Do you want to skip the read and get right to my pick? Between Webflow vs WordPress, the better website builder for most people is Webflow.
Introduction to our Webflow vs WordPress Comparison.
Which is the better website builder, Webflow vs WordPress?
The CMS block-style builder used to be our gateway into the field of website design and content development. Indeed, this technology was a boon for those who didn’t know a lick of programming or developmental code but still wanted a place online to share their thoughts and ideas. Back then, websites were done by web developers and web designers.
In this Webflow vs WordPress review, we’ll see how these two specific platforms stack up against each other when it comes to creating and managing websites.
Overview:
To get things started, a quick overview of our two contenders – WordPress vs Webflow:
Webflow:
Webflow may best be described as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) package specifically created for website creation.
One of the leading CMS block-style creation platforms, Webflow steps up the features and functionality of its older competitors. Also, this platform is a favourite among those working in the creative industries. This is because of its extensive range of design templates and themes, as well as an excellent selection of functional widgets, plugins, and third-party integrations.
WordPress.com:
Over the decades, WordPress has been the gold standard in terms of blogging and site creation via CMS, giving people of diverse interests a platform though which they could share their ideas with the world. In fact, the platform has been used to create nearly 50 million blogs and websites worldwide, covering an extensive range of both industries and interests to a growing readership with each passing day.
This Webflow vs WordPress review seeks to focus on the equivalent WordPress.com which offers shared and managed hosting to its customers as opposed to the open-source type used for self-hosted or externally hosted sites.
Ease of Use:
Which is the better website builder for user-friendliness – Webflow CMS vs WordPress?
Webflow:
While Webflow is, primarily, a CMS-centric creation platform, those who want to use it still need to know some fundamentals of HTML CSS and Javascript coding.
For the most part, however, you may still use it as a DIY site creator you can use straight out of the box. In fact, we would go so far as to say that creating a site with Webflow is as easy as filling out a standard form.
Also, there are no limits concerning the sort of site you can create using this platform, as it offers a wide range of design options
WordPress.com:
Comparing Webflow vs WordPress, WordPress’ CMS user interface has always been easy enough to use, particularly because it’s quite similar to today’s range of text-editing software – well, at least until WordPress 2.0 came out in the earlier half of the current decade.
But this proved to be the platform's bane. The second iteration of WordPress.com has a much steeper learning curve than the original edition and it does take a considerably amount of time before users can get comfortable with using the block-driven editing suite.
The problem with the current WordPress version is that the onboarding process is also a touch too complicated for most, especially those who come into the scene without any prior knowledge of WordPress site creation or blog writing. While walkthroughs and tutorials are widely available online and using WordPress does get easier with practice, the complications involved tend to put many potential users off from it.
Winner – In this WordPress vs Webflow ease of use comparison, it looks like WordPress has been dethroned and we're giving the win to Webflow.
Features and Flexibility:
Moving on with our Webflow vs WordPress comparison, how do they stack up in terms of features?
Out-of-the-box:
Webflow:
The thing about Webflow is that it has practically everything that a creative worker – writer, artist, director, or anything similar – needs to get ahead in the business. Along with its block-driven site creator, it offers parallax scrolling, an extensive range of SEO and online marketing tools, as well as the ability to present a very professional-looking portfolio.
WordPress.com:
WordPress has always bucked the intuitive site builder trend by sticking to its CMS, eschewing a drag-and-drop UI for editing-by-the-block. It’s easy enough to use (once you get over the aforementioned steep learning curve), but it feels somewhat soulless and generic – and if you’ve had experience working with rival Medium, you’ll see why: the visual editors are practically alike. WordPress websites can use plugins for aesthetic and functional enhancement, but only for premium subscribers.
Webflow vs WordPress.com Themes and Templates:
Which offers better templates – Webflow vs WordPress?
Webflow:
As of last count, Webflow has over 1,000 themes and templates available for users. The fun part is that practically all of these can be customised to build a website using the platform’s code-free design tools. Also, we appreciate the fact that there are options specific to individual portfolio creation as well as for agency use.
WordPress.com:
Are you ready for this? WordPress currently boasts of 9,000 themes (official WordPress count, 2022) that can be used for free, along with 31,000 premium themes – a number which includes variations and those with multiple colour palettes. We like the fact that, while many of these remain generic, quite a number now skew towards the requirements of specific industries.
Despite the variety, however, people tend to balk at WordPress' range of themes and templates as the average cost per individual theme can now run as high as $77.57 apiece. But, to be fair, such a high price does come with a great deal more in terms of flexibility and functionality, so it would help to think of getting a premium theme as an investment for the improvement of your site.
Webflow vs WordPress Customisation Tools:
Webflow:
Webflow Designer is the ace in this platform’s customisation deck. Even if your knowledge of coding is sketchy, you can use this tool to customise the code behind your website using a completely visual interface. Your design is automatically translated into code as you work, making it a very practical way to add a truly unique nuance to your website.
