The Dark Side of Elementor: Are Paying Customers Being Ignored?
In this post, we’ll explore my growing frustrations with Elementor, a popular website builder I have used extensively. Initially, I was a fan, but recent experiences and changes have left me feeling ignored and frustrated as a paying customer.
Disclaimer
I’m not an Elementor hater. In fact, Elementor’s very own Head of WordPress Relations (Miriam S.) stated in a podcast where we both appeared, “I can see your frustrations come from a point of caring.
Frustrations with Elementor
Ignoring Paying Customers
Elementor once felt like a reliable tool for creating and managing websites. However, recent updates and decisions show a disregard for the needs of their paying customers. They seem more focused on pushing upsells and new features like AI rather than improving the core experience for their loyal users.
Obnoxious Upsells and Notifications
The constant upselling is intrusive. Paying customers should not be bombarded with prompts to try new features or purchase add-ons. The dashboard often feels cluttered with these offers, which disrupts the workflow and makes the user experience stressful.
Poor Feature Request Management
Elementor’s feature request system is convoluted and hard to navigate, especially for beginners. They use GitHub for feature requests, which might be fine for developers but is not user-friendly for everyone. Conversely, Bricks Builder offers a more straightforward and interactive feature request board, making it easier for users to submit and vote on ideas.
Toxic Community Environment
The Elementor Facebook group, where I once held an “Elementor Expert” badge (I gave it up by leaving the group), has become toxic. It feels like a place where people try to one-up each other rather than offer genuine help. The environment became so unpleasant that I left the group and relinquished my badge.
Bug Reporting Nightmare
Submitting a bug report on Elementor’s GitHub is a tedious process. You need to provide extensive information, and even then, issues are often dismissed or closed without proper resolution. This discourages users from reporting bugs, ultimately harming the product’s development.
Comparing Elementor with Bricks Builder
Let’s compare Elementor with Bricks Builder to see how they handle similar issues. The closest alternatives to Elementor, as far as I know, are Bricks and Breakdance. These are not affiliate links.
Pricing
Elementor charges $399 per year for its agency plan, which covers up to 1,000 sites. Bricks Builder, on the other hand, offers an agency plan for $249 per year with unlimited sites. Bricks is more affordable and doesn’t bombard users with constant upsells.
User Experience
Bricks Builder focuses on a clean and intuitive user experience. Upon installing Bricks, you won’t find any unsolicited prompts or upsells hijacking your dashboard. Everything is straightforward, allowing you to start building immediately without distractions.
Feature Requests
Bricks offers a transparent and user-friendly feature request board where users can easily submit and vote on ideas. This encourages active participation from the community and helps guide the product’s development. In contrast, Elementor’s system is buried in GitHub, making it hard to navigate and less inviting for users to contribute.
Community
While Bricks does not have the enormous user base that Elementor has, its community is less toxic. Forums and groups tend to focus more on helping each other than on self-promotion. Bricks’ team seems more engaged in maintaining a positive community environment.
Bugs and Issues
Bricks also handles bug reporting more effectively. Users don’t have to jump through hoops to get their issues noticed. The team appears more responsive and willing to address problems quickly, leading to a smoother user experience.
Conclusion
Elementor has struggled to maintain a focus on its users. Upsells, poor bug reporting, and a toxic community have marred its reputation. Bricks Builder offers a refreshing alternative with competitive pricing and a user-friendly experience devoid of constant upsells. If you’re tired of feeling ignored as a paying Elementor customer, it might be worth considering a switch to Bricks Builder or any other builder of that caliber.
Take note, Elementor: putting your paying customers first will always be the best business strategy.
Video Walkthrough
To learn more about these issues and see behind the scenes, please have a look at the following video.
