Webflow vs WordPress vs Shopify: which should you build on?
Webflow vs WordPress vs Shopify: I build on all three every month. Here is how I decide which one a client should use.
I build on Webflow, WordPress and Shopify every month, so I do not have a favourite to sell you. Each one is the right answer for a certain kind of business, and the wrong one for others. This is roughly the conversation I have with clients before we pick.
Choose Webflow if your marketing team edits the site a lot
Webflow is great for marketing sites where the design matters and the team wants to publish pages, blog posts and case studies without calling a developer. Hosting, security and updates are handled for you. It gets expensive if you need a big store or complex logic, and some integrations need a workaround.
Choose WordPress if you need its plugins or full control
WordPress runs a huge part of the web for a reason. If you need memberships, bookings, multilingual content, a large blog or a specific plugin your industry relies on, it is hard to beat. The catch is maintenance: updates, backups and security are your job, or mine on a care plan. I build custom themes rather than heavy page builders, which keeps it fast.
Choose Shopify if you are selling products
For most product businesses Shopify is the safest choice. Checkout, payments, taxes and inventory just work, and the app store covers almost everything else. A custom theme makes it look like your brand instead of everyone else's. WooCommerce is the alternative when you already run WordPress or need unusual product logic.
What about Next.js and custom builds?
When the site is really part of a product, with logged-in users, dashboards or live data, I build it custom with Next.js. It is more work up front and gives you complete control, but it is overkill for a simple marketing site.
Moving from one platform to another
Switching platforms is very doable. The part that matters is keeping your search rankings: mapping every old URL to a new one with 301 redirects, carrying meta titles and descriptions across and watching Search Console for a few weeks after launch. I do this on every migration.
Look at the cost over three years
Compare the total cost, not just the build. Webflow and Shopify have monthly plans but very little maintenance. WordPress hosting is cheap but needs updates and the occasional fix. Over three years they often end up closer than people expect.
A quick way to decide
Selling products? Shopify. Content-heavy marketing site with a design-led brand? Webflow. Need a specific plugin, memberships or a big blog? WordPress. Building software? Custom. If you are still unsure, tell me what the site needs to do and I will give you a straight recommendation.