In 2025, over 43% of all websites are built on WordPress, and site owners have hundreds of themes and page builders to choose from. Among them, Divi and Elementor are two of the most popular. But here’s a fact that might surprise you—Elementor now powers more than twice as many websites as Divi. Many businesses are making the switch. Why? Because Elementor is easier to use, faster, and gives you more control without needing to touch code.
For businesses in Lauderhill, Florida, having a website that’s easy to update, mobile-friendly, and optimized for search engines is not a luxury—it’s a must. If you’ve been using Divi for a while, you’ve probably noticed some of its limitations. Maybe your site loads slowly. Maybe it’s hard to update without breaking things. Or maybe you’ve realized that newer tools like Elementor are just more flexible.
The good news? Moving to Elementor from Divi doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With the right strategy, you can switch page builders without losing your content, design, or rankings. Let’s walk through what that process looks like, why it’s worth doing, and how to get it done the smart way.
Why So Many Businesses Are Leaving Divi
Divi was once a revolutionary page builder for WordPress. It gave small businesses the ability to create modern websites without coding. But in today’s fast-moving web environment, many users are finding Divi increasingly difficult to work with. It’s not just about preference—it’s about performance and practicality.
One of the biggest complaints about Divi is its heavy code structure. It loads a lot of unnecessary elements in the background, which leads to slower page speeds. Speed is critical, not only for user experience but also for SEO. If your site is slow, people bounce—and Google notices.
Another issue is Divi’s reliance on shortcodes. When you switch themes or page builders, these codes don’t go away. Instead, they leave your pages filled with messy text blocks that serve no purpose.
Lastly, editing with Divi isn’t intuitive anymore. It often takes more time to locate settings or make basic changes. That’s why so many site owners are switching to Elementor for a smoother experience.
The Benefits of Moving to Elementor from Divi
Elementor offers major upgrades in usability, speed, and SEO. First, it’s known for its lightweight code, which directly improves site loading time. Faster sites rank higher, reduce bounce rates, and create a better user experience.
The drag-and-drop builder is easier to understand—even for beginners. You see your changes live, in real-time, without clicking through multiple menus. You can adjust margins, padding, font sizes, and element positions instantly.
For SEO, Elementor is a win. It doesn’t use shortcodes like Divi does, which means when you remove the builder, your content remains clean and readable. That’s a major advantage for keeping search rankings intact.
You also get more design flexibility. Elementor Pro includes custom headers, footers, popups, and dynamic content tools—all without custom code. It’s ideal for businesses wanting to update content or launch promotions quickly.
Finally, Elementor integrates better with modern plugins like Rank Math, WooCommerce, and Advanced Custom Fields. It’s a builder designed for the future, not the past.
Planning the Move: Don’t Just Wing It
Switching from Divi to Elementor isn’t something you want to rush. You need a solid plan to avoid broken pages, lost content, or SEO damage. A structured approach saves time and headaches.
Start with a full audit of your current site. Make a list of pages built using Divi. Prioritize high-traffic and high-value pages like your homepage, contact page, and product or service pages.
Then, back up your entire site. Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or All-in-One WP Migration to create full backups, including your database and media files. This step is non-negotiable.
After backing up, install Elementor and Elementor Pro. Elementor’s free version works, but Pro unlocks templates, theme builder features, and better integrations.
Start rebuilding one page at a time in Elementor. Use the existing design as a reference, but look for ways to improve layout, responsiveness, and load time.
Once you’re confident, begin deactivating Divi and replacing it completely. Avoid mixing builders—it leads to confusion and conflicts.
A smooth migration is all about planning and pacing.
What to Watch Out For When Switching
Even with a solid plan, there are challenges you’ll want to prepare for. First, switching builders can create layout issues if you try to use both Divi and Elementor on the same site. Don’t do it. Commit fully to Elementor before going live.
Second, be aware of SEO risks. If you restructure your pages or change URLs, search engines might treat it as new content. Try to keep page slugs, headings, and meta descriptions consistent. Use an SEO plugin like Rank Math to re-check everything.
Third, images embedded in Divi-specific modules might not transfer properly. You may need to reinsert them manually during the rebuild.
