Comparison between WPBakery and Elementor page builders

Aim and description of the tests

The aim of the tests is the comparison in terms of performance between the two popular WordPress page builders WPBakery and Elementor.

First, we compare them in terms of PHP and MySql performance, measuring the number of database queries, the initialization time, the page generation time and memory usage.

Then we measure the page loading time including the HTTP requests using Pingdom.

All the tests are performed on the same server with the same theme (Twentynineteen) on the same WordPress installation.

The tests are performed on pages without content and on pages with 3 rows all including an image and a text.

We use Freesoul Deactivate Plugins to disable all plugins excluding the tested page builder and to measure the PHP and MySql performance.

Freesoul Deactivate Plugins adds 2 database queries for a total added time of 0.0093 seconds to disable all plugins excluding the tested one and measure the database queries and MySQL performance related to the tested plugins. We assume the consumption of Freesol Deactivate Plugins is negligible compared with the total consumption given by the WordPress core and the tested plugins. Moreover, the consumption of the measurement tool is always the same for all tests.

Common test conditions.

  • WordPress Version: 5.2.2
  • Server Provider: Hostgator
  • Server Location: Provo, Utah, United States (US)
  • Web Server Software: Apache
  • PHP Version: 7.0.25
  • MySQL Version: 5.6.41

Measurement tools

Only PHP and MySql performances, no http measurements.

Test conditions test 1.1

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: disabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: WPBakery 6.0.3
  • Page content size: minimum

Test conditions test 1.2

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: disabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: Elementor 2.6.1
  • Page content size: minimum
Test Name Test n. Database Size {Mb] Server Cache Theme Active Plugins Queries Initialization Time {s] Page generation Time [s] Memory Usage [Mb] PGT Average [s] PGT Standard deviation PGT
+ Sigma [s]		 PGT
– Sigma [s]
1.1 1 7.93 disabled Twentyninenteen Elementor 31 0.35 0.39 20.9 0.400 0.05 0.447 0.353
2 31 0.36 0.41 20.9
3 31 0.32 0.37 20.9
4 31 0.32 0.37 20.9
5 31 0.33 0.37 20.9
6 31 0.4 0.49 20.9
1.2 1 WPBakery 27 0.31 0.36 23.3 0.407 0.04 0.447 0.366
2 27 0.35 0.4 23.3
3 27 0.35 0.48 23.3
4 27 0.33 0.39 23.3
5 27 0.37 0.42 23.3
6 27 0.35 0.39 23.3
WordPress Page Builders Comparison. Small database, minimum page content. Server cache disabled
WordPress Page Builders Comparison. Small database, minimum page content. Server cache disabled

Http measurements using Pingdom

Test conditions test 2.1

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: disabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: WPBakery 6.0.3
  • Page content size: minimum

Test conditions test 2.2

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: disabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: Elementor 2.6.1
  • Page content size: minimum
Test Name Test n. Database Size {Mb] Server Cache Theme Active Plugins Requests Page size [kB] Load time [s] CSS [kB] JS [kB] HTML [kB] Load time Average [s] Load Time Standard deviation Load Time
+ Sigma [s]		 Load Time
– Sigma [s]
2.1 1 7.93 disabled Twentyninenteen Elementor 2.6.1 10 106.3 0.933 60.1 5.6 3.3 0.886 0.04 0.924 0.848
2 10 106.3 0.886 60.1 5.6 3.3
3 10 106.3 0.894 60.1 5.6 3.3
4 10 106.3 0.865 60.1 5.6 3.3
5 10 106.3 0.913 60.1 5.6 3.3
6 10 106.3 0.825 60.1 5.6 3.3
2.2 1 WPBakery 6.0.3 10 106.5 0.803 60.1 5.6 3.5 0.863 0.06 0.926 0.800
2 10 106.5 0.94 60.1 5.6 3.5
3 10 106.5 0.923 60.1 5.6 3.5
4 10 106.5 0.861 60.1 5.6 3.5
5 10 106.5 0.781 60.1 5.6 3.5
6 10 106.5 0.87 60.1 5.6 3.5
WordPress Page Builders Comparison. Small database, minimum page content. Server cache disabled. Http measurements
WordPress Page Builders Comparison. Small database, minimum page content. Server cache disabled. Http measurements

Only PHP and MySQL, performance, no server cache, medium content.

Test conditions test 3.1

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: disabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: WPBakery 6.0.3
  • Page content size: medium

Test conditions test 3.2

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: disabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: Elementor 2.6.1
  • Page content size: medium
Test Name Test n. Database Size {Mb] Server Cache Theme Active Plugins Queries Initialization Time {s] Page generation Time [s] Memory Usage [Mb] PGT Average [s] PGT Standard deviation PGT
+ Sigma [s]		 PGT
– Sigma [s]
1.1 1 7.93 disabled Twentyninenteen Elementor 2.6.1 53 0.28 0.51 26.4 0.520 0.02 0.538 0.502
2 53 0.29 0.55 26.4
3 53 0.27 0.5 26.4
4 53 0.28 0.52 26.4
5 53 0.28 0.53 26.4
6 53 0.29 0.51 26.4
1.2 1 WPBakery 6.0.3 29 0.43 0.5 23 0.407 0.06 0.465 0.348
2 29 0.37 0.43 23
3 29 0.3 0.35 23
4 29 0.37 0.43 23
5 29 0.33 0.38 23
6 29 0.31 0.35 23
WordPress Page Builders Comparison. Small database, medium page content. Server cache disabled.
WordPress Page Builders Comparison. Small database, medium page content. Server cache disabled

