Ultimate Addons for Elementor Review: 50+ Free Widgets Worth It? (2026)

What Is Ultimate Addons for Elementor?

Ultimate Addons for Elementor (UAE) — formerly known as Elementor Header & Footer Builder — is a free WordPress plugin by Brainstorm Force (the team behind Astra theme) that extends Elementor with additional widgets, templates, and header/footer building capabilities. With 2+ million active installs and a 4.9/5 star rating (2,510 reviews), it is one of the top-rated Elementor addon plugins.

Key Features

• Custom headers and footers — Design headers and footers visually with Elementor, overriding your theme defaults. Works with any theme, not just Astra.
• Navigation menu widget — A powerful responsive menu builder missing from Elementor free. Supports hamburger menus, dropdowns, and custom styling.
• 50+ free widgets — Info Box, Price List, Content Toggle, Image Gallery, Post Grid, Breadcrumbs, WooCommerce Cart, and more.
• Post Duplicator — Clone any page or post created with Elementor in one click.
• Scroll to Top button — Adds a customizable back-to-top button without extra plugins.
• Reading Progress Bar — Shows article reading progress at the top of the page.
• Cross-browser compatible — Works on all modern browsers and mobile devices.

Free vs Premium

• Free version — All the features above: header/footer builder, navigation menu, 50+ widgets, post duplicator. Genuinely powerful for a free plugin.
• UAE Pro ($49/yr) — Adds 50+ premium widgets, 200+ pre-designed section blocks, Cross-Site Copy-Paste, Advanced Display Conditions, and Particle Background effects.

The free version is remarkably generous. Most Elementor users will not need Pro unless they want the advanced display conditions or premium widget library.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• 4.9 stars with 2,500+ reviews — nearly universal praise
• Free header/footer builder works with ANY theme, not just Astra
• Navigation Menu widget fills a major gap in Elementor Free
• By Brainstorm Force — the same team behind Astra (well-maintained, reliable)
• Actively updated (March 2026, version 2.8.5)
• Lightweight — does not noticeably slow down the editor

Cons:

• Requires Elementor to be installed — does not work standalone
• Some advanced widgets are Pro-only (modal popups, video gallery)
• The name change from Header Footer Builder to UAE causes confusion
• Overlap with other Elementor addon plugins can create conflicts

Who Should Use It?

Any WordPress user who uses Elementor (free or Pro). If you need a custom header or footer designed with Elementor — especially on a non-Astra theme — this is the plugin. It is also essential for Elementor Free users who need the Navigation Menu widget.

Best Alternatives

• Essential Addons for Elementor — 80+ widgets, no header/footer builder.
• ElementsKit — Header/footer builder + 85+ widgets. Direct competitor.
• Elementor Pro ($59/yr) — Includes its own header/footer and theme builder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does UAE work without Elementor Pro?

Yes. The entire free version works with Elementor Free including the header/footer builder and navigation menu.

Does it work with themes other than Astra?

Yes. UAE works with any WordPress theme. The header/footer builder overrides theme defaults.

Will it slow down my site?

UAE only loads CSS and JavaScript for widgets you actually use on each page. It is lightweight by design.

Is the Pro version worth $49/year?

Only if you need advanced display conditions, premium widgets, or the 200+ pre-designed blocks. The free version is sufficient for most sites.

Can I use UAE and Essential Addons together?

Yes, but disable duplicate widgets in one plugin to avoid conflicts and unnecessary resource loading.

Sources: WordPress.org, UltimateElementor.com