Elementor vs Kadence: A Comprehensive Comparison
When creating a WordPress site, choosing between Kadence and Elementor will be a choice that will impact web designers significantly in 2025. Both are powerful tools that you can use to create stunning websites. Kadence is a light-weight solution that provides Blocks for this purpose. Meanwhile, Elementor is a full-fledged drag-and-drop creating solution. The main difference is in how they work. Kadence operates only on the native Gutenberg editor of WordPress and optimizes for site speed. Elementor operates its page-building ecosystem with more design and styling options.
Usually, WordPress users look into the ease of use, performance, and design of these tools. Kadence Blocks works well with the block editor, has clean code, and has a faster loading speed than most. Even with performance issues, Elementor is leading the market. It is very easy to use and has numerous widgets.
Beyond the core product offerings, there are free and premium versions of both Kadence and Elementor, with varying capabilities. When website owners select between these two popular site-building solutions, they must consider user experience, plugin compatibility, and more.
Key Things You Need To Know About Kadence WP
Kadence WP is a versatile WordPress offering founded on speed, flexibility, and user control. It works perfectly with Gutenberg, offering advanced customization options through its block system and theme framework.
Based On Gutenberg Technology
Kadence WP is built with WordPress’s Gutenberg, which will also be future-proof. Kadence is not a page builder like software that uses proprietary technology.
This integration with Gutenberg provides better performance than page builders. Websites created with Kadence will likely load quicker as they don’t need various JavaScript libraries required by many Page Builders.
Blocks enable genuine page previewing, ensuring you are editing exactly what will display. People can design visuals on the field while keeping the code clean in the background.
Kadence expands on Gutenberg with new blocks and features that retain the familiar Gutenberg experience. This allows users to learn more easily, as it is already familiar.
The Kadence WP
Kadence Blocks is available in free and premium versions that greatly extend Gutenberg’s functionality. The free edition provides over 12 custom blocks for layout and design.
Free Blocks Include:
- Row Layout (advanced columns)
- Advanced Gallery
- Form blocks
- Icon blocks
- Info boxes
- Accordion blocks
With the Pro version, you get specialized blocks like video pop-up, product carousel, and split content. It also unlocks any premium features in the existing blocks for design flexibility.
The Row Layout block stands out because it offers robust column controls that let you handle columns just like you might with a page builder. This allows you to adjust the columns for different screen sizes.
The dynamic content feature in Pro allows users to pull data from post data and advanced fields. It’s beneficial for building templates and dynamic layouts.
Pro Starter Templates
Kadence has ready-made starter templates that include a complete website, not just a page. These templates can be applied to different businesses and e-commerce sites.
You can customize the templates entirely as they come with header and footer pages. So it creates a consistent appearance across the entire website without extra development.
Types of templates available:
- Full website designs
- Individual page layouts
- Header/footer combinations
- Block patterns for specific sections
The template system utilizes Kadence’s faster and more reliable import technology than much of the competition. You can import templates easily with just a click, including images and demo content.
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If you are a pro user, you can get many more templates. Pro users can access more complex layouts and designs targeted to a particular industry.
WooCommerce
Kadence WP offers excellent WooCommerce compatibility with different features for online store use. The theme includes custom WooCommerce templates that are optimized for performance and conversions.
You can customize product displays without coding. You can select from gallery layouts, image zoom, and variation display.
The shop pages offer better filtering and sorting options. Rather, more intuitive than the standard WooCommerce interface for product discovery and recognition.
WooCommerce-specific features:
- Custom product templates
- Optimized cart and checkout pages
- Off-canvas shopping cart
- Product comparison tools (Pro)
- Wishlist functionality (Pro)
Kadence WooCommerce Blocks lets users display different products on any page. You can include special items, category highlights, and personalized product setups with sort choices.
Due to the theme’s performance orientation, it will suit WooCommerce sites well. A faster site means better conversions because your pages can be found more easily.
Elementor
Elementor is a WordPress page builder plugin that uses a drag-and-drop interface to create a website visually. The Elementor page builder plugin was launched in 2016 and has grown among WordPress’s most widely used plugins.
The plugin has a free and a premium version. The Pro version has more features and templates. The Elementor interface is split screen, where the live preview can be seen on one half and the other half is the control panel with settings.
