Webflow Review — How Good Is This Website Builder?

Webflow has become one of the most popular website builders in recent years, helping anyone design, build and host professional-quality websites easily and efficiently with no coding required. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and vast library of templates, it’s easy and simple for anyone to use.

But how good is Webflow really?

In this comprehensive Webflow review, we will analyze Webflow’s key features, capabilities and overall user experience to see if it lives up to the hype.

We will compare Webflow to major competitors like WordPress, Weebly, and Squarespace. And, we will provide actionable recommendations on who can benefit most from this visual web design platform.

By the end, you will have all the information you need to determine if Webflow is the right website builder for your next project.

Whether you are a freelance web designer, marketing agency or small business owner, this Webflow review aims to help you make an informed decision when choosing this website building tool. We will look at crucial factors like usability, customization options, ecommerce features, SEO optimization and more.

Our goal is to provide an objective, factual assessment of what Webflow excels at, where it falls short, and how it stacks up to the competition.

So, let’s dive into this hands-on Webflow review for 2024!

What Is Webflow?

Webflow is a visual web design platform to design, build and host responsive websites and web apps, all without needing to write any code. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for anyone to create professional-quality websites, while also providing advanced customization options for developers.

Some of Webflow’s key capabilities include:

• Drag-and-drop website builder with a WYSIWYG editor
• Library of customizable templates
• Integrated web hosting and CDN
• Animation and interaction tools
• Built-in CMS (Content Management System)
• Ecommerce functionality
• SEO optimization tools

Unlike traditional website builders like Wix or Squarespace, Webflow generates clean, semantic HTML/CSS code behind its visual interface. It makes sites more customizable for developers while also improving SEO value.

Webflow has seen rapid adoption since its launch in 2013, now powering over 500,000 sites. Originally catering mostly to designers and agencies, Webflow has expanded its scope to be an all-in-one web creation platform suitable for all types of users. Even non-designers can quickly build professional sites using Webflow’s templates and intuitive editor.

Compared to traditional CMS platforms like WordPress, the main advantage of Webflow is its powerful visual design capabilities and integrated hosting. While WordPress offers more flexibility and custom plugins, its core system requires working with code and clunky page builders to achieve custom designs. Webflow makes visual web design extremely fast and efficient in comparison.

So in summary – Webflow combines the ease of drag-and-drop site builders with advanced design flexibility. This makes it appealing to a wide spectrum of users, from marketers to web designers to developers.

Key Features of Webflow

• Intuitive Visual Design Interface: Drag-and-drop functionality for code-free design.
• Responsive Design Capabilities: Automatic adjustments for any screen size.
• Customizable Templates: A wide range of editable and optimized templates.
• Built-in CMS: Dynamic content management without complex back-end systems.
• Hosting and Publishing Options: Fast, scalable, and secure hosting solutions.
• E-commerce Functionality: Comprehensive tools for building online stores.
• SEO Optimization Tools: Advanced settings for improving search engine visibility.
• Flexible Website Building: Options for both coders and non-coders.
• Integration Capabilities: Supports tools for marketing, analytics, and more.
• Security Features: Includes SSL certificates, daily backups, and GDPR compliance.
• Customer Support: Access to email support, forums, and Webflow University.
• Template Customization: Without the need for coding.
• Fast Load Times: Optimized for performance.
• Compliance and Security: Adheres to the latest web standards and security measures.
• Extensive Plugin Library: Although limited, it supports essential integrations.
• Plan Flexibility: Ranges from free starter plans to custom enterprise solutions.
• Design Freedom: Offers complete control over the website’s appearance.
• Advanced Design Features: Like animations and parallax scrolling.
• Global CDN: Ensures content is delivered quickly worldwide.
• Third-party Integrations: Easy integration with tools like Google Analytics, Mailchimp, etc.
• Learning Resources: Comprehensive tutorials and guides available through Webflow University.

Visual Design Interface

One of Webflow’s biggest selling points is its intuitive drag-and-drop visual editor. It provides a What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) interface for building websites visually without needing to code. Users can drag elements onto the canvas, customize styles using a panel, and see changes in real-time.

For advanced users, Webflow also provides more granular control over CSS, animations, interactions, and other code-level features. So you get the benefit of visual design with the flexibility of custom code.

This combination of ease-of-use and advanced capabilities has made Webflow popular among web designers and agencies.

Responsive Design Capabilities

Webflow makes it very easy to create fully responsive websites that adapt to any screen size. The canvas viewport can be toggled between desktop, tablet, and mobile to preview how content will rearrange. Styles and elements can also be adjusted to optimize for each viewport.

