Know-how

Elementor vs WordPress Block Editor vs WPBakery – Which Tool to Choose in 2026?

Published: March 29, 2026 · Author: Marcin Szewczyk-Wilgan

Elementor or WordPress Block Editor? Or maybe WPBakery Page Builder? This question comes up with almost every WordPress project. Choosing a page editor is one of the first and most important decisions when building a website – it affects performance, SEO, maintenance costs, and development flexibility. In this comparison, we analyze the three most popular WordPress editors in terms of ease of use, performance, developer capabilities, costs, and SEO impact, so you can make an informed choice for your project.

Elementor, Block Editor, WPBakery – How Do They Differ?

Before diving into the detailed comparison, it is worth understanding the fundamental differences in philosophy between these three tools. Each approaches page building in WordPress differently – and that difference has real consequences for performance, content portability, and costs.

Native editor

WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg)

The native editor built into WordPress core since version 5.0. It operates on a block system – modular content elements that can be arranged, moved, and configured. In 2026, it has reached over 60% adoption among WordPress sites. It generates clean, lightweight HTML with no external dependencies – the lightest solution of the three.

Page builder

Elementor

A third-party page builder plugin, available in free and paid (Elementor Pro) versions. It offers an advanced visual drag & drop editor with live preview, over 90 widgets, and more than 300 ready-made templates. Elementor powers over 8 million websites and holds roughly 43% of the WordPress page builder market. It works as an independent layer on top of WordPress – its own renderer, its own CSS, and JavaScript.

Market veteran

WPBakery Page Builder

One of the oldest page builders on the market, present since 2011 (formerly Visual Composer). It offers both frontend and backend editing, a 12-column grid system, and over 50 ready-made content elements. WPBakery was for years bundled with premium themes on ThemeForest, giving it a massive install base – over 4.3 million sites. It is based on shortcodes.

Native evolution

Full Site Editing (FSE)

An extension of the Block Editor that allows editing the entire site – header, footer, templates, and navigation – from the block editor, without a page builder and without code. The theme.json file centralizes the design system of the entire site. FSE is WordPress’s direct answer to Elementor’s Theme Builder – native, lighter, and without vendor lock-in. Complete WordPress FSE guide →

Elementor vs Block Editor vs WPBakery – Key Criteria Comparison

Below, we compare the three editors across the most important categories: interface, performance, design capabilities, architecture, SEO, and costs. Each section ends with a verdict – which editor performs best in the given criterion.

Interface and Ease of Use – Elementor, Block Editor, WPBakery

WordPress Block Editor offers a minimalist interface integrated with the WordPress dashboard. There is no need to learn a new tool – the editor is available immediately after installation. Blocks are added via a simple insertion system, and configuration happens in the side panel. The learning curve is gentle, although for users accustomed to the classic TinyMCE editor, it requires a shift in habits.

Elementor stands out with the most advanced visual interface of the three. Editing takes place exclusively on the frontend – you see exactly what the visitor will see. Changes are applied in real time. The sidebar with widgets and settings is intuitive, but the wealth of options can be overwhelming at first. It is the tool that offers the greatest sense of design control, but requires more time to master advanced features – Theme Builder, Dynamic Content, Popup Builder.

WPBakery offers a unique approach – two editing modes. The Backend Editor displays elements in a logical, grid-based structure, which is great for people who think about layouts structurally. The Frontend Editor allows visual editing directly on the page. This duality is WPBakery’s strength – it lets you choose a workflow suited to your preferences. On the other hand, WPBakery’s interface is less visually modern than Elementor’s, and element editing happens in separate modal windows, which slows down workflow.

Verdict: For intermediate users, Elementor provides the most convenient visual editor. Block Editor wins on simplicity and the absence of an extra layer. WPBakery works well for those who appreciate backend editing and a structural approach to layouts.

Performance and Page Speed – Which Page Builder Is the Lightest?

