Webflow vs. WordPress: which one is the best? step-by-step guide.

 

Are you looking for the ideal platform to start an online business?

But you don’t know which one between Webflow vs. WordPress will be the best choice.

Let me tell you something. When it comes to creating websites, Webflow and WordPress are two of the most popular platforms people can use to create simple and complex websites without being expert developers or programmers.

However, they all approach website development differently; therefore, it’s crucial to know and understand which one will be the best choice.

This is why in this post we will go deeper to help you understand the main difference between them and which one will be the best choice for you.

Before we go further into the comparison, let’s see:

 What is WordPress?

 

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WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) and the most straightforward tool for creating a website for people who don’t have a lot of programming knowledge. WordPress supports all hosting platforms with PHP and MySQL.

WordPress used to only be a place for blogs, but now it’s grown into a CMS that can be used to make many different kinds of websites.

For instance, from blogs, online portfolios to attract new clients, and business sites to e-commerce stores and more, as of the last update, WordPress powers around 43% of all websites on the internet.

As open-source software, WordPress is both cost-free and backed by a sizable global community of programmers, designers, and users.

It’s great for people who are just starting because it’s simple to use. At the same time, it also provides extensive customization options for advanced users.

Remember, all we have been talking about is the WordPress.org version instead of wordpress.com. Wordpress.com is almost the same as Webflow, and it is a hosted platform where WordPress takes care of hosting the website.

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On the other hand, worpdress.org is a self-hosted version. This means users can download the WordPress software and host it themselves on their server. You will have complete control over the website; you will also be able to customize it with themes and plugins (don’t worry, WordPress has a bunch of free themes and plugins you will be able to use to do that), and you will have the ability to monetize the site.

Webflow vs. WordPress: What is Webflow?

Webflow is an online platform people can use to build their websites, and it will take control of the codes for them. Even with zero knowledge and experience in coding, they will be able to create simple and complex websites. However, if you understand programming, the code is accessible if you need it.

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 You will be able to accomplish this with drag-and-drop-style building blocks called containers, in case you don’t use a pre-builder template.

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The best thing about Web flow is that while you focus on the visual aspects of your site, it handles the code generation, resulting in efficient and well-structured code.

It is also a SaaS (software-as-a-service) platform that allows people to host and publish their sites directly from the platform but with WordPress( WordPress.org), you will be the one who is responsible for managing everything by yourself.

It also provides a content management system (CMS) that facilitates the updating and creation of e-commerce stores, blogs, and other types of websites. Web flow’s emphasis on creative freedom is one of its best features.

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For example, with other website builders like WordPress, you will need a page builder like Divi or Elementor to build your site, but with Webflow, you don’t need all of that; it can help you produce a high-quality and responsive website.

Features

Both Webflow and WordPress are excellent choices for creating a website on the web, but each has its unique characteristics and requirements.

With Webflow, you don’t need plugins to customize or do things like SEO because they take care of that for you, but with WordPress, you need a plugin for almost everything.

Webflow vs WordPress: Ease of Use

WordPress and Webflow both aim for usability, but for beginners, WordPress tends to be more straightforward to set up.

Let’s see the ease of use of each of them and how to build a website with each of them.

 WordPress ease of use

Step #1:

Purchase a domain and hosting services. If you need to build a WordPress website, you will need to purchase a domain and web hosting, but some web hosting companies, like Hostinger, provide free domain services when you use them.

Step #2: Install WordPress.

Installing WordPress becomes easy because it is so popular, and most hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation option.

To have access to the dashboard, go to your browser and type: https://www.yourdomainname.com/wp-admin. and you will have access to the dashboard of your site.

Step #3: Choose a theme.

To get a theme, click on Appearance and click Themes, You are going to see where you can choose and activate your themes

Step #4: Install a plugin.

To be able to customize your website, you will need a page builder like Elementor.

To get it, on your dashboard, you will click on plugins and click on add new, and you will be able to choose according to your needs.

As you can see in the picture below, Elementor itself has over 5 million active installations.

and then add some fundamental pages like Home, About, Content, etc.

To learn more about WordPress installation, watch this video

 Webflow’s ease of use and installation

For some people, Web Flow is easier to set up than WordPress because it is a cloud-based, all-in-one SaaS product. You don’t need a hosting provider or to purchase a domain like WordPress; you have almost everything in one place to help you set up your website.