Media queries are handled automatically behind the scenes. So you don’t need to manually configure breakpoints or write CSS that accounts for different devices. This takes much of the work out of designing responsively.

Customizable Templates & Design Assets

Getting started in Webflow is easier with access to hundreds of template options. Webflow’s template library covers many common site types like portfolios, ecommerce stores, blogs, marketing sites, and more.

These templates can be used as a starting point for design and customization. You can tweak just about any element, from colors to fonts to layouts, to achieve your desired look and feel without altering the underlying structure.

In addition to templates, Webflow also provides libraries of design elements like icons, graphics, and photos. These make it fast and simple for non-designers to build professional-quality websites.

Built-in Content Management System (CMS)

Webflow’s Content Management System (CMS) gives you complete control over your website’s content structure and design. This system is designed to store and manage dynamic content, which means any updates to your content automatically reflect across all pages where it’s referenced.

The CMS is built around “Collections,” which are essentially containers for different types of dynamic content. Each Collection can house “Collection items,” individual pieces of content like blog posts, product listings, or team member profiles. These items are structured by “Collection fields,” allowing you to define the specific data each item should contain. For instance, a blog post item could have fields for the title, author, post date, and content.

• Control and Flexibility: Webflow CMS offers unparalleled control over content structure, enabling you to design unique, dynamic sites. This flexibility allows for the creation of custom content types and structures.
• Visual Design and Content Management: It uniquely combines visual design tools with content management capabilities. Designers can visually connect design elements to Collection fields without writing code, making it easier to design with real content.
• Dynamic Content Display: Through Collection lists and pages, you can add dynamic content to your site in a structured manner. Collection pages work as templates for each item in a Collection, automatically populating content in predefined fields.
• Editing and Management Ease: Editing or adding content to Collections can be effortlessly done from the Designer or the Editor interface. This ensures that editors and content managers can directly write and edit on the live site, streamlining the publishing process.
• Developer-Friendly Tools: For developers, Webflow’s CMS API offers the ability to work with the JSON data underlying the CMS. This opens possibilities for integrating external data sources and extending the functionality of your Webflow site.
• Integration and Automation: The CMS’s ability to integrate with over 750 third-party services via Zapier facilitates a wide range of automation possibilities, from managing content in Google Sheets to automating social media posts and sending dynamic emails.
• Global Reach: Localization features support fully localized experiences, making your website accessible and relevant to a global audience.

Web Hosting options of Webflow

Webflow offers reliable and scalable hosting designed specifically for Webflow sites. Rather than a generic hosting solution, Webflow’s infrastructure is purpose-built to deliver excellent performance for websites.

Managed on a global scale, Webflow hosting is the backbone for countless websites, including prestigious names like IDEO, Dropbox, and Monday.com. These sites enjoy exceptional performance, with a notable 70% increase in speed and a 99 Lighthouse performance score.

One of the key advantages of Webflow hosting is its 99.99% uptime guarantee for Enterprise customers. This level of reliability is supported by a Global CDN, which ensures fast and efficient site delivery worldwide.

Furthermore, Webflow’s adherence to the latest web standards, including HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, significantly enhances site loading times.

Behind the scenes, Webflow’s hosting infrastructure is powered by industry giants Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Fastly. This partnership guarantees a robust global infrastructure capable of delivering content swiftly and securely.

In fact, Webflow’s hosting can serve 95% of the global population in less than 50 milliseconds, a testament to its efficiency and reach.

Webflow simplifies hosting management by eliminating the need for maintenance, updates, or capacity planning. Its platform is designed to effortlessly handle sudden traffic surges, and includes features like image optimization and compression to maintain high performance.

Security is also a top priority, with free SSL/TLS for every plan, built-in DDoS protection, and advanced WAF technology to safeguard your site.

For businesses requiring stringent security and compliance standards, Webflow is a reliable choice. It is SOC 2 Type II, CCPA, and GDPR compliant, providing peace of mind for businesses and their customers. Enterprise customers benefit from additional features like Single Sign-On (SSO) for enhanced access management.

Webflow offers a variety of Site plans — Basic, CMS, and Business Hosting — catering to different needs and scales. Each plan is designed to provide fast, scalable hosting technology without the hassle of managing it yourself. Plus, Webflow’s infrastructure is built to manage millions of page views effortlessly, ensuring that your site performs well under any conditions.

However, it’s important to note that Webflow-hosted sites may face access restrictions in China due to regulatory constraints.

