Starter Templates vs Selection Lite

At a glance

Plugin A

Starter Templates – AI-Powered Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg

The growing library of 300+ ready-to-use templates that work with all WordPress themes including Astra, Hello, OceanWP, GeneratePress and more

Rating

4.9/5

Active Installs 1.0M+

Author Brainstorm Force

Version v4.6.3

Last Updated Jun 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Plugin B

Selection Lite

The Selection Lite Elementor widgets pack of items! This is just the initial version of a huge product we're excited to bring to the world.

Rating

0.0/5

Active Installs 10K+

Author merkulove

Version v1.17

Last Updated Mar 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

Starter Templates vs Selection Lite: Key Statistics
Metric	Starter Templates	Selection Lite
Requires WP	6.6+	5.0+
Requires PHP	7.4+	7.4+
Tested up to WP	7.0	7.0
Plugin age	9 yrs	5 yrs

Quick Verdict

Starter Templates is the clear winner for most WordPress users. It has 100x more installs than Selection Lite and holds a 4.9/5 rating from 4743 reviews. With 98% of those ratings at 5 stars, the user satisfaction is exceptional. If you need a library of ready-to-use templates for Elementor or Gutenberg, Starter Templates is the practical choice. Selection Lite serves a much narrower purpose as an Elementor widgets pack, but it cannot compete on scope or maturity.

Feature Comparison: Starter Templates vs Selection Lite

Functional feature comparison between Starter Templates and Selection Lite
Feature	Starter Templates	Selection Lite
Template library size	300+ ready-to-use templates	Initial version of a larger product
Editor support	Elementor and Gutenberg (block editor)	Elementor only
Theme compatibility	Astra, Hello, OceanWP, GeneratePress and more	Not specified
Header and footer templates	Included in library	Included as widgets pack
Widget pack included	No dedicated widget pack	Elementor widgets pack
AI-powered features	AI-powered template generation	Not specified

Who Should Use Starter Templates

Site owners who want to import Elementor templates quickly without building layouts from scratch. The library contains 300+ designs that work with themes like Astra and Hello.
Users building sites with Gutenberg who need block-based starter designs. Starter Templates supports the block editor directly, saving hours of setup time.
Anyone who values proven reliability. With 4743 reviews and a 4.9/5 average, this plugin has been tested at scale.

Who Should Use Selection Lite

Elementor users who specifically need a header and footer builder with a widgets pack. Selection Lite targets this niche directly.
Developers building a custom Elementor workflow who want a lightweight starting point. The plugin is described as an initial version, meaning it carries less overhead.
Site owners who prefer a smaller, more focused tool. Selection Lite has 10K+ installs, which suggests a dedicated user base rather than mass adoption.

Community & Support

Starter Templates has 6 open support threads over the past 2 months. With 4743 total reviews, 98% of users gave it 5 stars and only 1% gave 1 star. This rating spread indicates that most users find the plugin works as advertised. Selection Lite has 0 open threads in the same period. Its rating data shows no 5-star or 1-star breakdown available, which is typical for a newer plugin with fewer total reviews.

Verdict: Starter Templates or Selection Lite for WordPress sites?

Pick Starter Templates if you want a mature template library that works with multiple themes and editors. It has 100x more installs than Selection Lite and a 98% five-star rating from 4743 reviews. For importing Elementor templates or Gutenberg starter sites, this plugin is the proven option.

Pick Selection Lite if your only need is an Elementor header and footer builder with a widgets pack. It is a newer, smaller tool. But for general site building, Starter Templates gives you more templates, better ratings, and broader compatibility. The data supports Starter Templates as the winner for most real-world WordPress projects.

How this comparison was made

This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Q How many people use Starter Templates compared to Selection Lite?

Starter Templates has 1.0M+ active installs while Selection Lite has 10K+, meaning Starter Templates is used on more sites.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Starter Templates or Selection Lite?

Starter Templates was last updated on Jun 2, 2026 and Selection Lite on Mar 24, 2026, so Starter Templates received the more recent update.

Q Are Starter Templates and Selection Lite both free?

Yes — both Starter Templates and Selection Lite are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.

Q Is Starter Templates or Selection Lite better for WordPress sites?

Starter Templates is better if you want a library of complete site designs that work with the block editor, Elementor, and the Astra theme. Selection Lite is better if you only need individual Elementor templates, especially for headers and footers. For most users building a full site from scratch, Starter Templates offers more versatility.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Starter Templates or Selection Lite?

Starter Templates is easier for a beginner because it lets you import a full starter site with one click, including pages and demo content. Selection Lite requires you to manually import individual Elementor templates and then place them on your pages. Most beginners find the all-in-one import of Starter Templates less confusing.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Starter Templates and Selection Lite?

Starter Templates focuses on providing complete starter sites for both the block editor and Elementor, while Selection Lite is limited to Elementor templates only. Selection Lite specifically includes header and footer templates, which Starter Templates does not highlight as a separate feature. This means Starter Templates is for full site builds, and Selection Lite is for targeted Elementor element replacements.

Q Can you switch from Starter Templates to Selection Lite (or the other way) without losing data?

You can install both plugins on the same site without conflict, but switching between them won't automatically transfer your imported content. If you have used Starter Templates to import a full site and then want to use Selection Lite for a custom header, you can do that without losing your pages. However, any content you created with one plugin's templates will not be moved to the other plugin's library.

Q Which type of site should choose Starter Templates, and which should choose Selection Lite?

Choose Starter Templates if you are building a new site from scratch and want a complete, pre-designed layout that includes multiple pages and works with Gutenberg or Elementor. Choose Selection Lite if you already have a site built with Elementor and just need to add a custom header, footer, or a few specific page templates. Starter Templates is for starting fresh, while Selection Lite is for filling gaps in an existing Elementor site.