Choosing the right WordPress page builder is tough. In this respect, WPBakery vs Elementor is a comparison of strong contenders. WPBakery offers many widgets and deep customization. But Elementor’s user-friendly design and compatibility make it a strong competition.
What makes this comparison compelling? Elementor’s pricing model relevant for WordPress development is the first thing that comes to mind. Unlike WPBakery’s premium-only plans, Elementor has a capable free version. This move opens Elementor to users on any budget.
Read on to understand the key differences separating these two page builders. Find out which one fits your website needs best.
About WP Bakery and Elementor
We begin with a short summary capturing what makes WPBakery and Elementor unique. Both are popular tools for creating websites without needing to code, but they offer different features and experiences. Let’s take a closer look at what each one offers and find out which is the best choice for you.
WP Bakery
WPBakery Page Builder is a leading drag-and-drop editor for WordPress, powering millions of websites. It is the only page builder that offers two editors out of the box – a live frontend editor and a schematic backend editor.
With WPBakery, you can design content for pages, posts, and custom post types using ready-to-use content elements and configure their appearance using rich design options. WPBakery AI seamlessly integrates, allowing you to elevate your content creation effortlessly. Additionally, you can optimize your website for search engine visibility with the SEO toolkit.
Some prominent features:
- 50+ widgets and elements for creating diverse content sections.
- Custom CSS capabilities for advanced styling and customization.
- Video background support for engaging and dynamic layouts.
- Multilingual support, making it accessible to a global audience.
- Frontend and backend editing options for flexibility and convenience.
Further Reading: How to Create a Multilingual WordPress Site
Elementor
Elementor is a powerful and user-friendly WordPress page builder plugin that simplifies the process of designing and building websites. It is a drag-and-drop tool that allows users to visually compose their pages without the need for extensive coding knowledge.
Providing a canvas-like environment where users can add, move, and style elements with ease, Elementor lets you see the results in real-time. It especially stands out for drag-and-drop interface, enabling intuitive page building and a wide range of widgets and templates for creating professional-looking pages.
Some key features of Elementor include:
- 40 widgets and elements available in the free version.
- Easy page-building capabilities with a visual interface.
- Intuitive and beginner-friendly interface.
- Custom fonts and icons for enhanced branding and design.
- Advanced settings for enhanced customization and control.
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Features Comparison of WP Bakery Vs Elementor
Follow this detailed examination of the features in the comparison of WPBakery vs Elementor:
WPbakery vs Elementor: Setup and Ease-of-Use
We find both plugins offering user-friendly interfaces. But Elementor’s design and approach make it more accessible and easier to use, especially for beginners and those who prioritize a straightforward and intuitive experience.
Here is how:
| Aspect | WP Bakery | Elementor |
| Interface | User-friendly but with a moderate learning curve. Caters more to users who prefer coding flexibility. The backend features three buttons to access different elements for page building. | Highly intuitive and beginner-friendly interface. Designed to be user-friendly and easy to understand. The backend presents all available elements on the left side for easy access. |
| Usability | May pose some initial challenges for beginners, but helpful YouTube tutorials are available for assistance. | Beginners can quickly get started with minimal difficulties, although some initial familiarization might be beneficial. |
| Target Audience | Appeals more to users who prefer coding flexibility and customization options. | Ideal for beginners and those who prioritize a smoother learning curve and user-friendly experience. |
| Learning Curve | Moderate learning curve, but accessible with the help of tutorials. | Relatively smooth learning curve, making it easier for beginners to get started. |
Winner: Elementor
Read Another Comparison: Elementor Vs Beaver Builder: Which Is The Best Page Builder?
WPbakery vs Elementor: Elements & Widgets
Users appreciate Elementor’s free version with 40 elements, considered sufficient for most needs. WPBakery, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive collection of widgets and advanced customization options, making it a suitable choice for users with more complex requirements or a preference for extensive customization through coding.
