Webflow or WordPress? What You Really Need to Know Before You Decide

Index

• Webflow vs WordPress
• How far can you go without code?
• Comparison in terms of production and operation costs
• Security Comparison

Introduction

I’ve heard about Webflow and WordPress, but which one is actually better? Which one is more suitable for us? For those of you who have questions, we’ve compared the two thoroughly from various perspectives. We hope this will be helpful for those who are currently undecided about which platform to choose for their website.

Webflow vs WordPress

• Eliminate the hassle of managing servers
• I want to create a simple website or a portfolio website
• I want to create a website that uses CMS functions such as a blog (however, it is less user-friendly than WordPress)

When is WordPress Right for You?

• I want to run a comprehensive blog/content site
• Emphasis on extensibility and customizability
• I want to build a multilingual website

How far can you go without coding?

It is generally said that both Webflow and WordPress allow you to freely adjust the design without coding, but is this actually the case?

Webflow

Webflow is said to be a “no-code tool,” but in reality, it can be difficult to use effectively if you don’t understand the concepts of HTML and CSS.

1. Customizing the design
   • No-code: Basic layouts can be created with drag and drop.
   • Requires code knowledge: However, Webflow’s styling is largely based on CSS concepts, so advanced layout tweaks (e.g. tweaking specific breakpoints) require CSS knowledge.
   • Requires knowledge of coding: There is also the concept of classes, so if you create it carelessly it will be difficult to manage later.
2. Animation Interaction
   • No-code: You can create animations using Webflow’s “Interactions” feature.
   • Requires coding knowledge : However, it will be easier to understand if you have basic knowledge of JS in order to properly set up triggers and timing.
3. CMS (Dynamic Data Management System)
   • No-code: You can manage basic dynamic content like blogs and product pages.
   • Requires code knowledge: When creating blogs or product pages with Webflow CMS, you need to be able to think in a database-like way to properly set up and output dynamic content fields.
4. Often, this can’t be done without adding custom code
   • Requires code knowledge: Webflow is limited in terms of functionality, and any tweaks you want to make (such as specific scroll events or custom form handling) still require custom code (JS or embedded HTML).

WordPress

On the other hand, WordPress does not allow you to do everything completely without coding; in fact, it has many limitations unless you have a certain level of coding knowledge.

1. Customize themes and designs
   • No-code: You can make changes using the existing theme’s Customizer or Gutenberg (the block editor), and you can also use a page builder like Elementor for some design freedom
   • Requires code knowledge: Detailed theme customization (CSS tweaks, font changes, layout changes)
   • Requires code knowledge: Create themes and apply your own designs
   • Requires code knowledge: Implementing designs that can’t be replicated using the block editor alone (e.g. custom CSS and JavaScript animations)
2. Animation and moving design
   • No-code: Basic animations are possible with Elementor or the block editor
   • Requires code knowledge: JavaScript is required for more site-specific animations.
3. CMS (dynamic data management), custom post types and custom fields
   • No-code: You can manage basic dynamic content like blogs and product pages.
   • No-code: You can create custom post types to a certain extent using the “Custom Post Type UI” and “Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)” plugins.
   • Requires code knowledge: Create your own custom post type
   • Requires code knowledge: Create custom templates and display posts in your own layout
   • Requires knowledge of coding: Even if you use ACF, you still won’t be able to output data unless you know PHP or template tags.
4. Performance and SEO optimization
   • No-code: Some optimization is possible with plugins like WP Rocket and Yoast SEO.
   • Requires code knowledge: Remove unnecessary CSS and JS
   • Requires code knowledge: Improve slow queries (database optimizations and custom queries)
   • Requires code knowledge: Adjust the lazy-loading of images yourself
   • Requires knowledge of code: If you add too many plugins, the program will slow down, so it is better to make adjustments with code in the end.

With both Webflow and WordPress, if you are running a website or blog without being particular about design, you can manage without knowledge of code. However, if you want to incorporate original designs or features specific to the site and display them properly, having the knowledge of code is essential.

Comparison in terms of production and operation costs

For now, let’s compare costs without considering the effort involved in the production itself or the fees involved if you hire a production company.

*Prices as of March 2025.

Webflow is advantageous for hassle-free operation, but it requires fixed monthly costs. On the other hand, WordPress allows you to customize it freely, but it requires external service fees and management costs.

Security Comparison

Webflow charges a fixed monthly fee, but all of these security measures are handled by Webflow. On the other hand, WordPress is prone to vulnerabilities if security measures are neglected, so self-management (request for management) is required.

As you can see, Webflow and WordPress each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and are suitable for different situations, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs and circumstances. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or production requests!