The different WordPress editors: an overview of Divi, Elementor, and Gutenberg

WordPress, which powers more than 40% of websites worldwide, owes much of its success to its flexibility and its ecosystem of plugins and themes.

Among the tools that have transformed the way web pages are built in WordPress over the years are page builders, which now occupy a central place in the WordPress ecosystem.

By default, WordPress uses Gutenberg as its text editor for creating pages and posts, among other things. But in reality, few developers use Gutenberg as a visual editor. Instead, they tend to opt for more advanced visual editors like Divi or Elementor.

These third-party visual editors are not owned by WordPress. Divi, for example, belongs to Elegant Themes and was created by its founder, Nick Roach. These tools allow users — even those with no coding knowledge — to design complex layouts by simply dragging and dropping elements on the screen.

If you’ve ever started building or redesigning a WordPress site, you’ve likely heard of the three major players in this field: Divi, Elementor, and Gutenberg.

In this post, we’ll review the differences, pros, and cons of these three editors to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Gututenberg: the native WordPress editor

Since WordPress version 5.0, Gutenberg has replaced the old Classic Editor. It is based on a block system that allows users to easily insert, move, and configure content such as text, images, videos, buttons, columns, and more.

✅ Why use Gutenberg

• Integrated into WordPress: No need to add a third-party plugin—Gutenberg is already built in.
• Lightweight and fast: Since it doesn’t rely on a heavy interface, pages created with Gutenberg often load faster.
• Better compatibility with modern themes: Recent themes are designed to work seamlessly with Gutenberg.
• Ease of writing: The editor makes the writing experience smoother than before, thanks to its intuitive blocks.

❌ Disadvantages of Gutenberg

• Less flexibility than third-party builders: Although it is evolving quickly, Gutenberg remains less powerful than Divi or Elementor when it comes to custom design.
• Learning curve: For users accustomed to the old editor or other builders, the interface may feel confusing at first.
• Limited advanced features: To create complex layouts, you’ll need additional plugins (such as Kadence Blocks or Spectra).

🥸 Who is Gutenberg for?

Gutenberg is ideal for bloggers, content creators, or developers who want a lightweight, fast website, with direct control over the code if needed. If you use a theme well designed for Gutenberg (such as Astra, Blocksy, or Neve), you can go very far without an external page builder.

Elementor: the page builder that conquered the world

Elementor is probably the most popular WordPress page builder today. Launched in 2016, it now has millions of users. Its free version already offers an impressive range of features, and the Pro version pushes the limits even further.

✅ Advantages of Elementor

• Real-time interface: What you see is exactly what you get. Editing happens live on the page.
• Large widget library: Buttons, carousels, galleries, forms, menus, and more.
• Many pre-built templates: You can import entire sections or full pages with a single click.
• Compatible with most themes: Elementor integrates well with nearly all WordPress environments.
• Rich ecosystem: Many third-party add-ons extend Elementor’s capabilities (Essential Addons, Crocoblock, etc.).

❌ Disadvantages of Elementor

• Can slow down the site: Flexibility comes at a cost. Elementor pages can become heavy if overused.
• Builder dependency: Once a site is built with Elementor, migrating away from it can be difficult without rebuilding everything.
• Cost of the Pro version: To unlock Elementor’s full potential, you need the paid version (starting at $59/year for one site).

🥸 Who is Elementor for?

Elementor is perfect for freelancers, agencies, entrepreneurs, or any user who wants to create an attractive, professional, and highly customized website without touching a line of code. It’s also very popular for e-commerce (with WooCommerce) and creative portfolios.

Divi: the all-in-one builder by Elegant Themes

Divi, developed by Elegant Themes, is another heavyweight in the world of page builders. Unlike Elementor, Divi is not just a plugin—it’s both a theme and a builder, designed to work seamlessly together.

✅ Advantages of Divi

• Powerful visual editor: Divi offers an intuitive interface with real-time drag-and-drop editing.
• Large template library: Over 2,000 ready-to-use designs for all types of websites.
• Reusable design system: Save your sections, rows, and modules to reuse them anywhere.
• Advanced styling control: Fine-tuned customization of every element (margins, shadows, animations, responsive settings, etc.).
• Unlimited access: The $249 lifetime subscription allows you to use Divi on as many sites as you want.

❌ Disadvantages of Divi

• Steeper learning curve: The interface can feel complex at first, especially for beginners.
• Sometimes heavy code: Like Elementor, Divi can generate dense HTML, which may impact performance.
• No free version: You must subscribe to try Divi (though there is a money-back guarantee).

🥸 Who is Divi for?

Divi is suited to both ambitious beginners and agencies looking for an all-in-one tool. Thanks to its unlimited licensing model, it’s especially popular with professionals managing multiple websites. It’s also a great fit for users who enjoy customizing every detail of their design.

Quick comparison table

🟡 = average / context-dependent

Quel éditeur choisir en 2025 ?

Le choix entre Gutenberg, Elementor et Divi dépend largement de vos besoins, de vos compétences techniques et de votre budget.

• • • • Vous cherchez la simplicité et la rapidité ? → Optez pour Gutenberg.
      • Vous voulez une interface fluide et une tonne de widgets ? → Choisissez Elementor.
      • Vous aimez personnaliser en profondeur et créer plusieurs sites ? → Allez vers Divi.

Conclusion

Le paysage des éditeurs WordPress continue d’évoluer rapidement. Gutenberg devient de plus en plus puissant, Elementor innove sans cesse, et Divi conserve une base fidèle grâce à sa vision intégrée du design. Il n’existe pas de “meilleur” éditeur universel — seulement celui qui répond le mieux à vos objectifs et à votre manière de travailler.

Quoi qu’il en soit, vous avez aujourd’hui entre les mains des outils incroyables pour donner vie à vos projets web, sans nécessairement écrire une ligne de code. Le plus important ? Tester, comparer et trouver celui avec lequel vous vous sentez le plus à l’aise.