The 7 Best Webflow Alternatives You Should Try
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Choosing the right platform for your website can make all the difference between profits and disaster. While Webflow is one of the most popular website builders, it’s not the best suit for everyone.
For every limitation you’ve found in Webflow, there’s a platform that might just be the answer. Whether you’re grappling with Webflow’s steep learning curve, limited eCommerce and SEO functionality, or you don’t like expensive pricing structures, there’s a Webflow alternative that would solve all your problems.
In this article, I’ll show you seven powerful alternatives to Webflow. Each of these platforms does some things better than Webflow – be it eCommerce, SEO, blogging, or ease of use.
After analyzing all these options, I’ll give you some tips on finding one website platform that best suits your needs. This will save you months of research and spending money on website builders that miss your desired functionality.
Table of Contents:
- The Main Reasons People Seek Alternatives to Webflow
- 7 Best Webflow Alternatives in 2023
- WordPress – The Best Webflow Alternative If You Have Coding Experience
- Shopify – The Best eCommerce Alternative to Webflow
- Wix – A Simple Alternative For Building Multilingual Websites
- GoDaddy – A Great Webflow Alternative For Selling Larger Digital Files (up to 20 GB Size)
- Canva – A Perfect Tool For Building One-Page Websites
- BigCommerce – Better eCommerce Functionality Than Webflow
- Plasmic – A Nocode Web App Builder That Puts You In Control
- How To Choose The Best Platform For Building Your Website?
- Final Thoughts
The Main Reasons People Seek Alternatives to Webflow
You might have had a chance to read my Webflow review, where I discussed both the pros and cons of this website-building tool. Webflow is one of the most flexible website builders out there. It gives you complete control over your design and has many options that professionals need. You can use it to create visually stunning websites without writing a single line of code yourself.
While Webflow beats its competitor in many aspects, it isn’t the best fit for everyone. It lacks some features and capabilities other platforms seem to have no problem with.
Webflow is not always the best option available because:
- It has a steeper learning curve than most other website builders
- It lacks advanced e-commerce features
- It comes with specific limitations for blogging
- Page limits make Webflow a bad choice for building complex websites
- It has a confusing pricing structure, and getting all the desired features might prove very costly
To help you find the best platform for your needs and your wallet, I’ve decided to explore some of the best Webflow alternatives.
7 Best Webflow Alternatives in 2023
Choosing the right platform for your website-building adventures is complicated, with so many options available. Before you start exploring these seven Webflow alternatives, I recommend asking yourself what’s the most important thing for your future website. Each platform I’m about to show you do something better than competitors but may also fall behind in some aspects. The final decision is up to you. Now, let’s start exploring the best Webflow alternatives in 2023.
WordPress – The Best Webflow Alternative If You Have Coding Experience
WordPress should be your go-to website platform choice if you know how to code. Without any doubt, it’s the best open-source alternative to Webflow. On WordPress, you have complete control over your website; possibilities are endless.
However, it’s worth noting that there are two versions of WordPress – hosted (WordPress.com) and self-hosted (WordPress.org).
- The hosted version functions similarly to Webflow. You’ll use it from your browser and choose from a wide range of templates you can customize even if you don’t know how to code.
- The self-hosted version of WordPress gives you complete control over your website’s code and functionality. If you know how to code, this version allows you to fully tailor your website according to your needs. But even if you can’t code or prefer drag-and-drop editors, there are visual builders like Divi that you can use to customize your designs.
WordPress is the king of blogging, so you won’t make a mistake whether you choose its hosted or self-hosted version. It’s a much better choice than Webflow if you plan to publish blog posts daily. Besides more flexibility for presenting your content in unique ways, you won’t have to worry about page limits if you choose WordPress as an alternative to Webflow.
From my experience, WordPress is also much better for SEO than Webflow. It gives you more control over creating site structure. And thanks to plugins like Yoast SEO, on-page optimization is much more intuitive with WordPress.
And how do WordPress and Webflow compare when it comes to eCommerce? WordPress beats it by far, thanks to eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce. It will take you more time to set up your online store, but choosing WordPress for eCommerce is worth it if you seek custom functionality.
And what about the ease of use? WordPress has a much steeper learning curve than Webflow. If you can’t code, I recommend exploring other Webflow alternatives. Why? Because pre-made templates on WordPress often come with poor code quality and various security issues. Make sure to understand all WordPress pros and cons before choosing it.
But if you have confidence in your coding skills, I suggest you choose WordPress as your Webflow alternative. And build your website from scratch.
Shopify – The Best eCommerce Alternative to Webflow
While Webflow has been making waves in the world of web design, it has certain limitations when it comes to building eCommerce stores. It still can’t compete with powerful e-commerce platforms – and Shopify is one of the best out there.
With Shopify, you can sell products any way you want. Be it through your online store, at the point of sale, or via drop shipping (this option is very limited on Webflow).
Another valuable eCommerce feature that Shopify has and Webflow doesn’t is abandoned cart recovery. If people leave your online store despite adding products to their carts, Shopify allows you to send them email reminders. And when potential customers return to your website, all the products will remain in their shopping carts.
