Start selling with AliDrop today

If you’ve ever tried building a website, you know the struggle of balancing design and code. Webflow changes that by letting you design visually while having full control over the code. It’s a tool that speaks to both creatives and developers alike.

But how exactly does Webflow work, and why are so many people switching to it?

Webflow allows designers to create beautiful websites without needing to write code, while developers still get access to clean, production-ready HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s a powerful platform that merges design freedom with technical precision.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Webflow—from its features to real-world use cases. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether Webflow is the right fit for your next project.

What Is Webflow and Why Are People Switching to It?

Webflow isn’t just another website builder. It's a design platform that allows you to visually create websites with the freedom to control the code at the same time. This combination of design and technical power makes it stand out from other platforms, offering more flexibility for both beginners and experts.

The Origin of Webflow and How It Changed Website Building

Webflow was founded in 2013 by Vlad Magdalin, Sergie Lurgio, and Bryant Chou. They had a vision: empower designers to create websites without writing code, but still ensure developers could work with clean, production-ready code. This vision led to the creation of a platform where design and code coexist seamlessly.

Before Webflow, designers were limited by platforms like WordPress or Wix, which often required plugins and workarounds to achieve custom designs. Webflow changed that by offering an all-in-one solution where you could design, build, and launch without needing a separate development process.

Who Should Use Webflow—Designers, Businesses, and Creators Explained

Webflow isn’t just for professional developers—it’s perfect for designers, agencies, bloggers, and businesses alike. For designers, it’s an ideal platform to create pixel-perfect websites without having to rely on developers. Agencies benefit from Webflow’s ability to collaborate with clients while maintaining design control. Even bloggers can use Webflow’s CMS to scale their content effortlessly.

No matter your skill level, Webflow offers something for everyone—whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking for full control over your project.

Key Features of Webflow That Make It Powerful

Webflow’s power lies in its ability to combine design flexibility with the technical control usually reserved for developers. It’s not just about dragging and dropping elements—it’s about offering a toolkit that allows you to bring your most complex web design ideas to life.

1. Visual Website Builder with Clean HTML and CSS Output

One of the standout features of Webflow is its visual website builder, which lets you design directly on the page. Unlike other drag-and-drop builders, Webflow doesn’t restrict you to templates. You can fine-tune everything from layout to typography, just like you would in a design tool like Adobe XD or Sketch.

What sets Webflow apart, though, is that it automatically generates clean, semantic code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) as you design. No more messy, bloated code or fighting with plugins to get your design to match. Your final website is as optimized as it is beautiful.

2. Built-in CMS and Content Collections for Dynamic Sites

Another game-changer is Webflow’s CMS (Content Management System). If you’ve ever struggled with managing content on a static website, Webflow’s CMS makes it easy to create dynamic pages that update automatically. From blog posts to portfolio projects, Webflow’s CMS allows you to structure and manage content in an organized way, with everything from fields for images to SEO metadata.

The content collections in Webflow are customizable, so you can define exactly what fields you need (like author name, post category, etc.) and link them to dynamic page templates. This makes updating your site a breeze, as you simply add new content without worrying about formatting every time.

3. SEO and Performance Features That Boost Rankings

Webflow isn’t just a pretty face—it’s built with performance in mind. The platform offers SEO features right out of the box, allowing you to customize meta descriptions, titles, image alt texts, and more, directly from the editor. This gives you full control over how your website will be indexed on search engines.

Additionally, Webflow’s clean code and optimized load times help your site rank better in search results. With features like automatic sitemaps and the ability to integrate with Google Analytics, Webflow makes it easy to track your site’s performance and adjust your strategy to boost rankings.

4. Hosting, Security, and Scalability Without Extra Plugins

One of the often-overlooked advantages of Webflow is its built-in hosting. Unlike other platforms that rely on third-party hosting services, Webflow offers fast, secure, and reliable hosting directly through the platform. All sites come with SSL encryption, ensuring that your website is secure, and automatic backups, so you never have to worry about losing your work.

Plus, Webflow’s hosting is highly scalable, meaning your site can grow without worrying about performance issues or needing additional plugins to handle traffic spikes.

5. Ecommerce Capabilities—How Webflow Handles Online Stores

Webflow isn’t just for blogs or portfolios—it also offers full-fledged ecommerce functionality. Whether you're starting a small online store or launching a large retail website, Webflow allows you to design the perfect shopping experience for your customers.

You can easily customize product pages, integrate shopping carts, and set up checkout pages—all while keeping full control over design. Webflow’s ecommerce features even allow you to integrate with payment processors like Stripe and PayPal for seamless transactions.

Webflow Pricing Plans Explained (Is It Worth the Cost?)

One of the first questions people ask when considering Webflow is about pricing. While Webflow offers a free plan, understanding its paid options and how they match your needs can be tricky. Let’s break it down and see if Webflow’s value justifies the cost.

Free Plan and What’s Included

Webflow offers a free plan, which is great if you want to test the platform before committing. With the free plan, you can create a website, but it will be hosted on a Webflow subdomain (e.g., yoursite.webflow.com). It’s perfect for building and experimenting, but it’s not ideal for launching a professional site. You also won’t be able to connect your custom domain unless you upgrade.

The free plan comes with all the core features, including the visual builder, CMS, and a basic number of pages. It’s a great option for personal projects or testing ideas. However, if you're looking to go live with your own domain or need more than 50 pages, you’ll need to upgrade to one of the paid plans.

