Webflow is an innovative no-code builder with over 6000 templates to kickstart your website design journey — in fact, the website you’re visiting right now is built on Webflow!
For those wondering what Webflow is used for, this article will cover the following:
- Webflow’s main functions and how it works
- Responsive design tools, CMS suite, and more features
- Pros and cons
- Optimal use cases and if Webflow is right for you
- Adalo, a top Webflow alternative
Let’s now jump into an overview of Webflow and its main features.
What Is Webflow and How Does It Work?
Webflow is a no-code web design and development platform that enables you to create a website without writing any code or knowing anything about programming.
Instead, Webflow employs a powerful building interface that functions like graphic design software, giving you robust control over your building process.
Before you start using the building interface, however, you’ll select a template from Webflow's template library that fits your website design needs. Webflow offers jaw-dropping 6,000+ templates, both free and paid, for building nearly any sort of website you can imagine.
After picking your template, you’ll land on Webflow’s building interface. Here’s what it’s made up:
- Design canvas: Located at the center of your screen, the design canvas is actually your site under construction. Adding a new feature, color, or structural change to your site will instantly appear on the design canvas.
- Style panel: Located to the right of your design canvas, the style panel lets you build, modify, and edit your site. You can adjust layout, typography, colors, sizing, spacing, and other properties. Click on an element on your design canvas, and the style panel will appear to your right.
- Navigator panel: Similar to a layer panel in graphic design software, the navigator panel, located directly to the right of your design canvas, lets you see the hierarchical structure of elements like headings, pictures, colors, and other elements on your site. Use this to configure and manage your layout and ensure that components are nested correctly.
Want more about Webflow to start building? Check out our introductory course.
Webflow’s Key Features
Webflow is one of the most powerful no-code website builders available today. It offers more design control and superior functionalities than most other no-code website builders.
No-Code Responsive Design
Webflow is a responsive website builder, meaning you can create a website optimized for viewing on several different devices without making any major changes. In other words, use Webflow to create a website that's automatically dialed in for desktops, mobile phones, tablets, TVs, and other screens.
When you build a website with Webflow, you don’t need to worry about ensuring elements fit when viewed by different devices. Webflow’s responsive design pretty much guarantees that your site will look uniform, professional, and compelling, no matter what the screen size.
Ultimately, Webflow’s responsive design feature can save you tons of time crafting your website. You won’t need to painfully shuffle through different screen types and manually adjust pictures, headers, and other elements with your cursor.
What is Webflow’s CMS?
One of Webflow’s flagship features is its helpful content management system (CMS). The system allows you to build your customized content collection, which is like a database. Your collection can include nearly any content imaginable, like blog posts, photos, videos, e-commerce goods, etc.
Webflow’s CMS puts you in the driver's seat when organizing your content. Create custom fields like text, images, videos, and rich text editors to suit your needs. This enables you to manage a diverse range of content how you want and link it to any part of your website.
But Webflow’s CMS doesn’t stop at customized organization — you can also create visual designs for each content type that you can feature on your frontend. This helps you organize and separate your content while making your website’s user experience enjoyable.
The CMS system is also infused with powerful API access, which lets you transfer data from third-party apps directly to your Webflow CMS so you can feature it on your website. This can juice up your website with more power and functionality.
Custom Code Features
Hey techies, this section’s for you: Webflow seamlessly blends no-code ease with the flexibility of custom coding. It lets you patch in your own lines of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to create custom elements, features, and capabilities beyond those found on Webflow's building interface.
Webflow also lets you keep some of your website’s frontend source code. While it doesn’t give you code for your CMS or e-commerce systems, you can develop your frontend using coding or another tool. You’ll just need to build a new backend and database.
Hosting and SSL
Here’s the cool thing about building on Webflow: Unlike other no-code website builders, which require you to bring a domain (www.YOURSITE.com ) from a third-party host, Webflow will directly sell you a custom domain, providing you a convenient all-in-one platform.
Webflow hosts most of its websites on Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud service provider renowned for its security, reliability, and scalability. You won’t need to worry about your site getting compromised or scaling issues as you grow.
Webflow's global Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a key to its superior hosting. This CDN automatically distributes copies of your site to data centers worldwide, ensuring that your site loads quickly, no matter where your visitors are.
This adds jet fuel to your page-load speed, which is critical for an ideal user experience and SEO (search engine optimization).
