WordPress and Webflow – two of a kind

WordPress reigns as the top choice for CMS, being used by over 60% of all websites.

Yet, Webflow is steadily gaining traction, with almost 1% of websites adopting this platform.

Our web development team is proficient in both these technologies. Our own website was created in Webflow. Additionally, check out a case study our WordPress web development project for our client here.

They are both very popular for creating websites of any size, but each has different approaches and caters to different user needs. How are they different? Let’s make a comparison and help you decide which one is better for your requirements.

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What is WordPress?

WordPress (also known as WP or WordPress.org) is a widely used web content management system (CMS) developed in 2003 initially for blogging but now supports various web content types.

It's open-source, written in PHP, and requires a web server installation. Familiarity with web hosting and domain registration is needed to use it.

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What is Webflow?

Webflow is a SaaS application that allows designers to build responsive websites with browser-based visual editing software. While designers use the tool, Webflow automatically generates HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Websites built on Webflow are powered by Amazon Cloudfront and hosted on Fastly. Webflow is an all-in-one platform with a CMS built in. It does not require external plugins.

Comparison

Naturally, each platform (WordPress and Webflow) has reasons to convince you to migrate from one to another. Here is some basic functions comparison:

Ease of Use:

WordPress offers a user-friendly interface for managing content, but building complex designs may require coding or the use of page builders.

Webflow is known for its user-friendly visual interface, making it accessible to designers and developers alike. You can create websites visually without writing code.

Flexibility and Customization:

WordPress offers flexibility through themes and plugins, but customization may require more technical expertise, especially for advanced design changes.

Webflow is highly flexible and allows for precise control over the design and layout of your website. You can create completely custom designs without restrictions.

Design and Templates:

WordPress has a vast library of themes and templates, both free and paid. However, achieving a unique design often requires additional customization.

Webflow provides a wide range of customizable templates, and you can create custom designs from scratch trough visual designer. The visual editor makes it easy to modify templates to your liking.

SEO and Performance:

WordPress is SEO-friendly with the help of plugins like Yoast SEO, but performance may vary depending on the theme and plugins you use.

Webflow offers SEO-friendly features and fast-loading websites. You have control over SEO settings and can optimize your site for search engines.

Hosting and Maintenance:

WordPress is self-hosted, which means you're responsible for finding hosting, performing updates, and managing security, which can be both a pro and a con depending on your needs.

Webflow provides hosting as part of it's service, and it handles maintenance and updates, ensuring security and performance.

Domain:

WordPress: you can buy the domain over wordpress.com, or any other provider.

Webflow: you can buy easily with GoDaddy integration or use any other provider.

E-Commerce:

WordPress can handle E-commerce through plugins like WooCommerce, which is more versatile but may require additional setup.

Webflow has built-in E-commerce capabilities, making it suitable for small to medium-sized online stores.

Community and Support:

WordPress has a massive community, offering extensive support through forums, documentation, and countless third-party resources.

Webflow has an active community and provides support through forums, tutorials, and customer service.

Cost:

WordPress itself is free, but you'll need to pay for hosting, themes, plugins, and other services, which can vary widely in cost.

Webflow offers both free and paid plans, with pricing based on your needs. It can be more expensive for advanced features.

Security:

WordPress security depends on the hosting provider and plugins used. You'll need to actively manage security measures.

Webflow handles security and updates, reducing the risk of security vulnerabilities and has comprehensive information about it since you as a user don’t have direct access to it.

Pros and cons

WordPress

Pros

• Thriving community for support and resources
• Extensive plugins library, mostly free, for added functionality
• E-commerce Support, robust tools for online stores
• User-friendly CMS, intuitive content management system, especially for blogs
• Client or developer can choose hosting
• Revisions manage changes on pages
• Open source
• Multilingual support
• Access backend through FTP client
• Social media Integration
• Beginner-friendly, easy to use, even for novices
• SEO-Friendly
• Flexibility to create various types of sites
• Gutenberg editor
• WordPress itself is completely free to use
• Provides no-code solutions for website building
• Ownership and portability
• Free Page Builders: Tools like Elementor, Themify Builder, etc.
• User roles for teamwork, enable collaboration with different roles
• Mobile responsiveness
• Taxonomy options, offers flexibility in organizing content
• Custom CSS: Easily add custom CSS for advanced styling

