WPBakery in WordPress is one of the best-known page builders available for WordPress sites. Its easy-to-use interface allows you to build custom websites without coding. Even people who aren’t proficient in coding can create layouts efficiently and quickly using the WPBakery page builder.

When WordPress switched to using Gutenberg as its default editor, newer tools with enhanced performance became available, and they’ve proved to be better alternatives to WPBakery in WordPress.

Though WPBakery makes it easy to build custom pages and layouts, it has significant limitations that impact site performance and scalability. These include slowing down your website with unnecessary codes and inflexibility when you’re switching page builders.

In this article, we’ll discuss why using WPBakery for WordPress sites might not be the best move. We’ll also share some alternatives to this page builder that are worth considering instead.

1. Code performance issues

Google and its users favour sites that load fast. The search engine prioritises fast-loading websites in its search rankings to offer the best results and user experience.

Using WPBakery for WordPress diminishes your site’s chances of ranking well on search engines. Websites with a WPBakery page layout are ridden with unnecessary shortcodes and elements that can weigh down the backend, causing them to load slower, impacting their core web vitals, and hampering their SEO and user experience.

That’s why it’s better for web designers to use modern page builders that allow for lightweight codes and are optimised to perform well in search engine rankings.

If you’re dealing with existing performance issues and bugs on your site, start by addressing those before moving away from WPBakery. You can use our QA tool to capture screenshots and details of the problem, then give your designers clear feedback on what needs to be fixed. Get your free trial today.

2. Overcomplicated Code Base

An overcomplicated code base can be a developer's nightmare. While using WPBakery in WordPress helps you build custom pages quickly, its reliance on shortcodes can bloat your site’s backend code. This makes it challenging to clean up unusable codes and offers limited flexibility when you’re considering switching to a new page builder tool.

Deactivating the WPBakery page builder can also create an unreadable mess of shortcodes, causing additional technical difficulties for you or your developers. This is especially worth being aware of if you’re considering updating your site or redesigning it for improved performance.

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3. Limited Flexibility

Modern page builder tools are distinct from WPBakery in WordPress in many ways. They have more intuitive interfaces built with advanced features, making for a more seamless site experience. Plus, many newer page builder tools allow you to easily integrate third-party apps for better performance on SEO metrics.

For example, WordPress’s new editor Gutenberg offers block-based design with improved site performance. Elementor, another page builder tool, allows for real-time editing, giving users an enhanced site experience.

By contrast, the WPBakery page offers limited flexibility and less innovation, making it an outdated page builder compared to newer alternatives.

4. Incompatible with Block-Based Editors

WPBakery’s incompatibility with block-based editors is another of its shortcomings.

Gutenberg, WordPress’s default editor, uses a block-based design with cleaner codes, helping you to improve your site’s SEO performance and load times. Unlike WPBakery in WordPress, Gutenberg is more compatible with WordPress’s future vision of offering developers and users full site editing tools.

Gutenberg also allows users to create scalable, lightweight designs and doesn’t rely heavily on shortcodes like the WPBakery page.

WPBakery is built using older standards, making it incompatible with Gutenberg’s intuitive design. With WPBakery, you’ll also face limitations in accessing WordPress’s newer updates and features, making it challenging to keep your website SEO-optimised and updated.

5. There Are Better Alternatives

While WPBakery in WordPress was once a firm favourite among developers and site owners, its limited flexibility compared to newer page-builder tools has made it redundant.

Modern WordPress website page builders offer better performance and cleaner codes, allowing you to work with increased flexibility. Whether you’re looking to use website design hacks to create stunning WordPress sites or want to improve your SEO metrics, consider switching to a modern page builder tool.

Aside from Gutenberg and Elementor, other page-building tools like Beaver Builder and Divi Builder are also equally great alternatives to the WPBakery page builder. They come with extensive options for customisation and have a responsive interface.

For Smoother Website Development, Choose QualityHive

Are you considering a site redesign on your WordPress site? Now you know the limitations of using WPBakery for WordPress, consider switching to a modern page builder tool that’s more compatible. You could also consider using an effective feedback tool to test and debug your site.

QualityHive is a solution that simplifies feedback, quality assurance (QA), and web development processes for designers, developers, and agencies.

With our tool, you can track bugs, submit and receive feedback, and collaborate easily through features like instant screenshots, video recordings, and a Kanban board for task management.

Our platform captures detailed browser and device information, allowing your team to quickly address issues, reduce errors, and be more productive without using spreadsheets. It’s a simplified way to manage website feedback and action various tasks to keep your project on track.

To save hours of development time for each project, contact us or book a free trial today.