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When it comes to building websites, very few page builders let you create stunning designs without diving into code or handling any technical tasks yourself.
Two of the most popular ones worth talking about are WPBakery and Elementor.
A good page builder is one that takes the coding burden off your shoulders, letting you focus on designing layouts, adding content, and uploading visuals. Both WPBakery and Elementor can get the job done, but which one does it better? And which one fits your specific needs? That’s what we’re here to figure out.
So, let’s get into it and break down how these two stack up!
Quick Comparison of WP Bakery vs Elementor? See Comparison Table
| Feature | Elementor | WPBakery |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Intuitive, beginner-friendly, real-time front-end editing | More sophisticated, back-end and front-end editing, steeper learning curve |
| Design Capabilities | Versatile, extensive library of templates, real-time editing, generative AI | Powerful for experienced designers, relies on shortcodes, grid and skin builders |
| Performance | Dynamic module-based system, built-in optimisation features | Static content via shortcodes, slightly faster in some scenarios |
| Integration | Seamless with popular WordPress themes and plugins | Compatible with a wide range of plugins and themes |
| Pricing | Subscription-based, starts at $3/month for single site | One-time payment, $70 per website license |
| Customisation Options | Real-time editing, drag-and-drop, direct source code access | Front-end and back-end editing, shortcode-centric |
| Advanced Features | Generative AI, shortcode support | Grid Builder, Skin Builder, AI features evolving |
| Target Users | Beginners and advanced users, intuitive design process | Users with some web design experience, more control over structure |
Read More: The Best Website Builder in Australia for 2025
What is Elementor Page Builder?
Elementor is currently one of the leading page builders in the WordPress ecosystem.
It comes with an extensive library of content elements, themes, and templates that even beginners can use to build their WordPress websites with ease. Elementor also integrates seamlessly with popular WordPress plugins and third-party tools, making it incredibly versatile. Plus, it’s simple enough for anyone with minimal WordPress experience to design a professional-looking site without any hassle.
Most websites created with Elementor are business websites, portfolio sites, blogs, or e-commerce stores. It’s a favourite choice for users who want a flexible and feature-rich page builder without needing to dive into complex coding.
A few of Elementor’s standout features include its real-time live editing. As you design your site, you can see the changes instantly, making it intuitive and efficient. Another key feature is its shortcode support, allowing you to easily add advanced elements to your site. Additionally, Elementor is optimised at the code level to enhance your website’s performance, ensuring faster loading speeds and a smoother user experience.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced WordPress user, Elementor makes building and managing your website straightforward and effective.
Elementor Page Builder is a powerful WordPress page builder plugin known for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, allowing web designers and developers to create visually stunning websites without any coding skills. As one of the top page builders in the WordPress ecosystem, Elementor offers an extensive library of content elements and pre-built templates that cater to both beginners and advanced users. It integrates seamlessly with popular WordPress themes and third-party plugins, providing a versatile and flexible solution for building custom WordPress sites. With its live editing feature, Elementor enables users to see changes in real time, enhancing the site editing experience. Whether you’re looking to create a simple blog or an entire website with advanced customisation options, Elementor Page Builder is a solid choice for achieving a responsive design and optimised page speed.
What is WPBakery Page Builder?
WPBakery is another highly popular page builder for WordPress. Previously known as Visual Composer, it offers features similar to Elementor, including a drag-and-drop interface for easily adding content elements to your website’s layout. It’s designed to simplify website creation without requiring any coding knowledge.
One of WPBakery’s standout features is that it supports both front-end and back-end editing. This means you can visually edit your website while viewing it live or dive into the code if you have the technical expertise to tweak layouts further. Like Elementor, WPBakery comes with a vast library of themes, templates, and shortcodes, making it easy to create or enhance your site’s design.
WPBakery’s shortcodes are especially versatile, letting you do everything from adding columns and forms to embedding HTML content. However, there is a bit of a learning curve, particularly for beginners, due to its slightly more complex design. While it may take some time to get used to, once you’re familiar with WPBakery, you can build highly advanced websites without touching a single line of code.
Comparing Elementor and WPBakery Page Builders
Key Features and Functionality
Elementor
Elementor is a robust page builder that offers a variety of features to help users design WordPress websites efficiently:
- Pre-built Templates: A comprehensive library of pre-designed templates caters to various needs, including business sites, blogs, and e-commerce platforms.