Additionally, while Webflow does not offer email hosting, it supports integration with 3rd-party providers, allowing users to set up services like Google Workspace for their domains easily.

E-commerce functionality of Webflow

If you’re considering launching an online store, understanding the e-commerce capabilities of Webflow is essential. This platform allows you to design, build, and launch your store without needing to dive into complex coding.

At the heart of Webflow E-commerce is the promise of complete customization. You can tailor every aspect of your online store, from the shopping cart to the checkout experience. This level of customization is typically only available with custom coding, but Webflow makes it accessible to everyone.

One of the standout features of Webflow E-commerce is the creation of two dynamic collections: Products and Categories. This simplifies the management of your inventory and categorization.

Plus, integration with services like Zapier expands your store’s capabilities, enabling efficient product and category management.

Designing your store in Webflow feels much like using its CMS for websites. You have the freedom to design your store’s layout, transactional emails, and even branded purchase flows without writing a single line of code. This flexibility ensures your store reflects your brand’s unique identity.

Webflow also takes care of the technicalities of running an online store.

From secure payments via Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal to comprehensive order management features, everything you need is at your fingertips. You can view order details, update statuses, issue refunds, and provide a client-friendly dashboard, all within Webflow.

For those concerned about taxes and shipping, Webflow automates sales tax calculation for various regions and offers customizable shipping options. This automation ensures compliance and simplifies logistics.

Marketing your products is also a breeze with Webflow.

You can connect your product collections with the CMS, customize email templates, manage lifecycle marketing, and create dynamic ads. Plus, the platform’s integration with Google Analytics helps you track e-commerce metrics, providing insights into your store’s performance.

Supporting your e-commerce journey, Webflow also offers numerous resources and guides for setting up, customizing, and managing your store.

Now, let’s dive into how Webflow can enhance your website’s visibility and performance in search engines like Google or Bing.

SEO optimization tools of Webflow

Webflow simplifies SEO by providing control over critical aspects like SEO markup, indexing rules, redirects, and more, all without the need for plugins like in WordPress sites. This fine-level control ensures your website adheres to best practices right from the start.

For those looking to improve their website’s representation in search results, Webflow allows the addition and editing of schema markup too.

Automated SEO features in Webflow are a game-changer.

By defining meta titles and descriptions using fields in CMS Collections, you can ensure consistency and relevancy across their site’s content.

Additionally, the platform offers straightforward sitemap controls.

For websites undergoing changes or migrations, Webflow’s robust 301 redirect management system allows for seamless URL updates. This feature is invaluable for maintaining SEO equity and ensuring users are directed to the correct pages. Moreover, Webflow’s attention to detail extends to image metadata optimization, with simple alt tag editing features.

Underpinning Webflow’s SEO capabilities is its globally distributed hosting on AWS-powered infrastructure, guaranteeing fast loading times and scalability. This is crucial, as speed and performance are key factors in search engine rankings and user experience these days. Coupled with powerful content management tools and a flexible CMS, Webflow empowers content teams to manage, optimize, and publish content with unparalleled ease.

The platform’s design and publishing tools encourage the creation of content that’s not only visually appealing but also structured for optimal SEO performance, including keyword-rich URLs, meta titles, and descriptions.

Overall, Webflow’s SEO optimization tools are comprehensive.

From automated SEO to advanced publishing options, Webflow equips users with the means to effectively manage their online presence.

Pros and Cons of Webflow

Pros of Webflow

• Visual web design platform: Features a real-time visual builder and drag-and-drop interface, enhancing user experience and streamlining development.
• No-code website creation: Design websites without coding knowledge, suitable for various website types including blogs, eCommerce, and portfolios.
• Customizable website templates: Offers over 1,000 templates for customization, catering to diverse design needs.
• Comprehensive SEO tools: Provides robust SEO controls right from the start.
• Secured Webflow hosting: Includes secured hosting with a free SSL certificate, ensuring website security.
• Responsive web design: Automatically adjusts websites to fit any screen size, improving accessibility and user experience.
• Flexible pricing plans: Offers a range of pricing options including free version.
• Extensive resources: Good email support, Webflow University, and other resources for learning and troubleshooting.

One of Webflow’s biggest strengths is its intuitive drag-and-drop visual editor that allows users to build professional websites without coding. The editor provides flexibility to customize designs, interactions, animations, and more. This speeds up website development significantly.

Webflow Designer offers advanced customization options for developers and designers. Features like flexbox layouts, custom CSS, and JavaScript allow fine-tuned control over site design and function.

Webflow provides fast and secure hosting for all sites.

Features include daily automated backups, free SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and role-based access controls.

