How Much Does Elementor Pro Cost? Pricing Plans Compared
- Elementor Pro offers three main plans: Essential ($59/year), Advanced ($99/year), and Expert ($199/year)
- All plans include core Pro features, but differ in website activation limits and support options
- Annual subscriptions provide better value than monthly payments
- 30-day money-back guarantee available for all purchases
- Free version exists with limited capabilities compared to Pro
- Additional costs include hosting, domain name, and possible premium integrations
Understanding Elementor Pro
When it comes to WordPress page builders, Elementor stands tall as one of the most popular and powerful solutions available today. If you’re considering upgrading to Elementor Pro, understanding the pricing structure is crucial for making an informed decision for your website needs.
Elementor launched in 2016 as a drag-and-drop page builder, revolutionizing the way WordPress websites are created. The free version gained immense popularity, but serious website creators quickly discovered the enhanced capabilities of Elementor Pro. This premium version unlocks advanced features that transform Elementor from a simple page builder into a comprehensive website creation toolkit.
The importance of Elementor Pro for professional website creation can’t be overstated. While the free version offers basic functionality, Pro provides theme building capabilities, custom CSS controls, forms, pop-ups, and numerous other features that elevate your website from basic to professional. According to the Elementor Official Website, over 5 million websites now use their software, with a significant portion upgrading to Pro for these advanced capabilities.
Elementor Pro Pricing Plans Explained
Elementor Pro offers several pricing tiers designed to accommodate different types of users, from individual site owners to agencies managing multiple client websites. Let’s break down each plan in detail:
Essential Plan: The Entry Point
Priced at $59 per year, the Essential plan is Elementor’s most affordable Pro option. This plan includes:
– 1 website activation
– 100+ basic widgets and 60+ Pro widgets
– 300+ basic templates and 100+ Pro templates
– Theme Builder functionality
– Popup Builder
– Form Builder
– WooCommerce Builder
The Essential plan targets individual website owners, bloggers, and small business owners who need professional features for a single website. This plan provides excellent value if you’re managing just one site and need access to the core Pro features.
Advanced Plan: For Growing Businesses
At $99 per year, the Advanced plan expands your capabilities with:
– 3 website activations
– All Essential plan features
– Priority support
This plan is ideal for freelancers working with a small client base, small agencies, or businesses with multiple web properties. The priority support alone can justify the price increase for professionals who need quick assistance when issues arise.
Expert Plan: Agency-Level Solution
The Expert plan costs $199 per year and includes:
– 25 website activations
– All Advanced plan features
– Expert support with faster response times
– VIP support forum access
This plan caters specifically to agencies, web development companies, and freelancers with larger client portfolios. The substantial increase in website activations makes it a cost-effective solution for those managing numerous websites.
For those needing even more website activations, Elementor also offers Studio (100 websites at $499/year) and Agency (1000 websites at $999/year) plans, which are designed for larger operations.
Core Features Comparison
All Elementor Pro plans share the same core premium features, with the main differences being the number of website activations and support levels. Here’s what you get with any Pro plan:
Design Features
– Theme Builder: Create custom headers, footers, archives, and single post templates
– Popup Builder: Design and implement marketing popups
– WooCommerce Builder: Custom product pages and checkout experiences
– Motion Effects: Animations, parallax, and mouse tracking
– Pro Widgets: Form, posts, slides, price tables, and many more
– Pro Templates: Access to premium template library
Marketing Features
– Form Builder: Create custom forms with multiple fields and integrations
– Marketing integrations: Connect with popular email marketing services
– Custom CSS: Apply custom styling to any element
– Role Manager: Control which user roles can edit with Elementor
– Custom Fonts: Upload and use custom fonts throughout your site
The higher-tier plans don’t offer additional features, but rather expand the number of websites you can build and improve support response times. This structure means even users on the Essential plan get access to the complete feature set.
Pricing Structure and Payment Options
Elementor Pro operates on a subscription model, with annual renewals being the standard option. When purchasing Elementor Pro, you’ll initially pay the full annual fee, which grants you access to all features and updates for one year.
