WPBakery and Divi are two of the oldest and most installed page builders in the WordPress ecosystem. WPBakery launched in 2011 (originally as Visual Composer) and became ubiquitous largely because it was bundled with thousands of premium themes on ThemeForest. Divi launched in 2013 from Elegant Themes and became the most popular premium theme in the world. Despite their different origins, they have competed for the same market for over a decade.
In 2025, this comparison has a clear leaning. Divi 5’s architectural rewrite modernized the builder substantially, while WPBakery’s development pace has been steadier and more conservative. The gap between them in design capability, interface modernity, and built-in features has widened. That said, WPBakery still has a real user base and specific advantages worth examining honestly rather than dismissing.
Divi is the better builder in 2025. It has deeper design controls, a far larger template library, a full visual Theme Builder, built-in A/B testing, and better multi-site pricing. WPBakery’s main remaining advantages are its entry-level one-time pricing for a single site at $69, its wide theme bundling history (many users already have it installed), dual backend/frontend editing, and an SEO toolkit that does not require a separate plugin. For anyone building a new site today, Divi is the stronger choice. For anyone inheriting a WPBakery site, the case for staying on it is primarily about avoiding migration friction rather than any feature advantage.
What Each Builder Is
A WordPress theme and visual page builder from Elegant Themes. Features a React-powered front-end editor (Divi 5), 200+ modules, 800+ layout packs, full Theme Builder, global design system, built-in A/B testing, Bloom, and Monarch. Annual plan at $89/year (unlimited sites) or $249 lifetime.
A page builder plugin from WPBakery (formerly Visual Composer). Features dual backend and frontend editing, 80+ ready-made templates, Grid Builder, built-in SEO toolkit, and WPBakery AI. Works with most WordPress themes. One-time payment starting at $69 for one site. No native Theme Builder for headers/footers.
A clarification on naming: The original “Visual Composer” plugin was renamed WPBakery in 2017. Visual Composer is now a separate, unrelated website builder. This comparison covers WPBakery (the plugin), not the Visual Composer website builder. If you have seen references to WPBakery as “Visual Composer” in older tutorials or theme documentation, they are referring to what is now called WPBakery.
Head-to-Head Feature Comparison
| Category | Divi | WPBakery | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Building Capability | |||
| Visual builder interface | Front-end canvas, floating panels | Dual: back-end + front-end editor | Divi |
| Content elements / modules | 200+ specialized modules | 50+ core elements + add-ons | Divi |
| Pre-built layouts / templates | 800+ full multi-page layout packs | 80+ page and section templates | Divi |
| Full-site editing (headers/footers) | Built-in Theme Builder (included) | Not available natively | Divi |
| Global design controls | Design Variables, Presets, Tokens | Basic global styles only | Divi |
| A/B split testing | Divi Leads (built-in) | Not available | Divi |
| Responsive editing | 7 customizable breakpoints | Basic responsive controls | Divi |
| Grid / masonry content display | Posts/grid modules | Dedicated Grid Builder (built-in) | WPBakery |
| SEO and Performance | |||
| Built-in SEO tools | Requires Yoast / Rank Math | Built-in SEO Toolkit (no plugin needed) | WPBakery |
| Page load speed (base) | Good, optimized with Divi 5 | Lightweight, fewer built-in features | WPBakery |
| Code output | React-based, cleaner in Divi 5 | Shortcode-heavy (lock-in risk) | Divi (post-Divi 5) |
| Content portability | Improved in Divi 5 | Shortcode mess after deactivation | Both have issues |
| Pricing and Value | |||
| Free version | None | None (demo only) | Neither |
| Entry price (1 site) | $89/year | $69 one-time | WPBakery |
| Multiple sites (5) | $89/year (unlimited) | $256 one-time (5 sites) | Divi (annual wins) |
| Unlimited sites | $89/year or $249 lifetime | No unlimited option | Divi |
| Lifetime plan value | $249 one-time, unlimited sites | $69 one-time, 1 site only | Divi |
| Included plugins | Extra, Bloom, Monarch, Divi Dash | Builder only | Divi |
| Support and Community | |||
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat | Mon–Sat email/ticket support | Divi |
| Community size | Very large, active | Large, mostly legacy users | Divi |
| Tutorial resources | Extensive, current | Available, many outdated | Divi |
| Theme compatibility | Works best with Divi theme | Works with any WordPress theme | WPBakery |
The interface gap between Divi and WPBakery is one of the most visible differences in this comparison. Divi operates as a purpose-built visual editor with real-time front-end rendering. Every change appears on the canvas immediately. The sections, rows, and modules hierarchy gives a clear structure, and in Divi 5, the Layers Panel provides an overview of the full page structure at any time. The settings panels are contextual and float over the design, which some designers find intuitive for keeping the canvas unobstructed.