This is the criterion where differences are significant – and have a direct impact on SEO and Core Web Vitals.

WordPress Block Editor Generates the cleanest and lightest HTML code of the three. It does not load any additional CSS frameworks or JavaScript – content is rendered natively by WordPress. This translates to the fastest load times and best scores in Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, and Core Web Vitals. For sites where performance is a priority, Block Editor is unrivaled.

Elementor Generates significantly more code than Block Editor. Each page loads Elementor’s CSS frameworks, JavaScript widgets, and additional files. Elementor is working on optimization (per-page asset loading, experimental performance settings), but even an optimized Elementor cannot match the lightness of the native Block Editor. On complex pages with many widgets, the performance difference can be noticeable.

WPBakery Generates relatively clean code (historically considered lighter than Elementor), but its shortcode system means content is processed by PHP on every page load. Paired with a lightweight theme and optimized hosting, WPBakery can perform well, but it cannot match Block Editor’s native performance.

Verdict: Block Editor > WPBakery > Elementor in terms of code cleanliness and page speed. If Core Web Vitals and technical SEO are your priority, the native block editor is the best choice.

Design Capabilities – Elementor vs Block Editor vs WPBakery

Elementor Dominates this category. Pixel-perfect control over every element, advanced responsiveness settings (separate styles for desktop, tablet, mobile), Motion Effects, popups, Theme Builder for designing headers and footers, WooCommerce integration, Dynamic Content – Elementor offers the richest set of design tools of all three.

WordPress Block Editor In 2026, significantly more powerful than a few years ago. Full Site Editing allows editing templates, headers, and footers. The theme.json system provides control over color palettes, typography, and spacing at the site-wide level. Block Patterns and reusable blocks speed up page building. WordPress 6.9 introduced Block Visibility, and WordPress 7.0 – viewport-dependent block visibility and custom CSS at the individual block level. Still, Block Editor falls short of Elementor in terms of granular visual control.

WPBakery A solid set of content elements and a large ecosystem of add-ons from third-party developers. The row/column system based on a 12-column grid is predictable and hard to “break” – an advantage when handing off a site to a non-technical client. WPBakery integrates with WooCommerce and supports shortcodes. However, in terms of interface modernity and advanced design features (no Theme Builder on par with Elementor, limited responsiveness options), it falls behind Elementor.

Verdict: Elementor > WPBakery > Block Editor in design flexibility. But from a future-proof perspective – Block Editor with FSE is quickly closing the gap.

Extensibility and Architecture – Which Editor Will a Developer Choose?

For developers, the key factors are architecture, extensibility, and long-term stability of the tool.

WordPress Block Editor From a developer perspective, this is a React-based framework. Creating custom blocks is essentially building React components integrated with a CMS. The theme.json file provides declarative control over the design system – colors, typography, spacing, editor controls – in a single, version-controlled JSON file. This is a massive advantage for enterprise and multisite projects. Block Editor eliminates vendor lock-in – content saved in blocks is native HTML, portable between themes. The native REST API and compatibility with headless WordPress are additional strengths.

Elementor An extensive developer API, the ability to create custom widgets, hooks, and integrations. Elementor Pro provides Dynamic Tags, Custom Fields, and Theme Builder API. A mature ecosystem with a large community. The downside is vendor lock-in – content built in Elementor is saved in a proprietary format. After deactivating the plugin, content turns into shortcodes and raw HTML requiring manual migration. This is a serious risk for long-term projects.

WPBakery Relies on shortcodes – a simple system, but one that is outdated from a modern architecture standpoint. Creating custom elements is possible, though less convenient than in Elementor or Block Editor. Key advantage for developers: a huge base of existing sites. Thousands of projects built on WPBakery require maintenance, development, and optimization. WPBakery is actively developed, and its stability and backward compatibility are strong points.

Verdict: Block Editor > Elementor > WPBakery in terms of modern architecture. But in practice, developer work also includes maintaining existing projects – and WPBakery remains essential there.