You’ll also want to remove leftover Divi shortcodes. These don’t disappear when you uninstall the builder. Use a plugin like “Shortcode Cleaner Lite” to remove them.
Lastly, be mindful of plugin conflicts. Some add-ons built for Divi won’t work well with Elementor. Remove what you no longer need and test everything before pushing your new site live.
Local SEO Tip: Re-optimize As You Rebuild
Migrating your site is a great time to boost your local SEO, especially if you’re in Lauderhill, Florida. Search engines like Google want to show users the most relevant results nearby. The more signals you give about your location and services, the better your chances of showing up in local searches.
Start by placing your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) in the footer of every page. Use the exact same format everywhere—this consistency builds trust with search engines.
Embed a Google Map on your contact page and make sure your business is listed and verified on Google Business Profile.
Create location-focused service pages with keywords like “web design in Lauderhill, FL” or “SEO services near Fort Lauderdale.” These pages help you rank in local packs and map listings.
Don’t forget to use alt text with local keywords for images. For example: “Lauderhill SEO team at work.”
Lastly, encourage reviews from local clients—they’re gold for local SEO.
Tools That Make the Switch Easier
A few smart tools can make the transition from Divi to Elementor much faster and less stressful. These tools help with design, backup, migration, and cleanup—so you don’t have to start from scratch.
- All-in-One WP Migration: Use this to create full backups before and after migration. You can also clone your site to a staging area.
- Elementor’s Import/Export Templates: Save custom sections and layouts to reuse across your site. Great for consistency.
- Shortcode Cleaner Lite: After removing Divi, use this tool to clean up leftover shortcodes that clutter your content.
- HappyAddons or Essential Addons for Elementor: These plugin packs add extra widgets like advanced tabs, sliders, testimonials, and more—without needing code.
- Rank Math SEO: Optimize your new Elementor pages with proper titles, descriptions, and schema markup.
These tools save hours of manual work and ensure your transition is smooth, clean, and error-free.
The Real Cost of Not Switching
Staying with Divi may feel safe, but it’s quietly hurting your business. Every second your site takes to load can cost you visitors, leads, and sales. In today’s online world, users expect speed—and so does Google.
If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, people leave. That bounce rate signals to search engines that your content isn’t useful, which lowers your rankings.
Divi also makes regular updates and content changes harder. If you need a developer every time you want to update a photo or fix a layout, that’s time and money wasted. Elementor puts the control back in your hands.
Design flexibility, better mobile layouts, SEO optimization—all of these are harder with Divi. And if your competitors are already using Elementor, they’re gaining ground while you’re stuck in the past.
In short, not switching to Elementor isn’t saving you money—it’s costing you business every single day.
How Can Design Develop Now, Inc. Help You?
If you’re ready to make the move from Divi to Elementor and want it done right, Design Develop Now, Inc. is here to help. Based in Lauderhill, Florida, our team has years of experience with WordPress, SEO, and both builders. We know the pitfalls—and how to avoid them.
We start with a full site audit and backup, so nothing gets lost. Then we carefully rebuild your pages in Elementor, optimizing layout, images, and load speed along the way. We remove all leftover Divi code to keep your site clean and efficient.
Our process also includes a full local SEO sweep. We optimize your headers, meta data, and content to help you show up in local search results. We’ll also guide you on how to maintain your new site easily, so you’re not stuck calling a developer for every change.
Call +1 800-336-7716 today for a free consultation. We’ll make your site faster, cleaner, and easier to manage—without losing what you’ve built.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export Divi layouts and import them into Elementor?
No. You can’t directly export Divi layouts into Elementor, but you can manually recreate your designs using Elementor’s templates or visual editor.
Will switching from Divi to Elementor affect my site’s existing CSS or custom code?
Yes. Elementor may not recognize CSS that was tied to Divi-specific classes or structures, so custom code may need to be updated post-migration.
Do all WordPress themes that worked with Divi also work smoothly with Elementor?
Most do, but for best results, use lightweight themes optimized for Elementor, like Hello or Astra.
Can I retain Divi-built global headers and footers when switching to Elementor?
No. Those need to be rebuilt using Elementor’s Theme Builder, since Divi headers/footers aren’t transferable.
