Framer vs Webflow

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Webflow is a popular name when it comes to web development and design. It empowers businesses of all sizes to build a fully functional and responsive website without having to code. 

Framer, released in 2015, has emerged as a strong contender to Webflow owing to its amazing animations and ease of use. 

So, if you’re confused between the two, this blog makes a comprehensive comparison between them to help you find the best fit. 

Webflow Overview

Webflow is a no-code website builder that lets anyone build their website from scratch. Its intuitive drag-and-drop visual editor, customizable templates, third-party integrations, built-in SEO tools, and more have won it a loyal user base of over 3.5 million people. 

Although marketed as a no-code platform, it does allow custom coding for advanced features. So it’s a win-win situation for both coders and non-coders. Moreover, secure hosting and effortless domain connection ensure lightning-fast websites and a professional online presence. 

Framer overview

Framer is a powerful prototyping and web design tool that prioritizes design fidelity and interactivity. Its visual interface simplifies layout creation, with customizable templates and integrations catering to both novices and seasoned professionals. 

Unlike a few competitors, Framer excels in animation and prototyping, turning static designs into vibrant, realistic experiences. Other perks include custom domains, a handy mini-editor, and competitive pricing.

Framer vs Webflow: Comparison

Below is a feature-based comparison of Framer and Webflow to help you understand where these tools excel and where they lack. 

Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. Design and layout
2. SEO capabilities
3. Integrations
4. Collaboration
5. Learning curve
6. Pricing
7. Use cases

Let us get started. 

Design and layout

Good design and layout features not only enhance user experience and visual appeal but also ensure brand consistency across the website. Here’s what Webflow and Framer have to offer. 

Webflow

Webflow offers unparalleled flexibility in website design through the utilization of HTML5, CSS3, and Javascript as its front-end technologies. Notwithstanding, proficiency in these languages is not a prerequisite for building a website on Webflow.

The platform's drag-and-drop editor expeditiously facilitates the creation of fundamental website structures using quick stack elements. For more intricate designs, users can effortlessly select from a variety of pre-built sliders and tabs. For those well-versed in the platform's front-end technologies, custom coding is also an option.

Additionally, Webflow allows you to convert recurring elements such as navigation bars and footers into reusable components. This makes it easy to use them across the entire website. The live preview feature gives a real-time visualization of the website's development, guaranteeing alignment with the your vision. 

Furthermore, users can seamlessly import designs from Figma, enhancing the integration of their creative assets into the Webflow environment.

Framer

Framer also enables you to create pixel-perfect, aesthetic-looking websites, without the code crunch. Its flexible grids and stacks guarantee design responsiveness, allowing precise control over element placement. For advanced functionality, you can also use React to custom code. 

Framer works as a ‘free-form canvas’, giving users the freedom to design without constraints like technical incompetence and lack of proper tools. It also provides a comfortable environment for users familiar with Sketch, Figma, and XD.

Additionally, Framer allows you to import your existing Figma projects. It's important to know, however, that you may lose the quality, fidelity, and animations originally present in the Figma designs.

SEO capabilities

For content-driven teams, looking at SEO capabilities when choosing a web designing tool is extremely crucial. Webflow, undoubtedly, wins the trophy here. 

Webflow

Webflow stands out with its comprehensive set of built-in SEO features. It has a built-in CMS that simplifies managing and publishing content. Thus, eliminating the need for external plugins.

It also gives users direct control over meta tags, image alt text, schema markup, and sitemap generation within the visual interface, simplifying optimization. The platform's commitment to clean, semantic code aligns with SEO best practices enhancing crawlability and potential rankings.

Framer

Framer was originally built as a prototyping tool. So when it comes to SEO, it lacks several essential features. It, however, does cover the basics like clean code and adding meta descriptions. 

Moreover, even though it has a native CMS, it isn’t very powerful. So, unlike Webflow, you will need external plugins for content management in Framer.

Integrations

Integrations are crucial for any web development tool because they eliminate the need to use multiple software for different functionalities. 

Webflow

Webflow has a limited number of native integrations. However, it compensates through its extensive suite of third-party integrations. Webflow offers form, payment, chat, calendar, social media, hosting, and more integrations. These include popular tools like MailChimp, Shopify, Google Analytics, Zoho, and more. 

Framer

Framer also offers integrations with popular tools like Hubspot, Typeform, Shopify, and more. However, some users feel that their marketing and analytics integrations are insufficient. Setting proper validation and collecting UTM data is not an easy task and requires coding to do so. 