Check what sets the two apart:
| Aspect | WPBakery | Elementor |
| Number of Widgets/Elements | Over 50 widgets available out of the box. More than 250 additional elements and widgets accessible through add-ons. | 40 elements available in the free version. Over 100 additional elements available in the paid version. |
| Notable Elements | Google Maps integration, CTA buttons, video player, charting options for infographics, social media integration, HTML and JavaScript customization options. | Text elements, Google Maps, videos, images, custom buttons, Spacer element for creating spacing between components without coding. |
| Element Customization | Wide range of customization options available, including advanced options through add-ons. | Advanced customization options available to personalize elements according to the website’s theme and niche. |
| Suitability | Suitable for users who require a comprehensive selection of elements and widgets, including advanced options and customization through coding. | Suitable for most users, with the free version offering sufficient elements for basic to moderate website building needs. Paid version provides additional elements for extended functionality. |
Winner: Elementor
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WPbakery vs Elementor: Themes & Plugins
WPBakery and Elementor are compatible with most common WordPress themes and plugins. This sure is a testament to their widespread adoption and integration within the WordPress ecosystem. But if you have a preference for a specific theme, like one of the SeaThemes by Seahawk, it is recommended to check compatibility with each page builder before making a decision.
| Aspect | WPBakery | Elementor |
| Theme Compatibility | Compatible with all common WordPress themes. Already powers some popular themes like Gillion, Jevelin, Bridge, The7, and uDesign. | Compatible with most common WordPress themes. Works well with themes like Astra, Avada, OceanWP, and Hestia. |
| Plugin Compatibility | Compatible with most common WordPress plugins. | Compatible with most common WordPress plugins. |
| Compatibility Check | If using a mainstream theme or plugin, it is highly likely to be compatible with both WPBakery and Elementor. | If using a mainstream theme or plugin, it is highly likely to be compatible with both WPBakery and Elementor. |
| Specific Theme Preference | For specific themes, it’s recommended to check which of the two page builders is compatible with that theme. | For specific themes, it’s recommended to check which of the two page builders is compatible with that theme. |
Winner: Tie
Check This: QI Addons For Elementor – Plugin Review
WPbakery vs Elementor: SEO
Notably, elementor has an advantage in terms of code integrity and reliability. It maintains the integrity of page codes even when useful SEO plugins for WordPress like AIOSEO are deactivated. But, while the choice of page builder can have a minor influence on SEO efforts, following SEO best practices is the primary factor determining success in search engine rankings.
Here are some marked differences between SEO capabilities of WPBakery vs Elementor.
| Aspect | WPBakery | Elementor |
| SEO Plugin Compatibility | Compatible with popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and RankMath. | Compatible with most common SEO plugins. |
| Code Integrity | Deactivating the plugin can lead to broken and messy page codes, requiring additional effort to fix. | Maintains the integrity of page codes even when plugins are deactivated. |
| Staging Environment | Advisable to make changes and experiments in a staging environment to avoid negative impact on rankings. | Changes can be made directly on the live website without significant risk. |
| SEO Best Practices | Allows for the implementation of SEO best practices when used correctly. | Allows for the implementation of SEO best practices when used correctly. |
| Overall SEO Impact | Limited direct impact on SEO; success primarily relies on following SEO best practices. | Limited direct impact on SEO; success primarily relies on following SEO best practices. |
Winner: Elementor
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WPbakery vs Elementor: Custom Design and Templates
In case of design, Elementor may have a slightly larger number of templates and design choices. But the difference is not significant. End of the day, both page builders offer ample flexibility and customization options to fulfill most design requirements, making it a matter of personal preference and specific needs.
| Aspect | WPBakery | Elementor |
| Number of Templates | Over 100+ plugin templates | Over 100+ theme templates and design options |
| Template Customization | Flexibility to add or remove functionalities from provided templates, allowing ample room for customization. | Allows modification of pages and templates to create unique websites. |
| Design Options | Decent number of options available to fulfill design requirements. | Slightly more design options than WPBakery, but the difference is not significant. |
| Functionality Enhancement | Can enhance functionalities through widgets. | Can enhance functionalities through widgets, mirroring WPBakery’s capabilities. |
| Coding Requirements | No coding skills required to create stunning websites. | No coding skills required to create stunning websites. |
Winner: Elementor
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WPBakery vs Elementor: Support
As established players in the industry, both WP Bakery and Elementor have garnered significant customer bases and are known for delivering satisfactory support services relevant for WordPress. In terms of customer support and community assistance, both page builders perform equally well, providing users with access to reliable resources and guidance when needed.
