Elementor vs. ExpressionEngine

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
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
ExpressionEngine
Score 10.0 out of 10
N/A
ExpressionEngine is a content management system from EllisLab in 2002, a successor to pMachine Pro, a blogging system, which is written in object-oriented PHP and uses MySQL for data storage. ExpressionEngine is their flagship Content Delivery Platform.
$299
One Time Fee
Pricing
ElementorExpressionEngine
Editions & Modules
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
License
$299.00
One Time Fee
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
ElementorExpressionEngine
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
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
ElementorExpressionEngine
Considered Both Products
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.
ExpressionEngine
Chose ExpressionEngine
We do use WordPress for very small, simple websites. However, we dislike WordPress' approach to having content types (pages and posts) and themes running at install. We have to "override" the WordPress assumptions about the website, which is time-consuming. We also find that …
Chose ExpressionEngine
EE offers a much more flexible experience content experience while still keeping the content intact. Other CMSs have really become more "page builders", which is great to start but does not scale in either speed or functionality. EE, though rigid in the content structure, gives …
Chose ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine is just as dynamic, if not more so than the other CMS tools that I've worked with in the past. From my experience, It's been easier to customize the templates and content containers. This advantage makes a world of difference when trying to design a landing …
Chose ExpressionEngine
While everybody loves WordPress because it's cheap, fast, and ubiquitous, we prefer ExpressionEngine for its flexibility, security, and open approach to content structure.
Chose ExpressionEngine
I feel ExpressionEngine is on par with the major CMS systems, WordPress, Drupal, and Craft. It's used by many companies exclusively and is trustworthy. Lately, I've been building more sites with WordPress and still prefer how ExpressionEngine handles certain aspects, such as …
Chose ExpressionEngine
As previously mentioned, the UI/UX of EE is leagues beyond any other CMS I have used before. This is essential for client use.
Chose ExpressionEngine
Systems presented to us by our integration partner were comparatively quite expensive, required a different infrastructure than currently in place, as well as different technology skills that were not currently present in house. With ExpressionEngine we were able to have a …
Chose ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine outweighs most all of its competitors by being so flexible. If you can imagine it, then you can build it with EE (ExpressionEngine). Most competitors lock you in with certain ways to build your website or use only their tools; ExpresionEngine gives you the …
Chose ExpressionEngine
WordPress has millions of users. Millions! It also has thousands of plugins and add-ons, both free and premium, an easy, automatic updating system, and a user-friendly control panel. It also has numerous installable themes that can fit a wide variety of website needs, from the …
Chose ExpressionEngine
I have only evaluated these products. They all are very strong in their own ways (some may be stronger than ExpressionEngine) but I simply haven't had time to learn them in more detail.
Chose ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine is vastly more flexible than any other content management system I have used to date and the quality of the add-ons are significantly higher than what you find in other directories. The ExpressionEngine community is also very willing and helpful with if you …
Chose ExpressionEngine
Again, for most of our customers' projects, ExpressionEngine is a great solution due to its flexibility, extensibility, and ease of use. We rarely come up against a situation for which EE is not a suitable solution.
Chose ExpressionEngine
We tend to prefer WordPress over ExpressionEngine, primarily for ease of set up out of the box. ExpressionEngine has its strengths, but for our company, this isn't our first choice.
Chose ExpressionEngine
I wasn't in charge of selecting this product. On our other site we have a very robust custom built CMS that's much easier to make changes to.
Chose ExpressionEngine
We do use other services too. WordPress is another great option that we use frequently, but ExpressionEngine is great for more complex designs and dev features.
Chose ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine was selected prior to my hiring. We are likely switching from ExpresionEngine to WordPress or Drupal in the near future to save money on custom modules.
Chose ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine vs. WordPress - This is a no brainer. ExpressionEngine provides way more control over page fields and a better way to manage URLs and website taxonomy.
ExpressionEngine vs. Craft - Craft is very comparable to ExpressionEngine. It is newer, so the variety of …
Chose ExpressionEngine
We have experience with Wordpress and Joomla. ExpressionEngine compares favorable to both in terms of security, as we've experienced many security problems with both Wordpress and Joomla. We find the community behind ExpressionEngine to be more professional and the level of …
Chose ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine's ease of use, flexibility in design and functionality, and straight forward templating makes it the clear winner. We simply get to work and build. We don't need to consider how to shoehorn in some feature, or bend the design to the will of the CMS.

