Elementor vs WPBakery: The Better Page Builder and SeedProd 

Elementor vs WPBakery is a decision many WordPress users run into when choosing a page builder.

After using both on live sites, my view is simple: Elementor is the better choice for most people. It has a modern visual editor, cleaner output, and stronger plugin support. WPBakery still works, but its shortcode-based system and dated workflow make it harder to justify for new projects.

In this guide, I compare Elementor and WPBakery across ease of use, templates, flexibility, performance, SEO, pricing, and long-term lock-in. I also explain why I often recommend a simpler, faster alternative that many people miss: SeedProd.

Quick summary:

Feature	Elementor	WPBakery
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly drag-and-drop with live preview	Backend and frontend editors, steeper learning curve
Templates	300+ templates and full website kits	150+ templates, designs feel dated
Performance	Cleaner code, slightly faster page loads	Heavier shortcode-based output
SEO Plugin Support	In-editor integration with Yoast and Rank Math	No in-editor SEO panel
Deactivation	Leaves clean HTML behind	Leaves broken shortcodes across every page
Free Plan	Yes	No
Pricing	From $59/year (1 site)	From $69 one-time (1 site)
Best For	Beginners, designers, and WooCommerce stores	Developers and users whose theme bundles it

Verdict: Elementor wins the head-to-head comparison. But if you want something even faster and simpler, skip to why I recommend SeedProd instead.

How I Compared Elementor and WPBakery

When I compare WordPress page builders, I look at what actually helps you build a real site. I have used Elementor and WPBakery on different projects, so I know where each one shines and where it falls short.

For this breakdown, I focused on the factors that matter most in practice:

• Ease of Use: How quickly you can start building without feeling lost.
• Templates: The quality and variety of designs that are ready to go.
• Flexibility: Whether the builder has the blocks and integrations you need without extra bloat.
• Performance: How each builder affects page speed and Core Web Vitals.
• SEO Plugin Support: How well each builder works with tools like Yoast and Rank Math.
• Pricing: Not just the cost, but the real value for what you get.
• Pros and Cons: The small details you only notice after using a builder for a while.

Elementor Overview

Pricing: Starts at $49/year

Free Plan / Trial: Yes, free version available

Standout Features:

🔹 Drag-and-drop live editor 🔹 Large template library 🔹 Popup & Theme builder 🔹 WooCommerce builder

Rating: B+

Best For: Users who want lots of design flexibility and don’t mind extra options

I first used Elementor when I needed a quick way to build a full website without touching code. Its live drag-and-drop editor made it easy to see changes instantly, and the free plan gave me enough to start.

Over time, I found the sheer number of widgets and settings powerful, but also a little overwhelming if you only need something simple like a landing page.

Elementor works best if you want design freedom and don’t mind a steeper learning curve. For a deeper look, see our full Elementor review.

WPBakery Overview

Pricing: One-time payment from $45

Free Plan / Trial: No

Standout Features:

🔹 Backend & frontend editors 🔹 Large library of elements 🔹 Grid builder 🔹 WooCommerce shortcodes

Rating: C+

Best For: Users comfortable with shortcodes who want a one-time purchase instead of ongoing fees

When I tested WPBakery, the biggest plus was its one-time payment. For some users, that’s appealing compared to annual subscriptions.

It also has both a backend editor and a frontend visual editor, giving you two ways to build. But in practice, the backend view felt outdated, showing blocks of shortcodes instead of a true live preview.

The biggest drawback I ran into is shortcode lock-in. If you ever switch away from WPBakery, it leaves behind messy code that breaks your layouts. For me, that makes it harder to recommend long term, even though it can get the job done for simple sites right now.

For more information, see our WPBakery review.

Ease of Use: Elementor vs WPBakery

Elementor is easier to learn and faster to build with. WPBakery has a steeper learning curve because of its dual-editor setup and shortcode-based backend.

