What is Webflow?

Are you curious about how effective Webflow is for creating websites? This article explores whether Webflow is the best CMS choice for you. Prepare to be amazed by its versatility – let’s explore!

Disclaimer: We won’t be diving into Webflow’s ecommerce capabilities in this article; that will be covered in a future post.

Webflow is a cutting-edge SaaS platform that simplifies website building. It is a low-code/no-code solution that allows users to design, build, and launch websites without writing any code. It also offers the flexibility to use code if desired. Sites are published directly through Webflow’s interface, so there’s no need for a separate server or additional software.

Meant primarily for designers, Webflow empowers them to bring their creative visions to life independently, without relying on developers. While it does require some tech skills, most designers can train themselves on Webflow within a few weeks.

As a UI/UX designer, I can say Webflow is a fantastic tool. It eliminates the need for coding, allowing me to turn my designs into functional websites more easily than ever. The interface is user-friendly and similar to design software, making it simple to use. If you create your site using Webflow and understand how responsiveness works, simply preparing views for several breakpoints within Webflow will ensure it looks great on most devices. Additionally, Webflow gives you full control over animations. I see Webflow as a tool built by developers for designers. Last but not least, if you have some coding knowledge, Webflow lets you put that to use, making the tool even more flexible and useful.

Webflow Pricing: Is It the Best CMS Choice for Your Budget?

Webflow is not a free service, although it offers a free plan for testing, which allows the creation of up to two basic designs. These designs can only be published on Webflow subdomains, which may be sufficient for personal projects but inadequate for business needs. However, the free plan is a great choice for designers seeking an easy way to create a beautiful, hassle-free portfolio.

For professional websites, a subscription is necessary. As of August 2024, plans start at $14 per month, without CMS management. The $23 per month plan, billed annually, enables CMS features and totals $276 per year, including hosting, SSL, updates, and support. Domains must be purchased separately. When deciding which CMS to choose, Webflow’s transparent pricing structure can be appealing.

Webflow Plans

There are also Workspace Plans which cater to freelancers and agencies, and are typically not necessary for individual users building their own sites.

Purchasing a Workspace Plan is beneficial when custom code, code export, and designing CMS elements across multiple pages are needed for all current projects without having to purchase separate site plans for each. Site plans are required later to host the site on a custom domain.

Workspace Plans are particularly useful for agencies that design Webflow sites for clients and need access to additional features for all their projects without buying a site plan at this stage. These plans also allow for multiple users working simultaneously.

Webflow 101

Webflow development agencies love this website builder for its user-friendly interface and powerful features. You can start creating your website as soon as you sign up. It's worth noting that basic knowledge of HTML and CSS can be useful, as it might be tricky for absolute beginners.

Webflow Interface

With over 5,000 editable templates, Webflow enables you to construct your ideal site through trial and error. Additionally, Webflow's templates, which range from $50 to $150, are competitively priced and come with the assurance of high quality. Even top Webflow agencies use those paid templates, as they speed up the design process, saving development hours and overall project cost.

Webflow Templates

Key Feature – Animations: No other CMS makes it as effortless to create beautiful and lightweight animations for your Webflow projects, making your site vibrant and engaging.

Webflow Animation Sample

Post-creation management of the site is very intuitive and easy to handle.

Webflow: The Best CMS Choice for Marketing?

Webflow's clean code generation ensures your site loads swiftly, which is critical for SEO success. Speed is a significant factor in search engine rankings.

Webflow CMS

Webflow offers image optimization to WebP format and full control over URLs, meta titles, and meta descriptions. It also includes an automatic translation feature, an automatic sitemap, alt tags, and a robots.txt file.

More advanced configurations, such as setting up canonical tags, require coding.

Integrating with external applications, such as Google Analytics, is simple through Project Settings > Integrations. With over 5,000 integrations available, all major marketing and analytics tools are included.

Webflow Apps

Webflow vs. WordPress: Which is the Best CMS Choice

Webflow Features

WordPress Features

Plugins: While WordPress boasts a vast number of plugins, these are often user-generated and may lack regular updates, increasing security risks. Additionally, they can often be of poor quality and significantly slow down the site.

In contrast, Webflow offers over 5,000 robust integrations. Features that need plugins in WordPress, like Yoast SEO and integrations with major platforms such as Google and Meta, come standard in Webflow.

While WordPress initially appears to be a less expensive option, business use can drive up costs due to the need for hiring professionals and purchasing templates. These templates often require frequent updates and ongoing maintenance. Furthermore, managing a server, handling backups, and performing other maintenance tasks can further increase costs, whereas Webflow takes care of all these aspects for you.

Webflow simplifies the process of creating visually appealing websites with fewer maintenance needs. While the expenses are comparable to WordPress, Webflow shines with its exceptional ease of use and reliability, ensuring your site functions effortlessly.

Company Mail: Basic email services usually included with external hosting are an additional purchase with Webflow.

Webflow and Self-Reliance

Automatic Updates: Webflow provides seamless integration with automatic updates, managed hosting, free SSL, and backups all included.

User-Friendliness: Webflow might be challenging for beginners, and having a developer's help can be beneficial. Nonetheless, Webflow’s support package can solve most issues, reducing the need for extensive developer hours.

Resources: Webflow doesn’t have as many tutorial materials on YouTube, making it harder to find solutions on your own. However, their support team is readily available to assist you. They also have their own learning materials called the Webflow University.

Translations: Translations can be easily added in Webflow. It’s a paid feature starting at $9 per month, offering editable machine translations. In comparison, WordPress’s WPML plugin costs $99 annually. Additionally, advanced features like changing styles and element visibility based on language are only available in Webflow’s enterprise plan, which is more expensive, giving WordPress an advantage.

Summary: Is Webflow a Good Fit?

WordPress, much like Android, provides endless customization and plugins. Webflow, resembling iOS, is a bit pricier but offers a seamless, attractive, and hassle-free experience.

Cost Summary: Webflow may appear costly, but considering the inclusion of support, backups, and updates, the price difference is minor unless you can manage everything yourself.

Security: If not maintained by an expert, WordPress is vulnerable to attacks through outdated versions and plugins, a concern you won’t have with Webflow.

Target Audience: Webflow suits businesses big and small seeking a beautiful, trouble-free website. Startups and new businesses will find it beneficial if they can afford an annual maintenance cost of around $260 to $390.

Conclusion: Who is Webflow For?

Webflow is an excellent choice for businesses and designers who prioritize aesthetics, functionality, and ease of use. Webflow reviews often highlight its user-friendliness and powerful features, making it a top choice among webflow agencies. Seamless integrations make it a standout tool in the world of website building.

While it may require a higher investment than WordPress with subscription costs, it is usually faster to implement, saving you money on designers. The peace of mind and quality results it delivers are invaluable. If you're ready to elevate your web presence and simplify your site management, Webflow is definitely worth it.

Ready to take the next step and looking for a Webflow Agency to do it for you? Our team at From Poland With Dev specializes in creating professional, high-quality Webflow sites tailored to your unique needs. Contact us today to get started on your next web project and experience the difference that expert development can make!