Webflow - Questions and answers
Here you'll find all the info on prices, the advantages and disadvantages, what Wordpress has to do with Webflow and our experiences as an agency with a tool that has been inspiring us lately when it comes to small to medium-sized websites with a focus on design. Short: For good reasons. Long: The following reasons.
Websites with all the trimmings(concept, design & programming) and the trimmings(strategy, project management, content) are our daily bread. Unfortunately, however, there are also the tiresome discussions about the »how«. Either personal preferences cause restrictions in the choice of CMS or the previously used, often poorly maintained system itself.
In the last many years, Wordpress has led people to think that a website is a piece of cake. On the first few metres, apart from design, that was certainly true for a short time. But how does it do in the medium term and why are many afraid of using classics like Drupal or contemporary approaches like headless CMS in combination with Vue, for example? It may still be the »internet operating system«, but: for the right reasons?
Wordpress vs. Webflow? Webflow!
In our search for a solution, we ended up with Webflow. A service that offers all the advantages of Wordpress, for example, without having to live with its disadvantages: countless plug-ins, updates, complications, etc. But it is more than just another website construction kit. And to be fair, it is also different than just another CMS. Completely different.
Our experience with Webflow
CMS & Design
The no-code or low-code service Webflow makes it possible to set up the CMS structurally with little expertise, to start designing on the living object immediately and to be able to enter content (also on the customer side) as soon as possible - if this content already exists, but that is another article that urgently needs to be written.
What also makes Webflow so interesting, besides the speed and fun of the work: templates are superfluous. Virtually from day one, the commissioning party can watch the site grow. This is also possible in the classic way, but it is more complicated and takes longer.
So we are faster with an extremely individual design and adjustments than with a template. Especially since the latter has to be adapted to special wishes again and again anyway and often looks like the umpteenth Landigpage.
Thinking, implementing, testing, optimising... at a speed that is breathtaking.
Fast, but still teamwork
So time (and therefore money) is a factor. But also that we minimise translation errors between design and development. Why is that? Because the vast majority of our designers get to work immediately. And if it is initially a draft that is »simply« »technically implemented«, we have people in the development team who think along with us or do the preliminary work before the designer hands out the fairy dust at the end.
Just a few of the thoughts around the wunderkind that is Webflow - and Wordpress.
Now for the hard facts.
How Webflow works
Frontend - sleek and responsive
Webflow is a SaaS application that allows designers to create responsive websites using browser-based visual editing software. While you design with the tool, Webflow automatically generates the HTML, CSS and the necessary JavaScript elements. This results in very high-quality, semantically clean websites whose animations are impressive even without manual code. The resulting code can be exported at any time.
Backend - limited in good
After taking out a subscription, Webflow offers CMS functionalities and an eCommerce service to varying degrees. Not everything is possible here, but this is often a good thing in order not to get bogged down unnecessarily in special cases. A clean export of data from the CMS is also possible at any time.
Teamwork - together alone
Unfortunately, the designer can currently only be used by one person at a time. "Designer" in this case means the software area where the page is designed/built. While the design/programming takes place there, content can be added in the background via the "editor". Depending on the subscription, up to ten accounts can be used at the same time.
Conditions - know your low code
In contrast to Wix, simple Wordpress templates and the like, basic knowledge of HTML and CSS is helpful for the efficient use of Webflow, as topics such as div blocks, padding, margins, etc. play a major role.
Although it is not possible to load designs from Sketch, for example, into Webflow, there are providers of frameworks, Systemflow should be mentioned here as a priority, which clearly facilitate cooperation with Figma, for example.
What is the difference between Webflow and e.g. Wordpress?
A very easy and intuitive to use CMS
Webflow's content management system has a high usability. This sets it apart from many other CMS solutions. Whether it's the work in the CMS itself, i.e. the database, or the associated possibility of making changes directly in the »frontend« of the page - WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get. At least if the designer allows this on a very granular element level. Related content? No problem.
A very good search engine optimisation (SEO) without plug-ins
SEO experts love Webflow. The service has all the features to optimise websites efficiently: automatically generated XML sitemaps, 301 redirects, complete control of the URL structure, separation between search engine results and the Open Graph, easy entry of title tags, alt tags, canonical tags and meta descriptions.
No software updates are necessary
Compared to Wordpress & Co, Webflow is almost maintenance-free. It is enough to follow the few but effective updates and, at most, to watch out for complications - so far, not a single problem has occurred. And if it does, it has to do with custom code, so it is relatively easy to localise. New browser functions also need to be considered, but Webflow itself reacts extremely quickly to them. This saves time, money and nerves. If it weren't for Safari - the new Internet Explorer.