Pricing

Framer and Webflow have free plans for hobby sites. When comparing paid plans, Framer appears more affordable, but a deeper look reveals a different reality.

Webflow

Webflow's paid subscription starts at $14 per month, billed annually. The basic plan offers 150 pages, 250k monthly visitors, and 500 form submissions each month. The CMS plan ($23/month), specifically tailored for content-driven websites, offers an expansive allocation of 150 pages, CMS items, 200 GB bandwidth, and up to 1k form submissions monthly. 

For larger organizations with more extensive requirements, Webflow provides the option to upgrade to the Business plan at $39 per month. You may also explore the tailored features of the Enterprise plans, customized to meet specific business needs.

Framer

Framer’s trial period ends in 14 days. Its basic plan starts at $5 per month, providing a minimalistic offering suitable solely for a landing page. This plan restricts users to just two pages—the home page and a 404 error page—with a visitor cap set at 1k per month. 

For larger teams, the basic plan at $15 per month extends functionality to accommodate up to 10 editors and unlimited pages. However, it offers a bandwidth limit of 10 GB, notably less than Webflow's 200 GB at $23, and maintains the 1k visitor threshold.

If your goal is to scale your website in the future, Framer may not present the most economically viable solution over time. Ultimately, it may become imperative to move to their enterprise plan to unlock the full suite of essential functionalities required for robust business operations.

Collaboration 

Team collaboration enhances project alignment, expedites problem identification, and results in better designs. So it is important to know how collaborative both these tools are.

Webflow

Webflow simplifies team collaboration through versioning by minimizing the need for continuous back-and-forth communication. It enables multiple team members to collaboratively edit and design content, providing a real-time overview of each teammate's actions. 

Framer

Framer allows real-time collaboration, letting you invite others to view and edit your project. You can see their current actions and engage in real-time chat. 

However, sharing projects with clients or developers is somewhat challenging, as it requires sending them an open file. While a share link option is available, it becomes unusable once you close your project or end the live preview, introducing a potential inconvenience.

Learning curve

Mastering both tools requires extensive learning. Webflow may seem daunting at first for new users since it has more features than Framer. Let’s find out if it is true. 

Webflow

Webflow, despite being a no-code tool, takes some dedication to master. You'll find excellent learning resources on Webflow University, including courses and documentation. The Webflow community is another valuable resource if you run into any challenges. 

Intermediate and advanced users can explore incorporating coding skills into their proficiency for a more comprehensive understanding of Webflow's capabilities. 

Framer

Framer presents a steeper learning curve compared to Webflow, mainly due to Webflow's more intuitive interface. Moreover, Webflow offers numerous tutorials and a supportive community, making it more accessible. 

However, Framer is challenging for new users as its tutorials assume familiarity with Figma. Moreover, seeking specific answers in the Framer community support group can feel like fiddling in the dark. It’s there, but you don’t really know where.

Use cases

Both tools offer amazing features and integrations to build a website. Yet, both have separate use cases. 

Webflow

Webflow is ideal for those wanting to build scalable websites without coding, particularly well-suited for B2B websites. Its marketing and analytics tools make it an excellent choice, especially for those seeking CMS capabilities. 

However, we don’t recommend it for e-commerce websites due to limited features. 

Framer

Framer is ideal for individuals who prioritize design. The tool provides advanced control over animations and interactions, catering to those seeking intricate and aesthetic design elements for their websites. 

Webflow vs Framer: Which is Better?

Choosing the right tool hinges on understanding your project's core focus and your team's expertise. Webflow empowers quick buildouts, scalability, and content-driven websites, while Framer unleashes design creativity and fosters interactive experiences. 

Ultimately, the best platform is the one that aligns with your unique vision and empowers you to forge your digital masterpiece.

At Amply, we excel in Webflow web development and design. We help you shape your website, elevate your brand, and tell your story in a way that resonates with your customers' needs. So, book a call with us today. 

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FAQ

1. Is Framer better than Webflow in 2024?

The choice between Framer and Webflow depends on your needs. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use scalable website builder, Webflow is the choice for you. However, if you’re looking for a prototyping platform with advanced animations, Framer is your go-to choice. 

2. Which is easier to learn: Framer or Webflow?

Webflow is easier to learn than Framer because of the vast resources and community support available for it. 

3. Why is Webflow expensive?

Webflow may appear expensive due to its extensive features, including a built-in CMS, hosting, and plugins. However, compared to other website builders, where you might have to pay for these components individually, Webflow is a more cost-effective option in the long run.

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