And what about international sales? If you’ve tried selling products internationally with Webflow, one of the first problems you’ve faced was probably currency conversion. You had to do it manually. Shopify solves this problem by automatically conversing currencies for you and your international customers.
Another reason why I prefer Shopify over Webflow for eCommerce is the wide range of marketing tools and apps available in Shopify’s app library. There are over 8,000 apps you can install to extend your website’s eCommerce functionality. While Webflow also has a wide range of available integrations, the number of eCommerce tools is still small on this platform compared to Shopify.
However, it’s worth mentioning that Webflow gives you much more control over your website’s code and more customization options regarding visual design. It also has better CMS functionality than Shopify, as Webflow gives you autosave, backup, and version history features.
So, who wins the Shopify vs Webflow battle?
If you prioritize control over your design, Webflow is a better choice.
But if your main goal is creating an eCommerce store – I strongly advise you to get started with Shopify. It’s one of the most popular eCommerce platforms for a good reason.
Wix – A Simple Alternative For Building Multilingual Websites
Wix stands out as a beginner-friendly Webflow alternative. It offers a blend of flexible content tools and eCommerce capabilities. While Webflow can be tricky to grasp, Wix’s learning curve is significantly smaller. Even if you’re a complete newbie in web design, you’ll be able to create websites with Wix. It’s a well-balanced platform that offers more affordable pricing than Webflow.
I don’t always recommend choosing Wix over Webflow. But if you seek multi-language functionality for your website, I strongly advise using Wix instead of Webflow. When I first tried creating a multilingual site with Webflow as an experiment, I quickly ran into trouble. It was only possible to add multiple language options with pricey plugins. That’s a huge dealbreaker, considering there are website-building platforms that allow you to create multilingual sites without additional costs. Wix is one of the most intuitive builders for creating a website targeting global audiences that speak different languages.
More reasons to choose Wix instead of Webflow:
- A wider range of free templates: Wix has a larger number of free, customizable templates than Webflow.
- Better eCommerce functionality: You’ll find a broader range of eCommerce options, including dropshipping, PoS, tax calculations, and more.
However, Wix falls short compared to Webflow regarding website responsiveness. Webflow templates are renowned for their responsive designs, automatically adapting to various mobile, tablet, or desktop devices.
Wix, on the other hand, leans towards an adaptive web design approach. You’ll need to manually make changes to ensure optimal display on different devices. This might prove insufficient for your SEO, as Google favors responsive websites. Also, Wix lacks advanced SEO functionality, so if you rely heavily on organic traffic, I recommend checking more SEO-friendly Webflow alternatives.
In conclusion, if you seek a well-balanced platform with more affordable pricing than Webflow – get started with Wix.
GoDaddy – A Great Webflow Alternative For Selling Larger Digital Files (up to 20 GB Size)
GoDaddy is another website builder you can use to create business websites without writing code. There are two strong reasons why you may want to choose it as an alternative to Webflow:
- Selling large digital files: GoDaddy is perfect if you need a platform for selling large digital files (up to 20GB). Webflow limits your digital files to 250MB, and you’ll find it pretty much unusable in this unique situation.
- Offers email marketing tools out-of-box: If you don’t want to spend time integrating 3rd party email marketing tools within Webflow, then you’ll love that GoDaddy comes with essential tools for email marketing out-of-box.
- A wide range of stock photos: While I don’t recommend using stock photos on your business website, having a library available in case of emergency doesn’t hurt. With GoDaddy, you get access to over 8,000 photos you can use. Not many site builders can brag about such numbers.
However, GoDaddy comes with specific limitations compared to Webflow. If you seek advanced content management system functionality, I wouldn’t recommend GoDaddy. Also, if you want complete control over your design, GoDaddy is not exactly the best alternative to Webflow. This platform uses an ADI editor (Artificial Design Interface), so you’ll be limited when it comes to customizing your website.
Canva – A Perfect Tool For Building One-Page Websites
Canva is primarily known as a graphic design tool. But did you know that people are using Canva for website design? You shouldn’t expect to build large websites with this platform, but it works as a perfect Webflow alternative for simple websites (like portfolio websites).
Canva’s website builder is super simple, and it allows you to create only one-page websites. But it is much cheaper than Webflow and comes with some additional features you might find useful. These features include:
- Drawing tool
- Presentation maker
- Free stock images
- Video Editor
If you want to create a large business website with blogging or eCommerce functionality, stick to Webflow. However, if you only need a one-page website to showcase your work, you should definitely try out Canva.
BigCommerce – Better eCommerce Functionality Than Webflow
BigCommerce is another popular eCommerce platform. It is not just an alternative to Webflow but, in many ways, a superior choice for businesses focused solely on selling online.
Advantages of BigCommerce over Webflow include:
- eCommerce-Centric Features: Unlike Webflow, BigCommerce is crafted with 100% eCommerce in mind. This translates to advanced selling tools, multi-currency conversion, enhanced tax calculation features, and more exhaustive eCommerce analytics.
