If you’re using WordPress, which would you prefer: a streamlined approach to customizability or drag-and-drop? It’s an important question, especially for those who are comparing Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro.
Both are excellent options for WordPress builders, but which of these two is really a better option?
Genesis Pro vs Elementor Pro is an interesting comparison because both platforms believe in flexibility. However, the way they implement this feature varies.
Genesis Pro enhances the default WordPress editor, while Elementor Pro focuses on upgrading any WordPress theme you have on your site.
Of course, the choice between these two isn’t as clear-cut, and there are overlaps in what they can do.
But we’ll discuss everything you need to know about these plugins to help you decide which is better. We’ll also make things clearer, especially for Genesis Pro, for us to have a better comparison.
Quick Navigation
Let’s dive in to the details.
Genesis Pro vs Elementor Pro: A Quick Snapshot
One of the most time-consuming phases when building a WordPress site is design. Although hundreds of WordPress themes are available, it can still be difficult to find the best for your business.
This challenge is exactly what Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro try to address.
Although Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro agree that flexibility when designing WordPress sites is crucial, they present two very different solutions.
But before we discuss everything that you need to know about them, let’s have a quick overview of what they are and how they can help you build your site.
| Genesis Pro | Elementor Pro | |
| TL;DR | A StudioPress membership that includes the Genesis Framework, child themes, plugins, updates, and support. It has everything you need to build beautiful sites that work well with Genesis. | A premium plugin that you can install on any theme, giving you the ability to drag and drop various design elements to have the best-looking site that you want for your business. |
| Best Feature | It focuses on the security and future-proofing of your site without compromising customizability using the Gutenberg editor. | Heavy customizability that makes it possible to visually edit any page from header to ooter, even for users with no coding experience. |
| Best Use | All kinds of websites that put more weight on security and speed than customizability | All kinds of websites where design is crucial and the owners don't want to spend hours building and maintaining them. |
Genesis Pro: Introduction
Before we dive deep into the comparison, let’s make something very clear. Genesis Pro is a membership for StudioPress — the company that develops Genesis.
If you decide to invest in Genesis Pro, you invest in the ecosystem that StudioPress has created. It means you are getting the following:
- Genesis Framework
- 35+ Official Child Themes
- Genesis Page Builder (Genesis Pro Plugin)
- Genesis Custom Blocks
- Updates and Support from StudioPress
All of these tools may be overkill for most average WordPress users. But, in this comparison, we’ll only talk about the Genesis Page Builder (Genesis Pro plugin) and the Genesis Custom Blocks — plugins that provide the same functionality as Elementor Pro.
To avoid confusion with this comparison, we won’t cover the framework and child themes. Talking about these is inevitable, though, because these are all included with your membership.
And there’s no way to have access to the Genesis Pro plugin without the Genesis Pro membership.
Check out our in-depth Review of Genesis Framework to get the details insights.
What Is Genesis Pro?
The Gutenberg editor is a nice addition to WordPress because it allows you to edit pages using blocks. However, it often lacks the customizability and flexibility that you might need when building websites.
The Genesis Pro plugin is a plugin that integrates with Gutenberg editor and takes it to a whole new level. It includes a set of ready-made page layouts that allows you to customize each page on your site.
It’s not a visual page builder, but it takes advantage of what Gutenberg can do, making it easier for users to build custom sites without spending time learning another interface.
Genesis Custom Blocks
Regardless of how good Genesis Pro gets, there are times when you’ll need custom functionalities and layouts for your site.
There’s no such thing as a perfect design for any site, but the Genesis Custom Blocks makes it easier for you to have the functionalities and designs you need without the need for a new theme.
Genesis Custom Blocks allows you to create unique blocks for your site with unique functionalities. This feature is useful for users who want to introduce more functionalities to their site.
However, it requires some coding skills, which may not be ideal for average WordPress users.
Elementor Pro: Introduction
Elementor Pro is a visual drag-and-drop builder that lets you edit any page within your site. It’s a standalone plugin that instantly upgrades any WordPress theme you have by giving you the ability to import premade templates or full website packs.
You can also use it to introduce various design elements that add better functionalities.
With Elementor Pro, you don’t need to have prior experience with WordPress to take advantage of everything that it can do. In fact, even people without coding experience can design and customize their sites from header to footer.
Experienced users can also take advantage of under-the-hood advanced styling, layout, and design elements.
Check out our detailed Elementor review here to get detailed insights into the Elementor page builder.
Related Reading: Does Elementor Work With Genesis Framework?
Genesis Pro vs. Elementor Pro: User Experience
Just by reading what both plugins can do, it seems that they are quite similar in a lot of ways. They both give newer users the ability to customize the theme even without coding, and experienced users can use their coding skills to add more functionalities to their site.
However, the approaches that they have in customizing sites are very different.
Genesis Pro
Genesis Pro is more streamlined because it takes advantage of the default WordPress editor. If you know how to use WordPress, you can take advantage of what Genesis Pro can do.
Although you have to familiarize yourself with the layouts and design elements, you don’t have to do it on a new user interface.
