Introduction
Page builders have revolutionized how we design WordPress websites. Instead of coding layouts from scratch, you can drag and drop elements to create stunning designs in minutes. Among the most popular page builders, Elementor and WPBakery (formerly Visual Composer) dominate the WordPress ecosystem.
But which one should you choose in 2025? In this in-depth comparison of Elementor vs. WPBakery, we’ll look at features, ease of use, pricing, speed, and overall performance to help you decide the winner for your website.
What Are WordPress Page Builders?
Page builders are plugins that allow you to design and customize your WordPress site without touching code. They offer:
- Drag-and-drop editing
- Pre-designed templates
- Responsive layouts
- Integration with plugins and themes
While Elementor and WPBakery serve the same purpose, they take very different approaches to design and usability.
Elementor Overview
Elementor is currently the most popular WordPress page builder, powering over 11 million websites worldwide. Launched in 2016, it quickly became the go-to choice for beginners and professionals.
Key Features of Elementor
- Drag-and-drop live editor (visual editing in real time)
- 90+ free and pro widgets
- 300+ designer-made templates
- Responsive design controls
- Theme Builder (header, footer, archive, and WooCommerce customization)
- Popup Builder for advanced marketing
- Seamless integration with WooCommerce, Yoast, Rank Math, and more
Best For: Beginners, designers, freelancers, agencies, and anyone who wants a modern and user-friendly builder.
WPBakery Overview
WPBakery Page Builder has been around since 2011 and was once the most widely used page builder. It’s bundled with thousands of premium themes on ThemeForest.
Key Features of WPBakery
- Frontend and backend editors
- 50+ content elements
- Grid builder for layouts
- Compatible with most themes
- Huge add-on library (third-party developers create extensions)
- Works with older WordPress versions
Best For: Users of ThemeForest themes that come bundled with WPBakery or developers working with legacy websites.
Elementor vs. WPBakery: Head-to-Head Comparison
Ease of Use
- Elementor: Intuitive live front-end editor, real-time changes, drag-and-drop simplicity.
- WPBakery: Offers both backend and frontend editing, but UI feels dated and less beginner-friendly.
Winner: Elementor
Design Flexibility
- Elementor: Advanced design controls, global styling, motion effects, custom positioning.
- WPBakery: Basic styling options, relies heavily on themes for advanced design.
Winner: Elementor
Templates & Widgets
- Elementor: 300+ templates and 90+ widgets (forms, sliders, galleries, etc.).
- WPBakery: 100+ templates and 50+ content elements.
Winner: Elementor
Performance & Speed
- Elementor: Lightweight but can slow down with too many widgets. Regular updates improve speed.
- WPBakery: Known for bloated code and slower performance. Many users report heavy page load times.
Winner: Elementor
Compatibility
- Elementor: Works with almost every modern theme, especially Astra, GeneratePress, and OceanWP.
- WPBakery: Still bundled with many ThemeForest themes, but less compatible with newer FSE themes.
Winner: Elementor
SEO Friendliness
- Elementor: Clean code structure, integrates with SEO plugins.
- WPBakery: Adds shortcodes to content, which may create issues if you switch builders.
Winner: Elementor
Pricing
- Elementor Free: $0 – includes basic widgets and templates.
- Elementor Pro: Starts at $59/year for 1 site, $199/year for 25 sites.
- WPBakery: $64 one-time license per site (no free version).
Winner: WPBakery if you prefer one-time payment. Winner: Elementor if you want a free version to start.
Learning Curve
- Elementor: Beginner-friendly with extensive tutorials.
- WPBakery: Slightly steeper learning curve, especially for non-technical users.
Winner: Elementor
Community & Support
- Elementor: Huge global community, Facebook groups, tutorials, 24/7 support for Pro users.
- WPBakery: Smaller community, but decent documentation.
Winner: Elementor
Pros and Cons
Elementor Pros
✅ Beginner-friendly interface
✅ Huge template library
✅ Fast-growing ecosystem
✅ Works well with modern themes
✅ SEO-friendly
Elementor Cons
❌ Can slow down with too many widgets
❌ Advanced features locked in Pro version
WPBakery Pros
✅ One-time purchase (no yearly fees)
✅ Bundled with many premium themes
✅ Backend editor option for developers
✅ Huge third-party add-on ecosystem
WPBakery Cons
❌ Outdated UI compared to Elementor
❌ Heavier and slower performance
❌ Shortcode lock-in problem
❌ Limited free resources
Elementor vs. WPBakery: Who Should Use What?
- Choose Elementor if… you’re starting a new blog, portfolio, or business site in 2025. It’s modern, fast, and future-proof.
- Choose WPBakery if… you’re working with a premium theme that already includes it, or if you prefer a one-time payment instead of annual subscriptions.
Final Verdict: Elementor Wins in 2025
While WPBakery still has its place in legacy projects, Elementor is the clear winner in 2025. With its intuitive interface, powerful features, and massive ecosystem, Elementor is the best page builder for WordPress today.
If you want speed, design flexibility, and scalability, Elementor is the way to go. WPBakery remains a solid choice if you’re tied to older themes or want a one-time license.
Ready to build your dream site? Try Elementor today and see why it outshines WPBakery in the Elementor vs WPBakery battle of 2025!
