Whichever it is, this guide breaks down two of the most popular website builders: WordPress and Webflow.
At a glance, both WordPress and Webflow are worth considering.
Each is widely used, well-received, and, needless to say, more than capable of helping you to get a professional website set up.
Still, there are advantages and disadvantages to each one, which need to be taken into account – especially if you’re looking for user-friendliness, third-party integration, or certain features.
So, this guide is here to help you out.
Make sure to keep reading for an in-depth look at Webflow, WordPress, the pros and cons of each, and finally which one you should use to create your website.
What Is Webflow?
First up, Webflow. Webflow is a website design platform for creating and developing websites that has amassed over two million users since 2013.
The software as a service (SaaS) platform features a drag-and-drop interface that’s ideal for beginner website builders, which is one of the reasons Webflow has become so popular.
Webflow is easy to use for creating websites – especially if you have little to no knowledge of code or, in general, do not consider yourself particularly tech-savvy.
The user interface offers a ton of customization options, including website themes, layouts, fonts, and backgrounds, along with the ability to add images, videos, animations, and more.
What’s important to note is that Webflow is ultimately a web development tool that automatically generates the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for you.
Once you are finished designing your website on Webflow, you have two choices: export the code to be used on a third party hosted website (that you have ready) or have Webflow host your site for you.
To host on Webflow, you have to pay. There are various site plans, including Basic, CMS, Business, and Enterprise, in addition to eCommerce plans tiered at Standard, Plus, and Advanced.
For simply designing your website, however, Webflow is free to use.
What Is WordPress?
WordPress, also WP, is an open-source content management system that is also used to create websites.
It doesn’t have to be said that WordPress (which started as a blogging website back in 2003) is the internet’s most popular platform for website creation, used by newbies and web pros alike.
In fact, WordPress powers almost half the websites on the internet.
Part of the reason for this is that it is free to use, with a range of features that are designed to make website creation easy.
In other words, you don’t have to be a web professional to start your own website on WordPress.
Overall, WordPress makes website creation easy, practical, and accessible to all.
Not only can WordPress be used to create personal blogs, but eCommerce stores, professional portfolios, forums, fully functional business websites, and more.
It’s confusing, needless to say, as they are not the same, each with their own features, capabilities, and pricing plans.
WordPress.com Vs WordPress.org
It’s important to understand the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, as well as what each platform is used for, as it will also affect whether you choose WordPress or Webflow to build your website.
The short answer is that WordPress.com is designed for beginner website creators, while WordPress.org caters to more experienced web users who want greater creativity and management over their website.
So, while WordPress.com offers user-friendly website creation, security protection, and minimal maintenance, WordPress.org offers a more in-control experience that provides better customization, third-party website hosting, and a custom domain name.
Both services are free to use. However, upgrading your hosting plan on WordPress.com (the free plan is limited) comes with a yearly cost.
Available plans are Personal, Premium, Pro, and Business – the Business plan being the most expensive.
On WordPress.org, you will have to pay for self-hosting through a third party hosting service.
Additional, but optional, costs can include WP plugins, premium themes, and more. Overall, WordPress.com is the cheaper of the two.
But WordPress.com comes with limitations that, over time, may require you to upgrade to a paid plan, regardless.
The Pros And Cons Of Webflow
To help you make your choice, the following are the pros and cons that come with using Webflow:
Pros
Ideal for beginners
Easy to use – drag-and-drop design
No need to get involved with the technical stuff (programming languages)
Plenty of website themes to choose from
Hosting is available
Can create simple and professional websites
Free for designing your website
Cons
The free service only allows you to design your website
Hosting on Webflow requires a paid plan
Hosting using another service will also require a paid plan
Mainly for beginners and those who simply prefer Webflow’s design interface
The Pros And Cons Of WordPress.com
For WordPress.com, these are the pros and cons that are worth considering:
Pros
Easy to get started, perfect for beginners creating simple websites, like blogs and portfolios
Free to use
Hosting is all taken care of
Website maintenance and security, included and updated automatically
Website creation is all done on WordPress.com (via a web browser, with no standalone app or software)
Cons
3GB website limit – once used, you’ll have to hop on a paid plan
Limited customization – themes are limited and you cannot install third-party plugins (unless you are using the business plan)
Ads are placed on your website, which you cannot choose or profit from (monetize)
You cannot choose a custom domain name – your website name will have WordPress in its address/URL
Does not include features for creating eCommerce or business websites
WordPress can delete your website at any time if it is deemed as violating guidelines
The Pros And Cons Of WordPress.org
For WordPress.org, on the other hand, the pros and cons are as follows:
Pros
Free to use
You own your website in its entirety
Choose your own domain name and third-party hosting service (no space limits, better security, can be cheaper)
Ability to use free and paid WP plugins on your website
Ability to use popular third-party website tools, like Google Analytics
Open-ended customization – use free and premium themes, or design your website from scratch
Run ads on your website that you can choose and monetize
Create professional-looking websites, such as eCommerce stores and business websites
Cons
You will need to get set up with a hosting plan
Installing the WordPress CMS app is required
Not as simple or user-friendly as WordPress.com
You are responsible for website maintenance, including security, backups, and updates
Webflow Or WordPress – Which One Should I Use?
If you are stuck on whether to choose Webflow, WordPress.com, or WordPress.org, it might help to ask yourself the following questions:
What kind of website do I want to create?
What is my budget?
How competent am I with using content management software?
How competent am I with code?
Do I want automatic hosting or third-party self-hosting?
Do I want to monetize my website?
Asking yourself these questions and coming up with the answers is the best way to find out which website creation platform is ideal for you.
Ultimately, it comes down to the kind of website you want to create, your budget, and how competent you consider yourself in regard to code, website creation tools, and plugins.
If you just want to create a blog or personal portfolio, WordPress.com is a great choice for beginners and simple, small-sized websites.
For professional websites, such as eCommerce business sites, WordPress.org is probably the better option.
On the other hand, for a different user interface that makes website creation simpler and more fun, it might be worth checking out Webflow.
It’s free to use from the get-go, which means you can check it out and get a feel for how it works to see if you like it, along with the final website you end up designing.
Conclusion
Both WordPress and Webflow are popular platforms that are used to build websites.
Each has pros and cons, with the main difference being that Webflow is a website development tool and hosting service, while WordPress is a content management system that offers inclusive website design and hosting.
Of course, WordPress has two versions, WordPress.com and WordPress.org, which both have to be looked at individually to see which one better suits your needs.
If you are new to website creation and not familiar with HTML or plugins, Webflow can be the better choice as it is simple and fun to use, with enough customization features to get your first website designed and ready to go.
If you would like greater control over your website—including how it looks and performs—WordPress can be the better option.
For a first website, in particular, WordPress.com offers free hosting, unlike Webflow, where you will have to either pay for Webflow hosting or host using another service, which will also require a paid subscription.
Due to that, as well as the general popularity of WordPress for its free features, capabilities, and open-ended customization (with themes, third-party plugins, and tools), WordPress is arguably the better option than Webflow – at least overall and in the long term.
Websites created on WordPress.com can also be moved to WordPress.org, which is useful if your WordPress website grows in size and popularity.
Hello, my name is Matthew Jacobs and I have made a living on various blogs and websites. But, trust me, I haven’t always been able to say that with such confidence.
Hopefully this website can teach others and help you in getting your blog out there, capitalizing on it as much as you can, and can serve as the kind of resource I wish I had had. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and make a name for yourself!
