This has been a happening year for Elementor. They have really come a long way from where they started the year. Release of five major updates within a year is a clear indication of that. Whether it’s performance or design capability, the most popular web builder has emphasized everything to make it easier for the users.
As the year comes to an end, we thought it’s the best time to look back at how Elementor has evolved over the last twelve months. Elementor review of 2021 is a wrap-up of all the major changes and updates of the most popular web creation platform for WordPress.
So let’s get started…
What is Elementor?
Before we go into the year review, an overview of Elementor will help to understand what users can do with this WordPress page builder.
Elementor is an all-in-one platform to design and build WordPress websites of all classes and types. From full-blown websites to specific pages, this WordPress plugin lets you create everything without writing a single line of code. You can always grow your website professionally with Elementor’s features like – intuitive drag-and-drop Editor, advanced design features, and a full open-source approach.
Furthermore, you can elevate your skills and go beyond limits with a help of a spread user community and a large third-party marketplace. User community is where you can discuss any issue you faced with Elementor. While third-party add ons like Exclusive Addons complements the Elementor’s functionalities.
If you want to build websites on your own, learn how to use Elementor. It’s easy than you think.
Elementor Review: Major updates in 2021
Elementor year in review is an approach to track all developments made with Elementor this year. Tracking those developments will help the community to understand which direction Elementor is going in the coming does. And to prepare accordingly.
Here is an overview of all the Elementor version updates in 2021:
| Update Version | Release Date | What's New |
|---|---|---|
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Elementor 3.1
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January 2021
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Elementor Pro 3.1
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February 2021
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Elementor 3.2
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April 2021
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Elementor Pro 3.2
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March 2021
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Elementor 3.3
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July 2021
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Elementor Pro 3.3
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June 2021
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Elementor 3.4
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August 2021
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Elementor Pro 3.4
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September 2021
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Elementor 3.5
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December 2021
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Elementor Pro 3.5
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November 2021
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Elementor Review of 2021: Performance has been the center of the focus
Website performance has always been a priority for Elementor. Therefore, their developers keep optimizing the plugin to ensure the optimal performance of the websites built with Elementor. This reflects on their five-track plan.
Load only what you need; reduce the use of JS/CSS library; optimize backend and rendering process; improve code output; these are the five tracks. If you look into the major Elementor updates from the outgoing year (2021), they are clearly on track to implement their plan.
Improved Asset Loading Experiment:
In the first major updates of 2021 (Elementor v3.1 & Elementor Pro v3.1), they added the Improved Asset Loading Experiment. Basically, it’s a method where JS and swiper assets load only when needed on the page. It means the plugin only loads a specific widget only if you are using it.
As a result, up to 103 KB of JS files can be reduced from the front-end loading. This process optimizes the performance on the front end and definitely improves the page loading speed. The update also added real-time JS handling in the Slider and other carousel widgets to prevent redundant renders. Later, Elementor 3.2 version also continued with the Conditional Asset Loading Experiment.
Improved CSS loading:
The “Load Only What You Need” tract continues with the improved CSS loading experiment on the Elementor v3.3 update. The plugin now loads the widget’s CSS files on a page only when you are using that widget. It helps boost the page loading speed reducing the amount of spare CSS on the web page, ultimately reducing the overall size of the page.
Optimized Font Awesome loading:
In Elementor 3.4 update, they changed the icon loading mechanism to SVG. Before, the entire Font awesome library was used on the website. Now the Font Awesome inline SVG optimizes the performance and improves the loading speed.
Elementor is a well-optimized WordPress plugin. With all those performance improvements, your website with Elementor can easily match the Core Web Vitals metrics and get a higher rank SERP.
Elementor Review of 2021: Pushes the design capability further ahead
Design superior is the strength of Elementor. Supreme design capability with ultimate flexibility is what makes the Elementor stand taller than others. So no doubt, they made significant improvements in the design schemes this year too.
Responsive design schemes got a boost with Additional Custom Breakpoints
The WordPress website builder breaks the limit to creating responsive web designs with the introduction of Additional Custom Breakpoints in the Elementor 3.4 version. The update added four additional custom breakpoints, two new mobile breakpoints, and one breakpoint for laptops and widescreens each. You now have 7 responsive breakpoints with one default and 6 custom breakpoints.
Earlier, with Elementor v3.2 update they did a Responsive UI makeover that gives you the ability to instantly navigate and browse through your responsive devices.
Faster web creation features:
Elementor always introduces new features to save your time with tools and make the design process easier.
On Elementor 3.2 update, the Import/Export experiment was added. You can export/import Elementor content like pages, templates, global colors, fonts, and other theme builder elements across websites.
In the next update, i.e. Elementor v3.3, they introduced a full website Import / Export capabilities with Full Website Kits. A revolutionary feature that elevated the web building experience to the next level. Now you can create a complete blueprint of your website on localhost and simply export it to the main domain with a few steps. The features turned the table in the favor of professional web developers.
Mark Widgets As Favorites feature on the Elementor v3.5 also helps the faster web creation where you can pin your most used widgets on top.
Other design improvements:
Revolutionized Landing Page building experience
The popular WordPress web creation platform made a groundbreaking upgrade in creating landing pages. The Elementor 3.1 version update included a new workflow for landing pages. You can now build and manage landing pages of your website from one location.
The version also introduced the dedicated Landing Page Library. Now you have more tools that help you create landing pages dozens of templates.
Bulk Woo Commerce improvements are in place
Elementor is now capable to fulfill your basic need to create e-commerce sites. On Elementor v3.4, they made a complete set of improvements of Woo Commerce widgets like Menu Cart and Dynamic Woo-Commerce page. However, the Elementor Pro v3.5 was all about Woo Commerce. They have come with a bunch of Woo Commerce widgets like:
The Elementor Pro 3.5 also introduces WooCommerce Site Settings which lets you configure shop pages of your eCommerce within Elementor. Using these widgets and features you can build a full-size eCommerce site for your business.
You can drive more customer to customize to your eCommerce site by customizeing the product page. Learn how to customize WooCommerce product page with Exclusive WooBuilder and create a sophisticated single product pages for your site.
Elementor Experiments to experience features before release
Way back in January 2021 Elementor launches a really cool feature named Elementor Experiments on the v3.1 update. It is a new experiment capability that lets you experience upcoming features prior to their release. “Elementor Experiments” is an interesting feature. Elementor added this feature to increase user involvement with the version updates. Users like you can test the pre-released features and provide your feedback so that Elementor can fix the issues you faced.
New Widgets & Features of Elementor in 2021
Besides the developments and improvements described above, Elementor add a handful of widgets and features this year. Here is the list of 2021 Elementor widgets and features:
On a final note
So what do all those inclusions and improvements refer to? Well, with 5 major updates and hundred of newly added features and improvements to previous ones, Elementor made it quite clear that they are not going to sit behind the coming years. In fact, they are marching firmly towards bringing revolution to WordPress website building and becoming the number one web creation platform for WordPress.
This article, Elementor review of 2021 is our attempt to give an overview of the developments that Elementor underwent this year. Let us know your Elementor in 2021 and you see them in the upcoming 2022.
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