For most business websites, Elementor is the better choice. It edits visually on the page, keeps layouts out of your content as shortcodes, and is actively developed, with a free core plugin. WPBakery still makes sense if your site works well, you rarely change it and you'd rather pay once than every year.
Updated 1 October 2026. Prices checked against each product's own pricing page.
Elementor vs WPBakery
The verdict
At a glance
The differences that matter most for a business website. Prices are list prices checked on 1 October 2026.
Free version
Yes, the core plugin is free
No, paid licence only
Paid pricing
Annual subscription; Pro Essential from $49 for the first year (1 site)
One-off licence; €69 for 1 site
Support and updates
Included while the subscription is active
Updates included; 1 year of support
How you edit
Visual, on the live page
Front-end editor or back-end grid of blocks
How layouts are stored
Elementor's own data, separate from your content
Shortcodes inside your page content
If you switch it off
Layout styling is lost; text remains
Pages show raw [vc_row] shortcodes
Global styles
Global colours, fonts and classes
Mostly set per element or by the theme
Best for
Sites that change often and grow
Stable sites that rarely change
Sources: elementor.com/pricing and wpbakery.com/pricing, checked 1 October 2026. Prices exclude VAT and change over time.
Criterion by criterion
The five things that decide which builder suits a business website.
01
WPBakery is a one-off payment per site; Elementor Pro is a yearly subscription, and the core Elementor plugin is free. Over several years Elementor Pro costs more, but includes ongoing updates and support.
02
Either builder can produce a fast site or a slow one. Speed comes down to the theme, add-ons, images and hosting more than the builder itself.
03
Both can rank well. What matters is clean headings, fast pages and good content, which Elementor's global styles make easier to keep consistent.
04
Elementor edits visually on the page, which most business owners find quicker to learn. WPBakery's nested rows and columns are harder to edit without breaking something.
05
Both lock layouts to the builder. WPBakery's shortcodes sit inside your content, so removing it leaves visible code on every page; Elementor keeps its layout data separate.
The verdict
Choose Elementor if you edit the site often, want your team to make changes without a developer, are planning a redesign, or want a builder that's actively moving forward with Elementor v4.
Stay with WPBakery if your site works, loads well, rarely changes and nobody struggles to edit it. A rebuild costs money, and a stable site doesn't always need one.
For most growing business websites, Elementor is the better long-term choice.
Verdict by criterion
How to switch
The switch is a rebuild, done on a copy of your site so nothing goes offline.
Stage 01
Every page, URL, form and shortcode is listed before anything changes.
Stage 02
Pages are rebuilt with global styles on a staging copy.
Stage 03
URLs are kept, changes are redirected, and content carries over unchanged.
Stage 04
We go live, check everything, then remove WPBakery and its shortcodes.
Questions
Is Elementor better than WPBakery?
For most business websites, yes. It's easier to edit, keeps layouts out of your content and is actively developed. WPBakery is still a reasonable choice for a stable site that rarely changes.
Is WPBakery still supported?
Yes. WPBakery is still sold and updated, and its licence includes one year of support. It's a mature product rather than a fast-moving one.
Which is faster, Elementor or WPBakery?
Neither is fast or slow on its own. Speed depends on the theme, add-ons, images and hosting. A lean build in either can load quickly.
Can I use Elementor and WPBakery on the same site?
Yes, on different pages. It's useful during a phased migration, but running two builders long term adds weight and complexity.
What happens if I uninstall WPBakery?
Pages built with it show raw shortcodes such as [vc_row] and [vc_column] until they're rebuilt. That's why pages are rebuilt before WPBakery is removed.
Is Elementor free?
The core Elementor plugin is free. Elementor Pro, which adds the Theme Builder, forms and more widgets, is a yearly subscription.
Related pages
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Talk to an expert
Book a call and send us your site address. We'll tell you honestly whether moving from WPBakery is worth it for your business, and what it involves.