While Elementor primarily promotes annual subscriptions, they do offer monthly payment options through third-party services. However, these typically cost more over time compared to the annual commitment. For example, the Essential plan might cost approximately $7-8 monthly through these services, totaling $84-96 per year versus the $59 annual price.
Annual renewals are discounted to encourage customer loyalty. Current renewal discounts typically range from 25% to 30% off the regular price, making long-term use increasingly cost-effective. To maintain access to updates and support, you’ll need to renew your subscription, though the plugin will continue to function even if you don’t renew (but without updates or support).
Many users find that the wordpress plugin key features benefits provided by Elementor Pro justify the annual investment, especially considering the time saved in website development.
Elementor’s Refund Policy
Elementor offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all Pro purchases. This policy allows new users to try the premium features risk-free and request a full refund if they’re not satisfied with the product.
To qualify for a refund, you must request it within 30 days of your purchase. The process typically involves contacting Elementor’s support team through their website and providing your purchase details. Refunds are usually processed within 5-7 business days, depending on your payment method.
It’s worth noting that the refund policy applies only to new purchases, not renewals. If you allow your subscription to auto-renew and then decide you no longer want the service, you may not be eligible for a refund. This is an important consideration when deciding whether to enable auto-renewals.
Additional Costs to Consider
While Elementor Pro provides the tools to build your website, there are several additional costs to factor into your budget:
WordPress Hosting
Elementor requires WordPress, which needs hosting. Quality WordPress hosting can range from $5 to $30+ per month, depending on your needs. Hosting with better performance will generally improve Elementor’s editing experience.
Domain Name
You’ll need a domain name for your website, typically costing $10-15 per year. Some hosting companies offer free domains for the first year.
Premium Themes
While Elementor works with any WordPress theme, some premium themes are specifically optimized for Elementor, ranging from $30 to $100+ as a one-time purchase.
Premium Add-ons
The Elementor ecosystem includes third-party add-ons that extend functionality beyond what’s included in Pro. These might cost anywhere from $20 to $200+ depending on the complexity and value they add.
If you’re looking to plugin accept payments wordpress site, you might need additional integrations like payment gateways, which can add to your costs.
Elementor Pro vs. Competitors
To understand Elementor Pro’s value proposition, it’s helpful to compare it with other popular WordPress page builders:
Elementor Pro vs. Divi
Divi by Elegant Themes offers a different pricing model: $89 for annual access or $249 for lifetime access to all their products. While potentially more cost-effective long-term, Divi’s editor isn’t as intuitive as Elementor’s and can have a steeper learning curve.
Elementor Pro vs. Beaver Builder
Beaver Builder’s standard plan starts at $99 for unlimited sites, seemingly more generous than Elementor’s entry-level offering. However, Beaver Builder’s theme building capabilities require their Themer add-on at an additional cost, while these features are included in all Elementor Pro plans.
Elementor Pro vs. WPBakery
WPBakery offers a one-time payment of $64 for a single site, which might appear cheaper than Elementor Pro’s subscription model. However, WPBakery lacks many advanced features included in Elementor Pro, such as theme building and popup builders.
Elementor Pro vs. Gutenberg
WordPress’s native Gutenberg editor is free and improving rapidly. While it can’t match Elementor Pro’s advanced features yet, budget-conscious users might find its capabilities sufficient for basic needs.
According to WPBeginner Elementor Comparison, Elementor Pro consistently ranks among the top page builders for its balance of features, ease of use, and performance.
Recent Updates in Elementor Pro Pricing
Elementor has made several notable changes to their pricing structure in recent years:
1. Rebranding of Plans: Previously labeled as Personal, Plus, and Expert, Elementor’s plans are now called Essential, Advanced, and Expert, better reflecting their target users.
2. Reduction in Website Activations: Elementor reduced the number of website activations in each tier compared to earlier offerings. For example, the entry-level plan previously allowed 3 sites but now permits just 1.
3. Introduction of Higher Tiers: The addition of Studio and Agency plans caters to larger operations managing numerous websites.
4. Enhanced Support Options: Higher-tier plans now include improved support with faster response times, adding value beyond just website activation counts.
