duty programmers.
  • As a Hosted CMS, it has a lot of great features without a ton of cost or liability being taken on which is important to us.
  • BC has a growing developer community and has made significant upgrades over the past few years, which don't end up costing us more, and would be very expensive or time consuming in a traditional CMS
  • Our client's like that it is from "Adobe" and that it has Dreamweaver integration. This provides them with a level of comfort that helps us sell the project.
Read full review
  • Theme builder (header, footer, site parts)
  • Forms, with options for what to do with form submissions after they've been submitted (email, collect , push to EMS)
  • Easy to use widgets for things that would otherwise need coding manually (sliders, carousels, flip boxes etc.)
  • Pre-built templates
  • Dynamic conditions for content display
Read full review
Cons
  • I love web apps but it can be time consuming to get the bulk import file just right the first time
  • Support is good, but the effort to research can be massive for unusual issues
  • Metadata on blog posts and pages can require lots of content editing at a slow pace
Read full review
  • Could definitely use an AI bot for ad-hoc customer queries
  • Very limited Wdgets available in free version - If you have complex pages, go pro
  • Ensure robust internet speed (50 MBPS bare minimum) to be able to operate it. Below 8 GB RAM is not advised
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Actually with Business Catalyst there is no renewal; once you are a partner, you are a partner for as long as you like. It is an investment in your business not simply a product you purchase...and as an investment in partnership with Adobe, both are committed to each other's success.
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Elementor is critical to our ongoing success and providing our clients with world-class websites
Read full review
Usability
Overall it is a "plug and play" interface. The majority of the work is done in other software interfaces. Managing billing, user roles and custom reports are all that you need to manage in the actual BC user interface. For my business this is an incredible benefit as I have to leave my preferred software less.
Read full review
Elementor is one of those website builders that is really easy to get started with. The drag and drop features make it easy to create attractive and creative webpages for even the non-website designer. Some of the features available are not easy to find or easy to discover when you first start using Elementor. Practice makes perfect.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
very few issues with availability
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Performance
Very few issues
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
The support provided by Adobe is excellent. Though the knowledge base, forums, blogs and online chat questions most all answers can be found. In the event that you are unable to find an answer or you have a unique situation simply post a question to the forums. These forums are regularly monitored by Adobe and its users.
Read full review
There support is slow and at times can be frustrating and this is why many prefer to air out their frustrations within the Facebook group community. I tend to give up as when I'm working on something and something goes wrong I need the help straight away. I do not have the patience to wait anymore.
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Online Training
bcgurus.com kiyuco
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Pretty easy to do
Read full review
The business team has to stick to its core competencies - Our key turning point occured when we delegated webpage design challenges to a tech. firm with specific mandates (including a certain degree of internal control). Once the initial go-live was completed, the agency trained us on internalizing ad-hoc and tactical change work
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
I would say that all things considered Adobe Business Catalyst is an excellent product. It does have some short-comings, but it is fantastic all around. It has a nice way of tying everything in your digital presence together nicely. If you do not have a ton of money to spend on a company website, and want things like e-mail marketing, analytics, a reliable web-site, then this is probably a very real option that should be considered. If you want a website that can grow with your company, this is also a great possibility. For smaller companies with less technical resources, I don't know if you could ask for a much better all in one solution. If you want something that can be completely customized, then there are better options out there, but they will be more expensive and require more technical knowledge to use well.
Read full review
Compared to other providers, Elementor can be easy to use and learn, allowing you to build professional websites in a fraction of the time it takes to build websites with other sites. The AI feature can help non-tech people to easily understand and build a website that is SEO and Google search compliant.
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Scalability
It's easy to build small sites or large sites and there is lots of templating.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
  • Surprisingly enough and despite having a second, less expensive hosting solution, a majority of our clients prefer to use the Adobe Business Catalyst solution. We are then able to enjoy the commissions that are returned as we sign up new customers for annual contracts.
  • Being able to store and utilize data that comes from web form submissions has been very helpful in customer retention since we became a partner in 2011. Since that time, we have only lost two clients. That's 3 times better than our other hosting solution.
  • Our largest negative impact has come from having only one choice in SSLs. For example, we had a great client in a local and growing bank. We spent 2 months getting the web site built to their specifications and we were very clear on the SSL situation. However, once the site went live, problems arose. In the past they had submitted their site to search engines with their secure URL and that was all that was indexed. Then when their customers searched for their site and clicked on the secure URL, it either showed that the site could not be found OR it said that they were entering to a site with an unverified SSL. People would then call the bank and complain. We then had to quickly move their site to another solution costing us days of re-development time and resources.
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  • Our sales have really grown over the past five years of using Elementor. We went from fulfilling less than five orders a month to now 10-15 per months. And we are a small bulk food store with a small audience.
  • We have been able to add plug ins along with Elementor to customize our products, store, and pages.
  • We haven't done as much with SEO and Elementor. I feel like this is one area that we could probably do better.
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