What is Webflow? Everything You Need to Know About This Site Builder

Want to create a stunning website for your business that gives you full control over the design of your pages?

Webflow CMS could be a fantastic choice if you want to manage the different elements of your site with laser precision.

If you want to see if the Webflow CMS is right for your needs, this article will answer all your questions.

What is Webflow?

Webflow is a visual website builder that allows you to design, create, and launch sites. 

By visual, we mean you can drag and drop the different elements of your website into the Webflow Designer to build your individual pages. You don’t need to know HTML or CSS code to use it, although a little knowledge can help you customize your pages even more.

The Webflow Designer is a little like Canva – choose a Webflow template, edit it to your requirements, add new elements if you need them, and publish.

Animation showing how the Webflow CMS works

The Webflow CMS is cloud-based, meaning you can use it from anywhere with an internet connection. 

Which businesses use Webflow?

More than you might think! 

Over 200,000 websites across a range of industries use Webflow. Some fantastic Webflow website examples include:

You can find some more great Webflow website examples on the Webflow site.

Who is Webflow good for?

The Webflow CMS is a fantastic choice if you want full control over the design of your site and how the different elements interact. It’s great for the following people and businesses too:

  • Non-profits. Webflow is affordable (more on that later), making it an excellent option for non-profits and charities. As there’s a lot of design flexibility, you can build an engaging site that encourages people to donate or volunteer

  • Businesses that sell visual products and services. As Webflow places a lot of emphasis on design and showcasing images, it’s a solid option for businesses like restaurants, hotels, hair salons, and interior design firms 

  • Artists with portfolios. Webflow is brilliant if you have a portfolio of artwork or photos you want to promote. As it is image-led, flexible, and comes with an extensive range of portfolio templates, you can optimize your site to suit your unique style

We created a gorgeous Webflow portfolio site for Vijat M Photography. With complete control over the design, we developed a stunning animated homepage that reflects the Vijat M brand!

Vijat M Photography homepage, developed using the Webflow CMS

What other features does the Webflow CMS have?

While Webflow is primarily known for its design capabilities, it also has a lot of other great functionality. Here are some of our favourite features:

  • Webflow generates clean code. This means faster page loading times and improved search engine optimization (SEO)

  • Webflow is responsive. Your designs automatically adjust to different screen sizes, meaning a better user experience

  • Webflow is secure. All data is encrypted, your website is backed up automatically, and the platform doesn’t use potentially vulnerable plugins like WordPress

  • Webflow offers localization features for an additional charge. This allows you to translate your content and customize your templates and SEO for other countries. You can also take advantage of content delivery networks as part of your package to improve page loading times in different regions

Is Webflow hard to use?

While it’s relatively easy to get up and running with Webflow, there is a steep learning curve. It can take time to master all the different functionality and understand how to use it to your advantage.

There are lots of resources to help you get up to speed though – and you can even take the Webflow 101 Certification to prove your knowledge!

How much does Webflow cost?

Like other all-in-one content management systems, Webflow’s pricing is tiered.

There’s a free option; however you’re restricted to two pages and a maximum of 1,000 visitors a month. Unless you’ve got a small website or want to utilize the free option as a trial to see if Webflow is right for you, we recommend a paid plan. 

The paid tiers start at $14 a month if you pay annually and go up to $39 a month. 

Webflow’s pricing tiers are a little different to other content management platforms as there are limitations in place. Each tier restricts the number of visitors for submissions and CMS items you can have before you need to upgrade. (By CMS items, we mean pages or items in a list.)

The good news is that Webflow is flexible. For example, if you occasionally exceed the visitor limit, you won’t have to upgrade your plan. Webflow will only get in touch if you constantly go over the limit.

Can you sell online with Webflow?

You can! 

Webflow offers an eCommerce pricing plan which starts from $29 a month. 

This offers checkout functionality, the ability to take payments, and Google Shopping integration.

Webflow or Squarespace – which is the best option?

Webflow and Squarespace have a lot in common. They’re both visual website builders. They both have features that showcase photos, images, and animations. They’re similar in price too.

So, which one is the right choice for your business? It depends on your needs.

Webflow has almost no limits in terms of design, but it’s harder to master. Squarespace is easier to get started on and means you can build a good-looking website faster. However, if you’re looking to achieve a complex website design, it might not be right for you.

Want to get to grips with the Webflow CMS?

If you want to create a good-looking website and be able to edit and optimize it exactly the way you imagine, Webflow could be a fantastic option.

However, it’s important to remember that the Webflow CMS is not the easiest platform to learn. If you need help designing and developing a striking Webflow template that showcases your brand, our expert team of Webflow developers is here to help.

We work with you to build a fully functional Webflow site, including setting up your domain, basic SEO optimization, and CMS training. We also provide 30 days of post-launch support so that you can fine-tune your site to perfection!

Drop us a line, and let’s start building your brand-new Webflow site.

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Fundraising with Squarespace: Building a Non-profit Site