Additionally, Webflow provides automatic SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates for all domains linked to its platform at no extra cost. SSL encrypts data transferred between each user's browser and the website, protecting sensitive data from being intercepted by the bad guys.
You can sit back and let your SSL work its magic, as this feature is automatically managed and renewed by Webflow. This ensures that your website will always have a secure connection.
eCommerce Capabilities
Looking to launch an e-commerce website? Look no further than Webflow. The platform comes prepackaged with impressive e-commerce tools to set your business up for success. You’ll get integrations with Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, and other popular payment platforms.
Webflow also offers a direct integration with Shippo, a platform that streamlines the shipping process. If you use another shipping service, you’ll most likely be able to connect it to your Webflow site using an API or through Webflow’s useful Zapier integration.
And, you guessed it: Use the CMS system to manage products, orders, users, and any other aspect of your website on a super granular level.
How does Webflow compare to similar tools like FlutterFlow? Check out the full comparison.
Pros and Cons of Using Webflow
Like any other no-code website or app builder, Webflow has its benefits and drawbacks.
Pros
- Freakish design control: We can’t stress enough how much design power Webflow’s building interface packs. You can configure and adjust every element of your website’s design practically down to the pixel.
- Powerful customization: With the ability to patch in your lines of code to create unique frontend functionalities, Webflow allows you to add as much unique flair as your technical skills can handle. You can create features that attract users to your site, promote your content of e-commerce goods, or execute other tasks.
- Second to-none CMS: Boasting a sleek and simple user interface, Webflow’s CMS provides heaps of freedom for managing and organizing your website’s content. You’ll also be able to edit your content from the user interface, allowing you to make quick changes when needed.
Cons
- Steep learning curve: While the building interface provides nearly unparalleled design freedom and kick-ass customization, all this power comes with a tradeoff in a difficult learning curve. If you’re a complete beginner to no-code, it will probably take a few months to master the building interface.
- Numerous pricing tiers: Webflow has over 12 different pricing tiers, ranging from free to over $200/month. With so many different pricing plans, narrowing down the perfect one for your needs might be frustrating and confusing.
Who is Webflow Best Suited For?
Webflow provides enough power for insane levels of customization — all without using programming. If you’re one of the following, you might find Webflow super useful:
- Marketing teams and content agencies: Because Webflow’s powerful CMS lets you organize, manage, and distribute content precisely how you want, content publishing professionals and marketing agencies will have a significant advantage with Webflow.
- Web developers: Whether you’re a freelance developer or part of a larger team, Webflow provides the customization tools to craft unique websites that look the part and work like a well-oiled machine. You’ll be able to build websites that grab the attention of clients and their website visitors.
- Graphic designers: Webflow’s building interface is similar to graphic design tools like Figma or Canva. Folks who’ve worked with this software will likely not have to overcome Webflow’s learning curve. This means you can venture into Webflow development, which could earn you some extra cash on the side.
Want a full list of Webflow alternatives? Read the complete roundup article.
Is Webflow Right For You?
If you’re new to Webflow or no-code tools in general, you can start tinkering with the platform immediately. Webflow conveniently offers a free version that lets you get accustomed to the building interface and get a feel for it.
After signing up, the building interface may appear intimidating. Luckily, Webflow offers an impressively large ecosystem that provides all the resources you need to learn everything.
For instance, you’ll be able to connect with other website builders on the Webflow forum, complete courses to learn all the ins and outs of the building interface on Webflow University, and watch videos on Webflow’s YouTube channel.
While Webflow has a learning curve, surpassing it comes with a hefty payoff — The ability to use one of the most powerful website builders available.
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Next Steps: Try Adalo, a Versatile Webflow Alternative
Want to create a website and an app that you can publish in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store? Try Adalo.
Adalo, like Webflow, is a no-code platform. Unlike Webflow, Adalo is much easier to learn — it’s so intuitive that you can use it right out of the box. But Adalo blends the perfect balance of power and ease: You’ll get incredible design freedom, allowing you to craft and customize your app’s colors, structure, and layout to meet your precise needs.
Plus, Adalo comes with 1,000s of integrations to third-party platforms like Airtable, Stripe, Zapier, and Xano, allowing you to add heaps of functionality. Adalo lets you breathe life into any app idea.
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