WPBakery offers two editing modes: a back-end editor that resembles a grid-based drag-and-drop interface within the WordPress admin, and a front-end editor that shows a live preview with editing controls overlaid. The dual-editor approach was innovative when WPBakery launched, and many users who are more comfortable in the WordPress admin than in a full-screen front-end builder prefer the back-end editor for certain tasks. The front-end editor is functional but does not feel as modern or as responsive as Divi’s visual builder. Compared to current alternatives, WPBakery’s front-end editor feels dated in its interaction model and visual feedback speed.
Full-screen front-end canvas, floating settings panels, Layers Panel, Command Center. Modern React-powered editor. Real-time changes. Strong visual workflow for designers.
Dual editor: back-end drag-and-drop grid + front-end visual editor. Back-end familiar to WordPress admin users. Front-end editor functional but feels dated versus current alternatives.
WPBakery’s most frequently criticized characteristic is its shortcode system. When you build a page with WPBakery, the content is stored as WordPress shortcodes: blocks of code that look like [vc_row][vc_column]...[/vc_column][/vc_row]. When WPBakery is active, these shortcodes render correctly. When WPBakery is deactivated or the license expires, these shortcodes display as raw text throughout your content, effectively breaking the page display.
This is not a minor issue. It means that sites built with WPBakery are structurally dependent on WPBakery remaining active in perpetuity. If you ever want to switch page builders, rebrand your technology stack, or hand a site to a client who does not want to maintain a WPBakery license, the migration requires manually cleaning up shortcodes throughout every page and post. For large sites, this can represent dozens or hundreds of hours of cleanup work.
Divi’s content storage has historically had similar lock-in through its own shortcode format. Divi 5 moved to a block-based storage format that is cleaner than Divi 4’s shortcodes, though content is still formatted in a way that requires the Divi framework to render correctly. Neither builder gives you fully portable content. But WPBakery’s shortcode problem is more severe and more widely experienced because many WPBakery users are on legacy installs that were set up years ago under Divi 4-era architecture assumptions.
Divi’s Theme Builder is one of its most practically valuable features for anyone building complete websites. It allows designers to create custom templates for headers, footers, single post layouts, archive pages, and any other part of the WordPress theme structure, all within the same visual builder interface. Once built, templates are assigned using display conditions (apply this header to all pages in category X, apply this single post template to all posts tagged Y). This gives designers complete visual control over the entire website without touching PHP files.
WPBakery does not have an equivalent feature. It is a page content builder, not a full-site builder. WPBakery helps you design the content area of individual pages and posts. Headers, footers, navigation, sidebars, and archive layouts are controlled by whatever WordPress theme you are using alongside WPBakery. For users who are satisfied with their theme’s native header and footer design, this limitation is less relevant. For users who want complete visual control over every part of the site, WPBakery requires a compatible theme or separate plugin to handle the parts of the site outside the content area.
An honest comparison has to acknowledge what WPBakery does better than Divi rather than treating it as purely inferior. Three areas stand out.
1. Built-In SEO Toolkit
WPBakery includes a built-in SEO Toolkit that allows users to optimize meta titles, meta descriptions, Open Graph tags, and social sharing previews directly within the page builder interface. For Divi users, SEO optimization requires installing a separate plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math. These are excellent plugins and most WordPress users should install them regardless. But for users who want to minimize their plugin count, WPBakery’s native SEO controls are a practical advantage.
2. Grid Builder
WPBakery’s Grid Builder is a dedicated tool for displaying dynamic content in grid and masonry layouts. With 40-plus pre-designed grid styles, built-in filtering, pagination, and support for custom queries, the Grid Builder covers cases like portfolio grids, blog listing grids, product grids, and media galleries with a purpose-built interface. Divi has post grid and portfolio modules, but the depth and dedicated focus of WPBakery’s Grid Builder is a genuine specialized strength for content-display use cases.
3. Theme Compatibility
WPBakery works with virtually any WordPress theme because it is a plugin that adds itself to the page content area rather than replacing the theme layer. Many premium themes were specifically designed and tested with WPBakery integration in mind. This broad compatibility means WPBakery can be added to an existing site without changing the theme or risking incompatibilities. Divi works best with the Divi theme, and while the Divi Builder Plugin can work with other themes, the fully integrated experience relies on the Divi theme framework.
