Elegant Themes
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| Source | Rating | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 9.6/10 | 100.0 % |
We never award a 10/10 — the composite score is capped at 9.4. A perfect headline rating would not be credible.
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Key facts at a glance
- What it is
- Elegant Themes is a WordPress product company known primarily for Divi, its flagship visual page builder and theme.
- Toolsplorer score
- 9.4/10 (average of 1 independent sources)
- Best for
- Freelance web designers who build dozens of client sites per year and need a single renewable license
Last updated:
Why this tool?
- Visual drag-and-drop builder baked into the theme — no separate plugin required
- One license covers unlimited personal and client sites
- Nearly 1M-strong customer community with shared layouts and child themes
- Divi AI generates copy and images directly inside the page builder
When NOT to use?
- You need a lightweight, performance-first site. Divi loads significant CSS and JavaScript on every page, making it a poor fit when Core Web Vitals or sub-second load times are non-negotiable.
- Your project relies on a non-WordPress CMS or custom stack. Elegant Themes products are built exclusively for WordPress — they offer no value if you are running Webflow, Shopify, a headless setup, or any other platform.
- You want clean, portable page markup. Divi encodes layout in shortcodes and proprietary data attributes, so switching away later means rebuilding pages from scratch rather than migrating cleanly.
- Your team uses a code-first or Git-based workflow. Divi's visual builder stores design state in the database, not in version-controlled files, which conflicts with staging/production sync workflows and developer-friendly theme frameworks like Sage.
- You are building a highly customized enterprise application on WordPress. For complex, bespoke admin interfaces or tightly integrated SaaS products, a full-featured page builder adds overhead without meaningful benefit over purpose-built custom themes or block-based development.
Elegant Themes is a WordPress product company known primarily for Divi, its flagship visual page builder and theme. With a community of nearly 975,000 customers, it has established itself as one of the most widely used WordPress theme and builder ecosystems available. The company offers two main products — the Divi Theme/Builder and the Extra magazine theme — along with two plugins: Bloom (email opt-ins) and Monarch (social sharing).
Divi Builder: Core Features and Functionality
The Divi Builder is a drag-and-drop visual editor that lets users design WordPress pages in real time without writing code. Key capabilities include:
- Visual editing on the front end — changes appear instantly as you build, with inline text editing and point-and-click design controls.
- 200+ design elements — pre-built modules for text, images, sliders, forms, pricing tables, testimonials, and more.
- 2,000+ pre-made layouts — full website packs organized by industry (agency, restaurant, SaaS, portfolio, etc.) that can be imported with one click.
- Theme Builder — allows users to design headers, footers, blog templates, category pages, and 404 pages visually, replacing the need for custom theme development.
- Divi AI — an integrated AI assistant that can generate text, images, and code directly inside the builder interface.
- Responsive editing — per-device controls for desktop, tablet, and mobile breakpoints.
Pricing and Licensing
Elegant Themes uses a membership model rather than per-site licensing. Two plans are available:
- Yearly Access — $89/year — includes Divi, Extra, Bloom, and Monarch with usage on unlimited websites. Updates and support are included for the duration of the subscription.
- Lifetime Access — $249 one-time — the same product bundle with perpetual updates and lifetime support. This plan represents notable value for agencies and freelancers managing multiple client sites.
Both plans include access to all pre-made layout packs and premium support. Divi AI is available as an add-on starting at $24/month. Compared to competitors like Elementor Pro ($59/year for one site) or Beaver Builder ($199/year for unlimited sites), Elegant Themes' unlimited-site licensing is cost-effective for multi-site use cases.
Limitations and Considerations
Divi generates shortcode-based content, which means switching away from the builder can leave behind formatting artifacts that require cleanup. Page load performance has improved in recent versions with dynamic CSS and JavaScript loading, but heavily designed pages can still produce larger DOM structures compared to lightweight block themes. Users working within the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) ecosystem may find Divi's proprietary builder operates as a parallel system rather than integrating natively with core WordPress editing.
The learning curve is moderate. While the visual interface is intuitive for basic layouts, mastering the Theme Builder, conditions system, and advanced design options takes time. Documentation and video tutorials are extensive, and an active community forum provides peer support.
Who Should Consider Elegant Themes
Elegant Themes suits freelancers, agencies, and small business owners who build multiple WordPress sites and want a single subscription to cover all of them. The lifetime plan appeals to long-term WordPress users who want predictable costs. For developers who prefer code-first workflows or projects that require strict performance optimization, lighter alternatives like GeneratePress or Kadence may be a stronger fit. Overall, Elegant Themes delivers a comprehensive visual design toolkit at a competitive price point within the WordPress ecosystem.
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Elegant Themes vs. Alternatives
| Feature | Elegant Themes | Themify | Astra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Drag & Drop Builder | ✓ | ✓ | ○ |
| Pre-built Website Templates | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in Split Testing | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Theme Builder for Headers/Footers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| WooCommerce Integration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unlimited Website Usage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in Role Editor | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI-Powered Content Generation | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Supported ○ Limited ✗ Not supported
vs. Alternatives
- vs. Elementor: Elegant Themes bundles theme + builder in one purchase; Elementor requires a separate theme
- vs. Squarespace: runs on self-hosted WordPress giving full data ownership and plugin freedom
- vs. Beaver Builder: Divi's front-end visual editor updates live; Beaver Builder still relies on a sidebar panel workflow
- vs. Webflow: no per-site pricing — one flat annual fee covers unlimited projects
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Elegant Themes and what does it offer?
- Elegant Themes is a WordPress theme and plugin company best known for Divi, a visual drag-and-drop page builder and theme. With a community of nearly one million customers, it also offers additional products like Extra (a magazine theme) and the Bloom email opt-in plugin. All products are available under a single membership plan.
- How much does an Elegant Themes membership cost?
- Elegant Themes offers two membership tiers: a yearly access plan and a lifetime access plan, both granting unlimited use on unlimited websites. The yearly plan is the more affordable entry point, while the one-time lifetime plan provides perpetual access to all themes, plugins, and updates without recurring fees.
- Is Divi from Elegant Themes good for beginners?
- Yes, Divi is widely regarded as beginner-friendly thanks to its visual drag-and-drop editor that lets users design pages without writing code. Elegant Themes also provides an extensive library of pre-made layouts and templates that can be imported and customized with a few clicks, significantly lowering the learning curve.
- How many websites can I use Elegant Themes on?
- An Elegant Themes membership allows installation and use on an unlimited number of websites, making it a cost-effective choice for freelancers, agencies, and developers managing multiple client projects. Both the yearly and lifetime plans include this unlimited-site license.
- What is the difference between Divi theme and Divi Builder?
- The Divi Theme is a full WordPress theme that includes the Divi Builder as its core editing interface, replacing the default WordPress layout entirely. The Divi Builder is also available as a standalone plugin that adds the same drag-and-drop visual editing functionality to any existing WordPress theme, giving users more flexibility over their site's design.
