Software Alternatives & Startups

Visual Composer VS ExpressionEngine

Compare Visual Composer VS ExpressionEngine and see what are their differences

Visual Composer

Visual Composer is an advanced website builder for WordPress.

Visual Composer Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine is a flexible, feature-rich content management system that empowers thousands of...

ExpressionEngine Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

ExpressionEngine might be a bit more popular than Visual Composer. We know about 2 links to it since March 2021 and only 2 links to Visual Composer.

social mentions
2 vs 2
Website Builder popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
66 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Visual Composer
ExpressionEngine
Website visualcomposer.com expressionengine.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Visual Composer 7 features
ExpressionEngine 6 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Visual Composer offers a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for users of all skill levels to create and edit web pages without needing to write any code.
  • Responsive Design
    The platform ensures that the websites built with it are mobile-friendly and responsive, adapting to various devices and screen sizes.
  • Wide Range of Templates
    Visual Composer provides a variety of pre-designed templates, allowing users to quickly start building their websites without starting from scratch.
  • Extensible with Add-ons
    The ecosystem of Visual Composer supports numerous add-ons and extensions, enabling users to enhance functionality as per their specific needs.
  • SEO Friendly
    Visual Composer is designed to be SEO-friendly, ensuring that the websites built using this tool adhere to SEO best practices.
  • Regular Updates
    The platform receives regular updates which include new features, improvements, and security patches, keeping it current and robust.
  • Customer Support
    Visual Composer offers dedicated customer support, including documentation, forums, and direct support, to assist users with any issues they encounter.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance Impact
    Websites built with Visual Composer can sometimes experience slower load times due to the additional code and scripts generated by the tool.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic functions are user-friendly, mastering advanced features and customizations may require a steeper learning curve.
  • Dependency on Shortcodes
    Visual Composer relies heavily on shortcodes for its functionality, which can make it difficult to switch to another page builder without significant manual cleanup.
  • Cost
    There is a cost associated with using Visual Composer, especially for premium features and templates, which may not be suitable for budget-conscious users.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There can be compatibility issues with some WordPress themes and plugins, leading to potential conflicts and the need for troubleshooting.
  • Limited Custom Code Modifications
    For advanced users looking to implement custom code, Visual Composer might feel restrictive as it abstracts much of the code behind visual elements.
  • Potential for Overcomplication
    The multitude of features and options can sometimes overwhelm users, leading to overcomplicated designs that may detract from user experience and site performance.
  • Flexibility
    ExpressionEngine is highly flexible and can be used to create a wide range of websites, from simple blogs to complex web applications. It doesn't impose rigid structures, allowing developers to design content and data structures according to the project's needs.
  • Template Engine
    Its powerful template engine allows for both simple and complex designs. Designers and developers can create custom layouts and templates without having to delve deeply into backend code.
  • Security
    Known for its robust security features, ExpressionEngine prioritizes the safety of its users. It includes in-built security measures such as data encryption, secure form handling, and regular security updates.
  • Addon Ecosystem
    ExpressionEngine has a diverse addon ecosystem, enabling users to extend core functionalities easily. Many high-quality third-party plugins are available for various needs like SEO, eCommerce, and more.
  • User Management
    The platform offers advanced user management capabilities. It allows for intricate access controls and user permissions, making it ideal for membership sites and other applications requiring multiple user roles.
  • Documentation
    ExpressionEngine provides thorough and well-maintained documentation, helping developers and content managers navigate and make the most out of the platform.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    ExpressionEngine is a paid CMS. While it does offer significant advantages, the cost might be prohibitive for small businesses or individuals who are just getting started.
  • Learning Curve
    While its flexibility is a major advantage, it also means that there can be a steep learning curve for beginners. Those who are new to CMSs or coming from simpler systems may find the initial setup and customization challenging.
  • Performance
    ExpressionEngine can be resource-intensive, particularly for large, high-traffic websites. Without proper optimization and hosting, this could lead to slower load times and potential performance issues.
  • Complexity for Simple Sites
    For simpler websites, the extensive feature set of ExpressionEngine might be overkill. Users looking for a straightforward blogging platform or a basic company website may find it unnecessarily complex.
  • Limited Themes and Plugins
    Compared to other CMS platforms like WordPress, ExpressionEngine has a smaller library of pre-built themes and plugins. This may require more custom development work to achieve desired functionalities and aesthetics.
  • Community Support
    While there is a dedicated group of users, the community around ExpressionEngine is smaller compared to more widely-used CMS platforms. This could make finding community support, tutorials, and third-party resources more difficult.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Visual Composer
ExpressionEngine

