Webflow has become a fairly popular way for businesses and individuals to construct their own websites with minimal effort. However, there is some confusion about how this platform works and what it has to offer.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how this platform compares to traditional website development or coding, and when the different options offer the best value.
Webflow vs. Traditional coding: A comparative analysis
While both of these options can offer significant benefits, it’s worth noting that there are some significant differences between them. Below, we’ll discuss some of the major advantages and disadvantages of each option>
Webflow pros
Webflow offers a wide range of different advantages and benefits, making it worthwhile for many startups and even a preference for larger brands.
The foremost benefit of this web development platform is its simplicity. Thanks to the platform’s visual drag-and-drop user interface, the creators have eliminated the need for manual coding. This makes it an easy-to-use and accessible option for both career web designers and non-technical users.
It’s worth noting, however, that Webflow still offers the opportunity to incorporate manual coding when desired, making it easy for professional website designers and developers to make existing websites more complex or to add custom coded elements.
Another benefit of this platform is that it allows for the rapid development and release of website prototypes. Since it’s easy to quickly create a new design, or reiterate existing designs, this feature accelerates the development process significantly.
When you use traditional coding, responsive web design has to be independently incorporated into the coding. With Webflow, the responsive design is built into the system, making it easy to create websites that adapt to different screen sizes. This is an essential part of modern web development, since so many users access web pages from their mobile devices. This responsive design is essential to ensure optimal viewing experiences across devices.
Another significant advantage of Webflow, where it differs significantly from traditional web design, is that the hosting and content management system are integrated, speeding up the deployment and management of the websites built..
Webflow cons
While Webflow offers a largely positive experience, there are some aspects that may be disadvantageous in certain applications.
For instance, it offers limited customization for more specialised features, where traditional coding may offer more flexibility. However, it is possible to use a hybrid approach with traditional coding being used to bolster your Webflow website. This approach can be faster and more cost-effective than traditional coding.
The other aspect is that, while Webflow is user-friendly, mastering advanced interactions and customizations may require a learning curve. However, the amount of time and effort spent on mastering this curve will still be significantly less than for traditional coding.
Traditional coding pros
While traditional coding is less user-friendly than Webflow, it does offer some advantages. For one thing, when you use traditional coding you gain full control over every aspect of the website. From the design to the different elements of functionality, you get to fine-tune it all.
It’s also better suited to highly complex projects, thanks to the precision and flexibility that this type of coding offers you compared to Webflow.
Fans of traditional coding also argue that it offers better scalability, allowing you to tailor the website to handle increasing traffic and optimise performance for optimal user experience.
Traditional coding cons
There are also a few significant disadvantages to traditional coding, especially in comparison to Webflow. The biggest disadvantage is that it requires a deep understanding of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. As a result, it has a very steep learning curve.
The second disadvantage is that manual coding is far more time-intensive. Especially in the case of more complex and intricate projects, the very flexibility, precision, and control that makes manual coding advantageous leads to much longer lead times.
The final major disadvantage here is that websites built with traditional coding often demand regular updates (which may need to be done manually), as well as additional maintenance to ensure security and performance.
When to choose Webflow
There are many occasions when Webflow is an excellent choice. Many different types of projects benefit immensely from the no-code or low-code approach that this platform has taken.
One case where Webflow offers a significant advantage is when small businesses (and sometimes larger businesses) need a professional-looking website without the high costs of hiring developers.
By paying the subscription costs for an advanced Webflow website, rather than development costs for traditional coding, businesses unlock the potential to do far more with the same amount of funding.
Webflow is also an excellent choice for designers and marketers who lack the coding experience or funding needed to create a high-quality traditional website. The Webflow platform allows them to bring their creative visions to life, placing careful emphasis on their intended brand image, without breaking the bank.
Projects with tight deadlines often also benefit from the quick and efficient development process that Webflow offers. Even standard-type websites with more basic layouts and functionalities can benefit from Webflow's pre-built templates and drag-and-drop interface.
When to choose traditional coding
Traditional coding used to be the only option available to people, which led to the idea that it’s always the best option. While there are advantages to it, it’s by no means better or more complete simply because it’s traditional.
Traditional coding is, in many cases, best reserved for highly complex tasks requiring a lot of flexibility and precision.
Large-scale and complex web applications often benefit the most from this type of coding, since they require more advanced features and functionalities. By using traditional coding, developers can be more deliberate about incorporating all the features and functionality that the application requires.
The same is true for designs and functionalities that require extreme levels of customization. Since these types of websites often demand precise control over every aspect of the website, the flexibility and precision of traditional coding and web development may be preferable.
Other cases where traditional coding and web development may offer significant advantages include projects that require high performance and scalability to handle heavy traffic and data loads. For example, in the case of businesses receiving heavy traffic daily, or the booking sites for highly popular events, a sturdier, custom-built website may be preferable.
E-commerce platforms often have highly specific requirements, especially since each one tries to create a unique place for customers to shop. They may incorporate features and elements such as complex product catalogues, inventory management, and payment gateways, which benefit from the specificity and control of traditional coding.
Final thoughts
When you’re getting ready to start developing a website for your specific project, it is essential that you pay the utmost attention to your project’s unique needs. While both Webflow and traditional coding offer some significant benefits, they each shine in a different area.
For example, if you are busy with a highly complex project, the complexity and flexibility of traditional coding may be a better recourse than Webflow. However, traditional coding is also liable to be far more expensive in this case. Especially considering that you’ll need to pay all the development fees up-front.
On the other hand, if you want to keep up-front costs low, Webflow’s expenses are covered by a subscription model which means that you pay smaller amounts regularly, rather than a massive amount at the beginning.
Webflow can also be supplemented by traditional coding, so it’s always possible to come back and add more complex tools and features to your website. If you’d like help with the design of your brand’s Webflow website, take a look at our Webflow development services. We’d love to help you.
