Resource

Webflow vs WordPress: A Deep Comparison

Maintenance, Hosting, CMS, Security and Beyond

If you’re weighing up platforms for your next website, chances are you’ve heard of the two heavyweights: Webflow and WordPress.

While both can power impressive websites, they serve different audiences and have very different philosophies. This in-depth comparison will help you understand the pros and cons of each - so you can decide which one fits your business best.
‍

At a Glance: Quick Comparison Table

‍

Feature	Webflow	WordPress
Hosting	Built-in, fast global CDN	Self-managed or third-party hosting
Security	Fully managed & secure	Depends on plugins and hosting
CMS	Visual, no-code CMS	Powerful but complex for clients
Design Flexibility	Pixel-perfect control in browser	Theme/template-driven (or custom dev)
Plugins & Add-ons	Native or custom-built	60k+ plugins, some risky/unreliable
SEO Tools	Built-in and easy to use	Plugin-dependent (e.g. Yoast)
Maintenance	Minimal, Webflow handles most	Regular updates required
Learning Curve	Low for clients, moderate for builders	Varies widely based on setup
Pricing Transparency	All-in-one pricing	Can vary due to plugins, hosting

1. Hosting & Performance

Webflow:

Hosting is included and optimised on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Fastly CDN
No setup required - just connect your domain and go live
Automatic scaling, fast loading, and global delivery built in

WordPress:

You must choose your own hosting provider
Performance depends heavily on your server, theme, and plugins
Often requires caching plugins or CDNs to match Webflow’s speed

Verdict: Webflow wins for ease, reliability, and speed out-of-the-box.
‍

2. Design Flexibility

Webflow:

Visual canvas with full control over every pixel
Ideal for custom designs, animations, and layout creativity
No themes - every site is bespoke and fully responsive

WordPress:

Relies on themes or builders (like Elementor or Divi)
Custom design possible but often requires a developer
Can feel rigid or template-based unless heavily customised

Verdict: Webflow gives designers and clients more creative freedom.

‍

3. CMS Experience

Webflow CMS:

Built-in, structured content collections (blogs, case studies, etc.)
Easy for clients to update with on-page editing
Ideal for dynamic but manageable content sets

WordPress:

Powerful but plugin-heavy
Clients often find the admin interface confusing or bloated
More suited to large content sites (e.g. news, directories)

Verdict: Webflow is more client-friendly, while WordPress suits high-volume publishing.
‍

4. Maintenance & Updates

Webflow:

No plugins to update
No server issues to manage
Backups, security, and patches handled automatically

WordPress:

Requires frequent plugin, theme, and core updates
Vulnerable to conflicts, breaking changes, and downtime
Often needs a developer or maintenance service

Verdict: Webflow wins for peace of mind and low maintenance.
‍

5. Security

Webflow:

Built-in SSL on every site
No plugin vulnerabilities
Hosted on secure infrastructure with DDoS protection

WordPress:

Security depends on your hosting + plugin hygiene
Plugins are often outdated or unsupported
Requires third-party tools for full protection

Verdict: Webflow is secure by design. WordPress needs constant attention.
‍

6. SEO Capabilities

Webflow:

Built-in meta titles, descriptions, alt tags, Open Graph, and redirects
Clean, semantic code structure helps rankings
Fast loading and mobile optimisation baked in

WordPress:

Requires plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math
Code bloat from themes/plugins can harm performance
SEO control is possible, but setup varies site to site

Verdict: Webflow simplifies SEO - no plugins, no fuss.

‍

7. Cost & Transparency

Webflow:

Flat pricing structure based on site needs (static vs CMS vs eCommerce)
Hosting included in plans
No hidden fees - everything managed under one roof
‍

WordPress:

“Free” to start - but costs add up fast:
- Hosting
- Premium plugins or themes
- Maintenance help
- Security and performance tools

Verdict: Webflow is more transparent. WordPress can become costly over time.

‍

Final Verdict: Which One is Right for You?

Choose Webflow if:

You want full control over design and layout
You prefer visual editing and simplicity
You want fast, secure hosting with no tech overhead
You hate managing plugins or chasing updates

Choose WordPress if:

You have highly complex CMS needs (e.g. 1000s of posts or users)
You have in-house dev resources or IT support
You rely on specific plugins or integrations not supported in Webflow

Make the Smart Move with 3SIX5 Digital

We help businesses migrate from WordPress to Webflow every week. Whether you’re tired of plugin conflicts or want a faster, cleaner website that’s easy to manage - we’ve got you covered.

Ready to ditch the bloat? Let’s make your site work harder →

‍