Simple summary

• WordPress - Cheapest way to start. You install it, update it, and manage it yourself.
• Webflow - A little more per month, but you don’t worry about maintenance or setup.
• Choose WordPress if you want full control and can handle tech tasks. Choose Webflow if you want things done for you.

Quick price comparison

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These figures are based on the most affordable plans available as of 2025. If you require further customization or additional details, feel free to ask!​

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What are WordPress and Webflow?

WordPress

• Free tool for building websites
• You find your own hosting and plugins
• Needs updates and backups

Webflow

• Tool and hosting all in one
• You design online, no need to install anything
• No updates or server stuff

What is a CMS and when you don’t need one

CMS stands for “Content Management System” It lets you edit your website without needing a developer. You can change text, add blog posts, or update images on your own.

But you don’t always need a CMS.

• If your site is small and the content rarely changes, you can skip it.
• If you only update your site once or twice a year, just ask your designer to do it.
• Using a CMS means more features but also more cost.

Webflow offers a cheaper plan without CMS. That works well if you don’t need blogs or regular updates.

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First-Time costs

WordPress

• Hosting: from $5/month
• Theme: many free or $50-$100
• Plugins: free or up to $100 total
• Elementor: $59/year if you want drag-and-drop tools like Webflow

Webflow

• Hosting plan: $15-$20/month
• Template: many free, some up to $79
• No extra plugin needed, builder is built-in

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Time is money

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Why it matters: If you pay a developer $75/hr and Webflow saves 10 hours, that’s $750 back in your pocket.

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Maintenance and updates

WordPress

• You must update plugins and themes
• You need to back up and secure your site
• Can hire someone to manage it (about $100/month)

Webflow

• No updates or plugins to manage
• Backups, SSL, and speed all built-in
• You focus only on content

Hidden cost: Time spent clicking “update plugin” is still a cost, even if it’s after hours.

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Flexibility vs cost

• WordPress has many plugins for almost anything
• Webflow gives you what most people need out of the box
• If you want extras (like more languages or user logins), you can use extra tools (which cost more)

Elementor helps WordPress feel like Webflow, but it adds cost and time to set up.

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Which one should you use?

Go with WordPress if:

• You want the cheapest setup
• You want to add a lot of extra features
• You know how to update and fix things or have someone who does

Go with Webflow if:

• You want things to “just work”
• You don’t want to mess with updates or errors
• You want to edit content easily without breaking layout

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WordPress pricing overview (2025)

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Webflow pricing overview (2025)

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Cheaper way to do E-commerce in Webflow

Webflow has its own e-commerce feature, but it's not the cheapest. Plans start at $42 per month, and they charge a 2 percent fee unless you use the top plan.

You can save money by using Shopify’s Buy Button inside Webflow.

• Build your site in Webflow as usual
• Use Shopify to manage products and checkout
• Embed Shopify Buy Buttons on your product pages
• The Shopify Lite plan costs only $9 per month

This setup gives you full design control in Webflow and the e-commerce features of Shopify, for much less than Webflow’s e-commerce plans.

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FAQ

Is WordPress free?
Yes, but you pay for hosting, design, and plugins.

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Does Webflow charge sales fees?
Only if you're using their online store. Regular sites pay no sales fees.

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What if I don’t plan to update my site?
Use Webflow’s Basic plan or a static WordPress theme. Cheaper and easier.

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Which is faster to set up?
Webflow. It’s already hosted, and you don’t need plugins.

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Which is safer?
Webflow, because you don’t have to worry about plugin updates or site hacks.

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Can I switch later?
Yes. You can move your content, but some features may need to be rebuilt on a new platform.

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Final thoughts

• Cheapest: WordPress (but only if you do everything yourself)
• Easiest: Webflow (especially for non-tech users)
• Most options: WordPress (if you know how to manage plugins and updates)

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Still unsure? Read our complete website cost breakdown or talk to Designow about a Webflow vs WordPress audit for your specific case.

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