At a glance
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder
The Elementor Website Builder has it all: drag and drop page builder, Atomic Editor, pixel perfect design, global and reusable style systems, mobile r …
User Role Editor
User Role Editor WordPress plugin makes user roles and capabilities changing easy. Edit/add/delete WordPress user roles and capabilities.
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | Elementor Website Builder | User Role Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 6.8+ | 4.4+ |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.3+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Plugin age | 10 yrs | 16 yrs |
Quick Verdict
Choose Elementor Website Builder if your primary need is to design and build pages visually. It wins this comparison because it combines a drag and drop page builder with a full design system, trusted by 10.0M+ sites. User Role Editor solves a completely different problem: managing who can do what on your site. For most intermediate users, Elementor Website Builder delivers more immediate value for front-end work. Pick User Role Editor only when your specific need is to edit user roles in WordPress.
Feature Comparison: Elementor Website Builder vs User Role Editor
| Feature | Elementor Website Builder | User Role Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Drag and drop page builder with visual front-end editing | User role and capability management tool |
| Mobile responsive design controls | Built-in per-device editing for desktop, tablet, and mobile | Not applicable |
| Global design system | Global widgets, global colors, and reusable style systems | Not applicable |
| Role editing capabilities | Not applicable | Edit, add, and delete user roles and capabilities |
| Landing page creation | Full page builder with pre-built templates and blocks | Not applicable |
| Atomic Editor features | Includes Atomic Editor for granular element control | Not applicable |
| Access control | Not applicable | Modify permissions for any existing or custom user role |
Who Should Use Elementor Website Builder
- Site owners who want to create landing pages in WordPress without coding. With 84% of 7274 reviews giving it 5 stars, the community trusts it for visual design work.
- Designers and developers who need elementor mobile responsive design controls built into the editor, allowing per-breakpoint adjustments without extra plugins.
- Teams building ecommerce sites who want elementor page builder for ecommerce site layouts, leveraging global widgets and reusable templates across product pages.
Who Should Use User Role Editor
- Site administrators who need to add custom user role WordPress capabilities for membership sites or client portals, without editing code.
- Multisite network managers who must restrict access to specific plugins or settings per user level. 85% of reviewers gave it 5 stars for reliability in this task.
- Developers building client sites who want to quickly edit user roles in WordPress for staging or production environments, with a plugin that has been consistently updated.
Community & Support
Elementor Website Builder shows strong support activity. In the last 2 months, 53 support threads were opened and 45 were resolved, giving an 85% resolution rate. The ratings breakdown shows 84% five-star reviews and 9% one-star reviews, indicating most users find the plugin stable for production sites. User Role Editor's support sample over the same period is too small to draw conclusions. Its ratings split is 85% five-star and 8% one-star, suggesting satisfied users overall.
Verdict: Elementor Website Builder or User Role Editor for WordPress sites?
Pick Elementor Website Builder if you need a visual builder for content and landing pages. It has Elementor Website Builder has 14x more installs than User Role Editor and an 85% support resolution rate. It handles design, mobile responsiveness, and global styling in one tool. Pick User Role Editor if your problem is strictly about permissions. It excels at its single job of managing user roles. These plugins do not compete on features. For most WordPress sites, Elementor Website Builder solves the larger problem of how to create landing page in wordpress efficiently. User Role Editor is a specialist tool for access control. Buy both if your budget allows, but if you can only choose one, start with Elementor Website Builder for its broader impact on your site's front end.
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 methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use Elementor Website Builder compared to User Role Editor?
Elementor Website Builder has 10.0M+ active installs while User Role Editor has 700K+, meaning Elementor Website Builder is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — Elementor Website Builder or User Role Editor?
Both plugins average 4.5/5 on WordPress.org — Elementor Website Builder from 7,274 reviews and User Role Editor from 287 reviews.
Q Which is more actively maintained — Elementor Website Builder or User Role Editor?
Elementor Website Builder was last updated on Jun 10, 2026 and User Role Editor on May 21, 2026, so Elementor Website Builder received the more recent update.
Q Are Elementor Website Builder and User Role Editor both free?
Yes — both Elementor Website Builder and User Role Editor 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 Elementor Website Builder or User Role Editor better for WordPress sites?
If you need to design pages visually, Elementor Website Builder is the better choice because it is a full drag-and-drop page builder. User Role Editor is better if you need to control what specific users can see and do in your admin area. They solve completely different problems, so the right pick depends entirely on whether you need to build layouts or manage permissions.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Elementor Website Builder or User Role Editor?
Elementor Website Builder is easier for a beginner because you can start editing a page immediately by dragging elements onto the screen with no coding. User Role Editor is also simple to install, but you need to understand WordPress user roles to use it effectively. Most beginners will find Elementor more intuitive right out of the box.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between Elementor Website Builder and User Role Editor?
Elementor Website Builder is a front-end page builder that lets you create landing pages and design posts with a visual editor. User Role Editor is a security and access tool that lets you change what capabilities each user role has on your site. One builds the look of your site, the other controls who can do what behind the scenes.
Q Can you switch from Elementor Website Builder to User Role Editor (or the other way) without losing data?
Yes, you can switch between them without losing data because they do not overlap in function. Elementor stores your page designs in the database, and User Role Editor stores role settings separately, so deactivating one does not affect the other. Just keep both plugins active if you want to design pages and manage user permissions at the same time.
Q Which type of site should choose Elementor Website Builder, and which should choose User Role Editor?
Choose Elementor Website Builder if you run a site that needs custom page layouts, like a business landing page, an ecommerce store, or a portfolio. Choose User Role Editor if you run a site with multiple contributors, such as a membership site or a multi-author blog, where you need to restrict access to certain admin features. Most sites benefit from using both together.
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