Review of Webflow. What differs this website builder from others?

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Its mission is to “empower designers, creative professionals, and entrepreneurs to create for the web,” and Webflow is a website builder that includes all of the features available today. The company provides a variety of products that are intended to assist individuals in setting up and running with an attractive, fully-customizable webpage without compromising the user’s flexibility or forcing users into molds created by pre-designed, cookie-cutter templates and using magic kinds of technologies to make its pages load extremely quickly.

Review of Webflow. What differs this website builder from others? — 1

Features of Webflow Site Builder

A template serves as the basis for a website that was built with Webflow, just as it does with the vast majority of other website builders. There are hundreds of different templates available to you, all of which were designed by professionals. You have the ability to make adjustments to the selected template in order to tailor it to your company’s needs and objectives.

Webflow’s features for editing templates and building websites are organized into four primary categories: Designer, Content Management System (CMS), Hosting, and Editor.

Designer

You will have access to the complete capabilities of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript when you use Webflow’s designer. On the other hand, you generate your code by using the visual designer rather than manually writing out the code line by line. You can rearrange pre-built blocks however you like, add new features, and customize the game. During this time, the designer is working diligently behind the scenes to create a website with clean and semantic code.

If you want to make changes to the code itself, you should be aware that you will have access to all of the features that are included in CSS3 and HTML5. These features include support for the box model, 3D CSS transforms, custom transitions, floats, and flexboxes, as well as the ability to use the most recent advancements in typography, gradients, and DOM organization.

You won’t even need to have a working knowledge of JavaScript in order to take advantage of trigger-based interactions, such as animations that play in response to the user scrolling, clicking, hovering over, or loading pages.

Review of Webflow. What differs this website builder from others? — 2

Webflow is a hybrid that defies expectations. It is marketed as a superior alternative to WordPress and functions as a do-it-yourself website builder that is simple to use even for individuals who lack technical knowledge. At the same time, it provides developers and designers with complex functionality, and agencies are among its users. The latter point out that the tool makes it easier to break down design-development silos, which is a problem that frequently arises with digital projects.

If you’re already familiar with the user interface of other Adobe products, you’ll feel right at home with this one, despite the fact that it packs a lot of functionality. By providing you with a library of pre-built, customizable components, Webflow simplifies the design process for you and saves you time.

Everything you make in the designer is automatically made to be responsive and is compatible with all of the major web browsers.

Webflow CMS

In addition to being an effective website designer and builder, Webflow also functions as a complete content management system (CMS), in the same vein as Drupal, Magento, and WordPress.

The Webflow content management system, much like its designer, places an emphasis on adaptability and versatility. You are able to create the content you require without being restricted by templates, blog-centric content structures, or complex coding languages. Webflow provides schemas, which you can build and bind to the design that you want for your website. These schemas can then be shared with other users.

Review of Webflow. What differs this website builder from others? — 3

Webflow boasts that its content management system (CMS) is simpler to use than WordPress, and the company even has a page on its website titled “Webflow vs. WordPress.” They claim that there is “nothing to install, automatic updates, and no PHP,” and that it is the alternative to WordPress that you require.

When working with content, you can use almost anything you can think of, including colors, images, text, and numbers. Additionally, because you probably have customer-centric data available, you can dynamically change your content in order to make your pages customized depending on the visitor.

What options are there for hosting?

Webflow, like the majority of website builders out there, offers packages that include hosting services. Webflow, on the other hand, hosts its customers’ websites on what it calls a “infinitely scalable server fleet,” rather than including what is essentially a shared hosting plan.

Over 100 Global Data Centers

The hosting technologies provided by Webflow are prepared to manage any volume of traffic that may be generated by your website the moment you make it live. The “fleet” of Webflow consists of more than 100 data centers and servers located all over the world, and it is powered by content delivery networks (CDNs) provided by both Fastly and Amazon CloudFront.

Websites load instantly

Webflow guarantees business-grade dependability with:

  • 99.99% uptime.
  • Pages of websites that load in a matter of milliseconds.
  • Because it is based on Amazon Web Services (AWS), it offers support for even the highest levels of website traffic. (The abbreviation “AWS” refers to Amazon Web Services.)

You will also receive SSL certificates, infrastructure that is compliant with HTTP/2, and tools for collaboration, which will allow you to have other members of your team work on your site alongside you.

Editor of Webflow

Webflow asserts that adding content is as simple as filling out a form, and that you can publish your changes with a single click whenever you are ready to do so. Because you have access to a live preview, the final version of your content will not contain any unexpected elements.

Due to the fact that Webflow divides the content from the underlying support features, you are able to easily edit things without having to worry about causing any damage to any part of your website.

You also have the option to work together with your coworkers on anything you create, and the detailed version history ensures that you are aware of exactly who changed what and when.

Review of Webflow. What differs this website builder from others? — 4

Using SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Tools

It is possible to perform SEO optimization on your content without the use of any additional plugins. You are able to get instant previews of what your website’s entry will look like when it is live on the internet, and the ability to set your meta title and description is integrated directly into the editor.

Webflow Templates

In addition to three different wireframes, Webflow provides users with over 25 free templates from which to choose. There is a large selection of templates available for you to choose from if you want to create a website for an online store, a blog, or even a simple online portfolio. Every template includes information about the kinds of websites that are a good fit for it.

Because nearly all of the templates are responsive, developing a responsive website that is optimized for mobile use is now simpler than it has ever been.

