A visual editor can make all the Difference
If you’re not an expert at HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, and other website programming languages, having a visual editor installed on your WordPress site can make all the difference in the world. The choice of which page builder you select can make a huge difference in user experience, design flexibility, and overall performance. Two popular WordPress editors, Elementor and WP Bakery, have each earned their place in the WordPress editor market, but not all page builders are entirely equal. When we review Elementor and WP Bakery on several categories, Elementor wins out on each.
User-Friendly Interface
First things first when working with a visual editor – it has to be user friendly. Elementor’s drag-and-drop interface is very easy to work with, making it a great option for beginners and still offering advanced features for experienced users. The real-time editing abilities of Elementor means you can see the changes as you make them. This real-time feedback eliminates the need to switch back and forth between the editor and the live preview.
WP Bakery’s interface tends to feel outdated and clunky. Many users, even more advanced users, often find the back-end editing confusing and limiting. These issues can slow down the design and editing process. This also makes it harder to visualize the final product.
Design Flexibility and Pre-Made Templates
Elementor offers unparalleled design flexibility, allowing users to customize nearly every aspect of their pages. With Elementor, you can easily tweak margins, padding, typography, and animations without needing any coding knowledge. Additionally, Elementor’s extensive library of pre-designed templates and blocks gives users a head start on creating professional-looking websites.
WP Bakery also provides templates, but the library is smaller and less modern compared to Elementor’s. Customization options in WP Bakery are more limited and often require extra effort or additional plugins to achieve the same level of design sophistication.
Speed and Performance
Website performance is a critical factor for both user experience and SEO. Elementor’s code is cleaner and more lightweight compared to WP Bakery’s, resulting in faster loading times. Elementor also provides built-in tools for optimizing your site’s speed, such as lazy loading for images.
WP Bakery, on the other hand, is notorious for generating bloated code that can slow down your site. This can lead to longer load times, which negatively impact both your visitors and your SEO rankings.
Integration and Add-Ons
Elementor integrates seamlessly with a wide range of third-party plugins and tools, including WooCommerce, Mailchimp, and Yoast SEO. Moreover, the Elementor ecosystem has a vast array of free and premium add-ons, extending its capabilities far beyond the default features.
While WP Bakery does offer integrations, it lacks the same breadth and depth of compatibility as Elementor. To achieve similar functionality, WP Bakery users often have to rely on additional plugins, which can complicate the site management process.
Responsive Design and Mobile Optimization
In today’s mobile-first world, responsive design is essential. Elementor excels in this area, offering advanced tools for customizing how your site appears on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. The editor allows you to tweak breakpoints and fine-tune elements for each device type.
WP Bakery does offer responsive editing, but it’s not as intuitive or feature-rich as Elementor’s. Making device-specific adjustments in WP Bakery can feel cumbersome and less precise, often requiring more trial and error.
Regular Updates and Community Support
Elementor is backed by a strong development team that releases frequent updates, ensuring compatibility with the latest WordPress versions and offering new features regularly. The active Elementor community, including forums, tutorials, and Facebook groups, provides a wealth of resources for users of all skill levels.
WP Bakery, while still supported, doesn’t see updates or innovation at the same pace. This slower development cycle can leave users feeling stuck with outdated tools and fewer resources to troubleshoot issues.
Pricing and Value
While both Elementor and WP Bakery come with premium versions, Elementor’s pricing model offers more value. The free version of Elementor already provides robust functionality, making it suitable for basic websites. For those who need advanced features, Elementor Pro offers excellent value with its comprehensive toolkit.
WP Bakery is a premium-only product, meaning you’ll need to pay upfront even for basic functionality. This can be a dealbreaker for users looking for a budget-friendly solution.
Elementor for the WIn
When comparing Elementor and WP Bakery, it’s clear that Elementor offers a more user-friendly experience, greater design flexibility, and superior performance. Whether you’re building a simple portfolio or a complex e-commerce site, Elementor empowers users to create stunning websites efficiently and effectively. If you’re currently using WP Bakery and feeling limited by its capabilities, it might be time to explore what Elementor can do for your WordPress site. With its powerful features and growing community, Elementor continues to set the standard for modern WordPress page builders.