- Built-In Marketing Arsenal: BigCommerce boasts an impressive array of built-in marketing tools, reducing the dependency on external apps.
- No Transaction Fees: Unlike some competitors, BigCommerce doesn’t cut into your profits by charging transaction fees. However, it’s fair to say that Webflow also doesn’t take transaction fees if you opt for more expensive plans.
Disadvantages of BigCommerce over Webflow:
- Not as good as drag-and-drop interface: While BigCommerce is easier to use than Webflow, its drag-and-drop editor is more limited. With Webflow, you’ll adapt more easily to the latest UI/UX design trends and create unique-looking designs.
- Limited Templates: Regarding aesthetics and design, BigCommerce offers a less diverse range of themes than some competitors, including Webflow.
- Automatic Plan Upgrade: If your business flourishes and annual revenue surpasses a certain threshold, BigCommerce will automatically migrate you to a pricier plan, potentially incurring unexpected costs.
If your primary goal is to establish a powerful eCommerce presence, then BigCommerce, with its tailored features and robust infrastructure, is undoubtedly a worthy contender.
Plasmic – A Nocode Web App Builder That Puts You In Control
Plasmic is one of the most powerful web app builders that bridges the gap between the need for custom code and no-code solutions.
At its core, Plasmic allows you to build rich web apps with an arsenal of ready-made components. You’re not just limited to static designs; the platform lets you breathe life into your projects through interactions, animation effects, and dynamic values that respond to user behavior or external data.
A standout feature that intrigues me is the ability to import Figma files into Plasmic. If you love designing in Figma, Plasmic is probably the best Webflow alternative for you. It will save you time and allow you to design within the familiar interface.
And Plasmic doesn’t fall short compared to Webflow regarding customization capabilities. You can craft your own components, ensuring that the uniqueness of your brand stands out. It also seamlessly integrates with your existing codebase, allowing you to mesh its functionalities with your current tech stack while offering the flexibility of importing custom design components. With custom buttons and other design elements, you can make your web apps one-of-a-kind.
If you plan to target a global audience, you’ll love creating multilingual web apps with Plasmic. Its localization features are something that Webflow is missing.
And what about SEO? Plasmic’s SEO capabilities beat most no-code website builders and stand arm-to-arm with Webflow. However, integrated analytics features truly set Plasmic apart. This no-code web app builder arms you with insights from website traffic metrics so you can continuously refine and evolve your digital presence.
Plasmic’s blend of design, functionality, and growth tools makes it one of the best alternatives to Webflow. It also has a free plan, which allows you to build an unlimited number of web applications and websites. And you can get started with Plasmic now.
How To Choose The Best Platform For Building Your Website?
Navigating the myriad of no-code platforms can be daunting. Yet, selecting the right platform is pivotal for crafting an impactful digital presence. Here’s a roadmap to guide your choice:
- Determine Your Goals: Understand your website’s primary purpose before deciding. Are you focusing on a rich front-end experience, e-commerce, or diverse content types? Jot down essential features, from SEO to social media integrations.
- Evaluate Scalability: Today’s modest blog could be tomorrow’s online sensation. Ensure your platform can handle content and feature growth, aligning with your vision’s evolution.
- User Experience & Collaboration: If your project involves marketing teams or collaborators, prioritize user-friendliness. Effective collaboration tools can simplify content creation and design processes.
- Seek Inspiration: When unsure, peek at competitors or industry benchmarks. Which platforms are they leveraging? What unique functionalities do they showcase? Such insights can offer direction.
- Test and Trial: Most platforms provide trial versions. Utilize these to gauge the interface and capabilities. It’s like test-driving – ensuring the platform aligns with your skill level and preferences before fully committing. This will help you get the most out of your website-building experience later on.
- Consult Experts: If you’re treading unfamiliar waters, consider tapping into expert knowledge. You can contact my web design agency in Chicago to get tailored recommendations for your specific use case.
In essence, the best Webflow alternative for you aligns with your current necessities and future aspirations. Invest time in making this choice; it’s foundational for your online trajectory.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right platform for your website can be problematic in the vast ocean of online marketplaces and ever-evolving digital landscapes. I understand that Webflow, with its enticing design tools and code editor, might not always align with your vision or requirements. And while Webflow sites often dazzle in design, they may sometimes lack specific features paramount for your business or personal goals.
Remember, in this age, your website is more than just a digital address. It’s your brand’s representative, often the first point of contact for many. Ensuring it’s not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and friendly to search engines is a must.
So, which is the best Webflow alternative?
If you want to build an eCommerce store, go for Shopify or BigCommerce.
If building a multilingual site without coding is your primary objective, Wix or Plasmic are the best choices.
And if you have coding experience, no other platform comes to WordPress and its customization capabilities.
Even professional web designers frequently navigate this dilemma, constantly adapting to meet the evolving needs of clients and their target audiences. While tools and platforms will continuously evolve, the core objective remains: creating a seamless and effective online presence.
Whether you’re leaning towards an all-in-one solution or specialized platforms, it’s all about finding that sweet spot – where your requirements meet the platform’s capabilities, making your digital dreams a reality.
