Elementor vs Divi vs Gutenberg (2026): Which Page Builder Is Best for Your WordPress Site?
If you’re building a WordPress website in 2026, you’re probably deciding between Elementor, Divi, and Gutenberg.
All three are powerful, but they serve different goals. At LMS Crafter, we’ve worked with hundreds of sites using each builder from simple course websites to complex membership platforms.
We’ll break this down into four clear sections: Pricing, Features, Speed, and Ease of Use.
Pricing Comparison
| Builder | Free Version | Starting Price (Yearly) | What You Get | Sites Allowed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementor Pro | ✅ Yes | $59 / year | Theme Builder, Popup Builder, WooCommerce widgets, Dynamic content | 1 site | Scales up to 1000 sites on higher tiers |
| Divi Builder | ❌ No | $89 / year | Divi Theme + Builder + Bloom + Monarch | Unlimited | $249 lifetime deal is unmatched value |
| Gutenberg | ✅ Yes | Free | Built into WordPress core | Unlimited | Add free/premium block plugins for more power |
Our Verdict on Pricing
If you’re just starting out, Gutenberg is unbeatable, it’s free, fast, and built right into WordPress.
For creators and small businesses, Elementor Pro offers the best value for money.
For agencies and developers building client sites, Divi’s lifetime license quickly pays for itself.
🏆 Best Overall Value:
- Single site: Elementor Pro
- Agencies: Divi (Lifetime Plan)
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Elementor | Divi | Gutenberg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Builder | ✅ Full front-end drag-and-drop | ✅ Full front-end drag-and-drop | ⚠️ Basic block layout |
| Theme Builder | ✅ Yes (Pro) | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited |
| WooCommerce Builder | ✅ Dedicated widgets | ✅ Woo modules | ⚠️ Basic product blocks |
| Templates & Layouts | 300+ Kits | 800+ Packs | Based on theme |
| Popup Builder | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Dynamic Content | ✅ ACF + CPT ready | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Requires extra setup |
| Add-on Ecosystem | 🔥 Largest | Large | Growing |
| Lock-in Effect | Medium | High (shortcodes) | Low |
| Animation & Effects | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Advanced | ⚠️ Minimal |
Our Verdict on Features
- Elementor Pro gives you everything — from complete visual control to popup campaigns and dynamic content integration.
- Divi shines with beautiful, ready-made templates and full-site packs ideal for fast builds.
- Gutenberg stays minimal but keeps your site lean and future-proof.
🏆 Feature Winner: Elementor Pro
Speed & Performance
| Builder | Typical PageSpeed | Performance Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gutenberg | 95–100 / 100 | 🥇 1st | Lightweight and fastest |
| Elementor | 80–90 / 100 | 🥈 2nd | Optimized with caching/CDN |
| Divi | 75–85 / 100 | 🥉 3rd | Can be heavy on large pages |
Our Verdict on Speed
If site performance and SEO are your top priority, Gutenberg wins easily.
Elementor performs very well when optimized properly.
Divi can achieve decent scores but often needs extra tuning.
🏆 Speed Winner: Gutenberg
Ease of Learning
| Builder | Learning Curve | Why It’s Easy | Why It’s Hard | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gutenberg | ⭐⭐ | Clean interface, native to WP | Limited design flexibility | Bloggers & content creators |
| Elementor | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Intuitive drag-and-drop | Can feel overwhelming at first | Marketers & small business owners |
| Divi | ⭐⭐⭐ | Template-based system | Dense UI, more options | Agencies & pro designers |
💬 Our Verdict on Ease of Use
- Gutenberg is perfect for beginners familiar with the WordPress editor.
- Elementor is slightly more advanced but incredibly intuitive once you start designing visually.
- Divi takes longer to master but rewards power users with deep customization.
🏆 Ease-of-Use Winner: Elementor Pro
Final Verdict on Elementor vs Divi vs Gutenberg
| Type of User | Recommended Builder | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blogger / Writer | Gutenberg | Clean, fast, and built into WordPress |
| Small Business / Course Creator | Elementor Pro | Full control and polished design options |
| Agency / Developer | Divi | Unlimited sites + lifetime license = maximum ROI |
Overall Best WordPress Page Builder for 2026: Elementor Pro
It delivers the perfect balance between design freedom, performance, and pricing — ideal for professionals who want creative control without touching code.
FAQ – Elementor vs Divi vs Gutenberg (2026)
1. Is Gutenberg faster than Elementor or Divi?
Yes. Gutenberg loads fewer scripts and styles, making it the fastest option and most SEO-friendly.
2. Can I use Elementor or Divi with Gutenberg?
Yes. You can mix and match — use Gutenberg for posts and Elementor/Divi for pages or landing sections.
3. Which is easiest for beginners?
Gutenberg is the easiest to learn. Elementor is the best next step for visual control without coding.
4. Which is best for agencies?
Divi’s unlimited lifetime license is ideal for agencies handling multiple client sites.
5. What happens if I disable Elementor or Divi?
Gutenberg content stays clean. Elementor leaves simple HTML wrappers. Divi leaves shortcodes, which can clutter content.
6. Which is best for WooCommerce stores?
Elementor Pro offers the most flexibility for product and checkout design. Gutenberg works well for basic stores.
LMS Crafter’s Final Take
If your goal is speed and simplicity, go with Gutenberg.
If you want complete creative control, go with Elementor Pro.
And if you build multiple client sites, Divi’s lifetime plan is unbeatable value.
Each tool has its strength the key is aligning your builder with your long-term goals.
🚀 Build Beautiful Elementor Pages with LMS Crafter
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Our team has built 400 + WordPress & LearnDash sites—we can craft yours too.