Let’s see how you can easily create a website with Webflow in just a couple of minutes.

Step #1: Create an account

Go on Google type Webflow and click on Create a Custom website

It will ask you for your name; just complete the steps and create a password.

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In this part, you will choose according to what you need.

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Choose according to what best describes your website. And then complete all the other steps according to your needs and goals.

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When you finish with the previous steps, you will see an interface like that. In this interface, you will be able to start building your website, and they have a step-by-step guide to help you with that.

You can use a pre-built template or you can start from scratch to build your website.

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If you choose to start from scratch, you will see this interface, and it will highlight what you will need to do to build your first draft.

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Now, you can try to drag and drop a container, and you will see something like that.

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When you are done with your first draft, you will need to pay for a plan to have your website live so people can visit it easily, or you can export the code of your static site to another hosting provider.

I hope you understand and see how easy it is to start with Webflow. Honestly, it is easier to start building a website with Webflow than with WordPress.

But when it comes to more complex sites, WordPress will win over Webflow because you will find a lot of information on the internet that can make building a complex WordPress website easier. That makes the learning curve of WordPress easier than that of Webflow.

Webflow vs. WordPress: Themes and Templates

For both, themes and templates play a crucial role when it comes to the design and functionality of your website on the internet. WordPress calls them themes, and Web Flow calls them templates.

Themes in WordPress:

Themes in WordPress are pre-designed templates that determine the appearance of a website, its layout, and the way it is designed. With a WordPress theme, you can do a lot of customization on your website, even with zero knowledge of coding.

For example, free and paid themes give you the ability to choose the color you want for your website, change fonts and layouts, and a lot more.

If you want to know the best free WordPress themes and how to pick the right one, check out the 16 best free WordPress themes blog.

For instance, only free themes are more than 5300, and premium themes are more than 10000. A lot of them come with built-in functionalities, like contact forms, sliders, or portfolio layouts.

One of the best WordPress themes is Astra

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Templates in Webflow:

Templates in Web flow are what we call themes in WordPress; they are pre-designed layouts or a whole website that allow users to make changes and customize them according to their own needs.

In Web flow, most of the templates are built to be responsive and look good on different kinds of devices.

For instance, according to HubSpot, Webflow has more than 50 free templates available for its users and more than 1400 paid templates available for people who want to go further with their customization.

                                                               Source: Hubspot

WordPress vs. Webflow: Plugins and Extensions

Both platforms give you the possibility of extending your website’s capabilities and functionalities.

But with WordPress, you have access to a lot of plugins that can help you add features to your site and make changes according to your preferences and needs.

For instance, with the Elementor free and pro versions, you can do a lot of things.

With WordPress, you have access to thousands of free and paid plugins that will allow you to customize your site, change its appearance, and improve your SEO (RankMath, Yoast, and all-in-one SEO will help you with your SEO).

If you want to download the plugin, you can go to your dashboard and click on Appearance, then click on the plugin and add new to browse the plugin library to add what you want.

On the other hand, Webflow doesn’t give you the possibility to add plugins to your site as WordPress does. However, it allows you to extend your website with new features by adding code snippets from other services.

WordPress vs. Webflow: which one is better to collaborate with external users?

Working or hiring other people is something you can’t escape as a business owner or professional. In this case, you should know which one of these platforms is best for working with external users.

Honestly, it is possible to work with external users using both WordPress and Webflow.

So, let’s dive right in.

With WordPress, you will have access to various user roles, such as administrator, editor, author, etc. Based on my experience, you can even give people access to your website for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, etc.; after that, it will expire.

WordPress makes it easy for users to collaborate by assigning specific roles, which will give you control over access to each person, for instance, content creators, bloggers, web designers, freelancers, etc. Users will be able to interact externally through comment sections, forms, or even community forums integrated into WordPress sites.

On the other hand, Webflow’s team plans allow business owners to have multiple users collaborate on a project simultaneously. With Webflow, a lot of users will be able to work together on design, content creation, etc.

 Which one is better for external collaboration?

Choosing the right one depends on your goals and the number of people you will need to collaborate with.

For instance, with WordPress, there’s no limit on the number of users you can have working on your site, but according to my last research with Webflow, you are a little bit limited in the number of collaborators you can have.

