With different features and benefits, Webflow and WordPress are two of the most widely used platforms for building websites. Webflow is a potent tool for B2B business owners seeking an easy-to-use interface. Conversely, WordPress is an open-source, flexible platform with a vast collection of plugins and themes, as well as many customization options.

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Now, maybe you're wondering, Why do I need this guide if I'm not a developer? Well, making the right decision is key when looking for an UX/UI design agency, so, let's go!

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Which one to choose? This comparison seeks to help you select the one that best meets your needs based on cost implications, customization, and flexibility.

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Background and history

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Webflow

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Webflow was founded in 2013 by Vlad Magdalin, Sergie Magdalin, and Bryant Chou. The platform was developed to empower designers to create professional, custom websites without writing code.

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Significant turning points in its development include the 2015 introduction of the Webflow CMS, the 2018 launch of Webflow E-commerce, and ongoing improvements to its visual design tools. These developments have positioned Webflow as a leading no-code website builder, catering to both designers and developers.

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WordPress

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WordPress was launched in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little as a fork of b2/cafelog.

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Initially conceived as a simple blogging platform, it quickly grew into a full-fledged content management system (CMS). Key milestones in its evolution include the introduction of plugins in 2004, the addition of themes in 2005, and the launch of WordPress.com in 2005.

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Over the years, WordPress has become the most popular CMS globally, powering over 40% of all websites. Its extensive library of themes and plugins, coupled with an active open-source community, has solidified its position as a highly flexible and customizable platform.

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Ease of use for beginners

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The user interface and dashboard

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Even if you won't be in charge of designing your website, it is important to choose a platform without complicated tools for a daily use. To avoid that, Webflow provides the best experience for whom without having much coding experience, so they can build highly customized websites in no time. With the platform's visual editor, users can see changes instantly and steer clear of frequent mistakes, making the design process simpler.

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On the other hand, WordPress may be quite attractive, but its old and awkward dashboard can rapidly take the shine off. Although robust, the abundance of plugins and themes adds levels of complexity that can make the platform appear overwhelming.

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Resources and learning curve

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Webflow offers a vast collection of courses and a thorough onboarding procedure in their Webflow University, which provides in-depth videos and courses that make learning easier.

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Despite the early difficulties, this assistance system guarantees that users may rapidly gain proficiency and begin building websites of high caliber. After employing these tools, 88% of Webflow customers assessed the platform's ease of use as outstanding.

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On the other hand, the WordPress community allows newcomers to discover answers to nearly any query. There are plenty of tutorials, forums, and documentation available that offer step-by-step instructions through the confusing array of options and capabilities. For new users, the WordPress Codex and websites such as WPBeginner are great resources.

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Personalization and adaptability

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Although strong, Webflow's sophisticated design tools might be intimidating. It can be frustrating for beginners to not be able to customize things to the extent they want.

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Conversely, WordPress has a vast library of themes and plugins, but some of them can be incompatible or out-of-date, so is necessary to find the ideal mix to realize your vision.

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Cost comparison

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Webflow has a free plan for hobby and staging sites. Besides, the Basic plan starts at $14 per month; the monthly cost of the CMS plan is $23 and that of the Business plan is $39.

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While WordPress is free to use, hosting can cost anywhere from $4 to $65 per month. Investing in premium themes and necessary plugins might raise costs as well.

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Performance and speed

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Webflow's strong hosting architecture contributes to its exceptional performance. It makes use of international data centers and an integrated Content Delivery Network (CDN) to guarantee quick load times and less downtime. Because of its automatic optimization features, Webflow is a dependable option for websites that require excellent speed.

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On the other hand, the hosting company and the optimization plugins chosen have a significant impact on WordPress performance. The various hosting options, which include managed, VPS, and shared hosting, have an impact on speed and dependability. While they can improve performance, plugins like Cloudflare CDN and W3 Total Cache need to be set up and maintained properly.

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SEO capabilities

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Even non-technical people may easily optimize websites with Webflow's powerful built-in SEO features. Search engine friendly websites have features like easily editable meta tags, alt text for images, and well-organized, semantic code.

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On the other side, WordPress offers a wide variety of SEO plugins with sophisticated customization possibilities, such Yoast SEO and All in One SEO Pack. It is simpler for users to improve their site's search engine rankings because to the robust community support, which provides countless tools and tutorials.

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E-commerce functionality

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Webflow's powerful features and simple setup procedures make e-commerce easier to use. Product pages, checkout processes, and payment gateways may all be seamlessly integrated with it because to its integrated e-commerce features. PayPal and Stripe are easily accessible to users, guaranteeing a seamless transaction process.

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WordPress provides a great deal of e-commerce versatility through the WooCommerce plugin. Because WooCommerce supports a wide range of payment gateways and extensions, it can be easily customized to meet specific demands for online retailers. Because of its adaptability, WordPress is the go-to option for companies looking for precise control over their e-commerce features.

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Case studies

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Building visually attractive websites for startups and design companies has been made possible thanks in large part to Webflow. For example, HelloSign utilized Webflow to build a responsive, slick website that showcases their e-signature offerings. Webflow is the best option for design-focused projects that need a lot of customization but don't require coding; it works well for landing pages, marketing websites, and portfolios.

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Otherwise, major websites like TechCrunch are powered by WordPress, demonstrating the platform's adaptability to manage busy blogs and news portals. Its flexibility and wide range of plugins make it ideal for membership sites, e-commerce, and massive blogs.

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Migration and portability

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Developers can benefit from Webflow's ability to export HTML, CSS, and JavaScript from their sites. However, because Webflow's design tools are private, migrating complex sites can be difficult. Additionally, laborious and frequently requiring human modifications is the import of data. Despite these obstacles, the process can be made easier with Webflow's thorough instructions and assistance.

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WordPress excels in migration flexibility. Numerous plugins, like All-in-One WP Migration, simplify moving sites between servers or platforms. WordPress supports extensive data export and import capabilities, including posts, pages, and media. This flexibility, combined with a vast array of migration tools and community support, makes transitioning to and from WordPress relatively seamless.

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Conclusion

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Webflow and WordPress both offer unique strengths for website development, but for those prioritizing a seamless, code-free design experience coupled with high performance and ease of use, Webflow stands out. As an industry-leading Webflow development agency, we specialize in crafting custom-designed, highly functional websites that effectively convey your unique brand story.

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Schedule a free strategy call with our ABM agency CEO, Alex Hollander, to build a digital experience that truly connects with your audience. Or visit our homepage for more information regarding B2B SaaS & Tech Growth Operations!