- Third-party Integration: It integrates seamlessly with popular plugins and services like WooCommerce, MailChimp, and more.
- Customisation Options: Offers real-time editing with its drag-and-drop interface and direct source code access for advanced users, providing unparalleled flexibility.
- Generative AI: One of Elementor’s newer features is its AI-powered design assistance. Users can use generative AI to create specific sections like columns, images, or content blocks without manually navigating through the layout structure. While still in development and prone to minor glitches, this feature showcases the potential for streamlining website creation.
- Shortcodes: Though not heavily reliant on them, Elementor includes shortcode support, making it flexible for advanced customisation needs.
WPBakery
WPBakery is a widely-used page builder, recognised for its shortcode-centric approach:
- Pre-built Templates: Offers a variety of templates that cater to different website types, though they may require more manual adjustments compared to Elementor.
- Third-party Integration: Compatible with a wide range of plugins and themes, allowing seamless functionality enhancements.
- Customisation Options: Includes both front-end and back-end editing modes, letting users toggle between visual updates and code-level changes.
- Shortcodes: The backbone of WPBakery’s functionality is its reliance on shortcodes. This allows users to fetch and insert shortcodes to structure the page layout.
- Advanced Features:
- Grid Builder: Provides the option to design custom grid layouts for specific sections of a page, independent of the website’s overall template.
- Skin Builder: Users can create custom skins to control the look and feel of their entire site, tailoring it beyond the default template offerings.
- Generative AI: Similar to Elementor, WPBakery also offers AI-based design features. However, its implementation is still evolving, and users might encounter occasional limitations.
Both Elementor and WPBakery bring unique strengths to website design. While Elementor leans on real-time editing and intuitive AI features, WPBakery offers granular control through shortcodes and advanced layout options like grid and skin builders. The choice depends on user preference and the specific requirements of the project.
Read More: Gutenberg vs. Elementor: Which One Is Right for You?
User Interface and Ease of Use
Elementor
Elementor is renowned for its intuitive and beginner-friendly user interface, designed to make website building a seamless experience.
One of its standout features is real-time front-end editing, where changes are immediately reflected on the live version of the website. This eliminates the need for constant previewing or publishing to see the results, streamlining the design process.
The drag-and-drop simplicity of Elementor allows users to move elements effortlessly, making customisation straightforward even for those with minimal technical expertise. The interface itself is welcoming, with a visually appealing layout and thoughtful design choices that guide users naturally through the platform. Pop-ups and tooltips provide instructions on new features, further reducing the learning curve and ensuring that users feel confident as they create or modify their websites.
WPBakery
WPBakery offers a more sophisticated interface tailored to users with some experience in web design.
While it provides both back-end and front-end editing options, most of the design work is typically done on the back end. This means users must roll out changes before they can view them live on the website, which can slow down the design process.
WPBakery’s interface is functional but lacks the intuitive and visually driven nature of Elementor.
Users often need to explore multiple areas within the platform to locate specific options or features. Although it supports drag-and-drop functionality and offers a wide range of shortcodes to enhance customisation, the process of previewing and publishing changes adds an additional step, making it slightly less efficient. For those familiar with coding and website structure, WPBakery offers robust tools, but its learning curve can be challenging for beginners.
Design Capabilities
Elementor
When it comes to design, Elementor stands out as a versatile and user-friendly page builder suitable for creating any type of website.
From business websites and portfolio pages to eCommerce stores and landing pages, Elementor provides a robust platform that accommodates all types of site structures. Its library of templates and themes, especially in the premium version, ensures that users have access to highly customisable designs. These templates can be easily integrated into existing themes, allowing users to refine layouts, update content, or adjust elements like fonts and images without hassle.
The real-time front-end editing experience is a game-changer, letting users make changes instantly and see the results live, which simplifies the design process significantly. Additionally, Elementor’s generative AI feature adds a new level of convenience. While still developing, this tool allows users to create sections or layouts simply by providing instructions, minimising the need for manual effort.
WP Bakery
On the other hand, WPBakery also offers powerful design capabilities but tends to cater more to experienced designers. While it allows for the creation of various types of websites, including eCommerce stores, blogs, and landing pages, beginners may find its learning curve slightly steeper. WPBakery templates, even in the premium version, often require more customisation out of the box to achieve a polished look. The reliance on shortcodes and a more complex interface may feel daunting to new users. However, for those familiar with design workflows, WPBakery’s advanced features, such as grid layout options and skin builder, provide extensive customisation capabilities. Its generative AI feature, while promising, is still in its early stages and less refined than Elementor’s implementation.
