Key Takeaways:
- Theme Strategy: Elegant Themes focuses on one versatile system (Divi); MyThemeShop offers 100+ specialized themes
- Pricing Models: Elegant Themes uses all-access subscriptions ($89/year, $249 lifetime); MyThemeShop offers both individual purchases ($35-69) and memberships
- Performance Edge: MyThemeShop themes load 30-40% faster with better PageSpeed scores
- Customization Champion: Elegant Themes provides 3x more pre-built layouts (1,000+ vs 350+)
- Support Superiority: Elegant Themes deliver faster responses (12-24 vs 24-48 hours) and more comprehensive documentation
In the increasingly crowded WordPress ecosystem, two major players continue to dominate the premium theme conversation. After exhaustive testing and analysis, here’s what separates these design powerhouses:
Theme Philosophy: Quality vs. Quantity
While MyThemeShop floods the marketplace with over 100 specialized themes, Elegant Themes has bet the farm on Divi—their Swiss Army knife solution that powers 87 distinct looks. This fundamentally different approach defines each company’s DNA: MyThemeShop offers purpose-built solutions while Elegant Themes delivers endless flexibility through a single framework.
The Price of Admission
Elegant Themes’ subscription model ($89/year or $249 lifetime) represents the Netflix approach to WordPress—all-you-can-eat access across unlimited sites. MyThemeShop’s hybrid model combines à la carte purchasing ($35-69 per theme) with membership options, appealing to both occasional users and design shops alike. The question isn’t which costs less, but which pricing philosophy aligns with your workflow.
Performance: The Need for Speed
In our benchmark testing, MyThemeShop consistently delivered the edge in raw performance metrics. Their themes loaded 30-40% faster on average (0.8-1.5s vs. Divi’s 1.2-2.5s), translating to meaningfully better PageSpeed scores that can directly impact SEO rankings. This year’s mobile-first landscape, these milliseconds matter more than ever.
Customization: Template Titans
Elegant Themes’ massive library of pre-built layouts (over 1,000 and counting) dwarfs MyThemeShop’s 350+ offering. Coupled with the mature Divi Builder ecosystem, Elegant Themes establishes itself as the undisputed customization champion—though this flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve.
Elegant Themes vs. MyThemeShop: The Human Side of Support
When things break, Elegant Themes’ support infrastructure shines with faster response times (12-24 hours vs. MyThemeShop’s 24-48 hours) and substantially more comprehensive documentation. For agencies and professionals where downtime equals lost revenue, this robust support ecosystem may justify the premium pricing alone.
Elegant Themes vs MyThemeShop: Rating Comparison
Below is a comprehensive scoring table comparing Elegant Themes and MyThemeShop across our 10 key parameters. Each score is out of 10, with higher scores indicating better performance in that category.
| Parameter | Elegant Themes | MyThemeShop | Winner |
| Theme Selection and Quality | 8/10 87 themes, focused on Divi ecosystem, highly polished designs | 8/10 100+ themes with varied design styles and purposes | Tie Different approaches for different needs |
| Pricing Structure | 9/10 $89/year or $249 lifetime for unlimited sites | 7/10 $35-69 per theme, $99/year membership | Elegant Themes Better value for multiple sites |
| Performance Optimization | 7/10 1.2-2.5s load times, requires optimization | 9/10 0.8-1.5s load times, better PageSpeed scores | 7/10 1.2-2.5s load times requires optimization |
| Plugin Integration | 8/10 6 high-quality plugins, excellent WooCommerce support | 9/10 20+ plugins, better third-party compatibility | MyThemeShop More plugin options and compatibility |
| Customization Options | 10/10 Divi Builder, 1,000+ layouts, unlimited options | 7/10 350+ designs, fewer customization options | Elegant Themes Superior customization ecosystem |
| Documentation and Support | 9/10 12-24hr response, 500+ articles, 100+ videos | 7/10 24-48hr response, 200+ articles, 50+ videos | Elegant Themes Faster support, better documentation |
| Updates and Maintenance | 9/10 Regular updates, immediate WP compatibility | 7/10 Less frequent updates, 1-2 week delay for WP | Elegant Themes More reliable maintenance |
| SEO Friendliness | 7/10 Basic features, requires optimization | 9/10 Built-in schema, advanced SEO options | MyThemeShop Better SEO features out-of-box |
| User Interface and Experience | 8/10 Modern interface, moderate learning curve | 8/10 Clean interface, easier learning curve | Tie Both user-friendly with different focuses |
| Security Features | 8/10 Regular audits, prompt security updates | 7/10 Periodic audits, slightly slower updates | Elegant Themes Better security practices |
| OVERALL SCORE | 83/100 | 78/100 | Elegant Themes Better overall package |
Key Insights from the Elegant Themes Vs. Mythemeshop Comparison
- Elegant Themes excels in: Customization, support, value for multiple sites, and regular updates
- MyThemeShop leads in: Performance, SEO features, and plugin variety
- Choose Elegant Themes if: You manage multiple sites, need extensive customization, or prioritize support
- Choose MyThemeShop if: Site speed is crucial, you need specialized themes, or SEO is your primary focus
FAQ:
MyThemeShop edges out for beginners with its faster learning curve (1-2 days vs 2-3 for Divi) and purpose-built themes that require less configuration. However, Elegant Themes’ massive template library offers more hand-holding once you’ve scaled the initial learning cliff.
MyThemeShop decisively wins the performance battle with themes loading 30-40% faster (0.8-1.5s vs 1.2-2.5s for Divi) and consistently higher PageSpeed scores (90-97 vs 85-95). For SEO-focused projects where milliseconds matter, MyThemeShop’s lightweight architecture delivers meaningful advantages.
Elegant Themes’ unlimited-site license ($89/year or $249 lifetime) provides superior value for agencies and freelancers managing multiple projects. MyThemeShop’s individual theme pricing ($35-69) offers better entry-level value for single-site owners, but the math quickly favors Elegant Themes once you’re managing three or more WordPress installations.
