When it comes to building websites on WordPress, there are two main camps: those who swear by page builders like Elementor, and those who insist on custom-coded themes. I’ve worked with both extensively, and here’s the bottom line: for most businesses, Elementor (or Elementor Pro) is more than enough.
Let’s break it down.
Elementor (Free or Pro) + Unlimited Elements is the ideal combo for 95% of use cases. Whether you’re launching a portfolio, a service-based business, or even a large-scale WooCommerce store with tens of thousands of products, Elementor can handle it.
Custom builds, on the other hand, are best suited for projects with very unique or complex functionality—the kind you simply can’t replicate with a plugin or page builder.
For example: if you’re building a real-time logistics dashboard, a custom multi-vendor marketplace with dynamic pricing rules, or a deep integration with proprietary ERP systems, then yes, a custom build makes sense. But if you just need a marketing site with lead capture and blog functionality? Elementor wins every time.
There’s a persistent myth floating around the internet: “Elementor is slow and bloats your DOM.” Let’s put that to rest.
Elementor doesn’t slow your site down. Poor optimization does.
I’ve seen custom builds with worse performance scores than some of my Elementor projects. Here’s a live example: the PageSpeed score for this site (see below) outperforms most custom builds I’ve tested.
Now you might look at that and say come on your performance is better but your SEO and Accessibility scores are lower than the custom build. The reality is that an SEO score of 85 and an accessibility score of 87 are still considered very good and I should not see any material impact on my search engine ranking scores due to this. A slow loading website however has a huge impact on the conversion rate of your website. According to Google. 53% of mobile users abandon a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load.
The key to performance is simple:
Compress images and videos properly.
Minimize unnecessary plugins.
Use a fast and WordPress-optimized host.
Speaking of which, I highly recommend Hostinger—especially if you’re just getting started. They offer WordPress-optimized servers, responsive support, and solid uptime. I’ve been using them for nearly a year with zero regrets. If you are interested in using Hostinger, please use my referral link below.
This is the part that frustrates me most.
I’ve seen developers push clients into custom builds for standard sites—then lock them in because everything is hard-coded. The client can’t even change a headline without reaching out (and paying) the dev. Projects like this get abandoned fast because what seemed like a “professional build” turns into a maintenance nightmare.
With Elementor, it’s different. Clients get an intuitive, visual editor. They can update text, swap images, or tweak layouts without ever touching code. Do they need a bit of training after delivery? Sure. But learning Elementor is way easier than trying to figure out HTML, CSS, or JS.
That’s why I always recommend Elementor for standard sites—because you’re not just handing off a website. You’re giving the client control.
Elementor with the Hello Theme sticks to the WordPress standards, and that means smooth compatibility with plugins.
Custom themes, especially poorly built ones, often break this. I once tried to install PixelYourSite Pro—an excellent plugin for Meta Pixel, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok Ads tracking—on a custom WordPress build. It didn’t work properly because the theme ignored WordPress’s standard structure.
The workaround? I had to build a tracking layer using Google Tag Manager and Cookiebot CMP—which delayed launch, cost the client extra, and wasted time. All of it could have been avoided by sticking to a well-structured theme like Hello + Elementor.
By the way, if you need a custom tracking setup and or a highly integrated cookie banner solution, feel free to schedule a call with us so that we can help you with your implementation.
Unless you’re building something highly custom with unique backend logic, Elementor wins on:
Speed (when optimized properly)
Cost
Flexibility
Maintenance
Plugin compatibility
Custom builds have their place—but if you’re a business owner or freelancer looking to build fast, stay agile, and keep control, Elementor Pro is your best bet.
Get in touch with us for a free consultation.
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