Divi by Elegant Themes is, arguably, the most popular WordPress theme because it allows you to build almost any site.
That’s why some people wonder why Elegant Themes came up with another theme – Extra – that has features similar to Divi. So the question is, which of these two themes is a better option for you and why?
Between Elegant Themes Divi and Extra, Divi is an excellent option if you want to build any site. It has everything that you need to create various functionalities and designs within the same site.
However, if you want to focus on content management and publishing, Extra theme is better for you.
Although there are several features that you need to consider, we’ll simplify all of them for you. Stick around because this article will show you the instances where either theme works best.
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Elegant Themes Divi vs Extra: Introduction
Elegant Themes Divi vs Extra isn’t a new topic, and many WordPress users have been comparing the two ever since Extra theme was launched.
After all, they are from the same company, and most of their features overlap. Both also have the Divi Builder -the frontend, drag-and-drop editor that Divi users love.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty details for both themes, let’s look at what they are, their features, and the things you can expect from them.
| Divi | Extra | |
| TLDR | All-in-one website builder that allows you to create and design any website that you want with all the features you need in one place. | All-in-one magazine builder with all the tools you need to build great-looking magazines or blogs that focuses on showcasing your content. |
| Best Use | Websites, membership sites, and WooCommerce sites | Blogs, online magazines, and WooCommerce sites |
Some features for both themes overlap with each other, like their compatibility with WooCommerce and the ever-popular Divi Builder. However, if you look at their target websites, you’ll have a clear idea of what they can really do.
Elegant Themes Divi
Divi has been the go-to for many WordPress users for years because of its versatility and ease-of-use.
Although you have to familiarize yourself with a new user interface, it’s pretty straightforward, and you don’t have to spend a lot of time learning how it works.
Using this theme, built with the Divi Builder, you’ll be able to build almost any site that you can think of with all the design elements that you need.
In fact, most users of the Divi Theme don’t really need additional plugins to build their websites, aside from a few essentials such as site optimizer and SEO plugins.
Divi is so powerful that if I were to provide a rough estimate, I’d say that at least a third of all WordPress sites use Divi.
However, despite Divi’s holistic approach to building WordPress sites, there’s a huge drawback with it; something that many users have also noticed – the blog design.
Although it’s possible to build blogs and magazines that are “good enough” Divi isn’t known for being the best in showcasing content.
There’s nothing wrong with Divi when building blogs and magazines; you can still do it. However, the user experience may not be as streamlined as other themes optimized for these websites.
That’s why many people tend to look for other themes when they are building content-based WordPress sites.
Elegant Themes Extra
Elegant Theme, being the developer of Divi, knows the weakness of their theme.
And they want to keep as many people invested in their ecosystem – people who would otherwise look for another theme if they are planning to build beautiful blogs and magazines.
Instead of the holistic approach that Divi offers, Extra theme is more of a niche product that fills the weakness that Divi has.
If you want to have a similar “Divi experience” but would like to have the best magazine theme -which would be impossible with Divi – you can use Extra theme.
Aside from its capability to build beautiful blogs and magazines, Extra theme also capitalizes on the growing eCommerce industry with its compatibility with WooCommerce.
You can also take advantage of the Divi Builder, giving you the ability to drag-and-drop various design elements to create the best design for your magazine.
Elegant Themes Extra vs Divi: User Experience
Being a product of the same company, you can expect that both Divi and Extra will provide you with the same user experience.
If you know how to use Divi, you won’t have issues in using Extra. The only difference you’ll get from both of these themes is the built- in features you can use when building websites.
Both rely on the backend and frontend Divi editors, and they both use Divi Builder’s design elements. In fact, if you are building WooCommerce sites, you’ll have the same capabilities for both Divi and Extra.
However, Extra has more features for magazines with its category, post, and page builder.
Although these are also available for Divi, they are not optimized for magazines, making the blogs built with Divi look mediocre compared to other magazine-focused themes.
Despite all the great things you can get from Divi and Extra, some users may find it a bit overwhelming. Sure, both themes have everything you need to build beautiful websites, but most of their features may not be useful for some users.
If you’re only building small websites that don’t rely on heavy customization, the design elements you’ll get from both themes may be overkill.
Aside from this, you also have to learn three different user interfaces, which might be troublesome for people who only need a reliable theme to build small websites.
Elegant Themes Extra vs Divi: Pricing
There isn’t really that much of a decision that you’d have to make when choosing between Divi and Extra -if you decide to use Divi for your site, you’ll also have access to Extra and vice versa.
If you want either theme for your website, you only need to become an Elegant Themes member, which costs $89 per year or $249 for lifetime access.
This membership includes both of these themes, plus Bloom (lead generation plugin) and Monarch (social media sharing plugin).
It’s also why I don’t see both of these themes competing with each other, but instead, they complement each other to provide Elegant Themes members with more reasons to stay invested in the ecosystem.
Elegant Themes Extra vs Divi Different Use
The seemingly easy decision that you’d have to make when choosing between both themes becomes complicated when you consider all the overlapping features that they have.
However, there’s a clear separation between Elegant Themes Divi and Extra, which can help you determine which is a better option for you -the website you’re trying to build.
Why Should You Use Elegant Themes Divi?
I know it can be confusing to choose between both themes, especially if you consider that Divi is more than enough to build almost any site you want.
So let’s summarize everything to make it easier for you to decide. Here are the instances when you should be using the Divi theme for your site:
- You want to build websites with various functionalities and granular designs from header to footer.
- You are building websites for various clients who require unique designs for their sites.
- You want to build a multipurpose system without learning different user interfaces.
The Divi Theme is an excellent theme for almost any website. In fact, you can also use it to build blogs, especially if you’re not too critical of how it looks.
Despite the rise of Extra as a go-to for many magazine builders, Divi remains one of the most popular and capable WordPress themes that you can use for your site.
Why Should You Use Elegant Themes Extra?
As mentioned, Extra compliments the most significant weakness of Divi -blogs and magazines.
Although the design features you’ll get are comparable to what you’ll get with Divi, there are clear differences between them. Here are the instances when Extra is a better option for you:
- You want to build large magazines with several categories and showcase all of them on one page.
- You want to build complex blogs, and you need better layouts.
- You need a category builder that makes it easier for you to manage your blog and for your audience to find the content that they need.
Extra isn’t competing with Divi. The fact that you don’t have to pay additional fees to have access to it is proof that it only fills Divi’s biggest weakness.
If you want to build complex blogs and magazines -and take advantage of the growing eCommerce industry – Extra is an excellent option for you.
Conclusion: Elegant Themes Divi vs Extra
The Elegant Themes Divi and Extra comparison, although interesting and pretty straightforward, may seem complicated because of the overlapping features they have.
Both allow you to make granular adjustments with your site, making it confusing for some.
However, there’s a clear distinction between the two. And to put it simply, if you want to build beautiful blogs and magazines, Extra can fill that gap; for everything else, Divi works best.
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