How to implement a website design?

WordPress vs Webflow vs Framer vs Custom Code

A well-designed website is only the beginning; its true success lies in how effectively that design is implemented. The way you bring your design to life —t hrough quality, speed, and cost-efficiency — goes beyond just choosing the right developer. The technology you select plays a crucial role in shaping the final outcome.

Should you rely on the reliable, “old school” method with WordPress, the CMS that has been a cornerstone of web development for years? Or perhaps you should consider the modern, “new school” platforms like Webflow and Framer, which offer innovative approaches to design and user interaction?

And let’s not overlook custom code, which offers complete control and customization down to the smallest detail. Each of these options has its own strengths and limitations. In this article, we’ll dive into how to choose the right tool to best suit your business needs and project goals.

WordPress

WordPress is still one of the most popular platforms for building websites. In many cases, it’s the default choice. And for good reason — it’s been around for over 20 years. But the question is, is the default option always the best one?

Thanks to its popularity and open-source nature, WordPress offers a wealth of resources, plugins, and experts ready to help. You can find an answer to almost any question with ease. There’s virtually nothing you can’t do with WordPress. If you can think of it, there’s probably a plugin for it. But…

Plugins are not just a nice addition; they’re a necessity to unlock the full potential of WordPress. Soon, you realize just how many plugins you need to run a relatively simple website. And that comes with a few issues:

• Instead of using a single tool to manage your website, you have to rely on multiple dependencies.

• A high number of plugins can negatively affect your website’s performance.

• There’s a risk of installing a plugin that might be malicious.

• Not all plugins work smoothly — some may conflict with each other.

• Plugins need regular updates to avoid security and performance issues, and in some cases, you might need expert help.

• There’s a risk that a plugin developer will stop updating their plugin, which could cause security vulnerabilities.

• Plugins that provide essential functionalities are often paid.

However, this doesn’t mean you should rule out WordPress from the start. It remains one of the most versatile and flexible tools for building websites. If you’re willing to accept its quirks, WordPress can be invaluable, especially when the limitations of modern website tools start to show. In summary:

Pros

• There’s really not a whole lot you can’t do with WordPress.

• SEO is easy to set up and customize.

• Tons of resources — tools, plugins, and learning materials.

• Huge community and lots of support.

Cons

• Plugin issues — they can slow down your website and make it vulnerable to attacks.

• You’re relying on multiple plugins instead of just one tool — which means there’s a higher chance something might break.

• Maintenance can be time-consuming and frustrating — you’ll probably end up hiring someone to handle it sooner or later.

• Hidden costs — WordPress is free, but most of the useful tools and plugins cost money. And don’t forget about hosting, which isn’t included.

It’s true that WordPress is still the most popular tool for building websites. But it’s also true that its popularity is on the decline. This is largely due to new, rapidly evolving no-code tools that are offering more and more capabilities every day. Webflow and Framer, in particular, are worth a closer look. Do they have what it takes to replace WordPress? Let’s find out.

Webflow

Webflow is quickly becoming one of WordPress’s biggest competitors in the website-building market. With its modern, no-code approach to web design, Webflow is attracting entrepreneurs and designers who are looking for simplicity, aesthetics, and efficiency.

Its intuitive interface allows for building websites without writing a single line of code, integrated hosting, and the ability to import projects from Figma — all of which significantly speed up and simplify the website implementation process. And as we know, less developer work means lower implementation costs.

One of Webflow’s biggest strengths is the quality of the generated code, which translates into excellent performance and fast-loading websites. Additionally, the code is easy for developers to understand if there’s ever a need for modification. Just like in WordPress, the code can be exported, but you lose the ability to manage quick updates through the user-friendly interface.

The downsides? Not everyone is a fan of the subscription model that Webflow is based on. You can host your site and use Webflow’s features as long as you pay the annual or monthly subscription fee. For smaller projects, the prices aren’t bad, but larger projects require more expensive plans, especially if you need e-commerce functionality.

Pros

• A wide range of features that let you do practically anything in Webflow.

• Webflow API: Integrate with external tools for automation, CRM, marketing, or payments.

