What is Gutenberg?

Gutenberg is WordPress’s built-in block editor, introduced in version 5.0. It replaced the classic editor and offers a block-based editing process where each content element (text, image, video, etc.) is represented as a block. This makes it easy to create and organize content with drag-and-drop functionality.

Gutenberg is integrated directly into WordPress, meaning no additional installation is required, and you have access to all WordPress features.

What is Elementor?

Elementor is a popular third-party plugin for WordPress that serves as a visual page builder. It offers advanced design capabilities through a drag-and-drop interface.

With Elementor, users can create complex and professional layouts without needing to code. The plugin is available in a free version and a premium version (Elementor Pro), which includes additional features and tools for even more customized design possibilities.

Short summary

Gutenberg

Gutenberg is a user-friendly tool that does not require extensive technical skills. It is best suited for enterprise companies that need a structured tool, where there is also an established profile and a design system to follow. Gutenberg is the best option when multiple people are involved in working on the site and a clear structure of work is necessary.

Our framework Qala, takes the best from both options. It builds on Gutenberg’s strengths and adds the design features we like most from Elementor.

Elementor

A visual page builder with drag-and-drop functionality. Offers good design options and extensive customization possibilities. Elementor is suitable for smaller companies where one responsible person maintains and works with the site.

You have great freedom when it comes to customization options, but at the same time, other areas are affected, such as loading time and performance.

Usability

Gutenberg

Gutenberg is integrated directly into WordPress, making it easy to get started without additional plugins. Its block-based user interface simplifies the creation and organization of content, which is crucial for larger companies when multiple people are working on the site.

The Qala framework is built on Gutenberg and enhances usability with more features and an optimized user experience. Qala utilizes Gutenberg’s strengths and eliminates its weaknesses, making content management more efficient and user-friendly.

Elementor

Elementor offers a powerful visual editor that enables the creation of complex layouts with drag-and-drop functionality. Elementor requires more technical knowledge but also provides a comprehensive range of features and flexibility.

Elementor is a tool developed so that one responsible person can make many different changes and customizations on their own, a common scenario in smaller companies.

Design possibilities

Gutenberg

Gutenberg offers a basic yet effective way to create and customize content using various blocks. Users can create simple and clean layouts by combining these blocks in different ways.

Qala builds on Gutenberg’s strengths and includes enhancements like our “Hero block” which replaces the “Cover block”. The Cover block uses a background image that cannot be optimized, whereas the Hero block offers better image optimization. Qala removes inefficient components in Gutenberg and adds our own blocks that do things the right way.

Another brand new feature in Qala is a tool for designing blocks responsively and creating custom solutions.

Elementor

Elementor excels in its design capabilities with a wide selection of widgets, templates, and customizable elements. Users can create high-quality and visually appealing pages.

While the basic version offers many features, Elementor Pro provides access to even more advanced tools and professional templates, making it a great choice for those who require more sophisticated visual solutions.

Performance

Gutenberg

Since Gutenberg is integrated into the WordPress core, it impacts the website’s performance less than many third-party plugins. Its streamlined design and optimization for WordPress ensure smoothness and efficiency. Users can expect faster loading times and fewer conflicts with other plugins.

With Qala, performance is further optimized by eliminating unnecessary components and including custom blocks that reduce load and improve loading times.

Elementor

Elementor can affect the site’s performance if not properly optimized, especially on sites with lots of content and complex layouts.

This is because it adds additional code and features that can strain server resources. It’s important to regularly optimize and use caching solutions to minimize any performance issues.

Customization options

Gutenberg

Gutenberg offers basic customization through its blocks, which is sufficient for many users. It is simple and streamlined, meaning editors do not need much technical knowledge. This is particularly useful for larger companies with specific design requirements. For more advanced customizations, users may need additional plugins or custom coding.

Qala builds on Gutenberg and enhances customization options. It removes inefficient components and adds custom blocks and tools, making content management simpler and more efficient.

Elementor

Elementor offers extensive customization possibilities with its drag-and-drop editor and a wide array of widgets and design tools. Users can adjust every detail and create unique layouts without needing to code.

Moreover, Elementor supports integration with third-party tools and plugins, further increasing its flexibility and potential for customization.

Block editor vs page builder

Gutenberg

As a block editor, Gutenberg is designed to edit and organize content in the form of blocks. Each block represents a specific content element, making it easy to add, move, and edit these elements. This approach is straightforward and effective for creating basic layouts and content structures.

With Qala, these features become even more powerful. The framework integrates and optimizes custom blocks and tools that build on Gutenberg’s strengths, further improving user experience and efficiency.

Elementor

Elementor, as a page builder, offers a more visual and intuitive method for website construction. It enables users to create entire page layouts from scratch using drag-and-drop tools and a large selection of design components. This provides a high degree of control and creative freedom compared to block editors.

Costs

Gutenberg

Gutenberg is free as part of the WordPress core, making it a cost-effective choice for those who do not want to invest in premium plugins. However, additional costs may arise if users choose to use premium block plugins to extend functionality.

With Gutenberg, you must rely on the general support that WordPress offers and/or your host, which means you may need to pay for more support.

Elementor

Elementor offers a free basic version, but to access all advanced features and premium tools, Elementor Pro is required, which has an annual license fee ranging from £49 to £1,000, depending on how many pages you want. You also get access to their premium support.

This cost may be worth it for users who want the best design tools and support available.

Integrations

Gutenberg

Gutenberg is closely integrated with the WordPress core, ensuring that it works excellently with all plugins and themes. Its design is specifically tailored to be compatible with the WordPress ecosystem, ensuring a smooth integration with other tools and services.

This compatibility means that users can take advantage of a wide range of add-ons and themes without worrying about integration issues.

Elementor

Elementor offers broad integration with many third-party tools and services, including popular marketing and e-commerce platforms. This extensive compatibility makes Elementor a powerful tool for website builders who want to utilize advanced features and services to enhance their websites.

Users can easily connect their websites with tools for e-commerce, analytics, CRM systems, and other essential applications, enabling a more integrated and efficient management of various aspects of the site.

Loading time

Gutenberg

As part of the WordPress core, Gutenberg is optimized for performance. Websites built with Gutenberg tend to have faster loading times, which are crucial for user experience and SEO. By minimizing the use of additional plugins, Gutenberg sites can maintain a high-performance level. Additionally, Qala further enhances performance by optimizing code and removing unnecessary blocks, resulting in even better loading times.

Elementor

Elementor can impact page speed depending on the number of widgets and elements used. Since it adds additional code and features, it often leads to longer loading times. To minimize this, it’s important to optimize each page, use caching techniques, and choose appropriate hosting solutions.

Key features

Gutenberg

• Block-based editing: Simple organization and customization of content.

• Integrated into WordPress: No extra installation required. You can efficiently integrate backend services.

• User-friendly: Requires no technical knowledge, ideal for large companies where many employees are involved, and a clear structure is needed.

Elementor

• Drag-and-Drop editor: Create complex layouts without coding.

• Widgets: A wide selection from basic to advanced elements.

• Pro version: Additional features like theme builder and custom widgets for advanced design.