Http measurements using Pingdom

Test conditions test 4.1

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: disabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: WPBakery 6.0.3
  • Page content size: medium

Test conditions test 4.2

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: disabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: Elementor 2.6.1
  • Page content size: medium
Test Name Test n. Database Size {Mb] Server Cache Theme Active Plugins Requests Page size [kB] Load time [s] CSS [kB] JS [kB] HTML [kB] Load time Average [s] Load Time Standard deviation Load Time
+ Sigma [s]		 Load Time
– Sigma [s]
2.1 1 7.93 disabled Twentyninenteen Elementor 2.6.1 28 333.3 1.09 96.2 152.5 5.9 1.133 0.06 1.197 1.070
2 28 333.3 1.16 96.2 152.5 5.9
3 28 333.3 1.17 96.2 152.5 5.9
4 28 333.3 1.08 96.2 152.5 5.9
5 28 333.3 1.23 96.2 152.5 5.9
6 28 333.3 1.07 96.2 152.5 5.9
2.2 1 WPBakery 6.0.3 15 234.1 0.857 122 60.2 4.7 0.904 0.05 0.949 0.859
2 15 234.1 0.851 122 60.2 4.7
3 15 234.1 0.926 122 60.2 4.7
4 15 234.1 0.96 122 60.2 4.7
5 15 234.1 0.891 122 60.2 4.7
6 15 234.1 0.941 122 60.2 4.7

Http measurements using Pingdom, server cache active.

Test conditions test 5.1

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: enabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: WPBakery 6.0.3
  • Page content size: medium

Test conditions test 5.2

  • Database size: 7.93 Mb
  • Server cache: enabled
  • Theme: Twentynineteen
  • Active plugins: Elementor 2.6.1
  • Page content size: medium
Test Name Test n. Database Size {Mb] Server Cache Theme Active Plugins Requests Page size [kB] Load time [s] CSS [kB] JS [kB] HTML [kB] Load Time Average [s] Load Time Standard deviation Load Time
+ Sigma [s]		 Load Time
– Sigma [s]
2.1 1 7.93 enabled Twentyninenteen Elementor 2.6.1 28 333.3 0.849 96.2 152.5 5.9 0.837 0.02 0.855 0.820
2 28 333.3 0.857 96.2 152.5 5.9
3 28 333.3 0.811 96.2 152.5 5.9
4 28 333.3 0.85 96.2 152.5 5.9
5 28 333.3 0.828 96.2 152.5 5.9
6 28 333.3 0.828 96.2 152.5 5.9
2.2 1 WPBakery 6.0.3 15 234.1 0.759 122 60.2 4.7 0.785 0.05 0.833 0.738
2 15 234.1 0.757 122 60.2 4.7
3 15 234.1 0.725 122 60.2 4.7
4 15 234.1 0.806 122 60.2 4.7
5 15 234.1 0.808 122 60.2 4.7
6 15 234.1 0.857 122 60.2 4.7
WordPress Page Builders Comparison. Small database, medium page content. Server cache enabled. Http measurements.
WordPress Page Builders Comparison. Small database, medium page content. Server cache enabled. Http measurements.

Conclusions

So in according with the test results shown above we can say:

  • When the page has no content, WPBakery and Elementor consume almost the same in terms of both database queries (tests 1.1 and 1.2) and HTTP requests (tests 2.1 and 2.2).
  • When the page has medium content, considering also the HTTP requests, contrary to what you may read on some WordPress forums and groups, WPBakery is slightly better than Elementor, both with the disabled and enabled cache. (tests 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2).

What can you learn by this comparison between WPBakery and Elementor? Don’t trust what you read on the internet that is not supported by numbers given by clean comparisons. Don’t trust this blog post, repeat the tests yourself.

Inspect Elements (usually F12) and check the pages are really powered by the tested Page Builder.

Opinions without numbers are just opinions, don’t make decisions based on opinions, especially if they aren’t yours but of someone else. Take technical decisions based on numbers.

If you have to decide between two plugins, test them, especially if they are free.

Many times opinions about plugins have nothing to do with the reality.

Why do you think everybody tells you Elementor is a lot better than WPBakery in terms of performance?

Unfortunately I have no numbers for my answer, however, I will share my opinion on this topic.

I think WPBakery is many times installed together with heavy themes, but the plugin itself is not heavier than other page builders.

Many times you will find WPBakery embedded in the Themeforest themes. These are usually themes having a focus on beauty and style and don’t care a lot about performance.

Usually, the websites powered by these themes are slower than websites powered by Elementor and everybody thinks WPBakery is slower than Elementor.

Moreover, WPBakery is a lot older than Elementor, you still find a lot of blog posts speaking very bad about WPBakery but not about Elementor, the reason? Elementor was still not available.

These blog posts are against page builders, and the only popular page builder in the past was WPBakery. They were written by developers working on light frameworks in a time when WPBakery was really a lot slower than light frameworks. Is today still so? Are page builders still a lot slower than light frameworks as when they appeared for the first time in the WordPress world? This is another topic, maybe I will cover it in a future blog post.

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