Is Elementor Pro Worth It? Why It Can Be A Good Choice For Professionals?

If you’re used to the reliable process of coding websites from scratch, you probably know how long this process can take. After hearing about other web designers praising no-code solutions like Elementor Pro, I wanted to know if a page builder could match up with the standards of custom coding.

Upon trying the free version of Elementor, I found it didn’t meet all my advanced requirements for an agency setting. But before giving up on this platform, I asked myself, ‘Is Elementor Pro worth it?’ and decided to try it. 

This transition to Elementor Pro led to a completely different experience than the one I had with Elementor Free or other DIY platforms I’ve experimented with over the past decade.

It empowered my Chicago web design agency to craft high-quality websites for clients who simply couldn’t wait 4-6 months for custom-coded solutions.

I finally understood why more and more web designers who seek drag-and-drop flexibility are using Elementor for their projects.

Implementing evergreen design principles for increasing conversion rates (I shared them in my free mini-course, 7 Days to Profitable Aesthetics) was easy with Elementor, and it’s a great solution if you’re not experienced in coding or you seek a faster build.

In this article, I’ll break down key features of Elementor Pro and explain how you can benefit from each.

You’ll learn how this platform can help you create websites faster and gain more control compared to Elementor Free.

I’ll also share my opinion on when it’s okay to rely on this platform for your website projects so you can decide whether upgrading to Elementor Pro is a wise decision for your business.

Table of Contents:

• Is Elementor Pro worth it for professional work?
• Elementor Free is solid, but I’ll never go back to it after upgrading to Elementor Pro
• Elementor Pro Features that make it a better choice in professional environments
• Is Elementor Pro worth it in 2024? Final thoughts by a 7-figure agency owner

Should you even use Elementor for professional work?

When discussing professional web development, the debate between custom coded websites and using a page builder like Elementor is inevitable.

It’s important to stay realistic.

Custom coding still holds the upper hand in creating highly specialized, complex websites. But websites built from scratch are expensive and take 4-6 months to complete.

For a significant number of projects, Elementor Pro is more than sufficient. And you can build high-quality websites with Elementor within 2-4 weeks.

While my agency, Alpha Efficiency, is still far from solely relying on Elementor Pro, we did incorporate it into our toolset. We offer it as a solution to clients who require speedy delivery along with other benefits of using this platform.

Elementor has been evolving in a positive direction in recent years, making the gap between traditional coding and page builders smaller than ever before.

So, if you’re wondering whether you should even use Elementor as a professional, I’d advise you to experiment with this platform.

If you’re satisfied with the quality of the websites you can create, then there’s no reason not to use Elementor for specific projects. Find the right balance and always communicate with your clients to learn about their needs.

Elementor Free is solid, but I’ll never go back to it after upgrading to Elementor Pro

So, using Elementor is acceptable and sometimes even beneficial for professional web designers. But now there’s another challenge – deciding between Elementor Free vs Pro.

The free version of Elementor is, unlikely most other WordPress page builders, not restricted. You’ll get all the essential tools you need to build a website. You can also use over 30 free widgets and a few templates.

If you don’t work on complex web design projects and you find free widgets enough to achieve the desired functionality, using Elementor Free might be a good option. The absence of some advanced features might make you feel less overwhelmed.

But if you seek more than the free version has to offer – I recommend checking out Elementor Pro.

In upcoming sections, I’ll show you additional features you can unlock with the paid version so you can decide is Elementor Pro worth it.

Elementor Pro Features that make it a better choice in professional environments

When I first decided to test Elementor for my agency, we went for a free version. The results were solid. However, we found specific limitations that Elementor Pro promised to solve.

Here’s a breakdown of Elementor Pro features you can expect to get upon subscribing. These features will increase the flexibility of this page builder, help you finish designs faster, and allow you to provide an additional level of functionality to end users.

Elementor Pro Widgets help you expand website functionality without developing custom plugins

While the free version gives you access to 30 widgets, with Elementor Pro, you unlock plenty of other widgets to enhance your website’s functionality. This is a considerable advantage, especially when working under tight deadlines or with limited resources. 

Some of the notable Elementor Pro widgets include:

• Posts widget (for customizing your post layouts)
• Share buttons
• Form Builder – it speeds up the process of form UI design
• Gallery
• Countdown
• Table of content
• CTA
• Mega menu
• Facebook Embed
• Progress tracker
• Testimonial carousel
• Price Table & Price List
• Lottie Widget (for animations)

Elementor Pro’s array of widgets effectively eliminates the need to develop custom plugins or purchase third-party ones. They empower you to add almost any feature to a website, simplifying the design process while delivering high-quality, functional websites to your clients. Pair them up with essential addons for Elementor, and you’ll be able to improve website functionalities further.

Gain more control over your designs with Elementor Pro Theme Builder

Elementor Pro’s Theme Builder functionality is a step up from the free version, especially if you highly value design control. It removes the need for a premium theme, allowing you to tweak all parts of your site directly in Elementor.

The real benefit here is customization. You can design headers, footers, single posts, archives, and even specialized pages like 404s and search results. This level of control wasn’t possible with the free version, where you’re often stuck with your theme’s limits.

What makes the Theme Builder practical is its use of dynamic content. You can set up a design for one post, and it applies to all similar content. This saves time and allows you to achieve design consistency with less manual work.

Elementor Pro gives you access to a highly-customizable Popup Builder

If you’ve ever struggled with adding popups to a website (without custom coding), you know the drill. You find a separate popup plugin, install it, and then watch as your carefully optimized Elementor page speed takes a hit.

