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Visual Composer Website Builder

By Visual Composer

Design & Themes / Themes & Templates

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Visual Composer Website Builder Review - In-Depth Analysis

Visual Composer is a drag and drop page builder for WordPress, enabling users to design websites and landing pages effortlessly. It offers advanced design features and a user-friendly interface.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.12/10

User Rating

4.6/5 (based on 220+ reviews)

Active Installations

30,000+

Update Frequency

Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

6.56 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Visual Composer is a free WordPress website builder that gives you the freedom to create websites. It features a seamless drag and drop editor powered by React, allowing you to design new pages or edit existing ones without any design limits.

With over 50 free elements and 10+ landing page templates, Visual Composer is designed for web creators who need more power to create professional websites efficiently. The live design and inline editing allow you to see all changes instantly, making it easy to customize your site.

Visual Composer also includes a cloud-based marketplace for downloading elements, templates, and addons on demand. It is compatible with WooCommerce, enabling you to customize your online store and create unique user experiences.

Comparing to Alternatives

Visual Composer Website Builder is a popular page builder with several direct competitors offering similar drag-and-drop functionality for WordPress users.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Highly rated with a strong user base and positive feedback.
Offers a comprehensive free version with many features.
Includes a pro version with advanced capabilities.
Supports custom elements and flexible layouts.
Regular updates addressing security and functionality.

Weaknesses

Has had multiple security vulnerabilities in past versions.
Reported issues with speed and performance on some sites.
Can cause lock-in due to shortcode usage in content.
Some users report bugs and compatibility problems with other plugins.

User Sentiment Analysis

With an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 220 reviews, most users praise Visual Composer for its capabilities, though about 10.5% of ratings are 1 or 2 stars, highlighting some significant issues.

Positive highlights

'Visual Composer ROCKS! (even the free version :>)' - sayermcshane
'Visual Composer is a cool, and a very underrated builder.' - Alexander Gilmanov
'Thanks for providing this EXCELLENT platform and proficient page builder!' - sayermcshane

Common complaints

Plugin is buggy and slow, causing issues on many pages.
Repeated mistakes in releases indicating lack of thorough testing.
High memory usage compared to alternatives like Beaver Builder.
Long delays when editing text blocks due to cloud integration.
Plugin causes site crashes when removing or deleting widgets.
Users feel locked in due to shortcode dependence in content.

Weaknesses

Performance issues including sluggishness and high resource consumption.
Compatibility problems with other plugins causing instability.
Lock-in effect from shortcode usage making migration difficult.
Past security vulnerabilities requiring prompt updates.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a feature-rich page builder with both free and premium options, who value a flexible and customizable design experience and are comfortable managing updates to address security.

Not ideal for

Users with limited technical expertise who need a lightweight, highly stable builder without shortcode lock-in, or those concerned about past security vulnerabilities and plugin performance issues.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a robust set of features suitable for building professional websites without immediate cost.

Pro version

Premium features such as advanced design elements, enhanced customization options, and priority support are included in the paid version.

Final Verdict

Visual Composer Website Builder is a powerful and popular page builder with a strong positive reception for its features and usability, especially in its free version. However, users should be aware of past security vulnerabilities and reported performance issues that may affect site stability.

While it offers a comprehensive toolset and premium upgrade path, potential users should consider alternatives if they prioritize lightweight performance or avoiding shortcode lock-in. Regular updates and careful management can mitigate many concerns for those choosing Visual Composer.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Visual Composer Website Builder plugin.

Drag And Drop Website Builder

Landing Page Builder

Page Builder

Screenshots

FAQ

Although they are different site builders, both Visual Composer and WPBakery are designed to allow WordPress users to build websites. However, the difference is the performance, functionality, and features that each of these builders offers. Visual Composer Website Builder allows you to build a complete website. Create custom page layouts, design unique headers, footers, and sidebars. For more information, here is a comparison of Visual Composer Website Builder vs WPBakery Page Builder.