Webflow vs. Framer: our take on the stars of no-code web development

If you're in the web design and development game, you probably know that Webflow and Framer are leading the no-code conversation. They’re both powerful platforms in their own rights, and we’ve worked with each enough to know their strengths - and where they might trip you up. Rather than giving you a list of generic pros and cons, here’s our actual experience with these tools: what we love, what frustrates us, and how we decide which to use per project.

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Webflow: The Professional Workhorse

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Webflow’s been around long enough that it feels mature. You can tell it was built by people who understand the demands of professional web design, and it has the feature depth to back it up.

What We Like About Webflow

1. Total Design Control
   Webflow is the closest you’ll get to custom code without actually coding. It’s not trying to hide the details, and for designers who want to control every aspect of the layout, this is exactly what you need. If you’ve got a specific vision and want to dial it in to the last pixel, Webflow’s flexibility is hard to beat.
2. A Real CMS for Content-Heavy Sites
   Webflow’s CMS is robust. If you’re building something more substantial - think blogs, portfolios, or e-commerce - it’s equipped to handle complex content structures and dynamic data with ease. This makes it ideal for clients who want to maintain a blog or manage a large amount of content without feeling boxed in.
3. Clean and Exportable Code
   Webflow writes clean code, and allows you to export said code. This can be super handy if you ever need to migrate to a different platform for any reason.

Where Webflow Can Be Frustrating

1. Learning Curve
   Webflow is powerful, but it’s not a beginner’s tool. There’s a learning curve, and you’ll need to invest some time to get comfortable. But if you’re serious about design, the trade-off is worth it - just don’t expect to be up and running in an afternoon.
2. Price
   Webflow can get pricey, especially when you add in extras like e-commerce, team collaboration, or larger bandwidth allotments for heavy traffic. For smaller projects or clients with limited budgets, it might feel like overkill. But for complex builds or serious e-commerce, the pricing usually justifies itself.

Framer: The Newcomer with Potential

Framer started as a prototyping tool, and while it’s come a long way in website building, it’s still evolving. If Webflow is the workhorse, Framer is the quick, creative tool you reach for when you want to build something visually exciting without a steep learning curve.

Why We Like Framer

1. Easy to Learn
   As far as no-code custom website builders go, Framer might have the easiest learning curve. It's visual, relatively non-technical, and especially lends itself to those who are familiar with design programs like Figma. You will still need to learn some basic principles of web development to make the best use of it, but you can frankly get off the ground quite quickly with Framer.
2. Real-time Collaboration
   In the same vein as Google Docs and Figma, Framer offers real-time collaboration, but for web development. So while your teammate is in Framer building the greatest site of all time, you can hop in and observe, design, and develop alongside them. This is a pretty new concept to the web development scene, and it opens the doors for unprecedented workflows that we're personally excited about.
3. Animation and Interactions Made Easy
   Framer makes animations accessible. If you need interactive elements and animations but don’t want to spend hours setting them up, Framer is a great option. The animations (via Framer's own animation library, Framer Motion) are smooth and intuitive to create, which is useful when you’re looking to build something that feels dynamic and exciting.

Where Framer Falls Short

1. CMS Limitations
   Framer’s CMS has great UI/UX, but is functionally basic compared to Webflow’s. It’s fine for simpler projects, but if you need a complex content structure, Framer probably isn’t going to meet your needs. We’d hesitate to use it for content-heavy sites or anything requiring a sophisticated CMS.
2. Non-exportable code
   You can't export the code of a Framer site. It can be useful in some cases to be able to export the code of your site, whether for deeper customization, freedom of hosting options, or otherwise. If any of that sounds like a priority for you, Framer won't be your best friend.
3. Still Evolving
   Framer’s new, and while that’s exciting, it also means it’s still ironing out a few rough edges. You’ll likely see frequent updates, but for now, some features might feel limited compared to Webflow. That being said, it's already a tool that we enjoy using for the right use cases, and we're very excited to see how the platform continues to evolve.

So, which one is better?

Ok, that heading is misleading... there's a time and place for both Webflow and Framer, and we're big fans of both for different reasons. 

Webflow is our go-to for serious projects with complex needs, especially if there’s a heavy content requirement or the design needs to be highly customized. It’s got the depth and the power to handle professional builds, and the time invested in learning it pays off in the quality of the final product.

Framer, on the other hand, shines when we’re working on smaller projects that need great visuals and interactions but don’t require a complex backend. In other words, it's great for visually-impressive landing pages and simple sites. We see Framer as a lightweight and practical tool that’s perfect for projects where speed and presentation matter more than deep content management.

Both tools have their place, and ultimately, it comes down to the needs of the project. Give both a try, see which one aligns with your workflow, and if you want an experienced team to navigate these platforms, reach out. We’ve got you covered.

Be good,
Boundary

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