Both Elementor and WPBakery are capable of delivering stunning website designs. Elementor excels in simplicity, real-time editing, and accessibility for beginners, while WPBakery shines with its advanced features and flexibility for experienced users. Your choice ultimately depends on your level of expertise and the specific needs of your project.
Performance and Loading Speed
When it comes to performance, Elementor and WPBakery Page Builder exhibit subtle differences that depend on their architecture and how they render website content.
Elementor, known for its real-time editing capabilities, uses a module-based system where scripts and styles are loaded dynamically. This real-time script processing can sometimes result in slower page loading speeds compared to WPBakery. However, Elementor compensates for this with built-in optimisation features such as lazy loading, image and video compression, and efficient handling of JavaScript, which help mitigate performance issues.
On the other hand, WPBakery is slightly faster in some scenarios due to its reliance on shortcodes rather than dynamic script processing. Shortcodes generate static content that doesn’t heavily alter the theme or require as much real-time processing, which can give WPBakery a performance edge. However, the difference in speed is often negligible, especially when websites are hosted on high-performance servers like virtual private or dedicated servers.
In practice, both Elementor and WPBakery deliver solid performance when paired with robust hosting solutions and proper optimisation strategies. Having worked with clients whose websites receive significant organic traffic, the observed differences in performance between the two have been minimal. Preferences often come down to usability: real-time design flexibility favours Elementor, while shortcode simplicity attracts WPBakery users.
Pricing and Value for Money
When it comes to pricing, Elementor and WPBakery Page Builder offer competitive yet distinct models suited to different user needs.
Elementor Pricing
Elementor operates on a subscription-based model. It starts at $3 per month for a basic single website plan, ideal for light usage. For more robust functionality, its $10 per month plan provides advanced features for one website. If you manage multiple websites, Elementor offers multi-site plans, with costs increasing to $30 per month or more, depending on the number of sites. While this recurring fee ensures regular updates and support, it can become a costly option for users managing several websites.
WPBakery Pricing
WPBakery, by contrast, uses a one-time payment model, priced at $70 per website license. This fee grants lifetime access to the plugin without requiring renewals, making it an attractive choice for users who prefer upfront investments over ongoing subscriptions. For multi-site users, WPBakery offers a multi-site lifetime package at approximately $200, which can be more economical for managing several websites compared to Elementor’s subscription model.
Cost-Effectiveness for Different Scenarios
For a single website, WPBakery’s one-time fee can be more affordable in the long term, especially for users who don’t require frequent updates or premium support. However, Elementor’s pricing can be justified for those needing its advanced design features and regular improvements. For multiple websites, WPBakery’s lifetime multi-site option may present better value, while Elementor’s tiered subscriptions could quickly escalate in cost.
Conclusion
Both Elementor and WPBakery stand out as powerful page builders, each bringing unique strengths to the table.
Elementor shines with its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, real-time editing capabilities, and seamless integration with popular WordPress themes and plugins. It is an excellent choice for beginners and those who appreciate intuitive design processes, thanks to its extensive library of pre-built templates and advanced customisation options.
On the other hand, WPBakery offers robust design capabilities with its shortcode-centric approach and dual editing modes, making it a solid choice for users with some web design experience who seek more control over their website’s structure.
Ultimately, the decision between Elementor and WPBakery depends on your specific needs, level of expertise, and budget. Elementor’s subscription model provides continuous updates and support, appealing to those who value ongoing improvements.
Meanwhile, WPBakery’s one-time payment option can be more cost-effective for users managing multiple websites without requiring frequent updates. Both page builders are capable of helping you build stunning websites, so consider your priorities and project requirements to choose the right page builder for your WordPress site in 2025.
Get Your Website Designed by Experts
If you’re uncertain about which page builder is best for designing your WordPress website, consider skipping them altogether and opting for a custom theme design. Custom themes are tailored specifically to your business needs, ensuring optimal performance, unique design, and scalability.
At WP Creative, we specialise in creating bespoke WordPress themes from scratch, offering a design perfectly aligned with your brand and functional requirements. For those who prefer using page builders, we can also provide expert guidance on selecting the most suitable option—be it Elementor, WPBakery, or another tool—based on your website’s goals and technical needs.
Reach out to us today to discuss your project and receive a custom quote for your website design. Let’s create something exceptional together!
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