Online training, great support & a vibrant community
Webflow offers fast support. Very remarkable, however, are the many (entertaining) tutorials and video aids in the so-called Webflow University. From courses for design to editorial use, these form a great added value. In addition, there is virtually no question that arises that has not already been answered within the very active community.
No plugins necessary - but possible
Like all competitors, it doesn't need any special treatment to create beautiful websites. But while Wordpress, for example, is relatively bare without, Webflow tends not to need plugins, and if it does, they are code-injected and virtually update themselves. Of course, it is still helpful to keep an eye on it during operation.
Animations - as sensations
A website is far more than technically supposedly correct UX/UI. Design and "how a website feels when using, scrolling, clicking" is at least as, if not much more important. And here Webflow is also a bank and offers many animation and interaction possibilities.
Webflow is considered fast - and extremely secure
SSL certificates are included and the CDN (Content Delivery Network) behind Webflow provides very good to extremely good services, depending on the subscription model. The servers are constantly monitored and, according to Webflow, have a guaranteed availability of 99.9%. We cannot say anything to the contrary.
Nothing is lost - in theory
Webflow works entirely in the cloud. Versions are saved continuously during creation and there are backups of every major work step. The very simple version management ensures security. We have already had to resort to this, but what is really secure?
Code and database exports are possible
Another special feature fits in with this: the ability to export the code of the entire project. Simple pages without CMS functionalities can not only be exported and played out via any other server, but complex projects can also be backed up manually just in case. The CMS as a database is also cleanly set up and suitable »to go«, theoretically a Webflow project can thus easily be operated via another CMS even with a more complex structure.
Search included
A full search is part of the system. Simple search queries come out of the box. But what also comes is the confession: we have not yet made use of search in any project. Structure > Search. Our opinion. Exceptions will certainly confirm the rule very soon.
Shop - with restrictions
When taking out an eCommerce subscription, basic shop functionalities are also included, which tend to be well-built and do not have to hide from Shopify-Basic. See www.ge59.space and the small shop we built for our art work space. In detail, however, this area is still in its infancy and we do not want to make a general recommendation (yet). »It depends...«
Interfaces - sleek
Webflow offers interfaces to tools such as Google Analytics, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Intercom or Zapier via the settings. And of course the already mentioned possibility to use custom code. By the way, there is also a simple Rest API!
Forms - all right
Webflow offers its own forms and the management of messages via the editor. Just in case anyone needs it. However, more complex queries (by department, for example) are not possible.
A website is a process
This important sentence takes on a whole new meaning with Webflow, because reality doesn't stand in its way so much. The life of a digital project doesn't end when it goes live, it really begins. And no setup has ever made it easier to turn small changes, customisation into reality in a flash like this tool. And be it by the customer himself.
Prices aka costs
The answer here is also: it depends. From »free« (but not in vain) to monthly costs of up to $36 and more, everything is possible. It just depends on what is attached to the subscription. A good overview can be found here. Although it should not be forgotten that a Workplace Plan is the basis for working sensibly with the Site Plan. At least in a team context.
Too complicated, incomprehensibly confusing or just interested? Feel free to contact us and we will advise you on any questions you may have.
What are the disadvantages of Webflow?
Where there is light, there must also be shadow. There is. Currently we would call it penumbra. Current developments are increasingly displacing the sun.
Privacy because: US of A
Webflow is an American service, and yes, it does occasionally »phone home«. In times of the GDPR, the Privacy Shield and many court decisions, this is a reason to be sceptical if you want to play it extremely safe. Webflow is aware of this and has of course announced that it will soon be using European servers. There are, of course, no statements on when this will be the case. In the end, it is always the customer's decision, the basis of which we must point out.
Much is possible, but not everything
To be honest, we now also classify this as an advantage. There are countless projects where we have to/want to implement absurd little things that end up eating up 50% of the time (of the long overdrawn budget). Webflow is flexible and versatile, but there is an end to it.
The customer is himself
Once the decision has been made in favour of Webflow, you have to stand by it. Sounds obvious, but it is not. After the initial euphoria, everyday life often follows and even more often the desire to take control of the system. »It's all very simple.«
It is not. Webflow shifts the resources in the development process of a website, but is not a clickbait website builder like Wix, Squarespade & Co. How good that we offer various support & maintenance packages.
Teamwork yes, but please in order
As already mentioned, it is unfortunately not yet technically (and understandably) possible to work together in the so-called Designer. But when that day comes, "overnight" websites will certainly no longer be wishful thinking, even in more complex cases. Then high-speed will actually become ultraspeed. (Don't worry, we'll take care of the braking parachute and call it quality control).
Examples, references
Jobs
We are always on the lookout for webflow talent: »No-Code / Low-Code Web-Designer«.
