Angry Creative vs Competitors
Gutenberg vs Elementor
Gutenberg and Elementor are two popular tools for building and designing WordPress sites, each with their own benefits and features. In this article, we compare these tools to help you choose the best solution for your specific needs. We’ll also introduce you to Qala, a powerful framework built on Gutenberg that combines its strengths with the best aspects of Elementor to create an optimised and user-friendly platform.
What is Gutenberg?
Gutenberg is the WordPress built-in block editor introduced with 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 organise content with drag-and-drop functionality.
Gutenberg is integrated directly into WordPress, which means no additional installation is required and you get access to all the features of WordPress.
What is Elementor?
Elementor is a popular third-party plugin for WordPress that acts as a visual page builder. It offers advanced design capabilities through a drag-and-drop approach.
With Elementor, users can create complex and professional layouts without having to code. The plugin comes in a free version and a premium version (Elementor Pro) that includes additional features and tools for even more customised design possibilities.
Gutenberg vs Elementor: Overview
Gutenberg
Elementor
Ease of use
Gutenberg: Easy to use with a stripped-down, block-based design. Requires minimal technical knowledge, making it easy for editors to create and organise content. Ideal for large companies with established design systems, where several different people work on the site.
Qala builds on Gutenberg and enhances the ease of use with more features and an improved user experience for WordPress.
Elementor: Is a tool suitable for smaller companies where one person in charge should be able to make many changes. It is more complex and requires more knowledge.
Performance
Gutenberg: Not optimal out of the box but adapted for most hosting solutions. Qala optimises performance by customising blocks and reducing load.
Elementor: Can negatively impact site performance due to extra code and features. But just like Gutenberg, Elementor is not optimal out of the box.
Customisation options
Gutenberg: Basic customisations with blocks that are sufficient for most users. Qala adds customised blocks and tools, making management easier and more efficient without compromising performance.
Elementor: Endless customisation possibilities with a wide range of widgets and design tools. But requires more time and technical knowledge to manage.
Block editor vs page builder
Gutenberg: Simple and effective block editor for content organisation. With Qala, these features become even more powerful through optimised and custom blocks.
Elementor: A visual page builder with high flexibility and creative control, perfect for those who want to create complex and customised pages.
Costs
Gutenberg: Free as part of WordPress core. Potential costs may apply for premium block plugins and support. Users will have to rely on the general support offered by WordPress and/or their hosting provider.
Elementor: Free basic version, but full functionality requires Elementor Pro with an annual licence fee ranging from $490 to $10,000 depending on the number of pages.
Integrations
Gutenberg: Seamless compatibility with WordPress, making it easy to integrate with other plugins and themes.
Elementor: Supports many third-party integrations, but can sometimes lack full compatibility with core WordPress features.
Loading time
Gutenberg: Integrated into WordPress core, optimising for fast loading times. Qala further optimises performance by removing unnecessary blocks and code.
Elementor: Can negatively impact load times due to the extra code that comes with its extensive functionality. To minimise this impact, regular optimisation and the use of caching techniques are required.
Key features
Gutenberg:
– Block-based editing.
– Integrated into WordPress core.
– Easy to use and install.
Elementor:
– Drag-and-drop editor.
– Extensive widget library.
– Pro version with advanced features like theme builder and custom widgets.
Brief summary
Gutenberg
Gutenberg is a user-friendly tool that doesn’t require much technical knowledge. It is best suited for enterprise companies that need a structured tool, where you also have an established profile and design system to follow. Gutenberg is the best option when several people are working on the site and you need to have a clear structure for the work.
Our framework , Qala, takes the best of 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 great design options and great customisation possibilities. Elementor is suitable for smaller companies where you have one person responsible for maintaining and working with the site.
You have a lot of freedom when it comes to customisation options, but at the same time other areas are affected, such as loading time and performance.
Ease of use
Gutenberg
Gutenberg is integrated directly into WordPress, making it easy to get started without additional plugins. Its block-based user interface simplifies content creation and organisation. This is crucial for larger companies when several people are working on the site.
The Qala framework is built on Gutenberg and improves usability with more features and an optimised user experience. Qala leverages 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 at the same time offers a comprehensive range of features and flexibility.
Elementor is a tool designed to allow one person in charge to make many different changes and customisations on their own, a common scenario in smaller businesses.
Design possibilities
Gutenberg
Gutenberg offers a basic but effective way to create and customise content using different 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 optimised, while the Hero block offers better image optimisation. Qala removes inefficient components of Gutenberg and adds our own blocks that do things the right way.
Another brand new feature in Qala is a tool to responsively design blocks and make customised solutions.