Webflow adheres to GDPR for data privacy as well.

Cons of Webflow:

• Limited code-level customization: Customization at the code level is restricted, which may deter advanced users.
• No mobile editing: Lacks a feature for editing sites on mobile devices.
• Learning curve: Despite being user-friendly, the platform has a significant learning curve due to its depth of features and customization options.
• Desktop or laptop required for edits: The absence of mobile editing means that site adjustments must be made via a desktop or laptop.
• Limited payment gateway options: Currently, eCommerce functionality primarily supports Stripe as the payment gateway.

User Interface of Webflow

Unlike the more common drag-and-drop builders that many of us have come to expect, Webflow demands a bit more from its users right from the start. It’s built on a foundation that requires a solid understanding of the box model of web design, along with a grasp of HTML and CSS basics.

However, it’s not all daunting.

Webflow has put considerable effort into making this learning curve manageable. Through Webflow University, users gain access to a wealth of resources aimed at guiding them through the intricacies of web design.

The focus on responsive design is a key feature of the Webflow interface. It ensures that the layouts you work so hard to perfect look just as intended on any device, whether it be a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone.

The platform’s designer interface comes equipped with breakpoint settings, allowing for fine-tuning of designs across different screen sizes. This level of customization extends to advanced design functionalities like backdrop filters, color blend modes, and even the creation of complex navigation menus.

Overall, Webflow’s interface is a double-edged sword. It’s not the most straightforward for beginners and requires a willingness to learn and understand web design at a deeper level. Yet, for those ready to invest the time, Webflow offers unparalleled power and flexibility.

It’s user-friendly, yes, but in a way that invites users to grow their skills and truly understand the craft of web design.

Webflow Pricing

Webflow offers 5 plans: Starter, Basic, CMS, Business, and Enterprise.

Each plan is tailored to fit different stages of your digital journey, from staging projects to scaling high-traffic sites.

The Starter plan, which is free, serves as an excellent entry point for those looking to explore Webflow for free. It’s a perfect choice for hobby sites or for staging purposes but comes with limited features only.

For more feature-rich projects, the Basic plan at $14 per month is ideal for simple, static sites. It offers a step up with additional features over the Starter plan.

Content-driven sites, such as blogs, will find the CMS plan at $23 per month a fitting choice. It provides more CMS items and form submissions, catering to dynamic content needs.

Businesses requiring advanced features and higher traffic limits might opt for the Business plan at $39 per month. This plan supports larger sites with more demanding requirements.

For organizations needing tailored solutions, the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing. It includes enterprise-grade features and support.

Here’s a quick overview of Webflow pricing:

• Starter Plan: Free; for hobby or staging sites with limited features.
• Basic Plan: $14/month; for simple, static sites with more features than Starter.
• CMS Plan: $23/month; for blogs or content sites.
• Business Plan: $39/month; for larger sites with advanced features.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing; for enterprise-grade solutions.

Webflow’s billing options are flexible, with monthly or yearly payments. Opting for yearly billing can save you up to 22%.

All plans include critical features like custom domains, site search, and localization. Webflow’s hosting is robust, scalable, and SEO-friendly, ensuring your site is not only beautiful but also performs well in search rankings.

For those requiring additional capabilities, Webflow offers optional add-ons such as localization starting at $9 per month. These add-ons enhance the functionality of your site, allowing for a more customized experience.

Webflow Review Conclusion

In wrapping up this Webflow review, I want to share a few final thoughts.

First off, choosing the right tool for your website is a big deal, and I hope this review helps you see if Webflow’s the match for you. From what we’ve dug into, Webflow shines because it’s super user-friendly. You can drag and drop your way to a professional-looking site without touching a line of code.

But let’s keep it real — while Webflow’s got a lot of perks, it’s not perfect. It might take a bit to get the hang of all its features.

Yet, once you do, it’s smooth sailing.

You’ll have the power to create something that looks and works great on any device, which is exactly what the internet world demands today.

For those of you worried about getting stuck, Webflow’s got your back with tons of learning resources and a supportive community. Whether you’re building a blog, an online store, or just a personal site, Webflow’s design flexibility and built-in tools offer a solid foundation to grow from.

The best way to see if Webflow fits your needs is by trying it out.

Dive into their 1000+ templates, play with its drag-and-drop editor, and see what you can create. It’s about finding the right tool that feels good to use and makes your web design journey a bit easier and a lot more fun.

In this Webflow review, I’ve tried to lay out everything to give you a clear picture. Now, it’s your turn to explore and decide.