Elementor Ease of Use

When I first launched Elementor, I liked how straightforward it was to start building. You click “Edit with Elementor” and the interface splits into two columns: widgets on the left, live preview on the right.

It’s a clear setup, but the panel fills quickly with options, which can be overwhelming if you just want to build a simple landing page.

WPBakery Ease of Use

WPBakery offers both a backend editor and a frontend visual editor. On paper, that sounds flexible. In practice, the backend editor only shows shortcodes instead of a real preview, and the extra clicks to switch to frontend mode slow things down.

For beginners, that makes WPBakery harder to learn compared to Elementor.

Verdict: If you have no coding experience, Elementor is the clear pick. WPBakery’s dual editors add complexity without adding much practical benefit.

Templates and Design Library

Elementor has a larger, more modern template library. WPBakery offers templates too, but the designs feel less polished and the navigation is clunkier.

Elementor Templates

Elementor’s template library is big and varied, with full website kits and section blocks. When I first used it, I liked how quickly I could import a design.

The main drawback is compatibility. Many templates only display correctly if you use the “Elementor Full Width” setting, which adds an extra step to get things looking right.

WPBakery Templates

WPBakery includes a wide selection of templates, and you can save your own for later use. But I found the navigation clunky and the designs less modern compared to Elementor.

Verdict: Elementor wins on template quality, quantity, and ease of import. WPBakery’s library is functional but feels dated by comparison.

Flexibility and Page Elements

Elementor offers more widgets and deeper design control. WPBakery has a wide range of elements, but its shortcode system and lack of native marketing blocks hold it back.

Elementor Flexibility

When I need lots of design control, Elementor delivers. You get Basic, Pro, General, Site, and Single widgets, plus Theme/Popup/WooCommerce builders.

• Strengths: wide widget set, theme parts, popup builder, WooCommerce tools.
• Trade-offs: heavier UI, more settings to manage for basic funnels.

WPBakery Flexibility

WPBakery includes many content and layout elements and supports third-party add-ons. In practice, I miss native opt-in and form blocks, and relying on shortcodes makes switching later painful.

• Strengths: lots of elements, grid builder, widget support.
• Gaps: no native opt-in/contact blocks, shortcode lock-in risk.

Verdict: Elementor gives you more design tools out of the box, especially for WooCommerce and popups. WPBakery has range but lacks built-in marketing elements and ties your content to shortcodes.

Performance and Speed

Elementor produces slightly cleaner code and generally loads faster. WPBakery’s output is heavier, especially on complex pages. The gap is small in basic tests but grows as page complexity increases.

In independent speed tests, both builders perform similarly on simple pages. Google PageSpeed Insights scores land around 79-81/100 for both on mobile. Full page load times hover near 3.5 seconds for each.

Where they differ is in the details. Elementor tends to produce a better Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) score, meaning fewer unexpected layout jumps. WPBakery’s Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) can be slightly faster in some tests, but its overall code output is heavier and adds more DOM elements. On complex pages, that extra weight compounds.

Verdict: Elementor has a slight edge on code cleanliness and layout stability. WPBakery is usable but heavier under the hood. For most sites, the raw speed difference is small, but Elementor scales better on content-heavy pages.

SEO and Plugin Compatibility

Elementor integrates directly with the most popular SEO plugins inside its editor. WPBakery works with SEO plugins at a basic level, but you lose the in-editor convenience and risk broken code if you deactivate.

SEO Feature	Elementor	WPBakery
Yoast SEO support	In-editor panel, full integration	Basic compatibility, no in-editor panel
Rank Math support	In-editor panel + global SEO settings for templates	Basic compatibility, no in-editor panel
SEO plugin scanning	Full access to page content	Shortcode layer can block full scanning
Code on deactivation	Clean HTML, still crawlable	Broken shortcode tags, not crawlable

Verdict: Elementor gives you a smoother SEO workflow and safer long-term code. WPBakery works, but the lack of in-editor SEO tools and the shortcode risk put it behind.

What Happens If You Deactivate the Plugin?