Key Features of Elementor:
- Drag-and-drop visual editor
- 90+ design widgets
- 300+ pre-designed templates
- Responsive design controls
- Theme Builder (Pro version)
- WooCommerce Builder (Pro version)
- Popup Builder (Pro version)
Most WordPress themes are supported by Elementor, as are several other plugins. Many WordPress users of all levels (Experts, Professionals, Beginners) are deploying Elementor.
The plugin creates its HTML markup and CSS classes, making it difficult to move this content should the user wish to move to another page builder. Using their HTML markup and CSS classes helps Elementor offer accurate design control and consistent rendering across themes.
There are multiple third-party add-ons in the Elementor ecosystem. These add-ons increase the plugin’s functionality beyond what it does out of the box.
Kadence vs Elementor – What’s The Main Difference
Kadence and Elementor are different WordPress site-building approaches using other structures and philosophies. Kadence uses the basic WordPress block editor, while Elementor is an independent page builder with its interface.
Performance
Kadence typically performs more efficient metrics than Elementor. Websites built with Kadence Blocks tend to load faster as they rely on WordPress’s built-in block editor and do not add any more layers above it.
As displayed in speed tests, Kadence has superior performance metrics to Elementor. The difference in performance gets bigger on mobiles and slower connections.
Kadence creates quality code, following the WordPress basic structure. The front-end loads less JavaScript because of the lightweight nature of Kadence Blocks.
Elementor has been improving recently. However, it adds extra DOM elements and CSS that slow down page speed scores. The tool’s graphical builder consumes many resources in the admin backend and on the frontend.
Ease Of Use
In general, Elementor supports a more drag-and-drop interface that is more intuitive for beginners. You will view live changes in the editor itself through the visual editor.
The Elementor interface has a sidebar with controls and a canvas like the page. It makes it easy for new WordPress users to learn.
Kadence integrates with the Gutenberg interface, which has a little more of a learning curve. Yet, those who know WordPress blocks will find the Kadence a natural fit.
The Kadence Blocks enhances your design power while keeping the native WordPress editing interface. Users only need to learn one interface, instead of jumping between two other systems.
Price/Value
Kadence offers exceptional value with its pricing model. The Kadence Blocks plugin is free to use, and it has many essential elements to help you design your site. The Kadence Blocks Pro is $59/year for unlimited sites.
You can familiarize yourself with the Kadence Theme free of cost. This makes it a lot more affordable for developers working on several sites.
Elementor has limits on the free version that often require users to upgrade. Elementor Pro is available for $59/year but only for one site, costing a whole lot more for more sites.
Kadence’s unlimited site licenses have better long-term value for agencies and freelancers. Yet the premium software has a much bigger punch, as its quality is very high.
Kadence vs Elementor – Pro Version Comparison
Kadence Blocks Pro and Elementor Pro have more advanced features than the free versions. Let us discuss the differences between the two products and their prices. Kadence Blocks Pro starts at $59 per year for a single site. At the same time, Elementor Pro starts at $59 per year but has different pricing tiers based on site count.
Kadence Blocks Pro adds extra blocks to the Gutenberg editor, such as custom icons, product carousels, dynamic content, etc. These new features keep the basic block editor’s view but offer more professional design options.
Elementor Pro changes page building by giving a visual editor, a subject developer, and a popup creator. It has over 50 premium widgets and full site templating capabilities, above and beyond what Kadence does.
Performance comparison:
| Feature | Kadence Blocks Pro | Elementor Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Loading Speed | Faster (native blocks) | Slower (additional JS) |
| Memory Usage | Lower | Higher |
| Server Requirements | Standard | More demanding |
Elementor Pro offers more extensive styling options for design flexibility and a visual drag-and-drop interface. Kadence Blocks Pro has limited functionality but is compatible with the WordPress block editor and usually boasts better performance.
You may use either plugin to set up your eCommerce store. But Elementor gives you lots of eCommerce design options. In contrast, Kadence offers limited WooCommerce styling.
Kadence Blocks Pro prioritizes quick loading and efficient coding, making it the top choice for developers who care about speed.
Kadence Blocks Pro and Elementor Pro offer similar updates and support with regular development and improvement. If a user emphasizes freedom of visual design, they will choose Elementor, and if they emphasize performance, they will use Kadence.