SEO Impact and Compatibility with Yoast, Rank Math

WordPress Block Editor Best compatibility with SEO plugins (Yoast SEO, Rank Math, AIOSEO). The SEO panel is accessible directly in the editor, without switching views. Lightweight HTML, semantic heading structure, and native schema.org support through block themes provide the best foundation for technical SEO optimization.

Elementor Compatible with Yoast SEO and Rank Math – the SEO panel works inside the Elementor editor. However, heavier HTML code and additional CSS/JS resources can negatively affect Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, INP), which indirectly lowers Google rankings.

WPBakery Works with Yoast SEO and Rank Math, but the SEO panel is not accessible directly in the WPBakery editor – you need to switch to the default WordPress editor. This is less convenient but does not limit content and meta tag optimization.

Verdict: Block Editor > Elementor > WPBakery in the SEO context. The native block editor delivers the cleanest code and the best integration with SEO tools.

Elementor vs WPBakery vs Block Editor Pricing – How Much Does a Page Builder Cost?

WordPress Block Editor Free, built into WordPress. No license fees, no subscriptions. Additional functionality is available through free and paid block plugins (Spectra, Stackable, Otter Blocks, and others).

Elementor Free version with basic widgets. Elementor Pro from approx. $59/year (1 site) to $399/year (1,000 sites). Subscription model – no payment means no updates and no support.

WPBakery One-time license approx. $59–69 (regular) or $37–47 when bundled with a theme (Extended License on ThemeForest). No annual fees for usage – updates and support for 12 months, then optional renewal.

Verdict: Block Editor (zero cost) > WPBakery (one-time fee) > Elementor Pro (annual subscription). WPBakery beats Elementor in the pricing model for clients who value cost predictability.

WordPress Full Site Editing – How It Changes the Balance Between Editors

One of the most important developments in the WordPress ecosystem in recent years is the introduction of Full Site Editing (FSE) – a native feature that allows editing the entire site (header, footer, templates, navigation, and global styles) from the block editor, without a page builder and without code.

FSE is WordPress’s direct response to Elementor Theme Builder and similar page builder features. The difference is fundamental: FSE is part of the WordPress core – it does not require an external plugin, does not generate additional code, and does not create vendor lock-in. Content and templates built in FSE are portable between block themes. The theme.json file centralizes the configuration of colors, typography, spacing, and layout – something no page builder offers in such an integrated form.

With the development of WordPress 7.0 (block visibility controls, custom CSS per block, advanced templates), FSE increasingly eliminates the need to install Elementor or WPBakery on new projects. This applies especially to business websites, blogs, portfolios, and simpler WooCommerce stores. For complex projects with advanced design and interactions, Elementor still offers more ready-made tools – but the gap is narrowing with each WordPress release.

A complete guide to this feature – from the theme.json file, through block templates, to migrating from a classic theme – is available in our article: WordPress Full Site Editing (FSE) – A Complete Guide.

When to Choose Elementor, When Block Editor, and When WPBakery?

Choose WordPress Block Editor when You are building a new site and maximum performance and SEO are your priorities. You want to avoid vendor lock-in and dependency on a third-party plugin. You are working with a block theme and want to leverage Full Site Editing. You are a developer who prefers a React-based architecture and theme.json. You are building a headless WordPress project using the REST API.

Choose Elementor when You need pixel-perfect design control without writing CSS. You are building a complex site with popups, mega menus, custom headers and footers. Your site relies on WooCommerce and you need an advanced Theme Builder. You are a designer or intermediate user who values real-time visual editing. You accept the subscription model and the additional resource overhead.

Choose WPBakery when Your site is already built on WPBakery and works correctly – there is no reason to migrate. Your theme includes WPBakery (many premium themes on ThemeForest do). You prefer the one-time license model over subscriptions. You need backend editing (row/column grid) alongside visual editing. You work with clients who know WPBakery and do not want to switch tools.

