WordPress and Webflow are two of the most popular website-building platforms on the market today.
But which one is the best for your needs? In this post, we'll compare WordPress and Webflow, and help you decide which platform is right for you and your business websites.
Webflow is a powerful, yet easy-to-use, cloud-based platform that allows you to build custom websites without having to write a single line of code.
WordPress, on the other hand, is an open-source Content Management System (CMS) used for millions of websites globally and requires some knowledge of coding to get the most out of it.
Whether you're looking to build an eCommerce site for your online store or create a completely custom website, both WordPress and Webflow give you all the tools you need for creating websites and design customisation.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a CMS that allows users to create and manage a website or blog. It is free, open-source software, making it a great option for those on a budget. There are also multiple premium plugins available, making it easier than ever to create eye-catching websites.
The blogging functionalities of WordPress are also great. The platform makes the blogging process seamless, allowing you to write, edit and publish your blogs directly to your WordPress site.
While WordPress does require some technical knowledge to set up and use, there are thousands of video tutorials, blog posts, and support forums available online to help you get started.
Designing a WordPress website
When it comes down to it, you can choose from many free or paid WordPress themes to create your website.
They're easy to use and customise, though the customisation of WordPress themes is limited to colours, fonts, sizes, and images.
Multiple plugins are also available to you to add any additional features to your WordPress site that aren't included in your chosen theme.
However, if you're after a completely custom site, you may want to look into hiring a web designer or developer to do it for you or train yourself up on how to do it yourself.
This is necessary because developers have access to the WordPress theme developer handbook, which equips them with everything they need to know about developing WordPress themes.
WordPress as an eCommerce platform
Setting up a store with WordPress is easy with the range of eCommerce plugins available to you. One of the most popular ones, WooCommerce, is free and known for being reliable.
WooCommerce is incredibly customisable, so there's almost nothing you can't do when designing the website for your online store. Use the available templates, or if you want something truly unique, you can opt to have a custom design made for you.
There are a multitude of paid and free extensions available for WooCommerce, so you can install everything you need to suit your needs, from shipping to payment processing and more.
What is Webflow?
Webflow is a powerful, yet easy-to-use website builder that allows users to create custom sites without having to write code.
Webflow is a drag-and-drop builder and allows you to create visually appealing, highly functional websites with ease.
Webflow is incredibly customisable, making it a popular web design tool many swear by.
Its intuitive visual editor makes customising your website appearance easy. Not to mention the platform's ability to publish straight to the web, Zapier integrations, and more.
Designing a Webflow website
When creating your Webflow website, you'll be given full control, which means you'll be able to use the visual page builder to design a website that fully services all your needs.
Because Webflow is a drag-and-drop builder, you can start with a blank canvas and easily drag and drop any elements you'd like to include on your website. These elements can range from sliders, images and tabs to background videos and more.
Webflow is also kitted out with a preview feature that allows you to view the web pages you design before you publish them to make sure that every user who visits your site will have the best user experience.
And, because all of Webflows' web pages are incredibly responsive, your users will be able to view them clearly on any device.
There are no restrictions on the type of fonts you can use with Webflow, unlike other website builders. This means that you may use any font you like and modify any aspect of it, from line-height to tracking, without difficulty.
It's also important to have consistency in your web pages, and Webflow makes it simple to maintain your website's consistency across the board. You can create global colour swatches in Webflow, which allows you to change every instance of colour on your website with a single click.
Webflow as an eCommerce platform
Webflow makes it a cinch to build your eCommerce website, market your items, and expand your business. You have complete control over what will be displayed on your Webflow online store.
Some website builders don't allow you to customise your checkout page, but Webflow does and makes it possible for you to create a checkout page that matches the rest of your website perfectly.
Additionally, you can customise any transactional emails that are sent to your customers and ensure they're totally on brand, personalised, and make your store stand out among the crowd.
With Webflow it's even possible for you to add custom animations and interactions that make your digital storefront unforgettable.
In terms of order management, Webflow's dashboard is simple to use. Once you're ready to ship out your orders, you can easily print out shipping labels using Webflow's Zapier integration.
Ease of use: Webflow vs WordPress
With Webflow, you can create custom websites without having to write any code.
WordPress, on the other hand, is a bit more complex and requires some coding knowledge to create your website with custom themes and WordPress plugins.
While Webflow gives you total freedom when it comes to design, WordPress is restricted by templates or can be coded from scratch if you have the technical know-how.
Another consideration is that Webflow code has a clean quality to it, while WordPress code can become cluttered due to its need for plugins. It's also easy to create bloated code with WordPress.
Another great thing about Webflow web design is that it allows you to make on-page edits to your website. Whereas with WordPress, you'll need to make use of and navigate through its dashboard and page editors to make any changes.
Features: Webflow vs WordPress
Webflow comes with everything you need to build a custom website, including templates, hosting, eCommerce capabilities and 24/7 support.
WordPress is a bit more bare-bones in terms of features, but there are thousands of plugins and themes available that allow you to extend the functionality of your WordPress website and create something that's truly tailored to your needs.
Key features of Webflow:
- Drag-and-drop page builder functionality.
- Intuitive visual editor.
- Responsive page designs and web design features.
- Publish straight to the web.
- Work with reusable CSS classes and Flexbox.
