Alexey Andrushchenko, an experienced Full-Stack developer, shares his experience of webflow development
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Hey folks! I want to share my story of getting confident with Webflow.
With a background of both traditional CMSs like Drupal, WordPress, and Joomla, and modern frontend frameworks such as React.js, Angular.js, and Vue.js, I'm always on the lookout for tools that can streamline my development process without sacrificing flexibility or power. However, the need for rapid development and faster iterations began to outweigh the benefits of headless CMS + JavaScript frameworks flexibility, prompting me to explore the world of NoCode development platforms.
And you know, it was like a breath of fresh air! In just a couple of weeks, we migrated to Webflow from Strapi + NextJs with our entire website, database, and SEO settings. Of course, there were some adventures along the way, but overall – it was awesome!
What is webflow? It's a no-code website design and development platform that allows users to build responsive websites visually without needing to write code. It is usually used by marketers, designers and developers. In this webflow review article I describe my experience as a developer and will share the experience of a marketer from my team.
Speed is our everything! Webflow is like a high-speed train compared to traditional development. Need to quickly launch a landing page or test an idea? Webflow is your best friend!
The visual editor is a delight! No tedious coding, everything is done with the mouse in a user-friendly interface. Even if you're not a programming guru, you'll figure it out quickly. For sure it will be much easier if you have experience with css.
Flexibility is our middle name! Webflow gives you enough freedom for creativity. Want a unique design or add your own scripts? No problem! There is a CustomCode block which can contain CSS or/and Javascript or/and HTML.
Integrations – everything at your fingertips! Webflow is friends with a bunch of useful services: CRM, payment gateways, analytics – everything your heart desires.
API to work with cms content types. That was the silver bullet for migration. Almost 80% of the migration from Strapi to Webflow CMS was done automatically by a script. Even connections between entities were set up via the API.
Component and Design System. Another key feature of Webflow is the ability to set up and use Global Styles across all pages. This allows you to easily construct pages simply by assigning class names to elements. You can also utilize your own or an external component library, ensuring consistency throughout your project. These components, while maintaining their core structure, can be customized using Variables, which function similarly to props in JavaScript frameworks.
Webflow is still NoCode, so there are limitations. If you need super complex logic or custom functions, you can't do without code.
Hosting – not everything is so smooth. Webflow provides its own hosting, and it's not dedicated. If a crowd of visitors flocks to the site, there might be performance issues. To be fair, you have to put some effort to get in the point where you see problems. However, you have to expect that if you cause Streisand effect.
Teamwork is quite the quest. Working on one project in Webflow with the whole team is quite an adventure. It's easy to accidentally break something, especially if colleagues aren't very careful.
Simplicity is our everything! A marketer can edit the website themselves, add content, create landing pages – all without the help of developers! You don’t need to be Webflow experts to start working with it today.
Webflow SEO is possible! Webflow provides basic tools for SEO so that the site is visible to search engines. This system does not have typical SEO errors that exist in other CMS (webflow vs wordpress for basic SEO will really be better).
A marketer can only do basic things. If you need complex stuff or automation, you'll have to call a developer for help.
Why Webflow might not appeal to marketers? If your marketing team isn't interested in learning new tools or technologies, they may find it difficult to navigate and use the platform.
Webflow provides a decent foundation for SEO. You can configure meta tags, titles, descriptions, URLs, and all that. But there are pitfalls:
Migration is stressful. When you migrate a site to Webflow, traffic might drop (up to 20%), but it usually recovers later.
URLs aren't always ideal. The URL structure in Webflow isn't always the most SEO-friendly. But you can manage almost all corner cases through 301 redirects.
Webflow is a paid platform. How much you pay depends on the plan, and the plan depends on the number of sites, users, and features needed. Let's explore two common scenarios and their potential costs:
For a typical corporate website showcasing company information and a product catalog, you'd likely need:
CMS capabilities to manage product information, blog posts, and other dynamic content.
Ecommerce functionality if you plan to sell products directly through the website.
Multiple editors to allow different team members to contribute to the site's content.
CMS Site Plan: This plan provides the necessary CMS features to manage your product catalog and other content.
Ecommerce Standard Plan: If you're selling products, this plan offers basic ecommerce features for smaller businesses.
CMS Site Plan: $23/month (billed annually) or $29/month (billed monthly)
Ecommerce Standard Plan: $29/month (billed annually) or $42/month (billed monthly)
Total: $52/month (billed annually) or $71/month (billed monthly)
Note: If you require more advanced ecommerce features or have a higher sales volume, you might need to consider the Ecommerce Plus or Advanced plans, which come at a higher cost.
For a web studio managing 10 client websites, you'll need:
Multiple site hosting: The ability to host and manage multiple websites within a single Webflow workspace.
Team collaboration: Features to allow multiple team members to collaborate on projects efficiently.
Client billing: The option to bill clients directly through Webflow.
Team Workspace Plan: This plan allows you to host multiple sites, collaborate with team members, and manage client billing. You'll need enough seats for your team members.
Team Workspace Plan: Starts at $35/month for 3 seats (billed annually) or $42/month (billed monthly). Additional seats can be added for an extra fee.
10 Site Plans: You'll need a separate Site plan for each client website. The cost will depend on the specific requirements of each site (e.g., CMS, Ecommerce). Assuming a mix of CMS and Basic plans, let's estimate an average of $20/month per site.
Total: $35 (Workspace) + $200 (10 Sites) = $235/month (billed annually)
Note: The actual cost might vary depending on the specific features and plans required for each client website.
Remember: These are just estimates. The final cost will depend on your specific needs and the features you choose. It's always recommended to explore Webflow's pricing page and consider consulting with their sales team for tailored advice.
Webflow is an excellent choice for:
Small businesses. If you have a small business and need a simple but beautiful and user-friendly website, Webflow is just what the doctor ordered.
Designers. Webflow is like a sibling to Figma, everything is intuitive and convenient.
Startups. Need to quickly launch an MVP and test an idea? Webflow will help you do it quickly and without unnecessary hassle.
Webflow is a cool tool if you need a beautiful and functional website quickly and without a headache. But if you need complex logic or special features, you might want to look for something else.
In any case, before choosing a platform, think carefully about what you need and what Webflow is used for. And don't be afraid to experiment!
If you have questions or want to share your experience with Webflow, write in the comments or contact us! Maybe your story will help someone else figure this topic out.
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