Visual Composer vs WPBakery (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Visual Composer grades higher than WPBakery: 2.8 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Visual Composer grades higher on the free plan and features. WPBakery grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Visual Composer
Drag-and-drop website builder plugin for WordPress
WPBakery
Drag-and-drop page builder plugin for WordPress, sold once
Which one is for you
Pick Visual Composer if
- Fits if you want a low-priced WordPress builder with a free version to start on
- Works for agencies, since the plans run to 20 and 1000 sites
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a trial of the paid plans, because there is none, only the free version and a demo
- Tight if you stay free: the Hub, theme builder and popup builder are paid
- Watch out: when a subscription ends, updates, the Hub and support stop
- Watch out: it works on WordPress.com only on the Business plan
Pick WPBakery if
- Fits if you want to pay once and use it on a WordPress site
- Works for developers who want a builder that fits any theme
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to try it first, because it offers a demo sandbox, not a trial
- Skip it if you want a hosted builder, as it runs only inside WordPress
- Watch out: only one year of Support Plus is included, and extending it costs $59 a year
- Watch out: bulk discounts start at 20 licenses, and the student discount is Regular licenses only
- Watch out: the page offers a 15-day refund on lifetime licenses
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAVisual ComposerGood | 2.2GPAWPBakeryFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BSingle is $49 a year for 1 site, about $4.08 a month, inside the cheaper quarter. Lifetime is $149 for 1 site. | A$82 one-time for 1 site, under a year of the category's middle subscription ($12 a month, or $144). Support Plus afterwards is $59 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree forever with no card: 30 elements and 10 templates. One person with a small site could live on it. | FNo free plan and no trial, only a demo sandbox. |
| Features | BPro has 300+ elements, 200+ templates, a theme builder, a popup builder and a font manager. It covers the job of a WordPress builder. | CFront-end and back-end editors, a template library, a grid builder, an AI assistant and a skin builder. No theme builder is in the listing. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You build the site yourself in a WordPress editor. | CNo rating on record. You build pages from elements in a WordPress editor. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, as a WordPress plugin, with WooCommerce and Unsplash. | BWeb only, as a WordPress plugin, with WooCommerce, WPML, Yoast SEO and qTranslate. |
| Best for | a WordPress builder with a cloud library of elements | a one-time-price page builder for any WordPress theme |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Visual Composer and WPBakery. How we grade
Where they differ
- WPBakery can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Visual Composer also covers site audit and popups.
At a glance
| Visual Composer | WPBakery | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starts at | $49 per year for 1 website | $82 one-time for 1 site |
| Free plan | Free version, free forever with no credit card: 30 elements and 10 templates, without the premium theme builder, popup builder or WooCommerce support. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Visual Composer Website Builder | Rain-Task Ltd |
| Price read from | visualcomposer.com | wpbakery.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Visual Composer
- Visual Composer runs only inside WordPress; the page notes it works on WordPress.com only on the Business plan.
- There is no free trial of the premium plans, though a free version and a demo exist; refunds are offered within 30 days.
- The plugin keeps working after a subscription ends, but updates, the Hub and support stop.
WPBakery
- WPBakery runs only inside WordPress.
- Each license includes one year of Support Plus; extending it costs $59 a year for updates, the template library, AI and support.
- Bulk license discounts start at 20 licenses and the student discount applies only to Regular licenses.
- The page offers a free demo sandbox rather than a free plan or trial.
Key features
Visual Composer
- Drag-and-drop editor
- A visual editor with a responsive preview, design options and a row layout system, with no coding required.
- Visual Composer Hub
- A cloud library listing 500+ content elements, templates, blocks and add-ons that are downloaded into a site on demand.
- Theme builder
- Premium plans add a theme builder, archive page builder, global templates, dynamic content and WooCommerce support.
- Popup builder
- Popups for audience capture are built in the same editor on premium plans.
- Insights
- An analysis tool for SEO and page performance is part of the premium plans, alongside a font manager and role manager.
WPBakery
- Front-end and back-end editors
- Pages can be built in a front-end drag-and-drop editor or a back-end one, and work with any WordPress theme.
- Template library
- Premium layout templates can be downloaded from an online library; access is part of Support Plus.
- WPBakery AI
- An assistant that writes content and code from a typed specification, listed as part of each license's first year.
- Grid builder
- Displays posts, portfolios and custom post types or media in a grid or masonry grid with 40+ predefined styles.
- Skin builder and add-ons
- A skin builder restyles the builder's elements, and add-ons such as Templatera and Easy Tables extend it.
Plans
Visual Composer
Free$0
Page builder with 30 elements and 10 templates, without the premium Hub, theme builder or popup builder.
Single$49
per year for 1 website
300+ elements, 200+ templates, theme builder, popup builder, font manager, Insights and premium support.
Plus$99
per year for 5 websites
The same premium features for up to 5 websites.
Accelerate$149
per year for 20 websites
The same premium features for up to 20 websites.
Agency$349
per year for 1000 websites
The same premium features for up to 1000 websites; the page labels the price as new and lower.
Lifetime$149
one-time, for 1 website
Two years of support and lifetime updates for one website.
WPBakery
Regular$82
one-time, lifetime, for 1 site
Includes one year of Support Plus: free updates, template library, WPBakery AI and partner discounts.
5 Sites$299
one-time, lifetime, for up to 5 sites
Same features as Regular for up to 5 sites; the page says buying 5 separate licenses would cost $410.
10 Sites$592
one-time, lifetime, for up to 10 sites
Same features for up to 10 sites; separate licenses would cost $820 according to the page.
Theme Integration$82
one-time, for use in a single theme
For theme developers who bundle the builder into a theme; includes a year of premium support and free updates.
Ways to pay less
Visual Composer
- Lifetime license
Lifetime license for one website
A one-time $149 payment covers one website with lifetime updates and two years of support.
- Other savings
30-day money-back guarantee
The pricing page offers a refund requested within 30 days of a new purchase.
WPBakery
- Education
Student discount on Regular licenses
Students can ask for a discount by emailing from a university-assigned address; it applies only to Regular license purchases.
- Other savings
15-day money-back guarantee
The pricing page offers a 15-day refund on lifetime licenses.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Visual Composer or WPBakery?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Visual Composer starts at $49 per year for 1 website, and WPBakery starts at $82 one-time for 1 site.
Which has a free plan, Visual Composer or WPBakery?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Visual Composer has a free plan. WPBakery does not.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.