Comparing Divi vs Elementor vs Beaver Builder? Choose Elementor if you want a capable free version and a large community, Divi if you run several sites or would rather pay once ($249 covers unlimited sites for life), and Beaver Builder if you want a simpler editor that leaves your text in place if you ever turn it off. If your pages are mostly text, images and simple layouts, WordPress's free block editor may be all you need.
In this article
Prices below are at the time of writing (October 2026), in US dollars, before tax.
How do Divi, Elementor and Beaver Builder compare?
The biggest differences are how each one prices extra sites and what happens to your pages if you stop using it.
| Divi | Elementor | Beaver Builder | Block editor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free version | No (30-day refund) | Yes | Yes, Beaver Builder Lite | Built into WordPress |
| Entry paid plan | $89/year | Pro Essential: $60/year | Starter: $89/year | None needed |
| Sites on entry plan | Unlimited | 1 | 1 | Any |
| Headers and footers | Theme Builder, every plan | Theme Builder, Pro plans | Beaver Themer, every paid plan | Site Editor, with a block theme |
| If you stop paying | Keeps working, no updates or support | Limited Pro features, no Pro updates | No updates or support | Nothing to pay |
| If you switch away | Divi 4 leaves shortcodes; Divi 5 leaves a blank slate | Pages need rebuilding | A plain HTML copy of each page stays | Content stays readable |
Divi vs Elementor: which is better?
Divi is better value if you run more than one site or want to pay once, while Elementor is the easier start if you want a free version and run one site. Every Divi plan covers unlimited sites. Elementor's core plugin is free, and Elementor Pro (which Elementor also calls Editor Pro) is priced by site count, from $60 a year for one site.
They also feel different to use. Divi edits directly on the page and has the deepest settings; Divi 5 adds presets and global variables for colors, fonts and sizes, so one change can update the whole site, though all that takes longer to learn. Elementor works from a sidebar of widgets beside a live preview, and since April 2026 new sites start on its version 4 editor, with older widgets still working alongside. WordPress.org lists the free Elementor plugin on more than 10 million active sites, so tutorials and add-ons are easy to find.
Beaver Builder vs Elementor: which should you choose?
Beaver Builder suits owners who want fewer options and an easy exit, and Elementor suits those who want more widgets and a free version that does more. Beaver Builder Lite covers basics such as text, photos, buttons and headings, but forms, sliders, tabs and pricing tables need a paid plan. Every paid plan, from Starter at $89 a year for one site, includes the Beaver Builder Theme and Beaver Themer for headers, footers and archive pages.
Every Elementor Pro plan includes the theme builder, but the entry Essential plan leaves out popups, custom code and the store features. A WooCommerce store needs Advanced Solo ($84 a year, one site) or higher.
How much does each page builder cost over three years?
For one site, the paid options cost $180 to $267 over three years at today's prices; the gap opens when you add sites.
- Block editor: $0.
- Elementor Pro Essential: $180, or $252 on Advanced Solo for a store.
- Divi: $267 on the yearly plan, or $249 once for Lifetime.
- Beaver Builder Starter: $267.
With more sites, Divi's price does not change. Elementor Pro Advanced covers 3 sites for $108 a year and Expert covers 25 for $204. Beaver Builder Plus covers 3 sites for $179 a year and adds Beaver Builder AI, Professional covers 50 for $299, and Unlimited costs $546.
Divi Pro ($277 a year) adds Divi AI and faster support, and Elementor One ($180 the first year, then $228) bundles Pro with AI credits and other services. Elementor's own hosting, Elementor Host, does not include a Pro license. All three builders offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Which page builder is fastest?
The block editor has the least to load because no builder plugin runs; among the three builders, how you build a page matters more than which one you choose. Each has recently reworked its output:
- Divi 5 was rebuilt from the ground up without shortcodes.
- Elementor's version 4 elements render without the extra wrapper layers of older widgets, which Elementor says makes pages lighter.
- Beaver Builder sells itself on clean code and stable updates.
Treat vendor speed scores as best cases: hosting, image sizes, caching and the number of plugins usually decide how fast a page loads. If your site is already slow, WP Resolve's Speed Optimization is a one-off Core Web Vitals pass with before-and-after numbers.
What is Divi 5, and should you upgrade from Divi 4?
Divi 5 is a complete rebuild that became the official version on February 26, 2026, and it is worth moving to once your extensions support it and a test on a staging copy goes cleanly. It replaces Divi 4's shortcodes with a block-based format and adds a redesigned builder, presets and global variables. Version 5.14 came out on September 28, 2026.