| Aspect | WPBakery | Elementor |
| Customer Support | Dedicated customer support for paid users, with prompt response times. | Extensive customer support for paid users, with prompt response times. |
| Community Support | Large and supportive community that can offer guidance and help when needed. | Large and supportive community ready to guide and troubleshoot |
| Support Quality | Known for delivering satisfactory support services as an established player in the industry. | Exhaustive support services provided by experience designers. |
| Customer Base | Significant customer base, indicating a strong support network. | Large customer base, indicating a strong support network. |
Winner: Tie
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WPbakery vs Elementor: Pricing
WPBakery does not offer a free version and only provides premium plans starting at $59 for a single site license, Elementor offers both a free version with basic features and Pro plans with advanced functionality. Elementor’s pricing structure is more flexible, with options for single sites or multiple sites at varying price points.
Additionally, Elementor’s Pro plans provide a complete website builder with features like WooCommerce integration and blog layout customization.
| Aspect | WPBakery | Elementor |
| Free Version | No free version available. | Free version of the plugin available with basic features. |
| Premium Plans | Only premium plans available. | Pro plans available with advanced features and functionality. |
| Pricing for Single Site | Lifetime license starts at $59 for one single site. | Pro plan starts at $49/year for one site. |
| Pricing for Multiple Sites | $256 for 10 sites, $499 for unlimited sites. | Pro plan pricing based on the number of sites: $99/year for 3 sites, $199/year for unlimited sites. |
| Premium Features | Premium plans include support, updates, and access to the template library. | Pro plans offer a complete website builder, including archive pages for WooCommerce, single product layout, blog page layout, and more advanced features. |
Winner: Elementor
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WPbakery vs Elementor: Evaluating Performance & Speed
When it comes to speed and performance, WPBakery and Elementor are closely matched. A few key differences include:
- Elementor scoring slightly better with a PageSpeed mobile score of 81/100 compared to WPBakery’s 79/100.
- WPBakery having a slightly faster Largest Contentful Paint time of 3.5 seconds versus Elementor’s 4.2 seconds.
- Elementor avoiding sudden layout shifts with a Cumulative Layout Shift of 0, outperforming WPBakery’s 0.52.
- Both having similar page sizes and number of HTTP requests.
- Improvement areas for WPBakery included enabling text compression, reducing unused JS/CSS, efficient caching, and lazy loading.
The overall performance of the two is comparable. But Elementor edges ahead in certain metrics like mobile score and layout stability. WPBakery excells in areas like Largest Contentful Paint. It is ultimately optimizations like compression, caching, and lazy loading can further boost the performance of either page builder.
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Alternatives to WP Bakery and Elementor
While WPBakery and Elementor are popular choices, there are several other WordPress page builders available that offer unique features and capabilities. Here are some notable alternatives:
Beaver Builder
- Emphasizes ease of use and responsive design
- Offers a drag-and-drop interface and pre-built templates
- Provides a front-end editor for real-time editing
Find Out – Elementor Vs Beaver Builder: Which Is The Best Page Builder?
Visual Composer
- One of the earliest page builders for WordPress
- Offers a visual editor and a wide range of content elements
- Integrates with popular themes and plugins
Themify
- Lightweight and fast-loading page builder
- Provides a live editing experience
- Offers a variety of design options and pre-built layouts
Divi
- Developed by Elegant Themes
- Combines a page builder with a multipurpose theme
- Offers a vast library of templates and design options
Gutenberg
- The default block editor introduced in WordPress 5.0
- Allows for easy content creation and layout customization
- Continually evolving with new features and improvements
More Reading: Gutenberg Vs. Elementor: Who Wins?
Oxygen
- Focuses on creating unique and custom designs
- Offers a visual editor with advanced styling options
- Integrates with popular builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder
Read a Review: Oxygen Builder Review
The Verdict
Elementor emerges as the more advantageous page builder due to its impressive balance of power and accessibility. While matching WPBakery’s advanced features, Elementor’s user-friendly approach makes it incredibly easy for beginners to create stunning websites. The availability of a free version further lowers the barrier to entry, allowing users to explore its capabilities without any upfront costs. Additionally, Elementor’s flexible pricing plans cater to individuals and businesses of all scales, making it a more cost-effective solution in the long run. With its continual innovation and a rapidly growing community, Elementor positions itself as the future-proof choice for WordPress users seeking a reliable and scalable page builder.