WordPress.com:
While theme customisation has long been one of WordPress' primary selling points, the past couple of years have led to a boom in terms of tools that users can deploy to create truly unique websites in terms of both aesthetics and functionality. Around May of this year, the platform introduced at least fifteen new tools for customisation on top of the original Theme Customiser. These include the following:
- Content Restriction for those who wish to make access to parts of their website a subscription-only matter;
- Social Login WP which allows people to sign in using their social media accounts;
- OneID for age verification in the case of websites that offer mature premium content; and
- The Full Site Editing (FSE) feature which makes it easier for users to make the necessary adjustments to their sites through a single editing portal.
Webflow vs WordPress.com 3rd Party Integrations:
Webflow:
From analytics and metrics to a wide range of customisable templates, the integrations page over at Webflow certainly gives its users a formidable arsenal of both aesthetic and functional third-party apps to make one's site more engaging and, especially in the case of ecommerce sites, profitable.Webflow offers integration with ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Ecwid, print on demand services like Printful, and even domain registrars like Yahoo and WixDNS.
WordPress.com:
The platform offers a number of third-party plugins with the platform, but the most notable integrations are with Google, specifically for analytics and productivity (Google Analytics and GSuite.) For those availing of premium subscription tiers, there is access to productivity and site management solutions through the WordPress Plugins page.
Hosting:
Who offers better hosting service, Webflow or WordPress?
Webflow:
Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Fastly, Webflow offers fast and scalable hosting even to those using the platform for free, delivering users’ content in just seconds. Also, Webflow sites are HTTP/2 ready, ensuring that these load completely in the shortest possible span of time.
WordPress.com:
WordPress’ managed hosting (for those on its *.com platform) relies on a content delivery network (CDN.) Here, sites are hosted on numerous servers in different locations to ensure business continuity. However, this does not guarantee that loading time won’t slow down if your neighbours get an uptick in traffic.
Security:
Webflow:
It doesn't have built-in integrated security features. However, it does offer the ability to use an SSL certificate for secure connections and it also supports integration with external security tools such as Cloudflare and Sucuri, but this requires more technical knowledge to set up and manage.
WordPress.com:
It offers built-in security features such as spam protection, and automatic software updates. Additionally, it provides free SSL certificates for all websites on its platform, which ensures that your site's connections are secure and encrypted. It also offers the ability to use external security plugins, like Sucuri and iThemes Security Pro, that can be used to improve your site's security capabilities, such as two-factor authentication, malware scanning and blocking, and firewalls.
Backups:
Webflow:
Webflow’s automatic backup function runs regularly and is available on both free and premium user plans.
WordPress.com:
An automated backup system is bundled into WordPress’ managed hosting package, so users need not worry about how to backup their data on a regular basis.
Migration:
Webflow:
Migration is one of the areas in which we have issues with Webflow. In order to ensure a smooth transition from one platform to another, you’ll need a third-party migration tool which you can obtain from its Integrations page. To be fair, also, Webflow offers online tutorials on moving sites from one platform to another (deployed via Udesly) for its users.
WordPress.com:
WordPress' migration feature is only available for those on either the Business or Ecommerce subscription plans. Regardless of which one you’re on, this will also require the installation of the Jetpack plugin.
Winner – Webflow! by a hairline in this Webflow or WordPress comparison. While WordPress integrations offer great flexibility, Webflow has more built-in features.
Webflow vs WordPress for SEO and Marketing:
Let's move forward with our Webflow SEO vs WordPress comparison – how do they fare?
SEO:
Webflow:
If you want a clean and search engine-friendly website without it suffering from what’s known as code bloat, Webflow is the platform for you – even if you’re just using it for free. The platform also takes care of practically everything, though it runs into glitches when it comes to image compression and hiding noindex pages.
WordPress.com:
SEO is one area where the Webflow vs WordPress divide grows significantly wider. Many pressed with making a choice between Webflow or WordPress find themselves considering the former rather than the latter, as the WordPress SEO toolkit is only available for those on premium subscriptions.
But hear us out, SEO is also a reason why we recommend you go premium with WordPress as it gives you an excellent tool suite that ensures your page or site ranks among the leading search results on Google, Bing, and other search engines.
Mobility:
Webflow:
Its interface allows you to create mobile-responsive websites. Moreover, it enables users to create more mobile-friendly experiences for their site visitors. That said, however, Webflow does not have a native app for either Android or iOS devices. Still, it can be used as the basis ware for creating one’s own apps.
WordPress.com:
WordPress is available for both Android and Apple devices. Yet, note that its functionality is limited. The mobile edition is mostly for blog posting and podcasting. If you’re going to use it for site or store management, it’s not so handy.
Marketing Tools:
Webflow:
It doesn't have built-in integrated marketing tools. However, it's e-commerce plan allows for integration with external marketing tools such as email marketing platforms, analytics platforms, and social media integrations, but this requires more technical knowledge to set up and manage.
WordPress.com:
WordPress.com, on the other hand, has a built-in e-commerce feature that allows for easy integration with marketing tools such as email marketing platforms, analytics platforms, and social media integrations. Additionally, it offers a variety of marketing plugins that can be used to improve your site's marketing capabilities, such as lead generation forms, social media share buttons, and email marketing integrations. These plugins make it easy to connect your website with popular marketing tools like MailChimp, Constant Contact, and Google Analytics.
