What is Elementor and How Does It Work?

Elementor has become one of the most popular tools for creating websites with WordPress, especially for those without any coding background. If you’re just starting with WordPress or web design in general, understanding what is Elementor and how does it work can open the door to powerful and professional website building with ease. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know in a simple, beginner-friendly way.

Introduction: What is Elementor?

Elementor is a drag-and-drop page builder plugin for WordPress. It allows users to design custom pages visually—meaning you can see what your page looks like while you’re building it, without needing to touch a single line of code. Since its launch in 2016, Elementor has become widely adopted, with over 10 million active installations, making it one of the top website builders globally.

With Elementor, you don’t need to rely on pre-designed WordPress themes. You can create your own layouts, sections, headers, footers, and even entire websites from scratch or using its professional templates. Whether you're a blogger, freelancer, business owner, or an agency, Elementor gives you full control over how your site looks and feels.

How Does Elementor Work with WordPress?

To understand how Elementor works, it’s important to know that it functions as a plugin that integrates into the WordPress dashboard. Once installed and activated, it adds a new editing option called “Edit with Elementor” to your pages and posts. Clicking this option takes you into the Elementor editor, which replaces the default WordPress editor (Gutenberg or Classic Editor) for that particular page.

The Elementor editor is a live front-end builder. This means that instead of writing HTML, CSS, or PHP, you can drag and drop elements like text boxes, images, sliders, and buttons directly onto the canvas. You can resize, customize, move, and modify every part of the page visually.

Elementor comes in two versions:

  • Elementor Free: Includes the basic widgets and editing features.

  • Elementor Pro: A paid version that unlocks more widgets, theme builder, popup builder, integrations, and advanced design options.

You can download Elementor from the WordPress Plugin Repository or purchase Elementor Pro from their official website.

Core Features of Elementor

Elementor is loaded with features that make building websites intuitive and flexible. Here are some of the key features that define how Elementor works:

1. Visual Drag-and-Drop Editor

At the heart of Elementor is its live editor. You can drag elements from the sidebar and drop them into place. Want a heading at the top? Drag it in. Want a two-column layout underneath? Drop it in and fill it with text or images.

2. Widgets

Widgets are the building blocks in Elementor. They include headings, images, videos, buttons, icons, testimonials, sliders, carousels, forms, and more. Elementor Free includes 40+ basic widgets, while Elementor Pro unlocks over 90 advanced widgets.

3. Responsive Design Controls

You can design your site for desktops, tablets, and smartphones all within the same interface. Elementor allows you to adjust font sizes, padding, and layout settings for each device type separately.

4. Theme Builder (Pro)

Elementor Pro lets you override your WordPress theme and design your header, footer, single post template, blog archive, WooCommerce product pages, and more using the same drag-and-drop system.

5. Popup Builder (Pro)

You can design beautiful popups for lead capture, promotions, or announcements without needing a separate plugin. Elementor offers triggers, targeting rules, and templates for popups.

6. Global Styles and Design System

Elementor allows you to define global colors, fonts, and layout settings, so your entire site remains visually consistent. If you change a global color once, it updates across the entire website.

Steps to Get Started with Elementor

Step 1: Install WordPress

First, set up a WordPress website. You’ll need a domain and hosting provider. You can choose from providers like Elementor WordPress Hosting.

Step 2: Install the Elementor Plugin

From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for "Elementor", and click Install Now, then Activate. This installs the free version.

Step 3: Create a New Page

Go to Pages > Add New, give your page a title, and click Edit with Elementor. This will open the Elementor editor.

Step 4: Add and Customize Elements

Start dragging widgets into your page layout. You can customize each element's content, style, and advanced settings using the left sidebar.

Step 5: Publish the Page

Once you’re satisfied with your design, click Publish. Your new Elementor page is live on your website.

Who Should Use Elementor?

Elementor is ideal for:

  • Beginners who want to create websites without coding.

  • Freelancers building websites for clients.

  • Small businesses creating professional sites on a budget.

  • Bloggers who want full control over their site’s layout.

  • Agencies that need to speed up design and development workflows.

Whether you’re creating a personal blog, a business landing page, a portfolio, or an eCommerce store, Elementor makes the process smooth and professional.

Elementor Free vs Elementor Pro – Which One to Choose?

For basic websites, Elementor Free may be enough. It gives you access to core widgets, responsive editing, and the live editor. However, if you want more advanced functionality, the Pro version is worth considering.

With Elementor Pro, you get:

  • Theme Builder for full theme customization.

  • WooCommerce Builder for online stores.

  • Advanced widgets like Forms, Slides, Nav Menu, Price Tables, etc.

  • Popup Builder with targeting and triggers.

  • Integration with tools like Mailchimp, Zapier, and CRM platforms.

  • More design templates and blocks.

Pricing for Elementor Pro starts at $59/year for a single website. You can check their official pricing page for the latest plans.

Conclusion

Understanding what is Elementor and how does it work is essential for anyone interested in building WordPress websites in today’s no-code landscape. Elementor empowers beginners to design stunning, responsive, and fast-loading websites with just a few clicks. Whether you start with the free version or upgrade to Pro, it’s a tool that can grow with you as your skills and needs evolve.

By choosing Elementor, you’re joining a vast community of designers, developers, and business owners who build everything from blogs to advanced eCommerce stores—all without touching code.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is Elementor in WordPress?
A: Elementor is a WordPress plugin that allows users to build custom web pages using a visual drag-and-drop editor without coding.

Q2. Is Elementor free to use?
A: Yes, Elementor offers a free version with essential features. There is also a Pro version with advanced widgets and functionality.

Q3. Can I build an entire website with Elementor?
A: Yes, with Elementor and Elementor Pro, you can design every part of your site, including headers, footers, and product pages.

Q4. Is Elementor beginner-friendly?
A: Absolutely, Elementor is designed for users with no technical background and provides a user-friendly interface.

Q5. Does Elementor work with all WordPress themes?
A: Yes, Elementor works with most themes, but it performs best with themes that are built to be Elementor-compatible, like Hello Theme.

Q6. What’s the difference between Elementor and Gutenberg?
A: Gutenberg is WordPress’s default block editor, while Elementor is a more advanced, feature-rich page builder with more design flexibility.

Q7. Can I use Elementor to build eCommerce websites?
A: Yes, Elementor Pro integrates with WooCommerce and allows you to design product pages, checkout pages, and more.

Q8. Do I need coding skills to use Elementor?
A: No, Elementor eliminates the need for coding. However, developers can add custom CSS or code if needed.

Q9. Is Elementor SEO-friendly?
A: Yes, Elementor outputs clean code and works well with SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math.

Q10. How do I update Elementor?
A: You can update Elementor from the WordPress dashboard by navigating to Plugins > Installed Plugins and clicking “Update” next to Elementor.

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