Cons

• Regular maintenance required
• Staying current with software updates is crucial for security and functionality
• Different functionalities often require separate plugins
• Additional security measures and plugins are needed to enhance site protection
• Efforts are required to ensure fast loading times for a positive user experience
• Junk Code
• Some plugins may conflict with others, requiring troubleshooting
• Tailored WordPress solutions can incur higher expense
• WordPress's widespread use makes it a target for potential hackers

Webflow

Pros

• Powerful visual builder
• Auto audit tool
• Undo and redo function
• Built-in SEO support
• Constant autosave
• Automatic backups
• Custom classes
• Team collaboration with permissions
• Site cloning
• Easy Google Fonts integration
• Integration with Google Maps, Analytics, and FB Pixel
• X-Ray mode for element organization
• Abundance of free and paid templates
• Automatic CSS and JS minification
• SSL support
• Comprehensive styling options
• Customizable CSS classes
• Utilizes Tailwind
• Preview on various resolutions
• Flows for action management
• Excellent accessibility features
• Clean code output
• Easy launch and staging
• Comprehensive learning resources (Webflow University)
• Convenient CMS extraction
• CMS API for external data integration
• 750+ integrations via Zapier
  

Cons

• Custom CSS requires payment plan upgrade
• Small community
• Missing default global font, accent color, and text elements settings
• Additional cost for E-commerce features
• Page/Post Limits on free plan
• Webflow-managed hosting, no backend access
• Additional cost for CMS functionality
• Learning curve
• Complex payment plans

Which platform is the best for you?

eCommerce websites

WordPress doesn't come with built-in E-commerce capabilities, but you can enhance it by installing free plugins like WooCommerce for creating an online store. These plugins offer flexibility and can be tailored to match your brand.

In contrast, Webflow provides pre-built E-commerce features, making it a more streamlined option for online stores.

If you have a small online store, Webflow is a great option. However, if you want to expand your online store, WordPress is definitely better because it's plugins have more potential.

Blogging

Since WordPress has initially been created for blogging platforms, we’d advice to go with this one.

WordPress is designed with blogs in mind, allowing for unlimited CMS items and editors.

Business and portfolio websites

If you want to set up your website quickly, WordPress is your go to platform.

However, if you want a website with a more unique design, choose Webflow. It offers creative tools which will make your website stand out.

Webflow latest update

Only 6 days ago, Webflow has made significant changes in design and features, they are still not fully tested by our team but they look pretty cool and great (some of them are still in beta):

• Spline scene - web-based 3D design software that allows users to create animations, visual models, and interactive experiences
• New design – refreshed look and feel, even the logo
• Localization - customize anything on your site for a specific location, from design to content
• Variables - store values like colors, fonts, and sizes
• Components – upgraded, props added, closer to having the power of true React components
• API update -  allows developers to build Apps that interact directly with a site’s Canvas
• Figma - Webflow plug-in that allows you to quickly copy over your designs and wireframes in Figma to Webflow
• DevLink - gives developers the ability to export Webflow components to their React environments
• Teams - greater visibility into proposed updates

Conclusion

In summary, Webflow is a great choice for those who want precise design control without coding and are willing to pay for the convenience of an all-in-one solution. WordPress, on the other hand, offers greater flexibility and a vast ecosystem of themes and plugins, making it suitable for a wide range of users, from bloggers to large businesses, but it may require more technical expertise to set up and maintain. Your choice should depend on your specific project requirements and your level of technical expertise.

When making a final decision, it depends on what you need out of your website. You should use Webflow if you want to set u pa basic website for your business and have custom designs that reflect your business’s brand vision.

Meanwhile, you should use WordPress if you have a high volume of E-commerce products that you need to get operational quickly. Either way, Webflow and WordPress are both great options for building a dynamic website for your business.

Enlight offers both solutions to our clients based on their unique needs, considering factors such as similarity, development speed, and stability. Our primary focus is comprehending your business thoroughly and crafting the most exceptional digital representations of your company's identity.