It's …
Chose ExpressionEngine
We felt WordPress could not handle a large site such as USG. We also didn't want to deal with the constant security updates WordPress receives often. Drupal is very robust but hard to learn compared to ExpressionEngine. We didn't feel the other CMSs offered anything that …
Chose ExpressionEngine
I chose ExpressionEngine because my client had already purchased a license. I typically build sites with WordPress. I find their toolset to be easier to develop for and the community boasts more users. The cost of the platform is obviously free without much difference in what …
Features
ElementorExpressionEngine
Security
Comparison of Security features of Product A and Product B
Elementor
6.9
Ratings
16% below category average
ExpressionEngine
10.0
Ratings
21% above category average
Role-based user permissions6.90 Ratings10.00 Ratings
Platform & Infrastructure
Comparison of Platform & Infrastructure features of Product A and Product B
Elementor
3.0
Ratings
87% below category average
ExpressionEngine
9.4
Ratings
21% above category average
API4.00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Internationalization / multi-language2.00 Ratings9.70 Ratings
Web Content Creation
Comparison of Web Content Creation features of Product A and Product B
Elementor
7.9
Ratings
2% above category average
ExpressionEngine
8.9
Ratings
14% above category average
WYSIWYG editor7.40 Ratings9.10 Ratings
Code quality / cleanliness8.40 Ratings10.00 Ratings
Admin section9.60 Ratings9.10 Ratings
Page templates10.00 Ratings8.10 Ratings
Library of website themes9.00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
Mobile optimization / responsive design6.90 Ratings9.80 Ratings
Publishing workflow8.00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Form generator4.00 Ratings9.40 Ratings
Web Content Management
Comparison of Web Content Management features of Product A and Product B
Elementor
6.2
Ratings
17% below category average
ExpressionEngine
9.4
Ratings
24% above category average
Content taxonomy7.70 Ratings10.00 Ratings
SEO support5.00 Ratings10.00 Ratings
Bulk management5.00 Ratings9.10 Ratings
Availability / breadth of extensions6.10 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Community / comment management7.00 Ratings9.90 Ratings
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ElementorExpressionEngine
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User Ratings
ElementorExpressionEngine
Likelihood to Recommend
8.4
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
9.2
(0 ratings)
Usability
7.0
(0 ratings)
5.3
(0 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
2.8
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
2.0
(0 ratings)
6.2
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
6.9
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
1.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
ElementorExpressionEngine
Likelihood to Recommend
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
For someone with a limited budget, it's hard to recommend ExpressionEngine simply because of the cost of the license and any add-ons just to get up and running. As a developer, the budget needs to be a certain amount before I can even consider ExpressionEngine - no matter how appropriate it is for the site. Besides that, I recommend ExpressionEngine for those who have a lot of content, have a need for a certain level of flexibility, or who have special feature requests. There are a number of ExpressionEngine add-on developers who are willing to help build (for a fee) custom add-ons to fulfill that need.
Read full review
Pros
  • 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
  • ExpressionEngine has no preconceived ideas about how your content should look or what code is generated.
  • A robust template engine makes integrating designs and content a breeze.
  • The control panel can be customized to control what content managers have access to.
Read full review
Cons
  • 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
  • Can be too cumbersome for smaller projects, takes time to pair down the built in functionality so our clients have to sift through unused features
  • Large queries take significant processing power, recommended use of a cache module to store this data and speed up page load
  • Backend can be overwhelming for clients, lots of things to manage in the control panel
  • No way to repeat custom page fields or groups of fields, meaning page layout must be pretty established and not customizable from the control panel
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Elementor is critical to our ongoing success and providing our clients with world-class websites
Read full review
I'm satisfied with the way that my site runs on EE. My primary concern is that support is now a profit center for EE's publisher and so they've consequently gutted their community support boards. However, a good EE community is developing at StackExchange. At this stage, I don't think that EE is a good choice for an individual site owner. WordPress or SquareSpace would be a better choice unless you have a budget for support.
Read full review
Usability
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
ExpressionEngine is very powerful and flexible. With this flexibility comes a bit of a learning curve. There are some great online resources for getting up to speed with EE, but the control panel can be a bit daunting. A lot of EE's installation process involves settings, configurations and flipping of switches. It is tedious, but well worth it as you ultimately have a very robust, secure and scalable CMS. Also, as of version 2.9.2, the control panel isn't responsive natively. You'll want to have a big enough screen to see the full control panel UI. Personally, I think the control panel would benefit from a major overhaul. It would be nice to see the colors and UI controls "modernized" and be able to more effectively customize the layout. Yes, some of this is built-in, and there are third-party add-ons to help, but maybe we'll see more refinement in future versions.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
No answers on this topic
Never experienced an issue like this with it
Read full review
Performance
No answers on this topic
The admin section would slow to a crawl the larger the tag section grew. There were many areas where better pagination would've helped improve performance. Nothing complicated, which made the lag so frustrating
Read full review
Support Rating
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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I have personally never found any complications when trying to receive support from EllisLab in regards to ExpressionEngine when using the support plans they offer. I have always been responded to promptly and received satisfactory help with whatever my needs were in an extremely timely manner. This makes rating the support offered an easy job for me
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Implementation Rating
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
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After installing the system a few times, you can see a pattern of things that have to be done to work the way you want them (settings, paths, etc.). By knowing what you want, you can put together some scripts that prepare the file system for installation, adjust post installation configuration settings, and install initial templates.
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Alternatives Considered
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.
Read full review
ExpressionEngine outweighs most all of its competitors by being so flexible. If you can imagine it, then you can build it with EE (ExpressionEngine). Most competitors lock you in with certain ways to build your website or use only their tools; ExpresionEngine gives you the freedom to build how you would like and decide how you want your site to run and operate. The ease of use for clients to go in and edit their content is great, and I am able to control the way they edit that content to make it the easiest for them. The feature set and plugins for EE are great, and I am able to provide top service for my clients by using EE.
Read full review
Scalability
No answers on this topic
Maybe it's scale-able from the content user perspective, but it was very limited from the programmers perspective. So many custom hacks were necessary that it reached a point it would be impossible to upgrade to a newer version
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Return on Investment
  • 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.
Read full review
  • Being able to be recognized as a leader within the ExpressionEngine development community has led to us being sought out by those customers seeking expert guidance.
  • We tend to specialize in using ExpressionEngine for our customers, so it has been easier to ramp new resources up on our development process, as well as be able to seek out independent experts to use as sub contractors or freelancers.
  • As we have been using ExpressionEngine almost exclusively for a number of years, we have built a reusable repository of proprietary code that makes our development process much more efficient and decreases the effort required for our projects.
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ScreenShots