We all know that an online presence is integral in making sure your business thrives in a consumer society. Making it possible for customers to find and learn about your brand is key, but there isn’t always a cut and dry solution to creating an online presence that best showcases your business. Estimates say that more than half the internet is built on CMS, or content management systems, providing more and more options for web designers and businesses looking to create an online presence to sort through. If you’re looking to build a website or blog, it can be difficult to know where to start, which is why Responsival - the experts of web design and content marketing in Pittsburgh - are here to breakdown the dilemma many people face: choosing Webflow vs. Wordpress for their CMS.

It’s important to note that deciding between Webflow and Wordpress is an unbelievably multi-faceted process and is entirely dependent on your unique needs. Using this knowledge, we’ll take a look at the Webflow vs. Wordpress argument from a few angles, including:

• Choosing a CMS for web design
• The right CMS for educational purposes
• Picking a CMS for e-commerce
• The pros and cons of using each CMS for blogging

Webflow vs. Wordpress for Web Design

Unique Platforms Depending On Skill Level & Budget

Not all websites are created equally, especially if they’re created on one of the hundred of CMS available. When it comes to Wordpress and Webflow, there are a few important considerations to make before building a site. It’s important to consider what your site will be used for, which bells and whistles you would like your site to have, and how much you want to be able to customize your website.

If you decide to create your website on Wordpress, you’ll have access to thousands of free and premium templates to choose from. This takes a large portion of the design aspect out of the equation, making it quick and easy to have a basic site. Webflow also has a 200+ templates to choose from, but this number doesn’t compare to the variety that Wordpress provides.

However, Webflow does make it easier to enhance your website than Wordpress. Wordpress requires a variety of plugins or coding efforts to spruce up a site and make it your own, which can be daunting and expensive once you add in all the bells and whistles your site needs. Additionally, these plugins are created by individuals all around the world. If you want a ticking timer plugin, for instance, you must purchase the plugin -- and if the developer decides to stop updating the plugin, you’re stuck with a broken piece of your website.

Webflow has a variety of features you can build yourself that don’t require additional fees or coding. The no-code design features of Webflow allow you to use on-page editing features that can help you create a custom, dynamic website.

From our perspective, choosing the right CMS for building your website can be a toss up depending on the time, effort, and money you are willing to put into development. Want to make that daunting process someone else’s responsibility? At Responsival, we develop beautiful, responsive websites - with all the bells and whistles you can dream up - at a reasonable price point so that your business’s online presence can grow.

Webflow vs. Wordpress in the Classroom

Choosing Webflow vs. Wordpress for Educational Purposes

The best educators in the world are continuously looking to increase the ways in which students can expand their knowledge of applicable, real-world tools. In a 2013 survey, 68% of teachers expressed a desire to implement more technology into the classroom, and for many people, a classroom blog or webpage is a perfect way to do that.

Great for updating students, sharing content, and collaborating with peers, classroom webpages are a great way to engage students in a new and exciting way. When choosing Webflow vs. Wordpress for your classroom applications, we lean toward using Wordpress due to the simplicity of its usage at a basic level. Choose a template and create a free URL, slap some information on the page and your webpage is ready to go live.

An additional user-friendly aspect of Wordpress is the ease of editing text in-platform. Webflow does not permit you to make quick edits on typos for text, which can be confusing for students and teachers unfamiliar with the platform. Wordpress has simple text editing features that make it easy to share assignments, links, collaborate with others, and give students their first taste of building a website.

Choosing a CMS for Selling Your Products

Webflow vs. Wordpress for E-commerce

If your business is looking to sell products online, it’s super important to choose a CMS with easy upkeep, fast speeds, and the proper security for managing purchases. Webflow and Wordpress both have e-commerce capabilities, but with differences that make it vital for you to stay informed about prior to choosing between the two.

It’s important to note that Wordpress uses Woocommerce for e-commerce which costs a minimum of $55 per month. Webflow’s e-commerce capabilities are available at $36 a month billed annually, making it the more affordable option between the two.

As far as security goes, Wordpress security is entirely in your hands, which makes it dangerous to manage any and all sensitive information on your site. Webflow offers free SSL and threat-monitoring, making it a safer option between the two.

Though both platforms are viable options for your e-commerce CMS, the experts at Responsival recommend using a CMS specifically designed with e-commerce in mind. However, since not all sites need e-commerce, it’s important to evaluate your specific needs prior to choosing a CMS. If you’re interested in building a secure e-commerce site, Responsival can help you do so for a price your business can afford.

Webflow vs. Wordpress for Blogging

Choosing the CMS for Sharing Your Biggest Ideas

Content marketing is becoming an increasingly important aspect of digital strategy for businesses. Additionally, we are living in the age of the influencer: people whose ideas and opinions inspire consumer behavior among their audience. What’s the common denominator for both of these marketing tactics? A blog, of course.

When choosing the right CMS for your blog, it’s first important to consider the level of blogging you’ll be doing. If you’re creating a blog for personal or small scale uses, Wordpress is probably a good place to start. On top of building your site with thousands of templates, Wordpress can be free forever; the price will only change once you pay for hosting or plugins.

For basic blogging, this is great news. However, once you take your blog to the next level you will need to focus on SEO and build more dynamic content -- which is why we recommend switching over to Webflow as your blog grows. Webflow includes SEO options and code-free structures to create dynamic blog content. While Webflow does have a free option, it is very limited in the number of pages you can create on the free plan.

All the plugins you’ll need while using Wordpress once your blog is in need of these ore dynamic features can add up quickly, which makes Webflow the better option for growing, high-traffic value blogs. If you’re looking to get a company blog off the ground, get in touch with the content marketing experts at Responsival, where we’ll create original blog content to boost traffic and SEO value to your website.

Bottom Line: Wordpress and Webflow both have a variety of great features. Deciding which one is best for you is heavily dependent on your needs and objectives. If you’re looking to start building a website, blog, or kick off your digital strategy as a whole, get in touch with Responsival. We’ll help you build an online presence that is responsive and results-driven so your brand can continue to grow.