Elementor leaves your content intact as readable HTML. WPBakery leaves broken shortcode tags on every page, making your site unusable without a manual cleanup.

What happens when you deactivate…	Elementor	WPBakery
Content visible?	Yes, text, images, and links remain	No, replaced by raw shortcode tags
Styling preserved?	No, layout and styles are lost	No, layout is completely broken
Search engines can crawl?	Yes	No, shortcodes are unreadable
Cleanup required?	Minimal, just restyle or rebuild layout	Major, must manually remove shortcodes from every page

This is what “shortcode lock-in” means in practice. Once you build with WPBakery, you are tied to it unless you are willing to do significant cleanup work.

Verdict: Elementor gives you a clean exit path. WPBakery locks you in. If there is any chance you might switch builders in the future, this difference alone is a reason to choose Elementor over WPBakery.

Can You Switch from WPBakery to Elementor?

Yes, but there is no automated migration tool. WPBakery’s shortcodes do not convert to Elementor’s format, so the only way to switch is to rebuild each page from scratch in Elementor while referencing your existing layout.

Before you start, make a full backup of your site and use a staging environment. Never migrate on a live site. Test every page after rebuilding to make sure nothing is missing.

You should also check your WordPress theme. Many premium themes from ThemeForest bundle WPBakery and build their demos around it. If your theme depends on WPBakery for its layout, you may need to switch themes too. Lightweight themes like Astra or Hello Elementor work well as replacements.

The effort depends on site size. A simple 5-page business site is manageable. A larger site with dozens of custom layouts will take significantly more work.

Verdict: Migration is doable but labor-intensive. If you are currently on WPBakery and unhappy with it, the switch is worth planning. But if you are choosing a builder for the first time, pick the right one now to avoid this problem entirely.

Pricing: Elementor vs WPBakery

Elementor uses annual subscriptions with a free plan to start. WPBakery charges a one-time fee with no free version. The better deal depends on how many sites you manage and how long you plan to use the builder.

Elementor Pricing

Elementor still offers a free version, but most advanced features — like the theme builder, popup builder, and WooCommerce widgets — require a Pro plan. The updated pricing is:

• Essential: $59/year for 1 website
• Advanced: $99/year for 3 websites
• Expert: $199/year for 25 websites
• Agency: $399/year for 1000 websites

Elementor is flexible, but costs add up quickly if you manage multiple sites. The free version is handy for testing, yet most serious projects will need Elementor Pro.

WPBakery Pricing

WPBakery doesn’t offer a free version, but it does use a one-time lifetime license instead of yearly fees. The current pricing is:

• Regular: $69 lifetime for one site
• 5 Sites: $256 lifetime
• 10 Sites: $499 lifetime

Each license includes free updates, one year of premium support, access to the WPBakery AI tool, and one year of template library access. The lifetime model looks appealing, but keep in mind that support and template access are only included for the first year.

Verdict: If you only need one site and plan to stick with your builder for years, WPBakery’s one-time price saves money over time. For multiple sites or if you value a free plan to test first, Elementor offers more flexibility. The catch is switching costs. If you ever need to move to a different builder, WPBakery’s one-time savings can disappear quickly.

Pros and Cons: Elementor vs WPBakery

Elementor offers more features, better plugin support, and a modern interface. WPBakery’s one-time pricing and backend editor appeal to a smaller audience, but its shortcode dependency is a significant long-term drawback.

Elementor Pros & Cons

• Pros: Large template library, flexible design options, free plan, WooCommerce tools, in-editor SEO plugin support, clean code on deactivation.
• Cons: Can slow sites down with too many elements, cluttered interface, advanced features locked behind higher plans.

WPBakery Pros & Cons

• Pros: One-time purchase, many elements, backend & frontend editors, bundled with popular premium themes, multilingual support.
• Cons: No free version, shortcode lock-in, slower performance, dated interface, no in-editor SEO plugin support.

Verdict: WPBakery’s one-time pricing is its strongest advantage, but the lock-in and dated editor are hard to overlook.