Support & Tutorials
Both Kadence and Elementor have strong support systems for users with different experiences. To set up Kadence and customize it with advanced code, turn to their knowledge base documentation.
Elementor has a strong support network with an extensive help center, video tutorials, and a large community forum. Beginners find it easier to follow the step-by-step guides with screenshots.
If you opted for the premium version, the response time for a ticket is 24-48 hours. You can contact the support staff of Elementor Pro anytime through tickets. But remember that a more significant problem may take longer to resolve.
Learning Resources Comparison:
| Feature | Kadence | Elementor |
|---|---|---|
| Video Tutorials | Moderate selection | Extensive library |
| Written Documentation | Comprehensive | Very comprehensive |
| Community Size | Growing | Large, well-established |
| Third-party Tutorials | Increasing | Abundant |
Look at the tutorials and videos on the Kadence YouTube channel and learn how to use your theme and blocks! Their official blog also posts handy guides and tips for optimizing websites built with their tools.
Elementor has a much more extensive library of learning materials, including an academy with various courses for guided learning on the platform. Due to their bigger audience, many blogs and YouTube videos are now available to teach it.
Both platforms are active on Facebook groups where users can voice their concerns and help each other. Elementor has a group with 100,000 members, whereas the Kadence community is still growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the main difference between Kadence and Elementor?
A: Kadence and Elementor differ primarily in what they are designed to do. Kadence is mainly a theme, plus it has Kadence Blocks for Gutenberg, while Elementor is a page builder plugin for WordPress with a front-end editor to design your site extensively.
Q: Can I use Kadence with Elementor on my WordPress site?
A: You can indeed use Kadence with Elementor on your WordPress site. However, since both are made for different tasks, using both together may cause compatibility issues.
Q: Which builder is better for site speed, Kadence or Elementor?
A: Usually, Kadence themes are optimized for site speed. Elementor, however, is a feature-rich website page builder that can slow down your WordPress site unless optimized. How you use Kadence and Elementor determines the difference between them in terms of site speed.
Q: Do Kadence Blocks provide functionalities similar to Elementor?
A: Kadence Blocks does not have as many design options as Elementor. Kadence Blocks might extend Gutenberg with new blocks and layouts, but Elementor is a more complete page-building solution.
Q: How does the user experience differ between Kadence and Elementor?
A: Elementor is a user-friendly, visual, front-end editor tool for designing complicated layouts. In contrast, Kadence uses the WordPress customizer and the Gutenberg editor, making it a more traditional option.
Q: Is Elementor’s free version sufficient for a basic WordPress website?
A: You can create simple websites using free Elementor, which has enough widgets and templates. But you should get the pro plugin to access advanced features and widgets.
Q: Can I create a WordPress website using just Kadence without Elementor?
A: Yes, you can create a WordPress website using just Kadence. The Kadence theme, its customizer options, and Kadence Blocks allow for effective design and layout without needing Elementor.
Q: How do Kadence and Elementor compare to Astra regarding functionality?
A: Astra is another lightweight theme compatible with the page builder Elementor and integrates well with Kadence Blocks. The decision to select Astra, Kadence, and Elementor mostly depends on the requirements and choices of personalization and ease of use.
Q: Are there any limitations when using Kadence blocks and Elementor together?
A: Using Elementor with Kadence blocks is possible, but not without issues with performance and functionalities. Always test both for optimal results. Whether it’s Kadence or Elementor, be sure to test both.
Final Thoughts
Kadence vs Elementor depends on the website’s requirements and user preferences. Kadence is a lighter-weight, speedier theme that works natively with the block editor.
Elementor allows for more design flexibility with its drag-and-drop interface, but it can slow down site performance. You can use their free version, but they have a premium version too.
Key comparison points:
- Performance: Kadence typically delivers faster loading times
- Ease of use: Elementor has a more intuitive interface for beginners
- Flexibility: Elementor offers more design control and templates
- Cost: Kadence provides more features in its free version
For users comfortable with Gutenberg, Kadence represents an excellent choice that enhances the native WordPress experience. Those seeking maximum design control might prefer Elementor despite potential performance tradeoffs.
Site owners should consider testing both options before committing. Many successful websites combine these tools – Kadence theme with select Elementor elements for specific pages.
The WordPress ecosystem continues evolving, with Kadence and Elementor regularly updating their offerings. This competition ultimately benefits users through continued innovation and improvement.
