I’ve always loved WordPress and how it lets you customize websites. Elementor came out five years ago and changed the game. WPBakery, on the other hand, has been around for over a decade. So, which one is best for your WordPress site?
We’ll look at the main features, how well they work, and their prices. Here are some important facts: Elementor has almost 100 website templates called ‘website kits.’ WPBakery also has pre-made page templates. WPBakery is about 15% faster than Elementor in a speed test. Elementor Pro has five plans from $49 to $999 a year. They suit everyone from individuals to developers.
Introduction to Elementor and WPBakery
Brief Overview of Elementor and WPBakery Page Builders
In the world of WordPress, Elementor and WPBakery are top choices. Elementor was launched in 2016. It makes building and editing websites easy with a drag-and-drop method. It has many content blocks to pick from.
WPBakery, known as Visual Composer before, has been around for over 10 years. It also uses a drag-and-drop method. But, its design is different from Elementor’s.
Benefits of Using Drag-and-Drop Website Builders
Elementor and WPBakery both offer drag-and-drop building. This means you can change your WordPress site without coding. They are great for beginners and small business owners.
These tools are easy to use. They come with many templates and design elements. This helps users make beautiful websites without needing to know a lot about tech.
Ease of Use: User Interface and Learning Curve
Both Elementor and WPBakery page builders have their own strengths. Elementor has a sliding sidebar with elements and editor. You can add new elements by dragging them onto the page.
WPBakery’s frontend editor is cleaner and less cluttered. Elements are added through a popup menu. This makes it easier for new users.
Elementor’s interface may take some time to get used to, especially with the sidebar open. WPBakery is seen as more straightforward. SiteOrigin Page Builder aims for a balance, with a simple interface.
Elementor has a lot of features and customization options. This means it takes more time to learn. WPBakery has a steeper learning curve due to its backend editor and complex layout options. But, WPBakery users might face fewer compatibility issues.
The choice between Elementor and WPBakery depends on personal preference and the website’s complexity. Both plugins are great for creating stunning websites. The ease of use and learning curve can influence the decision.
Design Elements and Customization
Both Elementor and WPBakery have lots of design elements, widgets, and templates. Elementor has over 300 elements. WPBakery has about 50 core widgets and 250 more extensions. You can also make your own templates for your brand.
Elementor and WPBakery let you customize a lot. You can change typography, colors, layouts, and animations. Elementor has almost 100 website templates. WPBakery has been around longer and offers two pricing plans.
Wide Range of Design Options
- Elementor Pro has five pricing tiers from $49 to $999 per year. It’s for everyone from individuals to agencies.
- WPBakery has over 4.3 million users. It’s very popular.
- Elementor is now the 6th most popular WordPress plugin. It’s very well-known.
- WPBakery has 50+ built-in elements for customization. Elementor’s free version has 40+.
- Elementor has 300+ page and block templates. WPBakery has 100+ templates.
| Feature | Elementor | WPBakery |
|---|---|---|
| Design Elements | Over 300 elements | 50 core widgets, 250 extensions |
| Website Templates | Almost 100 website kits | Over 100 templates |
| Customization Options | Wide range, from typography to animations | Wide range, from colors to layouts |
| Pricing | 5 tiers from $49 to $999 per year | $59 ‘Regular’, $299 ‘Extended’ |
Elementor vs WPBakery
Elementor and WPBakery are top choices for WordPress page builders. They have many features for different website needs. Let’s look at what each offers to find the best for your project.
Elementor Features and Strengths
Elementor is the most popular WordPress page builder. It has over 300 premade templates for easy changes. Its easy-to-use interface and live editing make it a favorite.
Elementor has a huge widget library, including over 100 premium extensions. This lets users make beautiful and useful websites.
WPBakery Features and Strengths
WPBakery shines with its clean editor and color-coded blocks. It’s great for both editing on the frontend and backend. It comes with over 60 premade templates and 40 page elements.
WPBakery also works well with many WordPress plugins and extensions. This makes it very capable.
