Want to built a website or a landing page for your app? You'll probably get torn between two powerful tools: Webflow and Framer.

Both Webflow and Framer have emerged as the replacement of good old Wordpress. They're "no/low" code web development platform where anyone from designer / PM / developers / and non tech can create stunning websites.

Both are ideal for static websites, simple landing pages, and e-commerce stores. They have heavily invested in their CMS systems (content management system) to allow clients to easily manage website content and optimised SEO.

So given those similarities, when should you pick Webflow or Framer for your next website? Having built Kairn's landing page on Webflow, and this website on Framer I'll tell you what I learned.

In this article, we'll explore the strengths and differences of each tool to help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and preferences.

Webflow: Custom Coding, Design Flexibility, Faster learning

Yes, anyone can create a pretty website on Webflow. But it's also the case on Framer. So what makes the different?

• The magic of Webflow shines if you enjoy coding. Webflow allows you to dive deeper into the code and make custom modifications, giving you the flexibility to create a truly unique and tailored website.

• Webflow also allows you to exports clean and semantic code, which makes it easy for developers to work with and maintain the website.

• Webflow has the largest community of users and a wealth of resources available to help users learn and troubleshoot issues. You'll find dozens of classes to pick up the right skills, free templates, YouTube videos. From the very beginning, Webflow's founders invested in building this community which is now one of their biggest assets.

• Beyond the people community, Webflow has created an app marketplace which helps you connect your website to services (including Allow for all e-commerce APIs for example 👀).

• Finding the right freelance to build your Webflow website will be easier as the community is bigger.

Framer: Pro Design, Animation Capabilities, Performance

If you're a designer who wants to create web experiences without delving too deeply into code, Framer is an attractive choice. It shares a logic similar to popular design tools like Figma, making it easy to grasp. Some key traits here:

• Because Framer is built for designers, the tool is perfect to accelerate web development when you master the likes of Figma. Typically, Framer had variables even before Figma, but that was a notion made for designers.

• Framer truly shines in its animation capabilities. With Framer, you can create fluid and dynamic interactions, bringing your web designs to life. Its extensive animation features, coupled with a powerful prototyping environment, allow you to showcase and test your animations.

• Framer is known for its optimal website performance, ensuring that your creations are not only visually appealing but also deliver a smooth and efficient user experience. Typically, animations and images tend to slow down Webflow websites while they are automatically optimised on Framer.

• While both are optimised for SEO, Framer is said to have the upper hand as we've seen images and animation are optimised thus the overall loading time is decreased which improves your website ranking.

• Another top one on Framer's end is how collaborative the tool is - while Webflow only allows for one user to be editing the website at a time, Framer let's you collaborate easily. (Reminds you of Sketch vs Figma? me too 👀).

• Because Framer is more of a pro-design tool, it has a steeper learning curve on its advanced feature set. However, the community is definitely growing and you'll find fewer but great resources to learn the tips and tricks (I love this Twitter account - Framer University)

• Oh and on the learning curve, Framer recently released Framer AI which automatically creates a website if you give it a little brief. It's honestly pretty impressive so check it too.

  
  

Choosing the Right Tool for Your Needs

To determine whether Webflow or Framer is the best fit for your web development needs, consider the following factors:

1. Custom Coding vs. No-Code Approach

If you prefer a lot of custom coding and want complete control over your website's design and functionality, Webflow's flexibility will serve you well. On the other hand, if you lean towards a low to no-code approach and prioritize streamlined design and animation capabilities, Framer may be the better choice for you.

2. Design vs. Development Focus

Are you more inclined towards design and want to create visually stunning web experiences? Framer's intuitive interface and animation features make it an excellent option. However, if you want to balance design flexibility with extensive development capabilities, Webflow offers a comprehensive solution.

3. Community Support and Template Libraries

Webflow has been around for a longer time and has a larger community, resulting in a more diverse collection of templates and resources to draw inspiration from. On the other hand, Framer's template library may be smaller, but it continues to grow in popularity among designers who appreciate its animation-centric features.

4. Collaboration Needs

If you intend to have multiple people collaborating at the same time on the website, Framer will probably have your vote. However, Webflow has a robust customer success team used to bigger teams.

Conclusion

Both Webflow and Framer are powerful tools that can help product managers and designers bring their web development projects to life. Webflow provides custom coding capabilities, design flexibility, and a well-established community, while Framer offers streamlined design experiences, impressive animation capabilities, and optimal website performance.

My personal preference goes for Framer for startup clients wanting delightful thou performant websites, and Webflow for bigger clients.

If you're still unsure which tool to choose or need assistance in implementing your web development project using either Webflow or Framer, feel free to reach out to me. As a product manager with expertise in web development, I can provide guidance and support to ensure your project's success.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,

Pat