WPBakery in 2026 – Is It Still Worth Using?

WPBakery is no longer the hottest trend in the WordPress ecosystem – but it remains an actively developed, stable tool with a massive user base. Over 4.3 million websites still run on WPBakery. Many of them are complex business sites, WooCommerce stores, and corporate portals for which migrating to a different builder would be costly and risky.

WPBakery stands out with several features that are important in the context of maintaining existing projects: stability and backward compatibility (sites built years ago still work without issues), a large ecosystem of add-ons and integrations, backend editing that enables quick changes without loading the frontend editor, and a one-time license model.

At WebOptimo, we actively support and develop projects built on WPBakery. We optimize WPBakery sites for performance and Core Web Vitals, build custom solutions on it, integrate it with WooCommerce, and maintain long-term projects. If your site runs on WPBakery, you do not need to migrate – we can develop and optimize it on the existing infrastructure.

Summary – Elementor, WordPress Block Editor, or WPBakery?

There is no single “best” page editor in WordPress – there is the editor best suited to your project, budget, and skill level.

WordPress Block Editor is the future of WordPress – lightweight, native, extensible, with the best performance profile and full content portability. With every WordPress release, Block Editor gains features that previously required a page builder. Together with Full Site Editing, it is becoming a complete tool for building entire websites.

Elementor is the most feature-rich visual editor with a massive ecosystem – ideal when design flexibility and speed of building pages without coding are the priority.

WPBakery is a proven veteran that still powers millions of websites – stable, predictable, and cost-effective in its licensing model. Worth considering especially for maintaining and expanding existing projects.

Regardless of which editor you choose – the key to a fast, secure, and well-ranked website is professional configuration, optimization, and regular technical maintenance.

FAQ – Elementor, WordPress Block Editor, WPBakery

Elementor or WordPress Block Editor – which is better for SEO?+

WordPress Block Editor generates lighter HTML code, resulting in better Core Web Vitals scores and faster page loads. Block Editor also provides full integration with SEO plugins directly in the editor. Elementor is compatible with Yoast and Rank Math, but its additional CSS/JS resources can reduce performance.

Is WPBakery Page Builder still updated in 2026?+

Yes. WPBakery is actively developed and regularly updated. Over 4.3 million websites still run on WPBakery. The plugin is compatible with the latest WordPress versions.

Can I use Elementor alongside WordPress Block Editor?+

Technically yes – Elementor and Block Editor can work on the same site. Elementor takes over editing on pages where it is activated, while the rest of the content (e.g., blog posts) can use the Block Editor. However, running two page builders simultaneously is not recommended due to the performance impact.

Elementor or WPBakery – which one is cheaper?+

WPBakery offers a one-time license (approx. $59–69), while Elementor Pro operates on an annual subscription (from $59/year). In the long run, WPBakery is cheaper. However, the free version of Elementor is functional as a starting point.

Is it worth migrating from WPBakery to Elementor or Block Editor?+

It depends on the project scale. For simple websites, migration can pay off. For complex sites with dozens of pages built on WPBakery, migration is costly and risky. Often, optimizing the existing WPBakery site is a better solution than a full rebuild.

Which WordPress editor is best for a WooCommerce store?+

Elementor Pro offers the most advanced WooCommerce Builder – dedicated widgets for product pages, archives, and cart. Block Editor supports WooCommerce natively through blocks, and with each WooCommerce version the integration deepens. WPBakery supports WooCommerce via shortcodes, offering less visual control but sufficient for many stores.

Will WordPress Block Editor with Full Site Editing replace page builders?+

Block Editor with Full Site Editing is gradually taking over functions that previously required a page builder. For new projects, Block Editor is increasingly sufficient. However, Elementor and WPBakery still offer features the native editor lacks – advanced animations, popups, pixel-perfect design. A full replacement of page builders by Block Editor will not happen overnight.