Elementor vs Kirki (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Page Builder Plugins top 10: Elementor at #1 and Kirki at #7. Elementor leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Elementor
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 …
Kirki
Kirki – Freeform Page Builder, Website Builder & Customizer
Freeform page builder & website builder for WordPress. Infinite canvas for complex, interactive websites. Built-in forms, animations & Customizer.
Who leads on what
Elementor leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Elementor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Page Builder Plugins.
Elementor has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 500,000+.
Both are rated 4.5 out of 5 (7,297 and 81 reviews).
Elementor has more reviews behind its score: 7,297 against 81.
Kirki was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; Elementor on August 31, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Elementor
Pick Elementor if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Kirki
Pick Kirki if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Elementor vs Kirki side by side
| Elementor | Kirki | |
|---|---|---|
| Page Builder Plugins ranking | #1 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 7,297 | 81 |
| Active installs | 10 million+ | 500,000+ |
| Total downloads | 886,364,228 | 15,486,458 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| First published | May 30, 2016 | May 27, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Elementor ratings
Kirki ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Elementor nor Kirki can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Page Builder Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Elementor vs Kirki: common questions
Is Elementor better than Kirki?
Elementor leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Elementor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Page Builder Plugins.
Which has more users, Elementor or Kirki?
Elementor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Page Builder Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Elementor or Kirki?
Elementor has more users: 10 million+ active installs against 500,000+.
Are Elementor and Kirki free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Elementor is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Kirki may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Elementor and Kirki
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.