Site Plans vs Workspace Plans—What’s the Difference?

Webflow’s site plans are designed for individual websites, while workspace plans are geared toward teams and larger organizations. Site plans are for those building websites, whether it’s a simple blog or a robust ecommerce store. They start at around $12 per month for basic hosting and range up to $36 for premium features like CMS and ecommerce support.

On the other hand, workspace plans are intended for collaboration and team management. These plans start at around $19 per month and offer team features such as user permissions, billing, and workflow tools. They’re ideal for agencies or companies managing multiple Webflow projects.

Ecommerce Pricing and Scaling for Businesses

For those looking to build an online store, Webflow offers specialized ecommerce plans. These plans start at $29 per month for basic ecommerce features, including up to 500 products and basic shopping cart functionality. Higher-tier plans go up to $212 per month, offering advanced features such as advanced shipping options, automated email marketing, and a larger product catalog.

Webflow’s ecommerce pricing can get pricey compared to other platforms like Shopify, but it offers a level of design freedom that many find worth the cost. If you’re a small business owner or a designer who needs custom e-commerce features, Webflow’s pricing model might just suit your needs.

Is Webflow Expensive Compared to WordPress and Wix?

When you stack Webflow against competitors like WordPress and Wix, it’s clear that Webflow leans towards the premium side. WordPress can be cheaper, especially when using free themes and plugins, but you may end up paying for additional hosting, themes, or third-party plugins, which can add up. Wix, on the other hand, offers plans starting around $14 per month but lacks the design flexibility that Webflow provides.

In comparison, Webflow’s pricing is justified by the high-quality design tools, built-in CMS, and secure hosting it offers, making it a solid choice for professionals who need both design control and scalability.

Webflow vs Competitors—Which Platform Should You Choose?

Choosing a website builder can be overwhelming with so many options out there. Webflow stands out for its design control and flexibility, but how does it compare to other popular platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and Wix? In this section, we’ll break down the key differences, so you can decide which platform fits your needs best.

Webflow vs WordPress—Plugins vs Visual Control

When it comes to WordPress, the major difference lies in how the sites are built. WordPress offers a lot of flexibility, but you’re often limited by plugins and themes. While it gives you access to thousands of plugins for customization, you’ll still need to rely on third-party tools to achieve certain designs. This can slow you down, especially when it comes to creating a custom design.

On the other hand, Webflow provides visual design freedom while automatically generating clean, semantic code. This eliminates the need for plugins and gives you full control over every design aspect. For a designer who wants pixel-perfect control, Webflow is a more streamlined, code-free solution compared to WordPress.

However, if you're managing a content-heavy site or need tons of third-party integrations, WordPress might still be the better option.

Webflow vs Shopify—Design Freedom vs Ecommerce Power

Shopify is the go-to platform for building online stores. It’s packed with built-in ecommerce features like product management, payment processing, and shipping integrations. However, if you're looking for deep design customization, Shopify falls short. You’re largely limited to the templates and apps available in their marketplace.

Webflow, on the other hand, is all about customization. You have the ability to design every aspect of your site, from the layout to the micro-interactions. However, Webflow’s ecommerce features are not as robust as Shopify's. For those who prioritize design and want to build a completely unique store experience, Webflow is the better choice. But for businesses that require advanced ecommerce features (inventory management, marketing tools, etc.), Shopify is a more dedicated solution.

Webflow vs Wix & Squarespace—Ease of Use vs Flexibility

Both Wix and Squarespace are great choices for beginners looking for an easy way to build a website without getting bogged down in the technicalities. They offer intuitive drag-and-drop builders and pre-designed templates. However, these platforms come with limitations in customization and design flexibility.

Webflow takes it a step further, offering a more advanced design interface that allows for complete control over layout and interactions. This makes it ideal for professionals who want more than just a simple website. However, this flexibility also means there’s a steeper learning curve compared to Wix or Squarespace.

If you’re just starting out or need a simple site, Wix or Squarespace might be sufficient. But if you're aiming for a fully customizable site with total design control, Webflow is the superior choice.

Why Agencies and Freelancers Prefer Webflow for Clients

Webflow’s collaboration features make it a great choice for agencies and freelancers working with clients. Webflow allows for client-friendly edits—clients can easily update content without messing with the design. Webflow’s ability to export code and integrate with other tools also makes it ideal for collaborative work.

Moreover, with Webflow's CMS and custom content structures, it’s easier to manage dynamic content across multiple pages or projects. Agencies can deliver customized sites that are easy to maintain while ensuring that clients have a seamless experience in updating their content.

Final Thoughts—Is Webflow the Right Platform for You?

In conclusion, Webflow is a powerful tool that combines the best of both worlds—design flexibility and clean, production-ready code. Whether you're a designer, agency, or business owner, Webflow allows you to create stunning websites without needing to rely on developers. Its features, like the visual editor, CMS, and ecommerce capabilities, set it apart from other website builders.

However, Webflow does come with a learning curve, so it may not be the easiest platform for absolute beginners. If you’re looking for more straightforward, template-driven platforms, options like Wix or Squarespace might be better suited for you. But if you need complete control over your site’s design and functionality—and are willing to invest some time in learning—Webflow could be the perfect platform for your next project.

Ultimately, Webflow is for those who want complete creative freedom without sacrificing performance, making it a great choice for professionals and businesses alike. If that sounds like you, it’s worth giving Webflow a try with their free plan and seeing how it fits your needs.