Why Elementor sucks (& bespoke websites are better)

We have been making websites for a long, long time. So when drag and drop builders came a long, we of course have been watching what they can do, as we always want to be providing our customers with the best web solution available. After testing Elementor and Divi (we’re not even going to mention Wix or Weebly as that is where websites go to die), we have some opinions…so here are the four things that we think are lacking and why you should avoid a drag and drop builder.

1. Complexity: The Learning Curve and Overwhelming Features

One significant criticism of Elementor and Divi is their complexity. Despite claims of being user-friendly, many users find the learning curve steep, especially for beginners. We have an Elementor Pro license, and that only seems to be good for hobby projects for friends, and children making school projects. But in all cases the people we had testing (end users of all levels) had issues and had trouble editing what was supposed to be, a very easy to edit website. The abundance of features and options seemed to overwhelm some, leading to confusion and frustration. While both page builders offer extensive documentation and support, the sheer amount of functionality can make the process of creating a website more time-consuming, and even just editing after it is ‘designed’, problematic for some end users. The users had a much easier time editing a custom site that we had prepared earlier.

2. Performance Impact: Bloated Code and Loading Times

There are two very large problems with Elementor and Divi, and one of the largest is the impact on website performance. These page builders often generate extensive code that can increase the page size and slow down loading times. While optimization techniques can mitigate this issue to some extent, the fact remains that the additional layers of code and functionalities inherent in Elementor and Divi can be detrimental to website speed. For websites where speed is crucial (which in our opinion is every website that is for a professional organisation),  this limitation may have a significant impact on user experience and conversions.

3. Customization Limitations: Design Constraints and Uniformity

Elementor and Divi provide users with pre-built templates and drag-and-drop interfaces to create visually appealing websites. However, this convenience comes at a cost: limited customization options. These page builders often impose design constraints, making it challenging to achieve truly unique and tailored designs. In most instances we were having to make design concessions because it was either going to add too much site load, or it just wasn’t worth the effort in dealing with the backend code (which you shouldn’t have to touch anyway). In a marketing driven world, you start with business goals and work from there, with Elementor and Divi you are starting with some base templates and trying to squeeze the ideas in to fit the template, which is not ideal in the world of web design. Another issue we found is that Elementor and Divi can suffer from a sense of uniformity, as many users tend to rely on the same templates and modules offered by the platforms. Do all Elementor and Divi sites look and feel the same? Hmmm…not entirely, but usually you can tell when it is one. Only with a built from scratch website will you get a website as personal as your business.

4. SEO Challenges: Struggles with Optimization

The second biggest problem with Elementor and Divi concerns Search engine optimization (SEO). It is vital that your site be coded cleanly, without bloat and optimised to appease the Google Gods. And Elementor and Divi fall very flat in this regard. The excess code generated by these page builders can hinder search engine crawling and indexing, negatively impacting SEO performance. Additionally, the reliance on Elementor and Divi  required or specific plugins and add-ons can introduce compatibility issues, potentially leading to SEO-related complications. Proper optimization techniques can mitigate some of these challenges, but in most cases we found these problems are better solved faster with a custom website.

Conclusion:

While Elementor and Divi have a place for some projects, it is essential to consider their limitations, and compare it to the offerings of a bespoke WordPress website.  A bespoke website offers complete freedom and flexibility in terms of design, functionality, and performance optimization. With a custom-built website, you have the opportunity to tailor every aspect of your online presence to perfectly align with your brand identity and specific business goals. From unique layouts and intuitive user interfaces to optimized code and seamless integrations, a bespoke website can provide a truly personalized experience for your audience. Furthermore, custom websites are not limited by the constraints of pre-built templates or excessive code, allowing for streamlined performance, faster loading times, and enhanced SEO potential. While it may require more investment in terms of time and resources, a bespoke website offers unparalleled control and the ability to create a truly unique online presence that stands out from the crowd.

In the end, the only thing that we recommend these drag and drop builders for are personal projects, like the one we made in an evening for an 18 year old applying to university who wanted to showcase their photography portfolio. In one evening, my teenage daughter and I had that entire site done. Does it look good, for the purpose, sure. Would it be good for a professional?  Never. So until drag and drops get much more advanced, if you’re a company or professional organisation, best to stay with bespoke.