What Is Webflow? A Beginner's Guide to the Visual Website Builder

Learn what Webflow is and how it works. This beginner-friendly guide explains its features, uses, and why designers, marketers, and businesses choose it.

Published March 20, 2025
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x min read
Summary

Webflow is a no-code website builder that allows you to design, build, and launch custom websites visually—without writing code. It's used by designers, marketers, and businesses to create flexible, responsive websites.

🌐 What Is Webflow?

Webflow is a no-code visual website builder that lets users design, build, and launch responsive websites without coding.

Unlike traditional drag-and-drop platforms, Webflow offers precise control over layouts, animations, and structure. It's a cloud-based tool that generates clean HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as you work.

Webflow is commonly used to create landing pages, company websites, portfolios, blogs, and more. Its all-in-one platform includes design tools, hosting, CMS features, SEO capabilities, and team collaboration options.

🗝️ Key Features of Webflow

Webflow stands out for its:

  1. Visual design control — Build layouts visually using flexbox and grid tools.
  2. No-code development — Automatically generates clean HTML/CSS/JavaScript.
  3. Responsive design — Optimise layouts for desktop, tablet, and mobile.
  4. Built-in CMS — Create dynamic content like blogs or product collections.
  5. Hosting included — Fast global hosting with backups and SSL certificates.
  6. SEO tools — Manage meta tags, slugs, alt text, schema markup, and redirects.
  7. Team collaboration — Assign roles and share workspaces seamlessly.

🖱️ What Can You Build With Webflow?

Webflow is versatile enough to build:

  • Company websites
  • Landing pages
  • Portfolios
  • Blogs
  • Client portals
  • MVPs or prototypes

It's often chosen by startups, agencies, and teams looking for flexibility without relying heavily on developers.

👤 Who Uses Webflow?

Webflow is used by:

  • Designers — Transform static designs into live websites.
  • Developers — Export static code or extend functionality with APIs (note: hosted-only CMS/e-commerce features).
  • Marketers — Launch landing pages and update content quickly.
  • Entrepreneurs — Create polished sites without developer costs.
  • Agencies — Deliver client projects efficiently with fewer handoffs.

💡 Why Choose Webflow?

Reasons to consider Webflow include:

  1. Full design freedom — No themes or restrictions; create custom designs.
  2. No-code development — Build advanced layouts visually.
  3. Responsive by default — Design once; refine for mobile devices.
  4. Powerful CMS — Manage structured content without plugins.
  5. Built-in animations — Add scroll effects or hover states easily.
  6. Fast hosting — Global CDN with SSL included.
  7. SEO-ready — Clean code with sitemap generation built-in.
  8. Easy integrations — Connect tools like Google Analytics or Zapier.
  9. Client-friendly editor — Allow clients to edit content safely.
  10. AI-powered tools — Generate layouts or content using built-in AI.

💰 Webflow Pricing

Webflow offers several pricing options:

  • Site plans start at AUD$21/month for basic websites
  • E-commerce plans start at AUD$42/month for online stores
  • Workspace plans for teams start at AUD$43/month
  • Free plan available with Webflow branding and basic features

All paid plans include hosting, SSL certificates, and varying levels of monthly visits and CMS items. For the most current pricing details, visit Webflow's pricing page.

🔋 Is Webflow Right for You?

Webflow offers more control than Wix or Squarespace while avoiding WordPress's complexity of plugins or backend setup.

It's suitable for anyone seeking a custom site that's fast, scalable, and easy to manage—without constant developer support.

However, Webflow might not be ideal for:

  • Complete beginners — The learning curve can be steep if you have no design experience
  • Budget-conscious users — More affordable options exist for simple websites
  • Developers who prefer direct code access — Some may find the visual interface limiting
  • Content-heavy sites with minimal design needs — Traditional CMS platforms might be more efficient
  • Users needing extensive custom backend functionality — Webflow's backend customisation is limited
  • E-commerce businesses of any size — Webflow's e-commerce features have significant limitations including restricted payment gateways (Stripe only), limited checkout customisation, no user accounts, and basic inventory management

Consider your specific needs, technical comfort level, and budget when deciding if Webflow is the right choice for your project.

Need help setting up your Webflow website? RankRise specialises in building scalable Webflow sites optimised for performance and SEO.

Contact us for more information.

Looking to improve your strategy? Get in touch with our team today.

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