Limitations and Weaknesses
Both Elementor and WPBakery have their downsides. Elementor focuses on frontend editing, which might limit some customizations. WPBakery’s interface can be complex, making it harder to learn for some.
Both can slow down websites a bit. But Elementor is usually faster and lighter.
| Feature | Elementor | WPBakery |
|---|---|---|
| Premade Templates | Over 300 | Over 60 |
| Page Elements/Widgets | 40 free, 100+ premium | Over 40, categorized into content, social, structure, and widgets |
| eCommerce Capabilities | Yes (with Elementor PRO) | No built-in eCommerce features |
| Integrations | MailChimp, HubSpot, Discord, Zapier, and more | Over 200 unique add-ons for additional functionalities |
| SEO Features | No built-in SEO tools | Includes built-in SEO features for website optimization |
| Pricing | Free version, Elementor PRO starts at $59/year | Regular plan at $69 for one site, $256 for up to five sites, and $499 for 10 sites |
| Performance | Lightweight structure and efficient rendering engine for faster load times | Capable of high-performance designs, but generally slower than Elementor |
The choice between Elementor and WPBakery depends on your needs and preferences. Both are great for making professional websites. Knowing their strengths and weaknesses helps you choose the best for your project.
Performance Comparison
Both Elementor and WPBakery page builders affect website speed. But, Elementor usually wins in performance tests.
Many studies have looked at how different WordPress page builders perform. They found Elementor is a bit faster than WPBakery. This is because Elementor’s code is more optimized.
Page Load Times and Website Speed
Elementor websites load in 400-500 milliseconds on average. WPBakery sites take a bit longer, around 500-600 milliseconds. These small differences can really affect how users feel and how well a site ranks on search engines.
The performance of a page builder also depends on the website itself. Things like content and caching plugins play a big role. Elementor’s design and code help it perform better than WPBakery in most cases.
Choosing between Elementor and WPBakery should consider more than just speed. Both offer many features that might be more important for your site. But, if speed is key, Elementor might be the better choice.
Pricing and Licensing Models
Website building tools have different pricing and licensing models. Elementor and WPBakery offer various options for different budgets and needs.
Elementor has a free version with basic features. It also has premium plans from $49 to $999 per year. These plans depend on the number of websites and extra features. WPBakery has two plans: “Regular” for $59 and “Extended” for $299. Both include lifetime licenses.
Elementor’s free version is great for starting. But, its premium plans offer more for managing many websites. WPBakery’s pricing is good for those wanting a one-time payment and lifetime access.
| Feature | Elementor Pricing | WPBakery Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Free Version | Yes | No |
| Premium Plans | $49 to $999 per year | $59 (Regular) and $299 (Extended) with lifetime licenses |
| Subscription Model | Yes | No |
| Suitable for | Users managing multiple websites | Users preferring a one-time investment |
Choosing between Elementor and WPBakery depends on your needs, budget, and preferences. It’s about website builder licensing and pricing models.
Integration with Third-Party Plugins and Extensions
Both Elementor and WPBakery work well with many plugins and extensions. This makes it easy to add new features to your website. You can customize your site more, no matter which page builder you pick.
Elementor has a big library of add-ons. These include SEO tools, ecommerce platforms, and form builders. WPBakery also has many extensions on its website. This gives users lots of options to meet their website’s needs.
Even though both page builders work well with plugins, some might not work perfectly. It’s key to test any new tools before choosing a page builder. This ensures your website works smoothly.
Potential Compatibility Issues
- Shortcodes Ultimate can’t be opened from Elementor because of interface issues. You can use shortcodes in another place and then paste them into the Shortcode Widget.
- Better WordPress Minify has a problem with Elementor. It affects the compression of JavaScript files. You should use a different plugin for this.
- qTranslate X doesn’t make separate translations for each page. It’s better to use plugins like Polylang or WPML for this.
- 10Web plugin might cause bugs with the Text Editor in Elementor. You need to follow special steps to use it with JS.