The built-in Divi 5 Migrator converts supported modules, keeps a backup of your Divi 4 content and offers a Restore Divi 4 Content button. Modules it cannot convert keep working in a backward-compatibility mode, but those pages then load the Divi 4 framework. Elegant Themes says it will support Divi 4 for at least 12 months after launch.
What happens to your pages if you switch builders or stop paying?
Switching builders means rebuilding your page designs, because each builder stores layouts in its own format. What stays behind differs:
- Divi 4 leaves its shortcodes in your pages as bracketed code. Divi 5 leaves none; Elegant Themes says you start with a blank slate, which is cleaner but still means rebuilding.
- Elementor pages need Elementor active to look as designed.
- Beaver Builder copies a stripped-down HTML version of each layout into the WordPress editor, so text and images stay but the layout does not.
- The block editor stores content as standard HTML, so it stays readable when you change themes.
Stopping payment is gentler. Divi keeps working without updates or support, and Beaver Builder needs an active license for updates and support. Without a Pro license, Elementor's free plugin keeps working but Pro features may be limited, and Elementor warns that updating the free plugin without Pro can cause compatibility problems. A builder that never gets updates becomes a security risk, so budget for renewals.
How much maintenance does a page builder add?
A page builder is one more piece of software to keep updated, and a builder update can change how your pages look. Every add-on pack adds another update and another chance of a conflict. A simple routine helps:
- Back up before every update.
- Update the builder, its Pro add-on and any extensions together.
- Test major releases, such as Divi 4 to Divi 5, on a staging copy first.
- Check key pages and forms on desktop and phone afterward.
If you would rather hand this off, WP Resolve's care plans include weekly updates with visual checks and daily off-site backups, and Business Care tests updates on a staging copy first.
Do you need a page builder, or is the block editor enough?
For many small business sites, the block editor is enough. It has been WordPress's default editor since WordPress 5.0 in December 2018 (you may still see it called Gutenberg), it costs nothing, and with a block theme the Site Editor lets you design headers, footers and templates and set site-wide colors and fonts in Styles. A builder still earns its place when you need fine design control across many pages, or popups.
To get the most from the block editor:
- Start simple. A crowded page is slower to load and harder to maintain.
- Save repeating sections as patterns. A pattern is a saved group of blocks, such as a headline, image and button. Edit a synced pattern once and it updates everywhere it is used.
- Add block plugins sparingly. They add sliders, accordions and pricing tables, but each one is another plugin to update.
What is the best WordPress page builder?
There is no single best builder; the right one depends on how many sites you run, what you want to pay over time, and how much design control you need.
- Choose the block editor if your site is mostly text and images and you want nothing to renew.
- Choose Elementor if you want a free start and a large community, and run one site or a few.
- Choose Divi if you run several sites, want one price for unlimited sites, or prefer to pay once.
- Choose Beaver Builder if you want a simpler editor, headers and footers in every paid plan, and the easiest exit.
Whichever you choose, it only works well while it is updated and backed up. Not sure how your site is holding up? Start with a free site health check of your updates, backups, security and speed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Divi better than Elementor?
Neither is better for every site. Divi covers unlimited sites for $89 a year or $249 once, while Elementor has a free version and Pro plans priced by the number of sites, so the right choice depends on how many sites you run and which editor feels natural to you.
Is Divi 5 out of beta?
Yes. Divi 5 became the official, stable version on February 26, 2026, and Divi 4 sites can move to it with the built-in migrator after testing on a staging copy.
Is Beaver Builder free?
Beaver Builder Lite is free on WordPress.org with basic modules such as text, photos and buttons. Paid plans start at $89 a year for one site and add forms, sliders, the Beaver Builder Theme and Beaver Themer.
Can I switch page builders later?
Yes, but plan to rebuild your page designs, because each builder stores layouts in its own format. Back up first, rebuild on a staging copy and keep your page addresses the same.
Is Gutenberg a page builder?
Gutenberg is another name for the block editor built into WordPress. With a block theme it can design whole pages, headers and footers at no cost, though it offers fewer design controls than Divi, Elementor or Beaver Builder.
Do page builders slow down WordPress?
A builder adds its own styles and scripts, so a page can be heavier than one built in the block editor. Hosting, image sizes, caching and the number of plugins usually matter more than which builder you use.