The most expensive package plan available is limited to 10 editors; if you want to get more editors, it is going to cost you a lot. In this case, if you will need controlled access and different permission levels for external contributors, I would strongly advise you to go with WordPress.

However, if real-time design and development collaboration is what you need, Webflow’s team collaboration is going to be your best bet.

WordPress vs. Webflow: Which one is better for integrations with third-party services?

To take your website to the next level and grow your business online, you will need to have access to integrate your website with other tools that you are going to use, such as email marketing providers, social media shares, customer relationship management, and more.

WordPress and Webflow both support integrations with third-party services, but their approaches might be a little bit different. Let’s see how it works for both of them.

WordPress

When it comes to integrations, WordPress is the best choice for you. Almost whatever pops up in your mind and you want to have on your WordPress website, you will most likely find a plugin for it because WordPress offers integrations for various third-party services.

Webflow

When it comes to integrations, Webflow is not that strong, and with it, integrations might be more limited compared to the number of third parties you can integrate into WordPress.

However, it allows you to integrate essential services, but for some of them, you will need to use code snippets or embeds within your Web flow projects, which might require you to know a little bit of HTML, CSS, or PHP.

In conclusion, when it comes to integrations, WordPress is the best.

WordPress vs. Webflow: Which one is more accessible for non-developers?

WordPress for non-developers:

WordPress is really easy to manage and navigate; it is also known for its intuitive dashboard and user-friendly interface. When it comes to programming, you can build multiple WordPress websites without writing a single line of code.

For instance, for my website, Splendjet, I built it with WordPress without writing a single line of code, even when I understood HTML, CSS, and Python. Which means you don’t need to be a developer to build a website.

 Themes and a built-in customizer allow non-developers to customize their website design aspects like colors, fonts, and layouts without coding. Elementor is a great page builder that can help you simply drag and drop visual modifications.

However, if you want to go further into the design and make your website more professional, you will need to know a little bit of programming to achieve all of that or hire a developer to take care of that for you.

Webflow for non-developers:

When it comes to building a website without writing even a single line of code, Webflow might be the best option for people who don’t know how to code because its visual design tools allow non-developers to create visually stunning websites without writing code.

As a non-developer, you will be able to start building your website with pre-designed templates and customize layouts, styles, etc. In case you want to start from scratch, you will have access to start building your site by using drag-and-drop style blocks to build your site entirely.

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The one thing you have to do is choose the template that best suits your brand, and you are good to go.

But, while it is so user-friendly, webflow’s learning curves might be a little bit more difficult compared to WordPress for new users due to its design-focused approach. Webflow is more compatible with designers than WordPress because they can create more sophisticated designs with it.

When it comes to deciding which one is a better option, it depends a lot on your level of comfort with technology and design tools.

WordPress might be more comfortable for people who don’t have programming experience and are seeking simplicity, while Webflow might be more comfortable and appeal to those with an eye for visuals and a willingness to explore design-oriented tools.

 Webflow vs. WordPress: which one is best for hosting a blog?

WordPress originated as a blogging platform, was created back in 2003, and has grown as time goes by to offer a lot more than just writing a blog.

It offers robust and comprehensive blogging features, which is why a lot of blogs are hosted on WordPress. With WordPress, people have options for SEO optimization, social sharing, content management, and more.

Based on my experience, I can say that WordPress is suitable for bloggers who prioritize content creation over design. With WordPress, you have almost everything in just one place to write a perfect blog and optimize it for on-page SEO.

If you want to know how to do on-page SEO on WordPress, read this article: on-page SEO on WordPress.

On the other hand, with Webflow, you can write a blog, but you will not have the same flexibility as with WordPress.

The Webflow blogging features are more limited compared to WordPress. It is more compatible with bloggers who focus on design or are looking for a platform that integrates blog design.

But, in general, if you are looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly blogging platform, WordPress is the best choice for you.

WordPress vs. Web flow: which one is best to build an e-commerce store?

You can use both WordPress and Webflow to create and manage an e-commerce store.

 what else?

With WordPress, you can easily create an online store, manage products, process payments, and handle orders with the integration of the e-commerce plugin called WooCommerce.

