Gutenberg vs Elementor: Can the WordPress Block Editor Replace Page Builders?

Gutenberg vs Elementor isn't just a feature comparison. It's a strategic choice about where WordPress is heading.

Gutenberg is WordPress's native editor, improving with every release, and the foundation for Full Site Editing. Elementor is a mature, powerful third-party tool that may become less necessary as WordPress evolves.

The question isn't which has more features today. It's the best choice you can make for the future.

Most comparisons list widgets and features, benchmark speed, and declare a winner based on today's capabilities. That's useful but incomplete. The more important question: will your choice still make sense in five years?

Here's an honest comparison from someone who hates page builders (yes, even Elementor) but recognizes that Gutenberg isn't a magic solution either. For a detailed assessment of Elementor specifically, see our Elementor review.

The Strategic Picture

Before features, understand what you're choosing between:

Choosing Gutenberg Means:

• Aligning with WordPress's official direction
• No third-party dependency for your core editor
• Content that's standard WordPress content (not proprietary format)
• Betting that Full Site Editing will mature into something competitive

Choosing Elementor Means:

• Getting proven, mature functionality now
• Accepting third-party dependency indefinitely
• Content in proprietary format (some lock-in)
• Betting that third-party builders remain valuable despite WordPress's push toward blocks

Neither is obviously right. Both have trade-offs.

Feature Comparison: The Honest Reality

Here's what each actually offers in 2026:

Elementor has more features today. That's undeniable. But the gap is narrowing.

Performance: Where Gutenberg Wins

Performance is Gutenberg's strongest argument.

Elementor outputs heavy code. The amount of divs inside of divs inside of divs inside of divs is insane. And it is absolutely not exaggerated.

Documented comparisons show:

That's not a small difference. Gutenberg produces approximately 75% less code for identical visual designs.

For sites where performance matters, whether for SEO, user experience, or conversion rates, this overhead adds up. Can you optimize Elementor to perform okay? Yes. Can you optimize it to perform well? I'm going to argue you can't.

Gutenberg doesn't have this problem because it's WordPress's core. No extra framework loading. No wrapper divs for builder functionality. Just clean HTML output.

The Full Site Editing Question

WordPress's Full Site Editing (FSE) is the strategic variable.

FSE lets you design headers, footers, templates, and site-wide elements using the block editor. It's WordPress's answer to Elementor's Theme Builder.

FSE in 2026: Current State

• Block themes are now mature and widely available
• Global styles work well for colors, typography, and spacing
• Template editing is functional for most common needs
• Pattern library continues growing

FSE Limitations

• Design flexibility still trails dedicated builders
• Some complex layouts require workarounds
• Learning curve for themes built FSE-first
• The plugin ecosystem is still catching up

The Honest Assessment

FSE can handle most standard website needs, including brochure sites, blogs, simple e-commerce, and membership sites. If your design requirements are conventional, Gutenberg + FSE is genuinely sufficient.

For complex, highly customized designs, like single-page marketing sites, elaborate portfolios, or unconventional layouts, Elementor still offers more control.

Lock-In Comparison

Both create some lock-in, but the severity differs.

Gutenberg Lock-In: Minimal

Gutenberg content is stored as WordPress content with block markup. If you switch themes or add/remove block plugins, your content remains readable. The basic structure is standard HTML.

This is significant. You're not depending on a third-party format or company. Your content is WordPress content.

Elementor Lock-In: Significant

Elementor stores page data in a proprietary format. If you deactivate Elementor, you get plain HTML (readable, but unstyled). Migration requires rebuilding every page.

Something people need to understand: there is no migration tool from one vendor to another. We have moved sites that contain thousands of pages, and it's simply a time-intensive process.

That migration cost and the ongoing dependency are the real price of Elementor beyond the subscription fee.

Who Uses Each Approach

Understanding typical users helps calibrate expectations.

Gutenberg Users Tend to Be:

• Content-focused sites (blogs, news, publications)
• Organizations prioritizing performance
• Teams betting on WordPress's direction
• Sites with simpler design requirements
• Budget-conscious projects

Elementor Users Tend to Be:

• Design-heavy sites (portfolios, agencies, marketing)
• Teams needing rapid visual iteration
• Freelancers and agencies building client sites
• Sites requiring extensive third-party integrations
• Projects with complex layout requirements

Neither is inherently better. They serve different needs and priorities.

The Staff Turnover Factor

One consideration that doesn't appear in feature comparisons: what happens when your team changes?

I have definitely seen organizations with power users who are great with the editor, but when they leave, they leave a relatively complex system that no one else can pick up.

Gutenberg advantage: Gutenberg is WordPress. Any WordPress user has basic familiarity. The learning curve to edit content is minimal.

Elementor risk: Elementor requires learning Elementor. When your Elementor expert leaves, you're either training someone new or hiring an Elementor specialist.