Which Should You Choose?

Your choice depends on your priorities, your budget, and whether you already have WPBakery installed through your theme.

Choose Elementor if:

• You want a modern drag-and-drop editor with a live preview.
• You need a free plan to get started before committing.
• You want a WooCommerce builder, popup builder, or theme builder built in.
• SEO plugin integration inside the editor matters to you.
• You want a clean exit if you ever switch builders.

Choose WPBakery if:

• Your WordPress theme already bundles WPBakery and your site is built around it.
• You prefer a one-time payment over an annual subscription.
• You are comfortable working with backend editors and shortcodes.
• You manage a simple site that does not need frequent design changes.

If neither builder feels like the right fit, there is a third option worth considering.

A Better Alternative: Why I Recommend SeedProd

If you want something faster, simpler, and more focused on conversions than either Elementor or WPBakery, SeedProd is the builder I recommend.

Pricing: Starts at $39.50/year

Free Plan / Trial: Yes, free version available

Standout Features:

🔹 Drag-and-drop landing page & theme builder 🔹 150+ templates 🔹 Built-in page modes (Coming Soon, Maintenance, Login, 404) 🔹 WooCommerce integration

Rating: A

Best For: Beginners and marketers who want fast, conversion-focused pages without extra plugins

I use SeedProd most often when I need a landing page or theme that just works without slowing my site down. The builder is clean, the blocks are easy to edit inline, and I don’t have to fight with shortcodes or complicated settings.

Here is why I think SeedProd is a better choice than both Elementor and WPBakery:

• Lightweight and fast. SeedProd doesn’t rely on shortcodes or load a heavy widget library. Pages load quickly, and the builder stays responsive even with complex designs.
• Built-in page modes. Coming Soon, Maintenance, Login, and 404 pages are included out of the box. With Elementor or WPBakery, you need extra plugins for these.
• Conversion-focused blocks. Opt-in forms, countdown timers, testimonials, pricing tables, and star ratings are all built in. You don’t need third-party add-ons to build pages that convert.
• WooCommerce without the weight. SeedProd includes WooCommerce blocks that integrate cleanly without adding the overhead that Elementor’s WooCommerce builder can introduce.
• No lock-in. SeedProd doesn’t leave messy shortcodes behind. If you deactivate it, your landing pages stop displaying but your site stays clean.

SeedProd’s templates cover every common use case: sales, webinar, coming soon, and thank you pages. They load instantly and don’t depend on your WordPress theme, so you can use any theme you want.

SeedProd Pricing

SeedProd offers a free version that’s enough to create simple landing pages. Upgrading to Pro unlocks the theme builder, premium blocks, domain mapping, and more.

Paid plans start at $39.50/year for one site and scale up to $239.50/year for unlimited sites. The mix of a free plan and affordable paid tiers makes SeedProd the best overall value compared to both Elementor and WPBakery.

SeedProd Pros & Cons

• Pros: Easy to use, lightweight, free plan available, conversion-focused templates, built-in page modes (Coming Soon, Maintenance, Login, 404).
• Cons: Fewer advanced design widgets than Elementor, WooCommerce tools only in higher plans.

If your priority is creating high-converting landing pages or a custom theme without bloat, SeedProd is the easiest and most reliable choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Verdict: Elementor vs WPBakery

Between the two, Elementor is the better page builder for most WordPress users. WPBakery still makes sense if your theme bundles it and you prefer a one-time payment, but for new projects, Elementor wins on every other front.

That said, my top recommendation is SeedProd. It’s faster, simpler, and purpose-built for landing pages and conversions without the bloat that comes with the other two builders.

Ready to build your next site? SeedProd makes it simple to launch beautiful, conversion-focused pages in minutes.

If you found this comparison helpful, you might also like these guides:

• Best WordPress Landing Page Plugins
• Divi vs Beaver Builder vs SeedProd
• Best Website Builders for WordPress
• How to Create a Landing Page in WordPress

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