- Define global colour swatches and update every instance of colour in seconds.
- Use any font and adjust everything from tracking to line height.
- Export code for download.
- Create scroll-based animations.
- Zapier integrations.
Webflow has a vast range of features that all work in tandem to assist you in creating a fully customised website that meets every one of your needs, and you don't even need to be an experienced web designer to use it to its full potential.
Key features of WordPress:
- Highly customisable designs.
- Sites that are mobile responsive.
- SEO-friendly sites, making it easier for your business to rank higher on search engines.
- Incredibly secure.
- Easy to use and accessible.
- An amazing number of plugins (over 54,0000!)
- Incredibly powerful media management capabilities.
- A huge and vibrant community.
Pricing: Webflow vs WordPress
Webflow is a bit more expensive than WordPress, but it does offer a free 14-day trial. WordPress is free to use, but you'll need to pay for hosting and a domain name.
It's important to note though, that WordPress plugins can end up running high on cost, and the number of plugins you might need can severely impact the cost of using WordPress. This is especially true when it comes to the range of premium plugins on offer. Premium and pro versions of themes can also become costly.
Read our Webflow’s pricing plans.
Weighing up the benefits and downsides of Webflow VS WordPress?
Webflow is an ideal platform for those with no coding knowledge who want to create a fully customised website.
A WordPress site might be a better option if you're looking for something that's more budget-friendly or if you need a highly customisable site with specific features.
No matter which platform you choose, both Webflow and WordPress come with their own set of pros and cons. It depends on your needs as to which one is the best fit for you.
Let's take a look at each platform's pros and cons.
The pros of using Webflow:
- Freedom to create completely custom websites without the need for coding.
- Creating animations and interactions is easy.
- The drag and drop page builder allows you to build and customise your pages, exactly the way you want to.
- Websites are SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) friendly.
- Directly edit your page and see exactly what it will look like before you publish it.
- SSL certificate is included.
- It's a powerful hosting platform with very little downtime for website visitors.
The cons of using Webflow:
When it comes to using Webflow, you may find that there's somewhat of a learning curve, especially if you're unfamiliar with development. This is why many businesses opt to employ a web developer skilled in Webflow to create their website for them, which can be costly.
Additionally, when compared to other development and hosting platforms such as WordPress, Webflow can end up being a little pricier.
The pros of using WordPress:
- It's free to use. You'll just have to pay for hosting.
- WordPress is completely customisable for web design, meaning that you'll have full control over your site and data.
- You'll have thousands of extensions and WordPress plugins to choose from, making the possibilities to create an incredible website near-endless.
- Because it's so widely used, there are thousands of integrations available for WordPress. So no matter what tools you use to run your business, there's a high chance they'll work well with WordPress.
- WordPress allows you to create SEO-optimised, mobile-friendly websites. This means it will help your website rank well on Google.
The cons of using WordPress:
While themes and templates are easy for anyone to use, if you want a fully customised website that doesn't rely on the use of themes and templates, you'll either have to code it yourself or hire a web developer.
An additional consideration is that because you will own and be managing your WordPress website, you will be responsible for any updates and maintenance that will need to be done to the site.
This is not only a considerable time commitment but can prove to be incredibly stressful if ever your site goes down or requires maintenance during a peak time for web traffic. If this is an issue though, you also have the option to take advantage of managed WordPress hosting.
Questions and answers:
Can Webflow replace WordPress?
The short answer is yes. But, only in some circumstances.
WordPress does still have advantages over Webflow, but both platforms can be used to create beautiful, functional and profitable websites.
Is Webflow or WordPress better for SEO?
Both tools integrate Search Engine Optimisation seamlessly and will make it easier for your website to rank well on Google.
Is Webflow more secure than WordPress?
Because Webflow offers free SSL certificates and security on every site built using the platform, it is very secure.
WordPress is secure too, but not to the same degree, as it is open-source software.
Do professional web designers use Webflow?
Yes!
Webflow is a great tool for both professional and new web designers alike.
Can I transfer Webflow to WordPress?
Yes, you can.
There are many video tutorials and blog posts available to help you do this in just six steps.
Is Webflow better than WordPress?
The answer to this question depends greatly on your needs and budget.
Are there plugins for Webflow?
Yes.
There are hundreds of plugins, widgets, and integrations to choose from to make your website shine.
Is Webflow worth learning?
Whether you're looking to create your own website, or are venturing into web design, Webflow can be a valuable tool to learn.
It can enable you to take your business online, create an eCommerce site, and kickstart your career as a web designer.
The verdict on the Webflow VS WordPress battle:
Overall, when it comes to customisation, Webflow is unrivalled. If you need a completely unique website that reflects your brand perfectly, then Webflow is the way to go.
However, if you're working with a tight budget, a WordPress website might be a better option as it has a range of free themes and plugins available (though there are paid options that can vary greatly in cost).
So, go ahead and explore both Webflow and WordPress to see which one is the best fit for you!
Reach out to us
If you're in the market for a team of web development and design experts to take your business to the next level with a Webflow site, consider Boost, a leading Webflow agency.
We are a trusted web design and development agency, based in London specialising in creating eye-catching, functional websites using Webflow that are designed to attract and delight your ideal customers.
Contact us today for a quote.
