Webflow is a powerful website development tool that allows us to develop web pages without writing code. Combining a visual editor with powerful content management (CMS) tools, Webflow gives users the ability to build anything from simple landing pages to relatively complex pages very quickly.
The Webflow Editor
One of the best things about Webflow is the visual website builder, where you build your website in an intuitive visual user interface that provides a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) experience, while generating HTML, CSS and JavaScript in the background. This allows designers without particular developer expertise to get started, while also having the ability to make custom customizations with third-party integrations and custom code when needed.
Responsive design
Webflow makes it very easy to customize the website different screen sizes. They set you up to develop the website “desktop-first”, which means you start by creating the website on PC screens, then make customizations on tablets and then mobile. Changes you make are applied downwards in size: If you make changes to the PC-sized design, the changes will be applied to tablets and mobiles unless you have overridden this in the past.
It is ideal to have a finished design in e.g. Figma for all screen sizes when you start, and finish developing everything on PC before gradually working your way down in screen size when developing the site in Webflow.
Layout and visual design
Webflow makes it very easy to work with details in layout and design. Through a tool menu that simulates CSS, you can easily change typography, colors, spacing, shadows, states, animations and complex interactions.
Live preview
The visual editor gives you the ability to see your changes in real time. This allows you to instantly see how the website will look on different screen sizes, which can save time on testing and debugging.
Effective Content Editing and CMS
Webflow offers a powerful CMS that makes it easy to manage both dynamic and static content. With two main ways of working — the design editor for visual adjustments and the content editor for easy content editing — both designers and content managers can work efficiently.
Dynamic and static content
Webflows allow you to build dynamic templates that are automatically populated with content from databases, such as articles, projects, services, or product catalogs. At the same time, it is easy to update static content directly in the editor, perfect for elements that do not change often. The combination of dynamic and static content gives you the flexibility to create custom layout solutions without the need for complex integrations.
User-friendly editing for everyone
Once the website is published, it is easy to update and create new content without much technical experience. With the Webflow editor, you can edit text, images and other content directly on the page without having to worry about spoiling the design or layout. This is ideal for marketers or customers who want to update the page without involving designers or developers.
Third-party integrations
One of Webflow's great strengths is its ability to integrate with a wide variety of third-party tools and apps, making it possible to build advanced solutions without huge development costs. Webflow supports integrations with a variety of services, such as:
- Mailchimp and HubSpot for email marketing
- Zapier for automation of workflows
- Vipp and Stripe for payment and e-commerce
- Finsweet: A player providing advanced solutions for Webflow, particularly known for delivering unique customizations that Webflow solutions may not support natively. For example, Finsweet offers filter and search functionality for Webflow CMS collections, and has a number of API integrations that can solve complex needs in a fairly simple way.
Webflow's API also makes it possible to build custom integrations for custom needs. You can easily connect Webflow to your own systems or services, and build applications that talk together across platforms.
The Ecosystem: Communities and Resources
Webflow has a large community of developers, designers and integration partners who are constantly building new tools and resources to expand the platform's capabilities. Finsweet is one example, but there are many other actors who contribute to the ecosystem, whether through templates, courses, or integrations.
Webflow University is another resource for those who want to learn the platform. It offers an extensive collection of videos, articles and courses covering everything from basic design to advanced CMS work. This makes the learning curve considerably easier, even for those new to web design or development.
E-commerce and e-commerce
With Webflow's built-in e-commerce solutions, you can build online stores with custom designs without being limited by predetermined templates or systems commonly found in other platforms. E-commerce in Webflow gives you:
- Full design control over product pages, shopping carts and checkout processes.
- Integration with popular payment systems such as Stripe and PayPal.
- The ability to customize tax, shipping and inventory management directly from the platform.
Other alternatives
In addition to Webflow, there are other platforms such as WordPress, Squarespace and Wix. WordPress is a powerful tool with a wide variety of plugins and themes, but it usually requires some more technical insight. Squarespace and Wix offer simple drag-and-drop solutions that are great for beginners, but have more limitations when it comes to customization and flexibility. Here, Webflow stands out because it offers better control over design, while the platform is powerful enough to handle complex projects.
To summarize
Webflow is an all-in-one tool that makes it easy to build, manage and extend web pages without relying on code. With an intuitive visual editor, powerful CMS, and plenty of integration options, designers and developers alike can create anything from simple landing pages to complex online stores and content-driven websites. Webflow's ecosystem of third-party tools, such as Finsweet, provides even more flexibility, allowing you to build solutions that meet many different needs.
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