These changes have generally pushed users toward higher-tier plans if they need to manage multiple websites. While this has caused some frustration in the community, Elementor maintains that the adjustments help them provide better service and continue developing new features.
The current pricing structure appears stable, but potential customers should be aware that further adjustments could occur in the future. If you’re building professional websites for clients, you might want to explore resources find top talent to help maximize your Elementor investment.
Personal Experience with Elementor Pro
Having used Elementor Pro for several years now, I’ve found its value proposition compelling despite the subscription model. The time saved during website development easily justifies the annual cost, especially when building client sites.
One particular challenge I faced was learning to optimize Elementor-built pages for performance. The visual editor can sometimes lead to bloated code if not used carefully. However, after exploring essential tools for js developers and optimization plugins, I’ve been able to create fast-loading sites that still benefit from Elementor’s visual editing capabilities.
The theme builder functionality has been particularly valuable, allowing me to create custom headers and footers that would otherwise require significant custom code. For agencies or freelancers, the time saved on these elements alone can offset the subscription cost after just one or two projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Elementor Pro cost?
Elementor Pro starts at $59 per year for the Essential plan (1 website), $99 per year for the Advanced plan (3 websites), and $199 per year for the Expert plan (25 websites). Larger options include Studio ($499/year for 100 websites) and Agency ($999/year for 1000 websites).
What are the differences between Elementor’s pricing plans?
The main differences are the number of website activations (1, 3, 25, 100, or 1000) and support levels. All plans include the same core features and capabilities, including theme building, forms, popups, and WooCommerce integration.
Is Elementor Pro worth the cost?
For most professional website builders, yes. The time saved using Elementor Pro’s visual editor and pre-built templates typically outweighs the annual subscription cost. The theme builder alone can save hours of custom coding time, making it valuable for freelancers and agencies.
Does Elementor offer a free version?
Yes, Elementor offers a free version with basic widgets and templates. The free version is sufficient for simple pages but lacks advanced features like theme building, form creation, and popup builders that come with Pro plans.
Can I get a refund for Elementor Pro?
Elementor offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new purchases. If you’re not satisfied with the product, you can request a full refund within 30 days of purchase. This doesn’t apply to renewal payments, only to initial purchases.
Do I need to renew my Elementor Pro subscription?
While renewal isn’t mandatory, it’s recommended to maintain access to updates, support, and new features. If you don’t renew, your existing Elementor Pro installations will continue to work, but you won’t receive updates or support.
Can I use Elementor Pro on client websites?
Yes, you can use Elementor Pro on client websites, but you need to ensure you have enough website activations in your plan. The Expert plan with 25 sites is popular among freelancers and small agencies for this reason.
Does Elementor Pro include hosting?
No, Elementor Pro is a WordPress plugin and doesn’t include hosting. You’ll need to purchase WordPress hosting separately from providers like SiteGround, Bluehost, or WP Engine, which typically costs $5-30+ per month.
Final Thoughts: Is Elementor Pro Worth It?
After analyzing Elementor Pro’s pricing structure and comparing it with competitors, it’s clear that the value proposition depends largely on your specific needs and budget.
For professional website creators, agencies, and businesses looking to maintain control over their website design without coding knowledge, Elementor Pro offers an excellent return on investment. The time saved in development, combined with the professional results achievable, typically outweighs the annual subscription cost.
For hobbyists or those with very limited budgets, the free version might suffice initially, with an upgrade path available when more advanced features become necessary. Alternatively, those managing multiple websites should carefully calculate which tier makes financial sense based on their website portfolio.
Whatever your situation, start by clearly defining your website needs and budget constraints. Take advantage of Elementor’s 30-day refund policy to thoroughly test the platform before committing long-term. Remember that the most expensive solution isn’t always the best fit—the right choice is the one that helps you achieve your specific website goals while providing a reasonable return on your investment.
If you’re ready to elevate your WordPress website design capabilities, Elementor Pro offers a powerful set of tools that could transform your web development workflow and help you create truly professional websites. Why not give it a try and see if it’s the right solution for your specific needs?