Even Genesis Custom Blocks are usable within the WordPress editor. So, even if you have all these customizability features, the environment where you’re making these changes doesn’t feel “different” than any other WordPress theme you’re using.
The only difference is that you have more control over your site’s functionalities and designs.
Elementor Pro
Elementor Pro is an easy way to customize any site, and it also provides a straightforward approach. What makes Elementor Pro better for building sites is its compatibility with different themes.
It works with any flexible theme, making it easier for you to build the site that you want for your business.
The only drawback to using Elementor Pro is that all the features you can get from this plugin will require you to learn a new user interface.
Sure, it’s easy to understand, and most people can use it even without coding knowledge. However, you’ll have to learn a very different interface than the default WordPress editor.
| Genesis Pro | Elementor Pro | |
| Simplified Description | Enhances the Gutenberg editor to make it easier for anyone to design their sites from within WordPress. | Enhances most themes with a drag-and-drop builder that makes it easier for anyone to customize their sites. |
Although Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro use different interfaces, they are both very easy to use.
However, Genesis Pro has a slight edge for taking advantage of the default WordPress editor, creating a more “familiar environment” for building sites.
Genesis Pro vs. Elementor Pro: Pricing
Like most WordPress tools, the pricing is the most significant difference between Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro. Here’s how much they cost:
| Price | License | |
| Genesis Pro | $360/year | Unlimited |
| Elementor Pro | $49/year $99/year $199/year | 1 site 3 sites 25 sites |
There’s a huge difference in pricing, but it’s also worth noting that Genesis Pro is a membership for StudioPress.
So, to give you an idea of what you’re actually getting for these prices, here are the inclusions:
| Genesis Pro | Elementor Pro | |
| Inclusions | - Genesis Framework - Genesis Pro Plugin - Genesis Custom Blocks - 35+ Genesis Themes | - Elementor - 90+ design widgets - 300+ premade templates - 10+ full website packs - WooCommerce builder - Popup builder |
If you’re only building a site for your business, Elementor Pro is a much cheaper option. Although you’re only getting a plugin, it has most of the features that you’ll need to build, design, and maintain your site.
Sure, you may have to go through trial-and-error to find the best theme you can use, but it’s still easier to scale up with Elementor Pro.
Genesis Pro is expensive, and there’s no option for you to get it as a standalone plugin. That’s why it’s important to understand what Genesis (the ecosystem) can do before you pay for it.
Remember, you’re not only investing in the plugin but everything that StudioPress offers.
Should you decide to pick either of these options — as long as it has all the tools you need to build the sites you want — you can be sure that Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro can provide you with the best features and seamless integration with WordPress.
Final Thoughts on Elementor Pro vs Genesis Pro
Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro are two excellent options for WordPress builders. However, if you’re only building a site for your business, there are fewer reasons for you to invest in the Genesis ecosystem.
Elementor Pro can help you create beautiful sites, and even small business owners can use it for their sites.
However, the features that you’ll get from it may be limited. Aside from this, your site’s security and customizability depend on your theme — not on what Elementor Pro can do.
Sure, you need to consider many factors when comparing the two, and it can be daunting for many WordPress users.
So, to help you pick which between Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro is better for you, here’s a summary of when you should use them:
Why Should You Use Genesis Pro?
Shelling out $360 per year can be costly for small businesses. However, there are several things that you can get from this membership, and most of them will help you build secure sites.
So, to make your investment worth every penny, you should use Genesis Pro if you fall into one of these situations:
- You want to build websites that are secure, flexible, and future-proof around the Genesis ecosystem.
- You’re looking for the best way to customize WordPress sites while taking advantage of the Gutenberg editor.
- Your business only needs simple websites that are easily customizable when needed.
- You want to take advantage of Genesis and its massive community.
Related Reading: WordPress Security
Why Should You Use Elementor Pro?
Elementor Pro is an easy choice and, sometimes, a no-brainer, especially for small businesses. It takes any WordPress theme to a whole new level, and you can easily scale it to your business.
However, it doesn’t mean that it’s a much better option than Genesis Pro. Here are some reasons why you should consider using Elementor Pro:
- You only need to build a website for your business, and you want to have the best customizability for it.
- You already have a flexible theme, and you only need a plugin that can take it to the next level with its Elementor’s design elements.
- You don’t want to spend hours trying to build themes that are perfect for your business.
- You are building multiple sites with the same functionalities, but you want to make them unique.
Conclusion: Genesis Pro vs Elementor Pro
Genesis Pro and Elementor Pro are two viable candidates for being the best WordPress editor. You can never go wrong with either of them, but there are instances where one is better than the other.
Simply put, if you want security and flexibility, Genesis Pro is a better ecosystem for you. If you want flexibility and compatibility with tons of themes and plugins, Elementor Pro should be your pick.
Aside from this, scalability can also significantly affect your decision. Smaller businesses may find better value from Elementor Pro, while developers may find Genesis Pro a more viable option.
Others Related Article:
Leave a Reply