In addition to WooCommerce, WordPress has a lot more e-commerce plugins for different needs, such as cart management, product catalogs, payment gateways, and shipping options. WooCommerce is the best WordPress e-commerce plugin, and it is so powerful to help build an e-commerce store.

E-commerce in Webflow

Webflow provides e-commerce capabilities within its platform. You will have features for product management, shopping cart setup, payment processing, and order management.

However, with Webflow, you might have some limitations when it comes to e-commerce features compared to the flexibility you will have with the WooCommerce WordPress plugin.

Ready to know which one is better now?

WordPress, especially with its WooCommerce plugin, beats the competition and excels in comprehensive e-commerce functionalities. Web flow e-commerce capabilities act for those who value design control and integration.

This means WordPress should be the best choice for you if your goal is to make money and build your brand online.

 Webflow vs. WordPress: Which one is more affordable?

The WordPress software itself is open-source and free to use. You can just download it on wordpress.org. But to have your website live and use it, you will need to purchase a domain name and hosting. I believe that is all you need to start a WordPress website.

You don’t need a lot of money to pay for themes and plugins at the beginning because WordPress offers a lot of them for free. But it depends on your goals and needs.

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For instance, with Hostinger, you can have your website up and running for less than $5 per month. When you have a Hostinger account, you don’t need to pay another provider for a domain; you will have it for free.

But if you want, you can still pay another provider to buy your domain and host it wherever you want. A domain might cost you around $3 to $25 per month.

If you want to have a premium theme, it might cost you around $40 to $200 per year.

Webflow pricing:

Webflow offers different plans, starting from basic website plans to those including e-commerce capabilities and team collaboration features.

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With Webflow, plans vary based on features, hosting, and functionalities. Every plan has its limitations with Webflow. If you want to add additional features like CMR functionality and e-commerce capabilities, the price will increase.

Which one is better when it comes to pricing?

With Web flow, pricing is really clear, and it is based on features and functionalities, which allow users to select plans based on their needs and options for websites and e-commerce.

WordPress, on the other hand, is free open-source software, but costs might vary according to hosting, domain registration, and other expenses for premium themes, plugins, and e-commerce functionalities. But before you make a decision, you should first define your goals and requirements.

Webflow pricing might be more affordable, structured, and include hosting, but it still has some limitations. While WordPress costs vary based on third-party services, you will have more flexibility.

Webflow vs. WordPress: pros and cons

Pros

WordPress

• Free and open-source
• Allow extensive customization, making it adaptable to diverse needs.
• User-friendly: content management ease and widespread community support
• Extended plugin library offering versatility and functionalities
• Flexible and scalable for various website types, from blogs to e-commerce.
• More third-party integration tools

Webflow

• Visual and powerful design tools for web designers
• Enable website creation without being an experienced developer.
• Allow live previews and immediate changes while creating your website.
• All-in-one hosting, design, and CMS.
• Better out-of-the-box performance optimization

Cons

 WordPress

• Regular updates and security checks are needed for themes and plugins.
• It might require you to have coding knowledge or hire a programmer if you want to go beyond the basics.
• Too many plugins can affect the speed of your website.
• Vulnerable when it comes to security threats if you don’t update it regularly.

 Webflow

• It might have a difficult learning curve for beginners due to its design-focused approach.
•  Limitations when it comes to e-commerce features and functionalities.
• You might need some custom coding for some functionalities if you want to go beyond the built-in tools.
• In the future, if you need to migrate your site, you might face some limitations because sites that are hosted on Webflow have limiting migration options.
• A plan might become more expensive if you want to add some specific functionalities or larger projects.

To learn more, watch this video:

In conclusion:

Both are really great and super amazing to help you build your website and achieve your goals online.

Now, choosing between WordPress and Webflow depends on your goals and preferences.

I would strongly advise you to choose WordPress if you:

• Need extensive flexibility and scalability.
• Prefer to have access to thousands of plugins and themes.
• Want a more established and widely used platform?

My biggest advice will be to choose Webflow if you:

• Prioritize design control and visual editing.
• We need a responsive design without much manual coding.
• Want an all-in-one solution with hosting included?

WordPress and Webflow have their strengths and weaknesses, so it is really important to find out which one will be the best option according to your needs and comfort level in website development and management.

Which one of these platforms are you going to try first?

Leave a comment below to let me know.

 

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