Starting a business and building a website are somehow inseparable processes nowadays. When it’s an existing business, the question of choosing the best CMS for building a website is of utmost urgency. So, the main question, “Which content management system should I choose?” needs some answers for both startups and experienced business owners. Why is it crucial? Because it’s like putting a foundation – the better choice you make from the very beginning, the easier it will be to scale your product in the future.
In most cases, the choice lies in choosing a winner between Webflow vs.WordPress. So, you may start wondering, “How do I decide which one’s right for me?” That is why we’re here to help you discover more about each platform and how to figure out which one suits your needs best.
Defining Webflow and its benefits
When you choose Webflow as a CMS for your website, the building process goes smoothly and feels like a breeze. Why is it so? Because it doesn’t require you to be a coding expert. Altogether, it’s designed to let you create stunning and high-quality websites with an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
What makes people fall in love with and opt for Webflow?
1. Drag-and-drop feature
Webflow’s drag-and-drop editor is a real game-changer for anyone who’s never touched a line of code. Minimal fuss – maximum design.
2. All-in-one solution
Webflow takes care of managing hosting and security. For you to understand, it’s a Software as a Service (SaaS), so Webflow hosts your site, ensures it’s secure, and handles updates automatically without your direct involvement.
3. Built-in security
You can finally say goodbye to being constantly worried about security issues. Webflow’s got it covered for you.
4. No plugins required
It has so many in-built features, that you shouldn’t rely on plugins. Of course, you can still integrate other tools and third-party services (particularly if you own a large-scale project). However, the platform itself is already packed with everything you need.
5 Top-notch SEO and marketing tools
There are advanced SEO tools that help optimize and promote your website. Search engines can easily notice your website made by the Webflow platform without extra plugins or tools.
6 Flexible pricing options
The important feature is that you get started for free. Only when you are ready to scale, you can choose more affordable paid plans.
Webflow use cases:
- Outdoorsy (a peer-to-peer RV rental platform)
- Loom (a video messaging tool’s website)
- Runway (a creative AI tool for designers and developers)
- HelloSign (an eSignature platform)
- Upstream (a blockchain-based social network)
WordPress: What is it and what are the features?
The first benefit of WordPress is that it’s been around for quite a long time and this platform is the one that made website creation accessible to anyone. We should note that it’s still one of the most widely used CMS platforms worldwide.
So, what are the benefits that make WordPress stand out?
1. Themes variety
There are thousands! Thousands of pre-made themes. Whatever you’re looking for, it is still a fast and easy way to get your website up and running.
2. Plugins for everything
When you start creating a website, you’ll be surprised that whatever functionality you want – there’s a plugin for that. Whether it’s an SEO tool, an e-commerce solution, or a fancy bar or slider, WordPress most likely has a plugin that can do the job.
3. Customizable solution
Even though WordPress is rather customizable, the moment you want something truly unique, you’ll need to immerse yourself into the coding or install several plugins. Of course, it can make things more complicated.
4. Open-source platform
We do like this feature of WordPress – it’s free itself. However, you should keep in mind that there are still costs for features like hosting, themes, and plugins. Make sure to be ready for the fact that it can add up quickly.
WordPress use cases:
- Bloomberg Professional (a finance giant’s website)
- PlayStation Blog (Sony’s PlayStation blog for gamers)
- Rolling Stone (a music and culture magazine)
- Spotify Newsroom (a music streaming newsroom)
- BBC America (a website for the TV network)
What are the key differences between Webflow vs. WordPress?
As you’ve reached the article this far, you’ve already got acquainted with the main peculiarities of both Webflow and WordPress. Let’s compare them regarding the most important functions and peculiarities.
1. Ease of use and user interface
We’re sure you’ve got the main idea – both Webflow and WordPress are designed to help non-developers create beautiful websites (no-code solutions). But Webflow makes the process a whole lot easier. It offers an intuitive interface that helps you customize your site exactly how you want. At the same time, on WordPress, if you want something truly custom, you’ll need to rely on plugins and, let’s face it, some coding knowledge (let alone extra expenses).
2. Flexibility and customization
Even though both platforms are super flexible, we can’t help but mention that Webflow just feels more customizable. Using its drag-and-drop editor, you can create precisely what you’ve envisioned. Meanwhile, when using WordPress, you might still need to figure out various themes or hire developers for the full-cycle services. In other words, when you like to be in control and be able to change every single detail, Webflow is just a better fit for you.
3. Maintenance and updates
This is where Webflow really shines! If you remember, it’s a SaaS platform. That is why all updates, security, and bug fixes are all automatically handled. With WordPress, though, you’ll need to cope with it by yourself. Moreover, all plugins, themes, and the WordPress core require regular updates. Most importantly, Webflow takes much better care of security.
4. SEO and performance
When it comes to SEO, Webflow is a definite winner. What does it bring? You can basically manage everything from meta titles to changing texts directly in the platform. It is easier to optimize your website both for you and your SEO specialists. At the same time, you get access to multiple SEO plugins with WordPress. Yet you might need to experiment a bit to find the perfect fit.
5. Support and community
WordPress has long been established in the tech world. That is why it has vast community support. It has forums, communities, materials, and tutorials. Most importantly, it’s an open-source platform. Nevertheless, from a practical point of view, Webflow is advantageous regarding actual support. Since it’s a SaaS (yes, we’re mentioning this again), you get reliable, direct support from their team whenever you need it.
6. Pricing and budgeting
Webflow offers a free version to get started, but if you’re building something serious, you’ll need a paid plan, which starts at $18/month. WordPress is free to use, but keep in mind there are additional costs for hosting, SSL, themes, and plugins.
Which platform to choose?
Do you feel that you’re ready to choose a CMS platform for your website? As you may have noticed, both platforms have their own advantages. Whatever you choose, the best option comes down to your needs. That is why it’s always better to partner up with a dedicated team who can help you define the requirements, goals, and preferences for your website to thrive online!
Featured image credit: Sergey Zolkin/Unsplash