Elementor Pro addresses this issue head-on by incorporating a Popup Builder directly within its interface. I was positively surprised by the level of customization Elementor Popup Builder provides.

The tool also comes with a variety of trigger and targeting rules. You have options like time delays, scroll depth, and exit intent triggers. These ensure that your popups appear at the right moment, increasing engagement without being intrusive.

You can set a popup to appear when a visitor is about to leave the site (exit intent) or after they’ve scrolled through a certain percentage of a page. You can also target specific pages or user behaviors, making your popups more relevant and less annoying.

Moreover, with Elementor Pro, you can decide how your popups will display. You can decide whether you want popups to display in fullscreen, with a slide-in effect, or to subtly appear at the bottom of a screen.

I found combining Elementor Popup Builder with Form Builder particularly effective. This combination allows you to add depth to your inbound marketing funnel and generate leads more effectively. 

Design faster – Elementor Pro unlocks a complete Template Library with over 200 layouts and 100+ website kits

Using pre-made themes as a foundation for web design can be a huge time-saver, but the limited selection in the free version of Elementor might have left you wanting more. 

Once you become an Elementor Pro user, you can access over 200 templates for various use cases.

Moreover, Elementor Pro offers 100+ exclusive website kits to its users. These are tailored for various categories, such as blog, business, education, health and wellness, and others. Website kits provide a comprehensive starting point, ensuring that you have a well-thought-out design framework to begin with.

While I prefer creating a design from scratch or performing Figma to Elementor conversion, Elementor’s Template Library and website kits can come in handy when you’re tight on deadline or run out of inspiration.

Elementor WooCommerce Builder for quickly setting up profitable online stores

The WooCommerce Builder in Elementor Pro extends the functionalities of its theme builder to your WooCommerce store. So, instead of designing in WooCommerce, you can use Elementor’s familiar drag-and-drop editor to customize your product pages and shop listings fully.

Elementor Pro recently expanded its capabilities by adding dedicated widgets for the Cart, Checkout, and My Account pages. These widgets allow you to fine-tune every aspect of these crucial pages.

Elementor WooCommerce Builder is especially valuable for web designers who need to deliver high-quality eCommerce solutions quickly without compromising on the unique needs of each business.

Additional features that make Elementor Pro beneficial

Elementor Pro isn’t just about core features like the Theme Builder or Popup Builder. It’s the additional, often overlooked features that round out its capabilities, making it an indispensable tool for professional web design. Here are some of the key extras that make Elementor Pro stand out:

• Custom Fonts: In Elementor Pro, you’re not limited to Google fonts. You can upload your custom fonts or use TypeKit fonts, giving you more freedom to maintain brand consistency across your designs. If you need help understanding the process, I wrote a guide on how to add font in Elementor.
• Action Links: A unique feature that allows you to connect buttons or links directly to apps like WhatsApp, Google Calendar, or Waze. This integration creates a more interactive and functional user experience on your sites.
• Custom Fields Integration: If you rely on Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), Pods, or Toolset, Elementor Pro seamlessly incorporates these into your designs. This integration means you can display custom content more intuitively within your layouts.
• Premium Support: Pro users have access to 24/7 support. This is a huge benefit, especially when dealing with complex projects. Having expert help at your fingertips ensures that any issues with Elementor are resolved quickly, keeping your projects on track.
• Custom CSS and Custom Code: For those who like to get under the hood, Elementor Pro offers the ability to add custom CSS and custom code. If you’re a web design professional, this feature is actually a must-have, as it will allow you to craft unique experiences and not cut corners on web design branding.
• Form Integrations: Connect forms with popular email marketing platforms such as MailChimp, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and others, facilitating efficient lead generation and marketing efforts.

Is Elementor Pro worth it in 2024? Final thoughts by a 7-figure agency owner

Deciding whether Elementor Pro is the right investment for your web design needs in 2024 boils down to understanding your requirements and the scale at which you operate.

The free version of Elementor is far from just a beginner’s tool; it’s a comprehensive platform in its own right, capable of handling a wide array of design tasks. It’s perfect for those who need to create straightforward, effective websites without the bells and whistles. 

However, the transition to Elementor Pro offers a noticeable shift in your design process.

It’s not just about having more features at your disposal; it’s about enhanced flexibility and control over your projects. This can be crucial in a professional environment where meeting diverse client requirements and maintaining high design standards are everyday challenges.

But what if you’ve been relying on coding websites from scratch? Is Elementor Pro worth it, then?

While I still hold that custom-coded websites will always have their unique place, I’ve also experienced how Elementor Pro can complement these skills, especially for projects where time is of the essence. It’s about choosing the right tool for the job, and in many cases, Elementor Pro fits the bill perfectly.

I recommend experimenting with Elementor Pro in your workflow. Its continuous evolution and commitment to improving its features make it a tool that’s likely to become even more important in 2024 and beyond.

Whether you’re an independent designer or running a full-fledged agency, Elementor Pro has the potential to streamline your design process and elevate the quality of your work.

That said, while Elementor Pro is a powerful builder, it won’t solve all your conversion issues.

Many designers and developers focus on mastering technical skills and following the latest trends, but they often overlook the needle-moving knowledge that can unlock $10k or more in additional monthly revenue by creating and selling websites.

That’s why I’ve prepared an interactive roadmap, Profitable Websites From Scratch.

It’s designed to teach you the essential skills that truly matter for building high-converting websites:

• Fundamentals of design.
• Main principles of UX.
• High-impact copywriting.
• Light code & no-code skills.
• Offer creation.

You’ll learn how to craft highly profitable digital assets and sell them to a craving market.

Ready to start? Order your Profitable Websites From Scratch here.