For 10 years we have been using WordPress to build websites. There have been good reasons for this, but now we have taken the step to create all new websites in Webflow instead. We've talked before about why we choose Web flow and now we want to tell you how these platforms differ.
While Webflow and WordPress are both excellent tools, they differ in several important ways and offer completely different approaches to building and maintaining websites.
But, before we start comparing the platforms, let's first explain what WordPress and Webflow are.
What is WordPress?
Since its launch in 2003, WordPress has been the main platform for building websites. It is a free and open source platform used by a wide range of users to create and manage websites. It offers a user-friendly interface and has an active developer community that creates themes and extensions to customize the look and functionality of a website. Many people, regardless of their technical skills, benefit from its flexibility and ability to publish content online. Overall, WordPress is a popular choice for those looking for a tool to build both simple and advanced websites.
The difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
WordPress actually offers two different ways to build websites: .org and .com. WordPress.org is more suitable for users who want complete control over their website and are willing to deal with technical details. WordPress.com is easier to get started with and may be a better choice for those users who don't have much technical expertise and want a simple solution for publishing their content online (e.g. blogs). In this post, we will compare WordPress.org with Webflow as both offer more and more advanced features unlike WordPress.com.
What is Webflow?
Launched in 2013, Webflow is a cloud-based platform used to manage the content of a website. Using "No-Code", Webflow offers a visual web design tool where you can drag and drop elements on your website, adjust the layout and design, and create interactive features without having to write code manually. What really stands out about Webflow is its advanced design capabilities. For a professional web designer, the possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to designing unique, interactive and modern websites in Webflow.
WordPress vs. Webflow
So we are dealing with two different platforms that can be used to build websites. Let's get specific and examine how Webflow and WordPress differ in terms of ease of use, design capabilities, SEO, and security.
Ease of use
Both WordPress and Webflow are relatively easy to use to create websites as you don't need to know how to code to realize your ideas. WordPress is in some ways more intuitive and it's easy to get started creating and publishing your content. It offers a clear content management dashboard and you can change the look of your website by choosing from different themes. WordPress also allows you to add plug-ins that make it easier to build, edit and maintain your website. So you can build a fully functional website without writing any code. That said, it is still possible to code yourself if you prefer. You still have full access to the website's underlying HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript.
With Webflow, there's no need for plug-ins as they offer all the tools you need out of the box. Webflow is based on "No-Code" which means that all code is written in the background while you build your website. It's a little more difficult to get started with Webflow, but once you've familiarized yourself with its interface and features, it becomes clear what freedom the platform offers. The content management panel on Webflow is similar to that of Adobe, which is particularly useful for web designers. Webflow is also user-friendly from a hosting aspect as you can easily publish your website directly from Webflow.
Design possibilities
When it comes to design options, WordPress offers a wide variety of themes and plugins that you can use to customize your website. It allows both beginners and experienced users to create beautiful websites without much technical knowledge. Webflow offers a more flexible and visual design process, allowing fine-tuning on a micro level. It gives you the ability to create unique and customized design elements, making it ideal for those looking for advanced design freedom and precision. In addition, Webflow allows you to easily create impressive animations - something that is harder to achieve on other platforms. With Webflow, you don't have to rely on third-party themes either - each element is carefully crafted within the platform, creating a more cohesive and unified design.
SEO
Both Webflow and WordPress offer tools for implementing SEO strategies and optimizing your website for search engines. WordPress has a wide range of SEO plug-ins that enable you to optimize your website for better visibility in search engines. Webflow, on the other hand, provides more detailed control over each individual page and its SEO elements. It allows you to fine-tune and customize metadata, URL structures, and other important SEO aspects at a very detailed level.
Security
In terms of security, regular updates are essential to protect WordPress sites from vulnerabilities. Webflow offers some of the security aspects of the platform itself thanks to its hosting on its own servers. This means that a lot of the technical maintenance and security updates are handled by Webflow themselves, providing an extra layer of security for users who don't have the time or knowledge to monitor and update the security aspects themselves.
Which platform is best - Webflow or WordPress?
As mentioned, we have chosen to switch to Webflow after 10 great years with WordPress. One difference between WordPress and Webflow is of course the price. Webflow is more expensive than WordPress. But, as with everything else, you have to examine what you actually get for your money. Webflow makes it easy to go from idea to product and design websites that are unique, modern and interactive.