Review of Webflow. What differs this website builder from others? — 5

Imagine you are in charge of a company: Explore the Webflow website to see examples of live websites that were built with Webflow. This one comes from a company in Canada that specializes in the design of websites using Webflow. You can also get ideas for how you could market yourself as a Webflow professional by browsing these sites and looking for inspiration there.

Options for Wireframes

Webflow provides users with dozens of different templates, in addition to three different wireframe options: Startup, Portfolio, and Business. Wireframes offer more customization options than templates do and provide general outlines for your website. These are excellent options for those who have a better understanding of design, but using them does not require any knowledge of coding.

Billing and Pricing

You are more than welcome to use Webflow at no cost for as long as you see fit; however, the trial status of your account will be maintained. Although you will have complete control over the design of your site and the ability to publish it to a webflow.io subdomain, you will only be able to work on two projects at a time.

When you’ve reached the point where you’re willing to invest in a paid subscription, you’ll have your pick of several different packages. You have the option of paying for your plan on a month-to-month basis or making a one-time payment for a full year of service. If you go with the second choice, you will be eligible for a discount, which will result in your monthly fees being lower than they would be if you paid them on a monthly basis.

Cancel at Any Time

In the event that you make the decision to terminate either your hosting account or your hosting plan, you are free to do so at any time. Webflow does not provide refunds, but your plan will continue to function normally until the end of the billing cycle that it is currently in.

If you cancel a full account but already have one or more websites, those websites will not be deleted, and you will not be “locked out” of accessing them; instead, your account will simply be downgraded to the free plan. You will not be prevented from accessing your websites.

If you decide to go with a paid subscription, you will have the option of selecting one of several packages geared toward individuals who require only one website, designers, freelancers, or teams.

Plans for Individuals

If you are an individual who requires only one website, the only additional expense you will incur is for hosting. There are three distinct options available for you to pick from in this regard.

They are differentiated from one another by the maximum number of visitors and form submissions that are permitted in a given month. Be aware, however, that the entry-level, most fundamental plan does not include any of the Content Management System (CMS) or Editor features.

Plans for Freelancers and Designers

You can use Webflow as a tool to assist you in the construction of your website if you are someone who creates a lot of websites.

You are able to use the Webflow tools to build websites for your clients and then bill those clients for the work you have done if you purchase the basic package in this tier. The options that cost more money, on the other hand, give you the ability to export your code so that it can be used in other environments.

You will have access to all of Webflow’s features and will be able to work on an unlimited number of projects if you purchase any of these packages.

Review of Webflow. What differs this website builder from others? — 6

Teams: Bulk Pricing and Collaboration Tools

The options that are available for teams are very comparable to the options that are available for freelance designers and designers who work independently. However, the plans for teams include web-based collaboration tools and, for those who have large enough hosting packages, bulk pricing on web hosting.

E-commerce Sites

At the moment, Webflow provides users with access to a variety of e-commerce store templates. These give you the ability to create individualized product grids, product pages, shopping carts, and check-out pages for your online store. In addition to that, Webflow offers a fully functional e-commerce platform (currently in beta.)

Their e-commerce platform enables you to, among other things:

  • Take care of your stock and do your best to satisfy customer demands.
  • Enhance product listings using the content management system.
  • Personalize your receipts, and make sure your emails are up to date.
  • Developing weblogs and landing pages within the content management system
  • Make it possible for customers to make secure purchases on your own domain.

How are the technical support and customer service?

The self-help center provided by Webflow is among the most comprehensive ones we’ve encountered in a website builder. In addition to Webflow University, where you can find curated lists of videos to watch (such as “Intro to Design,” “Web Elements,” or “SEO Fundamentals”), there are individual courses themselves in which you can delve deeply into a specific subject area.

The Webflow 101 Crash Course and the Ultimate Web Design Course are two of the courses that are currently available. If digital learning (or learning based on the internet) isn’t really your thing, you can learn the same material by downloading one of the e-books that are currently available.

You can crowdsource ideas and answers to your questions by participating in the open forum that is the Webflow Community.

How Can I Contact a Member of the Webflow Support Team?

You can use the online contact form to get in touch with a member of the Webflow staff from Monday through Friday, from 6 AM to 6 PM Pacific Time (UTC-8), if that is when you need to do so. The Wishlist page on the Webflow website is where users can submit their requests for new features.

Webflow does not provide any type of consulting services; however, it does keep a list of Webflow Experts who are able to assist you in getting up and running with the platform. You are able to search for freelancers or agencies based on a wide variety of criteria, such as location, the type of assistance provided, the kind of project being worked on, the size of the team, and so on.

Review of Webflow. What differs this website builder from others? — 7

FAQ

The drag-and-drop website builder offered by Webflow is extremely user-friendly and flexible in terms of customization. The convenience of not having to write code for a website typically comes at the cost of fewer available customization options. Site builders such as Wix and Weebly are typical of the industry in this regard.

Webflow provides users with one of the most adaptable website builders available on the market today. You should be prepared to spend some time learning how the builder functions, but the payoff will be a well-built, responsive website that you can customize to meet the requirements of your company without spending thousands of dollars.

Webflow operates on its very own custom-built framework. If you are a diehard fan of frameworks such as Bootstrap, Zurb Foundation, Materialize, or Kurb, among others, then knowing this information may be important for you. There have been reports from Webflow users who have attempted to incorporate Bootstrap that the process is possible but challenging.

The most recent version of Webflow makes use of the following technologies: OpenResty, which adds Lua support to NGINX; Varnish, a powerful web application accelerator; the Amazon S3 content delivery network; NGINX; Amazon CloudFront; CDN JS; JQuery CDN;

The site you want — without the dev time

Your website should be a marketing asset, not an engineering challenge.
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