So you’ve decided that you need a website, or you’d like to update your existing one, but you still need to answer the age-old question: which web design tool and Content Management System (CMS) is the best? With so many to choose from, it can be a little daunting but don’t worry, we’re here to break it down for you. Let’s take a look at how WordPress and Webflow stack up against each other in 2022.
Will the infamous WordPress keep its ranks as the most popular CMS on the internet? Or is Webflow the next best thing that’s going to flog that position? Let’s get ready to rumble and see.
What is Webflow?
Webflow is a web design tool that allows users to design responsive websites without having to write a single line of code. It is also a CMS and hosting platform. This means that you can create, edit and publish digital content, such as blogs and eCommerce websites, on it.
Just like WordPress, Webflow has design templates and themes to choose from, web hosting capabilities and a publishing platform. Although Webflow has many of the same abilities and functionalities that WordPress has, do they outperform the acclaimed CMS?
What does Webflow vs WordPress offer?
You’re probably thinking that if 43% of all websites are using WordPress, then it must be the best option. You might have to rethink that. Both platforms are powerful in their own rights. But being dubbed the modern WordPress alternative, there are a few benefits that could make Webflow the better choice.
Webflow benefits
Webflow has a few unique functionalities that could make it the better choice. The benefits of Webflow are:
- Visual canvas
One of the biggest flexes Webflow has to offer is its designer tool, or what they call a visual canvas. You simply drag and drop whichever HTML element you’d like and see the results immediately without having to code. For example, if you want a navigation bar, just choose one from the list of elements and drop it wherever you want it to appear on your page. You also have the freedom to choose any layout and easily make your designs responsive. The designer tool bridges the design-content gap so your website isn’t lacking in anything.
- Cleaner HTML
The website builder generates clean and simple code. Why is this a win? Because when code is clean, it speeds up the loading time of your website. This will result in a better User Experience (UX) and better Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) rankings. Both users and Google can penalise slow websites. 70% of users are unwilling to buy from a website if they find the loading time too slow.
- Faster hosting
Other factors can also influence your page loading time. One of these is the type of content delivery network (CDN). Webflow’s CDN, Amazon Cloudfront, allows for quicker transfer of assets like HTML pages, javascript files, images and videos and is likely to never be down. In comparison to WordPress, which doesn’t use this CBD, your website experience is significantly improved.
- Built-in SEO integrations
Webflow has native SEO tools that can help you grow organic traffic and improve search engine rankings. But the big plus here is that you don’t need third-party plugins because it’s all built-in. You can easily manage your SEO strategies and implement best practices right from your dashboard.
WordPress benefits
There are a few reasons why WordPress is the most popular CMS on the internet. Its benefits include:
- Low-cost
WordPress offers a lot of themes, templates and add-ons for free but even if you wanted more customised features, it won’t cost you a pretty penny. Their entry-level hosting fees as well as maintenance are also affordable. Plus, you get a free blog by default with a range of built-in functionalities like plugins and widgets.
- Flexible
From personal blogs to huge eCommerce sites, the possibilities are almost endless with WordPress. It has about 22,000 plugins which you can add to your site and thousands of themes to choose from. This means that you can build different websites that serve an array of purposes. You can integrate different apps including SEO tools like Yoast.
- Open-source
Because it’s open-source, WordPress is completely customisable to suit your needs because anyone can contribute to the code. Some may argue that open-source software has the downside there being a chance that your site can get hacked, but on the other hand, it could offer more security. There are millions of people that are using the same software from WordPress so if there are any security flaws, they’ll get flagged straight away by the community and are usually fixed right away.
- Trusted name
The platform has been around since 2003 so with nearly 2 decades in the industry, it’s hard not to think of it when creating websites. Brand recognition gives WordPress users confidence in relying on them.
- Up-to-date website functionality
Trends come and go even in the web development world. One thing you can be sure of is that WordPress stays up-to-date with all of these. So you don’t have to worry that your website is going to be lagging in terms of functions and features.
Down-to-the-wire
While both platforms offer their own list of benefits, is one list still superior to the other? Well, it might just come down to your needs and requirements. WordPress is a great website builder that’s been around and trusted for years. It has all the features you would need for a basic website to a huge eCommerce website. It’s customisable so you can build on the fundamentals that the templates give you. However, if you’re going for something that’s more than basic, you may need to get the help of an expert as it can get a bit technical when introducing code.
That’s where Webflow may score a few more brownie points. The visual canvas allows you to drag and drop elements so you can get a fully customisable design without needing to code. There are also built-in features which eliminate the need for plugins.
Both WordPress and Webflow are powerful tools that can help you deliver the best experience for your users, it’s up to you to decide which one will win in your ring.