For organizations with staff turnover, Gutenberg's lower barrier to entry is a genuine advantage.

The Hybrid Approach

You don't have to choose exclusively. Many sites use both:

• Gutenberg for content: Blog posts, basic pages, documentation
• Elementor for marketing: Landing pages, sales pages, complex layouts

This captures Gutenberg's performance for most of your site while using Elementor's power where you actually need it.

I've had clients where we've done a hybrid approach. They understand the importance of brand and a consistent user experience, but they're active in marketing and need the freedom to create landing pages without paying a developer each time.

We make sure the builder is loaded only on a specific section of the website. The rest maintains structural and branding integrity without the page builder overhead.

Cost Reality

Gutenberg: Free (Mostly)

Gutenberg is WordPress core. No cost. But most sites benefit from block plugins:

• Kadence Blocks Pro: $149/year
• GenerateBlocks Pro: $59/year
• Stackable Premium: $49/year
• Spectra Pro: $49/year

Total: $0-150/year for enhanced functionality.

Elementor: Subscription

Plus: Most Elementor sites add third-party add-ons ($50-150/year each).

Total: $59-500+/year ongoing.

Five-Year Cost Comparison

For a typical business site:

Not a dramatic difference, but Gutenberg costs less over time and offers the added benefit of no vendor dependency.

When Gutenberg Makes Sense

1. Content-Focused Sites

If your site is primarily text, images, and embedded media (blog, news, documentation), Gutenberg handles it well. You don't need a page builder's complexity for content publishing.

2. Performance-Critical Sites

If Core Web Vitals significantly impact your business, Gutenberg's lighter output wins. No fighting against builder overhead.

3. Long-Term Planning

If you're thinking 5-10 years ahead, betting on WordPress core is safer than betting on any third-party tool. Elementor is successful now, but the WordPress landscape changes.

4. Simpler Design Requirements

If your site follows conventional patterns (header, content, footer, sidebar), Gutenberg + a good block theme is sufficient. You don't need Elementor's power for standard layouts.

When Elementor Makes Sense

1. Complex Visual Design

If your designs require precise pixel control, unconventional layouts, and extensive animation, Elementor offers more flexibility than Gutenberg currently provides.

2. Rapid Prototyping

If you're building landing pages weekly and need to iterate fast, Elementor's visual interface is faster than Gutenberg for complex layouts.

3. Client Sites (Agencies/Freelancers)

If you build sites and hand them off, Elementor provides a consistent interface across projects. Your team learns one tool deeply.

4. Extensive Third-Party Integration

If you need the features Elementor's ecosystem provides (specific form integrations, pop-up triggers, and conditional content), building equivalents in Gutenberg requires more effort.

The Productivity Question

Which is faster to work with?

The honest answer: it depends on what you're doing.

Gutenberg is faster for:

• Writing and formatting content
• Building standard blog posts
• Creating simple layouts
• Sites using block patterns extensively

Elementor is faster for:

• Complex visual layouts
• Marketing landing pages
• Custom headers/footers
• Sites requiring lots of visual polish

Neither has a universal speed advantage.

Gutenberg vs Elementor: My Honest Recommendation

I hate page builders, including Elementor. I think they're awful for many different reasons.

But I don't unconditionally love Gutenberg either. It's a tool with its own limitations and learning curves.

Here's my actual recommendation based on maintaining 200+ WordPress sites:

For most professional organizations: Gutenberg with a good block theme, or better yet, custom themes with ACF. Performance is better, long-term maintenance is easier, and you're not dependent on third-party tools.

For marketing-heavy organizations needing rapid iteration: Hybrid approach. Gutenberg/custom for the main site, Elementor for landing pages.

For agencies building client sites: Reasonable to standardize on Elementor if that's your expertise, but be honest with clients about the trade-offs.

For anyone thinking long-term: Gutenberg aligns with WordPress's direction. If you're starting fresh, betting on core makes more sense than betting on third parties. If you're already on Elementor and considering a switch, see our guide to Elementor alternatives.

For FatLab's target audience, associations and professional organizations with long-term needs, I will always recommend custom development over either Gutenberg or Elementor. When done right, custom themes with ACF are easier to use and manage, and perform better than any page builder approach.

What to Do Next

If you're deciding between Gutenberg and Elementor:

1. Clarify your actual needs. Most sites don't need Elementor's complexity. Be honest about what you'll actually use.

2. Test both on a real project. Not just clicking around. Build an actual page you need. See which feels natural.

3. Consider the five-year view. Where will your organization be? Do you want to be dependent on Elementor then?

4. Factor in total cost. Not just license fees. Include optimization work, troubleshooting, potential migration, and the opportunity cost of fighting your tools.

5. Think about who maintains this. Gutenberg requires less specialized knowledge. Anyone who can use WordPress can use blocks. Elementor requires learning Elementor.