• Faster and easier website implementation than in WordPress.

• Active and helpful community on Webflow Forum.

• All-in-one solution: Everything you need is in one place. You don’t have to worry about backups, hosting, or staging environments.

• SEO friendly: Webflow offers built-in SEO tools, helping you achieve high search engine rankings without additional plugins.

• Editor Mode: Allows non-developers to easily manage and update website content without the risk of accidentally breaking the site.

• Code export capability.

Cons

• Expensive and complex pricing plans for larger projects.

• Limited e-commerce functionality.

• Not ideal for large and complex projects.

• Requires more learning compared to other no-code tools.

Framer

Framer and Webflow are similar tools, but they’re not identical. Framer started as a design and prototyping tool, and today it allows for building and deploying websites without the need for coding, although it does provide the option to add custom code.

This makes Framer stand out as a highly intuitive tool that enables easy and quick creation of advanced interactions and animations. I see this as a key feature because well-crafted animations are an excellent way to engage users. What’s more, Framer is evolving rapidly, regularly adding new features and improvements.

Building websites with Framer is incredibly fast. It’s not just about the simple interface and quick project import from Figma. Framer automatically manages styles and components, meaning we don’t have to spend as much time on technical aspects that affect the code structure in other tools.

All of this, combined with attractive pricing, makes Framer a really good choice for less demanding projects like landing pages or business websites. For more complex projects that require advanced content management, backend integrations, or extensive e-commerce features, Framer might not be the fastest solution.

Pros

• Building websites with Framer is incredibly fast and relatively simple.

• Allows for creating advanced interactions and animations.

• Introduces new features surprisingly quickly.

• Lower costs compared to Webflow.

• Active and supportive community on Framer Community.

• Solid SEO capabilities similar to Webflow.

Cons

• Less advanced CMS features compared to WordPress or Webflow.

• No support for API — limited integration with external applications.

• No code export capability.

• Not suitable for complex projects requiring back-end integrations.

Custom code

Finally, it’s worth mentioning the traditional, independent method of implementing websites. Custom code differs from the previously mentioned solutions. Building a website from scratch offers full control over every aspect of the code, providing unlimited customization options and flexibility.

However, this approach comes with higher costs and more work. It makes sense when available tools can’t meet the specific requirements of a project — when you need advanced functionality, high scalability, and complete control over every aspect of the website.

Pros

• Full control: Ability to customize every aspect of the website according to specific requirements.

• No limitations imposed by platforms, allowing for the creation of unique features and interactions.

• High scalability: Ideal for large projects that require handling a lot of traffic and data.

• Performance optimization: Full capability to optimize the website for speed and performance.

Cons

• Higher costs: Requires hiring experienced developers, which leads to higher expenses.

• More time and effort: Building and implementing a website from scratch is more time-consuming.

• Complexity in management and maintenance: Requires regular maintenance and technical support, which can be challenging for companies without a dedicated IT team.

• Lack of large community support and ready-made resources, unlike popular platforms.

Final words

Ultimately, the choice of technology depends mainly on the specifics of the project. Each solution has its pros and cons. WordPress is versatile and popular, with a vast ecosystem of plugins, but its maintenance can be problematic. Webflow allows for quick implementation of aesthetic, responsive websites without coding, but it’s expensive and not suitable for large projects.

Framer is perfect for those who want to create advanced animations and interactions quickly and easily, but like Webflow, it’s not suited for more complex projects with advanced CMS and back-end needs. Custom code offers the most possibilities, but it’s costly and time-consuming.

My choice? I usually don’t design complex websites (except for e-commerce), so I’ve gone with Framer. I started by implementing my own website and found it to be a great decision. I doubt any other solution would be as fast and relatively affordable.

Recently, I’ve also started recommending Framer to my clients, as long as the project specifications allow for it. Not everyone is immediately convinced, especially with the subscription payment model, but it’s hard to overlook the advantages of this tool.

I haven’t focused much on e-commerce in this post because it requires completely different tools, but I might write a post comparing the methods for implementing fully-fledged online stores. Subscribe so you don’t miss it!