Elementor
Elementor excels in its design capabilities with a wide selection of widgets, templates and customisable 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 advanced visual solutions.
Performance
Gutenberg
Because Gutenberg is integrated into WordPress core, it affects site performance less than many third-party plugins. Its stripped-down design and optimisation for WordPress ensure smoothness and efficiency. Users can expect faster loading times and fewer conflicts with other plugins.
With Qala, performance is further optimised by eliminating unnecessary components and including custom blocks that reduce load and improve load times.
Elementor
Elementor can affect website performance if it is not optimised properly, especially on websites with a lot of content and complex layouts.
This is because it adds additional code and features that can strain server resources. It is important to regularly optimise and use caching solutions to minimise any performance issues.
Customisation options
Gutenberg
Gutenberg offers basic customisation through its blocks, which is enough for many users. It’s simple and stripped-down, meaning editors don’t need a lot of technical knowledge. This is particularly useful for larger companies with specific design requirements. For more advanced customisations, users may need additional plugins or custom coding.
Qala builds on Gutenberg and improves the customisation possibilities. Qala removes inefficient components and adds custom blocks and tools, making content management easier and more efficient.
Elementor
Elementor offers great customisation possibilities with its drag-and-drop editor and wide range of widgets and design tools. Users can adjust every detail and create unique layouts without having to code.
In addition, Elementor supports integration with third-party tools and plugins, further increasing its flexibility and potential for customisation.
Block editor vs page builder
Gutenberg
As a block editor, Gutenberg is designed to edit and organise content in the form of blocks. Each block represents a particular content element, making it easy to add, move, and edit those elements. This approach is simple and effective for creating basic layouts and content structures.
With Qala, these features become even more powerful. The framework integrates and optimises 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 approach to website building. It allows 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 WordPress core, making it a cost-effective choice for those who don’t 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’ll have to rely on the general support offered by WordPress and/or your host, which means you may have to pay for more support.
Elementor
Elementor offers a free basic version, but to get access to all the advanced features and premium tools, you’ll need Elementor Pro, which has an annual licence cost ranging from $490 – $10,000, depending on how many sites you want, you also get access to their premium support.
This cost can be worth it for users who want the best design tools and support available.
Block editor vs page builder
Gutenberg
As a block editor, Gutenberg is designed to edit and organise content in the form of blocks. Each block represents a particular content element, making it easy to add, move, and edit those elements. This approach is simple and effective for creating basic layouts and content structures.
With Qala, these features become even more powerful. The framework integrates and optimises 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 approach to website building. It allows 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.
Integrations
Gutenberg
Gutenberg is integrated closely with WordPress core, ensuring it works great 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 plugins and themes without having to worry 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 looking to leverage advanced features and services to enhance their website.
Users can easily connect their websites with e-commerce tools, analytics, CRM systems, and other key applications, allowing for more integrated and efficient management of the various aspects of the website.
Loading time
Gutenberg
Gutenberg is part of WordPress core, which means it’s optimised for performance. Sites built with Gutenberg tend to have faster load times, which is crucial for user experience and SEO. By minimising the use of additional plugins, Gutenberg sites are able to maintain a high level of performance. Qala further improves performance by optimising code and removing unnecessary blocks, making loading times even better.
Elementor
Elementor can affect page speed depending on how many widgets and elements are used. As it adds additional code and functionality, it often leads to longer loading times. To minimise this impact, it is important to optimise each page, use caching techniques and choose appropriate hosting solutions.
Key features
Gutenberg
- Block-based editing: Easy organisation and customisation of content.
- Integrated into WordPress: No additional installation needed. You can effectively integrate back-end services.
- User-friendly: Requires no technical knowledge, ideal for large companies where many employees are working on the site and you need to have a clear structure of work.
Elementor
- Drag-and-drop editor: Create complex layouts without coding.
- Widgets: Large selection from basic to advanced elements.
- Pro version: More features like theme builder and custom widgets for advanced designs.
Gutenberg vs Elementor: What is the best choice?
The choice between Gutenberg and Elementor depends on your specific needs.
- Gutenberg is best for enterprise companies with established design systems and a need for structure and easy content management. With Qala, you also get enhanced customisation options and an optimised platform that takes full advantage of Gutenberg’s potential.
- Elementor is best for smaller businesses that have one person responsible for managing the website. If more people are working in Elementor, without the right skills, there is a very high risk of things going wrong.
With Qala, you get the best of both tools, creating a powerful and user-friendly platform for your WordPress site. If you’re interested in learning more about how Angry Creative can help your business with your WordPress site, fill out the form below and get in touch!
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