- No free version (demo available)
- Annual: $89/year — unlimited sites
- Lifetime: $249 one-time — unlimited sites forever
- Divi Pro: $277/year (AI, Cloud, Teams, VIP)
- Includes Extra, Bloom, Monarch, Divi Dash
- Theme Builder included at no extra cost
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No free version (demo sandbox available)
- Regular (1 site): $69 one-time
- 5-site license: $256 one-time
- 10-site license: $499 one-time
- No unlimited sites plan
- Lifetime updates included with purchase
- Support Plus add-on available separately
- 15-day money-back guarantee
For a single site, WPBakery’s $69 one-time payment is cheaper than Divi’s $89/year. If you pay for Divi for only one year, WPBakery is the better value. Over two or more years on a single site, Divi’s annual subscription ($89 × 2 = $178) exceeds WPBakery’s one-time payment. The lifetime plan comparison shifts this: Divi at $249 once covers unlimited sites forever, while WPBakery at $499 for 10 sites is a higher one-time payment with a lower coverage cap.
For agencies or freelancers building multiple sites, Divi’s unlimited site coverage at $89/year (or $249 lifetime) becomes significantly more cost-effective than WPBakery’s per-site pricing. WPBakery has no equivalent to Divi’s unlimited license, which makes WPBakery substantially more expensive for high-volume builders at any comparable scale.
The WPBakery bundling factor: Many users already have WPBakery installed because it was bundled with the premium WordPress theme they purchased on ThemeForest. For these users, WPBakery’s effective price is $0 — it came with the theme. This is the main reason WPBakery remains on as many sites as it does despite newer and more capable alternatives existing. If you are in this situation, the question is not “should I buy WPBakery” but “should I continue using the WPBakery I already have” versus switching to Divi or another builder.
Which Builder for Your Situation?
Final Verdict: Divi vs WPBakery
For anyone making a fresh decision in 2025, Divi is the better builder across almost every dimension that matters for building professional WordPress sites. Its interface is more modern, its template library is incomparably larger, its Theme Builder covers the entire site where WPBakery is limited to page content, its global design system is far more capable, and its pricing model for multi-site users is substantially more cost-effective.
WPBakery holds relevance primarily for two specific situations: users who already have it installed via a bundled theme and whose sites are working without problems, and specialized use cases where its Grid Builder or built-in SEO Toolkit provide genuinely useful native functionality. For the large installed base of WPBakery sites inherited from ThemeForest themes, the practical decision is usually whether the migration cost to a better tool is justified by the gains. For a site in active development with significant ongoing design work, it usually is. For a stable site that receives only content updates, it often is not.
WPBakery launched when it was genuinely innovative and filled a real gap in the WordPress ecosystem. For its time, it was a useful tool. In 2025, that time has passed. Users starting new projects deserve a tool that was built for how WordPress development works today, not how it worked in 2011. Divi is that tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WPBakery still worth using in 2025?
For sites already built on WPBakery that are stable and not undergoing major redesigns, continuing to use it is reasonable. The tool still works, still receives updates, and has a functional editing experience. For new sites or sites undergoing major rebuilds, modern alternatives including Divi, Elementor, and Beaver Builder offer better design capability, cleaner code output, and more modern interfaces. WPBakery’s value proposition in 2025 is primarily its one-time pricing for single sites and its large existing installed base, not feature leadership.
Can I migrate from WPBakery to Divi?
Yes, but the migration requires rebuilding page designs rather than converting them automatically. WPBakery’s shortcode-based content format is not compatible with Divi’s content format. Post content written in the WordPress editor (not in WPBakery’s visual interface) can be transferred cleanly. Pages with complex WPBakery layouts need to be rebuilt in Divi’s builder. For sites with many heavily designed pages, this is a significant project. Migration tools exist that can clean up shortcodes, but they convert the shortcodes to plain text rather than converting designs to Divi layouts.
Why does WPBakery appear on so many sites?
WPBakery was licensed to thousands of theme developers on ThemeForest and other marketplaces as a bundled plugin. When a customer purchased any of these themes, they received WPBakery at no additional cost. This bundling strategy, combined with WPBakery being one of the earliest capable page builders available, established a massive installed base. According to WPBakery’s own statistics, it is used by approximately 10.5% of all WordPress websites, though this figure reflects years of accumulated installations rather than current builder preference.
Does WPBakery have a full-site builder like Divi’s Theme Builder?
No. WPBakery is a page content builder that operates within the content area of WordPress pages and posts. It does not control the site’s header, footer, sidebar, or archive page templates. These are handled by whichever WordPress theme you are using alongside WPBakery. For full-site visual editing, you need either a theme that provides these controls natively or a separate plugin. Divi’s Theme Builder, which is included at no extra cost with every Divi membership, covers all of this within the same visual interface.
What happened to the Visual Composer plugin?
Visual Composer and WPBakery are now two separate products. The original plugin launched in 2011 as Visual Composer. In 2017, the team renamed the plugin to WPBakery Page Builder. Visual Composer is now a completely separate, independently developed website builder product that is not the same thing as WPBakery. If your theme documentation or older tutorials reference Visual Composer, they are referring to what is now called WPBakery. If you encounter the current Visual Composer product, it is an unrelated tool from a different team.
