Best Mega Menu Plugin for Elementor
Elementor is the most-installed WordPress page builder. With Elementor Pro you get a Nav Menu widget and even a “mega menu” capability via the Theme Builder. So why bring in a separate plugin?
Because Elementor’s Nav Menu is a page-builder element, not a menu system. Two different things, and shoppers notice.
Elementor menu vs. a dedicated plugin
What Elementor’s nav widget gives you:
- Pulls from WordPress’s standard menu
- Pro lets you assign an Elementor template per top-level menu item as a “mega” panel
- Mobile menu via hamburger
What it doesn’t give you:
- Mega panels have to be designed as full Elementor templates — heavy for what’s supposed to be navigation
- No content tabs (vertical or horizontal)
- No auto-pulled posts
- No icon picker at the menu-item level
- No right-align without custom CSS
- Mega panels can pull in Elementor’s full asset bundle even when unused
Ruby Mega Menu was designed for navigation specifically, not as a page-builder element. The result is leaner output and a familiar editor inside Appearance → Menus.
How Ruby Mega Menu works with Elementor
- Install Ruby Mega Menu
- In Elementor’s Theme Builder, place a WordPress Menu shortcode (
[ruby_mega_menu menu="primary"]) wherever you want the menu - Or use Elementor’s standard Nav Menu widget — Ruby’s output will render through it
- Manage the menu structure from Appearance → Menus
Either path works. The shortcode approach gives you the cleanest output; the Nav Menu widget approach lets you keep using your existing Elementor header.
Tested compatibility
- Elementor Free and Pro
- Elementor Theme Builder headers (Pro)
- Hello Elementor theme
- Astra + Elementor combinations
- OceanWP + Elementor combinations
- WooCommerce integration through any Elementor-built header
When this combo shines
Designer-built sites that need real navigation
You designed a beautiful Elementor header. You don’t want to rebuild it every time the menu structure changes. Ruby keeps menu management in WordPress core while you keep the visual layer in Elementor.
WooCommerce stores built on Hello Elementor
Hello Elementor + Elementor Pro is a popular WooCommerce stack. Ruby adds shopping tabs and a live cart icon without needing a separate WooCommerce header plugin.
Performance-sensitive Elementor builds
Elementor sites often get heavy. Ruby’s menu output sidesteps Elementor’s asset bundle — your navigation doesn’t drag in widget CSS or JS it doesn’t need.
Pricing for Elementor users
Free covers dropdowns and vertical content tabs — usually enough for Elementor blogs or service sites. Pro at $28.99/year unlocks shopping tabs, WooCommerce integration, and site logo in menu bar.
Next steps
If you’re already on Elementor Pro and using its mega menu, install Ruby’s free version side by side and compare load times on your homepage. The difference shows up in your Performance tab.