- Webcraft Plugins Ltd.’s shortcode widget can make editing or deleting shortcodes hard in Elementor.
- WP Rocket, which uses the HeartBeat API of WordPress, might mess with Elementor. This depends on the value you choose.
- Migrate, formerly WP Clone by WP Academy, doesn’t use the WordPress API for database queries. This can cause JSON data corruption in Elementor and fatal errors.
- The modified version of Elementor, TheElementor, in TheSaas theme is not supported. It’s also not compatible with Elementor Pro.
Knowing about these possible issues helps users have a better experience with Elementor or WPBakery. Testing third-party integrations is important for a smooth experience.
Elementor vs WPBakery for eCommerce Websites
Both Elementor and WPBakery work well with WooCommerce for ecommerce sites. They let users make custom product pages and shopping carts. But, Elementor might be better for ecommerce sites.
Elementor works well with WooCommerce and has extra features like a popup builder. It’s used in 18.1% of WordPress sites, more than WPBakery. WPBakery is used in 13.9% of sites.
Elementor has over 400 plugins and templates. WPBakery also has many, but Elementor’s library is bigger. This is good for ecommerce sites.
| Feature | Elementor | WPBakery |
|---|---|---|
| Ecommerce Integrations | Seamless integration with WooCommerce, including popup builder and form integrations | Integration with WooCommerce, but fewer ecommerce-specific features |
| Pricing | Free basic plan, with essential plan starting at $49 per year | One-time payment licenses of $45 and $245 for different usage scenarios |
| Customization Options | Extensive customization options, including background, color, font, and animation customization | Offers basic customization features such as custom fonts, colors, and basic animations |
| Editing Interface | Front-end editing for real-time changes | Back-end editing interface |
Elementor is great for ecommerce sites. It works well with WooCommerce and has lots of features. Its interface is also easy to use.
Responsive Design and Mobile-Friendliness
In today’s world, making sure your website works well on all devices is key. Elementor and WPBakery, two top WordPress page builders, focus on this. They give users tools to make websites that look good and work well on many devices.
Elementor started in 2016 and now has over 10 million users. It’s in 50+ languages and has about 80+ elements for building pages. You can add things like pricing tables and animated headlines. It also lets you customize a lot, like backgrounds and fonts.
WPBakery is also popular for its ease of use. It has over 30-40 content elements, like separators and buttons. It has basic customization options, but it’s not as easy to use as Elementor for editing.
Both Elementor and WPBakery have lots of settings to help with responsive design. Elementor is easy to use and has a free version. WPBakery offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and over 250 add-ons for more customization.
Choosing between Elementor and WPBakery depends on what you need for your website. Both offer strong tools for making your website work well on all devices.
SEO Capabilities and Optimization
Elementor and WPBakery are great for making websites that search engines love. WordPress is used by 43% of all websites. This means making your site easy to find is very important.
Elementor is used by 14.1% of WordPress sites. WPBakery is used by over 5,800,000 websites worldwide. Both offer tools to make your site SEO-friendly.
- Customizable meta tags: You can change meta titles, descriptions, and keywords in Elementor and WPBakery. This helps your site rank better in search results.
- Schema markup support: Both tools let you add structured data. This makes your content more visible in search results.
- Optimization for Core Web Vitals: Elementor and WPBakery help improve your site’s performance. This includes making your site load faster and work better for users.
Even though Elementor and WPBakery have different features, they both help make SEO-friendly sites. This means your content can be found and ranked higher in search results. Using these tools can make your site more visible and improve your online presence.
| SEO Feature | Elementor | WPBakery |
|---|---|---|
| Customizable Meta Tags | Yes | Yes |
| Schema Markup Support | Yes | Yes |
| Core Web Vitals Optimization | Yes | Yes |
| Rank Math PRO Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Table of Contents (TOC) Support | Partial | Partial |
User Community and Support
The strength of a page builder’s user community is key. It affects how easy it is to find tutorials and get help. The Elementor community is huge and very active. They have lots of forums and knowledge bases to help users.