Winner – Webflow! in this Webflow vs WordPress SEO features comparison.
eCommerce Tools:
Webflow:
As we stated above, Webflow offers eCommerce compatibility with some of the leading online storefront builders.
Webflow does not have built-in POS or abandoned cart saver feature, it does offer an e-commerce plan that allows for integration with external POS systems and abandoned cart saver apps, but this requires more technical knowledge to set up and manage.
When it comes to payment gateways, Webflow supports integration with a variety of external payment gateways through the use of custom code and external apps. These include popular options such as Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
WordPress.com:
WordPress.com, on the other hand, has a built-in e-commerce feature that allows for easy integration with payment gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
It also has a built-in abandoned cart saver feature that allows you to recover lost sales by sending automated email reminders to customers who have abandoned their cart. However, it doesn't have built-in POS feature.
Winner – Webflow! We’re giving this round to Webflow in this Webflow vs WorPress comparison. It does offer the most extensive range of ecommerce integrations, as well as viable tutorials to help users make the most of the platform to reach their customers online.
Support and Resources:
Now, let's tackle quality of support and resources. Who wins – Webflow or WordPress?
Webflow:
In order to get help from Webflow staff, you’ll have to log in to get sound technical advice. If you haven’t the time to talk to an actual person online, the platform has an online learning resource featuring tutorials on some of its most-used features. Likewise, for quick fixes and general FYI, the Frequently Asked Questions section is a regular fount of practical knowledge. Crash courses are also offered by Webflow university.
WordPress.com:
This builder promises personalised technical assistance for its users and the round-the-clock live chat support team delivers for the most part. Its customer service system is supplemented with its well-researched and maintained knowledge archive which offers everything from onboarding tutorials to how-to guides for various aspects of the platform.
Winner – WordPress! in this Webflow or WordPress comparison. It's a close call, but we’re giving this to WordPress because its team is more accessible.
Webflow vs WordPress Pricing:
Webflow:
While you can create a website with Webflow for free, the version you get has limited functionality.
No free trial is provided by this website builders for designers option. However, there is a free version and the terms of use page state a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check the latest Webflow pricing
WordPress.com:
While WordPress.com does offer a free to use forever plan, it lacks a great deal in terms of features and functionality. In which case, going premium and paying annually to use the tools contained in one's subscription is another investment worth looking into for serious site creators, content managers, and online entrepreneurs.
As of last month, WordPress.com's premium packages are as follows:
The first is considered the best choice for hobbyists; Premium is best for freelancers. Despite its name, the Business plan was specifically created for small to medium scale enterprises operating online, while eCommerce is the plan for those on the enterprise level.
While it does seem like a massive jump between Premium and Business in terms of price, we think it's a smart decision on the part of the platform in terms of encouraging its customers to grow their overall scope.
A 14-day money-back guarantee applies to all paid subscriptions as per their Terms of Service page.
Check the latest WordPress.com pricing
Winner – WordPress! In terms of cost, we’re giving this one to WordPress in this Webflow vs WordPress comparison.
Comparison Winner: Webflow or WordPress.com?
Webflow is the winner in our Webflow vs WordPress comparison test!
Conclusion to our Webflow vs WordPress.com Comparison Review:
Now, to wrap up our comparison. Which is the superior website builder – Webflow or WordPress?
This is one of those website comparisons that is pretty hard to call. For one thing, both platforms are at the apex of functionality when it comes to CMS site creation. For another, they both have their respective followings.
What is Webflow best for?
Webflow is an excellent choice for individual creatives, as well as for advertising or marketing agencies. We love the fact that it is a solid portfolio builder that enables users to show off their work in the best possible light.
What is WordPress.com best for?
WordPress.com remains a great all-rounder. The fact that it has branched out to include ecommerce through the WooCommerce plugin means its core audience has evolved over time.
WordPress is really an “every man’s” sort of site builder.
Webflow vs WordPress.com Alternatives:
Here's a list of the best Webflow vs WordPress alternatives to create a an online presence:
| Rank | Website Builders | Our View |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squarespace | Best for Design & Creatives |
| 2 | Shopify | Best All-In-One eCommerce solution |
| 3 | Webflow | Best for advanced design tools |
| 4 | Weebly | Best for ease of use |
| 5 | Wordpress.com | Best for beginner blogging |
| 6 | Carrd | Best for single page websites |
| 7 | Wix | Good for general use |
Webflow or WordPress.com Comparison Final Word:
Our Webflow vs WordPress review might have resulted in favour of Webflow. However, we recommend you take at their pros and cons closely. Have a good look at the available options for blogging and site building and make your own comparisons through the free trials for a platform that suits your needs.
Click for the best Webflow pricing
That's all for now:
If you've read all the way through this Webflow or WordPress.com comparison, we are thankful. We hope you can now answer the question of what is better – Webflow or WordPress! We have a large collection of articles, guides, and comparison reviews of eCommerce solutions, web hosting providers, website builders, and more! Feel free to check them out;
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