Elementor
WordPress plugin letting anyone build websites with drag-and-drop, no code.
On the record
Checkpoint: Elementor's Editor V4/Atomic rollout finishes across millions of live sites
The call
Elementor still holds a massive installed base, but new-site growth is being squeezed by free WordPress tools and AI builders like Wix's, forcing cuts.
Elementor makes a drag-and-drop website builder that works inside WordPress, the platform that powers about 40% of all websites. It has 25 million active sites using it, which gives it real staying power for existing customers who have invested time in the tool. But new customers are increasingly choosing Wix AI Site Generator, which builds entire websites automatically using artificial intelligence, or using WordPress's free Gutenberg editor that comes built-in to WordPress itself, so Elementor can no longer rely on growth from new users. The company laid off 30% of its staff in mid-2026 and said it was directly because of AI competition. What matters most going forward is whether the 25 million existing Elementor sites stay loyal or switch to AI-powered alternatives, because the company is no longer winning many new ones.
Why
01
AI pressure: Wix AI Site Generator. Wix's AI Site Generator builds full sites without WordPress, pulling new customers away before they ever install Elementor. Could AI do the core job? Yes, likely.
02
Bigger players: WordPress core team (Gutenberg editor). WordPress's free built-in Gutenberg editor undercuts Elementor's paid plugin from inside its own platform. Could a giant copy it? Yes, easily.
03
What protects it. 25 million live sites already running on Elementor create switching costs that keep the installed base paying.
What would change this call
Elementor announces another workforce reduction within 12 months of the June 2026 cut. Would show new-customer and revenue compression is continuing, not a one-time correction.
Elementor discloses net-new paid subscriber or install growth tied to its Angie or Copilot AI features. Would show its AI tools are winning new business, not just retaining existing sites.
Elementor's active install count (currently 25M+) drops or stalls in future public reporting. Would show the installed-base moat itself is cracking, not just new-site acquisition slowing.
Elementor discloses net-new paid subscriber or install growth tied to its Angie or Copilot AI features. Would show its AI tools are winning new business, not just retaining existing sites.
Elementor's active install count (currently 25M+) drops or stalls in future public reporting. Would show the installed-base moat itself is cracking, not just new-site acquisition slowing.
Key numbers
- 25M+ active Elementor sites (13% of web)
- 30% staff cut, 100 jobs, June 2026
- ~$53.1M estimated ARR
Named risks
- 30% workforce cut in June 2026 signals cost pressure from AI-driven disruption of new-site building.
- AI-native builders like Wix AI and native WordPress AI could erode new-WordPress-site acquisition funnel.
- Editor V4/Atomic architecture migration since Feb 2026 risks breaking compatibility across millions of existing sites.
- Recurring plugin vulnerabilities, e.g. Dec 2025 stored-XSS CVE, threaten a massive install base.
- Equity is private and illiquid with no confirmed IPO path despite third-party confusion about Nasdaq listing.
Rivals, as read in July 2026
| Rival | Direction | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Wix | gaining on | Wix AI Site Generator builds working site structures in under 60 seconds, vendor-claimed March 2026 |
| WordPress/Gutenberg | contesting | Free native block editor sits inside Elementor's own ecosystem, competes for new-site formation |
| Webflow | contesting | Wix's own blog claims agencies increasingly shift to Webflow/Wix Studio to avoid WordPress overhead, Feb 2026 |
Questions people ask
- Is Elementor profitable in 2026?
- Elementor's CEO described the company as profitable when announcing the June 29, 2026 layoffs of about 100 staff. A June 2022 Globes report also noted Elementor has run lean, revenue-funded operations rather than relying on large raises, consistent with near self-sustaining profitability.
- Is Elementor publicly traded on Nasdaq?
- No. As of July 2026, Elementor Ltd remains privately held and venture-backed with no confirmed IPO, per PitchBook and Wikipedia. Confusion likely stems from Wix, ticker WIX, a Nasdaq-listed rival, or the unrelated gold-mining firm Elemental Royalty Corporation, ticker ELE.
- Did Elementor have layoffs in 2026?
- Yes, on June 29, 2026 Elementor cut about 100 employees, roughly 30 percent of its workforce, mostly in Israel, framed as an organizational reset for the AI era and a shift to flatter management. It follows a smaller 15 percent cut in June 2022.
- Could AI replace Elementor?
- Elementor's core value, visual layout, copywriting, and CSS generation, is exactly what generative AI site builders like Wix's AI Site Generator perform natively. Elementor itself cited AI-era pressure when cutting 30 percent of staff on June 29, 2026, though its 25 million-plus installed sites still lock in existing users.
- Who is Elementor's biggest competitor?
- Wix, Nasdaq-listed as WIX, is the most direct threat, shipping an AI Site Generator that vendor claims can build a working site in under 60 seconds as of March 2026. WordPress's own free Gutenberg editor, embedded inside Elementor's own ecosystem, is also a persistent contester for new sites.
- Who owns Elementor?
- Elementor Ltd is privately held, founded in 2016 by Yoni Luksenberg (still CEO) and Ariel Klikstein, and venture-backed by investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, O.G. Venture Partners, and Globis Capital. There is no parent company and no confirmed public listing as of July 2026.
Timeline
- 2026-06-29Elementor cuts about 100 jobs, 30% of workforce, citing AI-era organizational reset
- 2026-03-26Sticklight AI app-builder platform announced for dashboards and internal tools
- 2026-03Angie, an agentic MCP-based AI plugin, launches with autonomous action capability
- 2026-02Editor V4 'Atomic' CSS-first architecture rollout begins, largest overhaul in 8 years
- 2026-01Elementor One unified subscription launches, bundling plugin, hosting, AI credits
- 2025-12-22CISA discloses stored-XSS vulnerability in Elementor Text Path widget, bulletin SB25-356
- 2025-11-11Elementor AI Copilot officially released for in-editor generation
- 2022-06Elementor lays off 50-60 employees, about 15% of workforce, amid recession fears
- 2016Elementor founded by Yoni Luksenberg and Ariel Klikstein
Revision history
23 July 2026
First assessed. Losing its protection. The text above is fixed as of this date and is not edited afterwards.
In the same band
Sources
- Elementor 2026 Company Profile
- Products, Competitors, Financials, Employees, Headquarters Locations (2025-08-11)
- Elementor
- Elementor Stock Price, Funding, Valuation, Revenue & Financial Statements (2022-06-07)
- Elementor - Headcount, Funding & Open Jobs (2026-06-23)
- $53.1M Est. ARR, $159.4M Valuation (2025-07-22)
- Is Elementor Dying? What the 2026 Layoffs Mean (2026-06-29)
- Elementor - Overview, News & Similar companies (2026-07-06)
- Revenue, Competitors, Alternatives (2022-04-16)
- Elementor cuts 100 jobs, 30% of workforce, as AI reshapes website building (2026-06-29)
- Elementor Cuts 30% of Its Workforce (2026-07-01)
- 10 Best Elementor Alternatives to Try in 2026 (2026-05-14)