The WPBakery community is smaller but still very dedicated. Both page builders have strong support systems. They offer forums, knowledge bases, and premium support for extra help.
Whether you’re new or experienced, both Elementor and WPBakery have lots of support. They help you turn your ideas into real websites.
| Feature | Elementor | WPBakery |
|---|---|---|
| Community Size | Vast and Engaged | Dedicated but Smaller |
| Support Channels | Forums, Knowledge Base, Premium Support | Forums, Knowledge Base, Email Support |
| Multilingual Support | Available in Over 50 Languages | English-Focused |
Real-World Use Cases and Examples
Let’s look at how Elementor and WPBakery are used in real websites. Elementor helps build many types of sites, like small businesses and big ecommerce stores. WPBakery also makes a wide range of WordPress sites, showing its flexibility.
Elementor started about five years ago and now has over 4.2 million live sites. It’s free and works better than WPBakery in many ways. WPBakery, being older, has over 3.5 million live sites. It’s known for working well with all WordPress themes.
| Feature | Elementor | WPBakery |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Intuitive drag-and-drop interface with inline editing for a seamless design process | Less intuitive UI, requiring additional clicks to access widgets, which can be time-consuming |
| Styling Options | Advanced styling section with refined tweaks like specific Z-index settings and custom CSS injection | Allows setting basic styling options like margins, padding, colors, and borders, but lacks advanced customization |
| Template Library | Offers over 100 pre-made templates, providing a strong starting point for website creation | Provides pre-made templates, but not as extensive as Elementor’s library |
| Pricing | Elementor’s pricing plans start at $49/year, offering a money-back guarantee | WPBakery’s pricing includes a Regular plan ($45) and an Advanced plan ($245) for different usage scenarios |
Elementor is known for its easy-to-use interface and lots of customization options. It’s a favorite among many website builders. WPBakery, however, is great for those who like advanced customization, especially programmers.
Conclusion
The choice between Elementor and WPBakery depends on what you need. Elementor is great for many because it’s easy to use and has lots of design options. It’s also good for online stores.
WPBakery might be better for those who like to get into the technical side. It has a clean editor and supports both frontend and backend editing. Plus, it offers lifetime licensing.
Both Elementor and WPBakery are top-notch for making beautiful WordPress sites. Elementor has over 100 designs and 100+ widgets. WPBakery has a big library of elements and templates.
Choosing between them depends on how easy you want it to be, how much you like to customize, and what your site needs. In my opinion, Elementor is a great pick for most people. It’s fast, has cool features, and keeps getting better.
But WPBakery is also a good choice, especially for tech-savvy users. The Elementor vs WPBakery decision is up to you. Take a look at both and see which website builder choice fits your page builder recommendation best.
FAQ
What are the key differences between Elementor and WPBakery page builders?
Elementor is modern and easy to use, with a sliding sidebar. WPBakery has a traditional frontend editor that looks clean. Elementor has more design elements and options. WPBakery uses a color-coded block system and supports both frontend and backend editing.
Which page builder is more beginner-friendly?
WPBakery is easy for new users, thanks to its clean editor. Elementor has a more complex interface but is still easy to use. It uses drag-and-drop functionality.
How do Elementor and WPBakery compare in terms of performance?
Elementor is slightly faster than WPBakery, studies show. But, both can slow down your site. Using caching plugins and other optimizations can help.
What are the pricing and licensing models for Elementor and WPBakery?
Elementor has a free version and premium plans from to 9 per year. WPBakery has two plans: “Regular” for and “Extended” for 9. Both include lifetime licenses.
How do Elementor and WPBakery compare in terms of ecommerce capabilities?
Both work well with WooCommerce. Elementor has better ecommerce features, like a popup builder. It’s great for ecommerce sites.
What are the community and support options for Elementor and WPBakery?
Elementor has a big, active community and lots of resources. WPBakery also has a dedicated user base. Both offer support through forums, knowledge bases, and premium options.