Overall verdict

  • Visual Composer is generally considered a good tool for building websites, especially for users who appreciate its visual editing capabilities and ease of use. While some users may find it costlier compared to other options, its robust feature set and regular updates often justify the investment for many.

Why this product is good

  • Visual Composer is a popular website builder and page editor that offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. It is favored for its extensive library of design elements, compatibility with a wide range of themes, and integration with various plugins. It caters to both beginners and advanced users, offering flexibility and creative control in designing web pages. The responsive design options make it suitable for creating mobile-friendly websites, and its SEO-friendly features help in optimizing web pages for search engines.

Recommended for

  • Small business owners looking to create or maintain their website
  • Freelancers and agencies designing websites for clients
  • Bloggers and content creators who value ease of design and customization
  • Users who prefer a code-free, visual editing environment

No analysis of ExpressionEngine yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Visual Composer 3 videos + Add
ExpressionEngine 3 videos + Add

Visual Composer Website Builder For Wordpress

More videos

  • Review - Elementor vs. Visual Composer: What WordPress Page Builder Is Better? Wordpress Visual Composer
  • Review - Visual Composer Premium Review - Is Visual Composer Premium Legit?

ExpressionEngine 2 Tutorials #1 - Installation

More videos

  • Tutorial - ExpressionEngine 2 Tutorials #18 - Embedded Templates
  • Review - ExpressionEngine 3 Interface Changes

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Visual Composer
ExpressionEngine
100% 100%
0% 0%
30% 30%
CMS
70% 70%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Visual Composer and ExpressionEngine. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Visual Composer no reviews yet
ExpressionEngine no reviews yet
  • Top 9 Elementor Alternatives in 2023
    kinsta.com · Jan 2023

    Visual Composer is a page builder that goes beyond simple page design. With other page builders, you might need additional plugins to customize your theme or provide specific functionality. However, Visual Composer...

  • 7 Best Elementor Alternatives 2023
    athemes.com · Jan 2023

    Visual Composer is completely separate from the plugin you might’ve used to know as Visual Composer a few years ago (now, that plugin is called WPBakery Page Builder and is next on our list).

  • 10 Best Elementor Alternatives
    rigorousthemes.com · Jun 2020

    You can customize elements such as background, spaces, and borders using powerful design options. Visual Composer supports integration with Unsplash stock photos. So, you can download high-quality stock photos to your...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Visual Composer 2 mentions
ExpressionEngine 2 mentions
  • Create a WordPress website with just a click!
    Horray! Also it provides you a free subdomain. So you don't need buy any Shared Linux host or domain for just testing or creating a landing page with Elementor or Visual Composer! - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
  • How do I build a GOOD looking website?
    I've found that the plugin Visual Composer has been the best option. They have a free theme too (Visual Composer starter theme) to get started. Source: over 5 years ago
  • Expression Engine & HubSpot
    Does Expression Engine support integration with HubSpot? Source: almost 3 years ago
  • What technologies for these requirements?
    PHP Headless Or you go with a Headless PHP CMS. Some options for that are Bolt CMS, Suru, Twill and ExpressionEngine. A Headless CMS doesn't have any frontend. It can provide you with a REST API or you create it in their template engine... Source: over 4 years ago

Alternatives to Visual Composer and ExpressionEngine

When comparing Visual Composer and ExpressionEngine, you can also consider the following products.