Visual Composer is the plugin that uses [vc_column]
[vc_column] is a shortcode — a piece of code that tells your website how to display content — created by Visual Composer, a page-building plugin for WordPress. If you see [vc_column] on your site or in your site's code, it means someone built your pages using Visual Composer's drag-and-drop editor rather than writing HTML by hand.
Visual Composer is not a standalone website builder like Wix or Squarespace. It is a tool that runs inside WordPress and lets you design pages visually without touching code. When you drag a column onto the page in Visual Composer's editor, the plugin converts that action into [vc_column] shortcode behind the scenes.
This matters because it tells you something about how your site was built and what happens if you want to change builders later. If your entire site is built on Visual Composer shortcodes, moving to a different builder means those shortcodes will stop working and your pages will look broken until you rebuild them in the new system.
Key Takeaways
- Visual Composer is a WordPress plugin that uses [vc_column] shortcodes to structure page layouts visually.
- If you see [vc_column] in your site's code, your pages were built with Visual Composer's drag-and-drop editor.
- Switching away from Visual Composer means your [vc_column] shortcodes will no longer display correctly and pages will need to be rebuilt.
- Visual Composer is owned by WPBakery and comes in both free and paid versions with different feature sets.
How Visual Composer shortcodes work on your WordPress site
When you use Visual Composer to build a page, you are not actually writing code. You drag elements — columns, text boxes, images, buttons — onto a canvas. Visual Composer translates each action into shortcode. A column becomes [vc_column], a text block becomes [vc_text_block], a button becomes [vc_btn].
These shortcodes live in your page's content in the WordPress database. When someone visits your site, WordPress reads the shortcodes and tells Visual Composer to render them as the visual layout you designed. If Visual Composer is not installed or activated, WordPress will display the raw shortcode text instead of the formatted page.
This is why Visual Composer pages look fine when the plugin is active but fall apart if you deactivate it or switch to a different builder. The shortcodes are instructions that only Visual Composer knows how to read.
Visual Composer free version versus paid versions
Visual Composer comes in a free version available in the WordPress plugin directory and several paid versions sold directly by WPBakery. The free version includes basic column layouts, text, images, and buttons. It is enough to build a straightforward site.
The paid versions (called Visual Composer Website Builder and Visual Composer Premium) add more elements, templates, and integrations with other tools. They also include priority support and updates. Many WordPress themes come bundled with a free or discounted license to Visual Composer.
If you are using Visual Composer on a site you did not build yourself, check your WordPress plugins page to see which version is installed. The version name and whether it shows as "active" tells you whether the builder is currently running your site.
When you might encounter [vc_column] on an existing site
You will see [vc_column] shortcodes if you inherited a WordPress site that was built with Visual Composer, or if you hired someone to build your site and they used Visual Composer as their tool. You might also see it if you downloaded a WordPress theme that came with Visual Composer pre-installed.
If you are looking at your site's code and wondering what [vc_column] means, it is a sign that the previous builder chose a visual page builder rather than coding by hand. This is not good or bad — it is just information about how the site was constructed.
The practical question is whether you want to keep using Visual Composer or switch to something else. If you want to keep it, you need to make sure the plugin stays installed and updated. If you want to switch, you need a plan for rebuilding your pages in the new system.
Switching away from Visual Composer
If you want to move your site to a different page builder or a different platform entirely, [vc_column] shortcodes become a problem. They will not work in Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, or any other WordPress page builder. They will not work if you move to Wix, Squarespace, or any non-WordPress platform.
Before you switch, you have two options. You can manually rebuild your pages in the new builder — copying the layout and content from the old pages. Or you can look for a migration plugin that claims to convert Visual Composer shortcodes to the new builder's format. These plugins work inconsistently and often require manual cleanup afterward.
The safest approach is to plan the rebuild as a redesign project rather than a conversion. Take screenshots of your current pages, note what content goes where, and build the new pages from scratch in your new builder. This takes longer but gives you a chance to improve the design at the same time.
Other page builders and their shortcodes
Visual Composer is not the only WordPress page builder that uses shortcodes. Elementor uses shortcodes like [elementor-template], Divi uses [et_pb_section], and Beaver Builder uses [fl_builder_section]. Each builder has its own shortcode syntax.
If you see shortcodes in your site's code, you can usually identify the builder by the shortcode prefix — the part before the underscore. [vc_] means Visual Composer, [et_pb_] means Divi, [elementor-] means Elementor. This tells you which plugin is running your site.
Knowing which builder you are using matters when you need to update your site, troubleshoot problems, or plan a migration. If you are not sure which builder your site uses, check the WordPress plugins page or search your page content for shortcodes.
Keeping Visual Composer updated and find
If you are using Visual Composer, treat it like any other WordPress plugin — keep it updated. WPBakery releases updates regularly to fix bugs and patch security issues. An outdated version of Visual Composer can slow your site down or create vulnerabilities.
Check your WordPress dashboard regularly for plugin updates. If you are using the free version, updates appear in the Plugins section. If you are using a paid version, you may need to log into your WPBakery account to read the latest version, depending on which plan you have.
If you stop using Visual Composer, you can deactivate and delete the plugin. But before you do, make sure your pages are no longer using [vc_column] shortcodes, or they will break. If you are unsure, export your site content first as a backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert [vc_column] shortcodes to a different page builder automatically?
Some plugins claim to convert shortcodes between builders, but they rarely work perfectly. Most conversions require manual cleanup and testing. It is usually faster and more reliable to rebuild your pages in the new builder rather than trying to convert them.
What happens if I deactivate Visual Composer?
Your pages will display the raw shortcode text instead of the formatted layout. For example, you will see "[vc_column]" on the page instead of a column. Reactivating the plugin will restore the layout. If you delete the plugin permanently, you will need to rebuild those pages in a different builder.
Is Visual Composer free?
The basic version is free and available in the WordPress plugin directory. Paid versions with more features and support are sold separately by WPBakery. Many WordPress themes include a free or discounted license.
Can I use Visual Composer with any WordPress theme?
Yes. Visual Composer is a plugin that works with any WordPress theme, though some themes are designed to work better with it than others. If your theme was built for a different page builder, Visual Composer may not integrate as smoothly.
How do I know if my site is using Visual Composer?
Log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins, and look for "Visual Composer" or "WPBakery Page Builder" in the list. If it is there and marked as Active, your site is using it. You can also search your page content for [vc_ shortcodes in the page editor.