Webflow vs Elementor (2021): From an Agency-owner/Freelancer Perspective

Hey there, design enthusiasts! Daniel here, coming at you with another design break. As you may know, I'm part of the team at Live Learning Editor X, where we host monthly NoCode design challenges with awesome prizes and offer mentoring on building design businesses and furthering your career. Today, we'll be discussing an important and often debated topic: Webflow vs Elementor, and what to choose if you're an agency owner or freelancer in 2021.

In the past, I've shared my thoughts on this matter, but as we know, the design world moves fast, and both Webflow and Elementor have gone through some updates since then. So let's get right into the comparison, keeping in mind factors such as price, hosting experience, design experience, platform speed, security, and potential pitfalls.

Price

At first glance, comparing the costs of Webflow and Elementor might seem tricky, considering the numerous hosting providers available for a WordPress and Elementor setup. Meanwhile, Webflow offers a more limited, predetermined set of options. However, when you take into account the crucial aspect of site speed, the price difference narrows significantly.

If you want a site with fast load times and high-quality server support, you're going to need to invest in premium hosting, be it for a WordPress site or Webflow project. Even Elementor's pro license cost is similar when compared to Webflow. So when looking at pricing from the perspective of an agency or a freelancer, I would say the costs are more comparable than they may initially appear.

Hosting Experience

One of the main differences between Webflow and Elementor comes with their hosting experiences. With Elementor, you have the freedom to choose among a plethora of hosting providers for your WordPress site, whereas Webflow comes with its own hosting.

While this may seem limiting at first, Webflow's hosting has some distinct advantages. For one, it is designed specifically for Webflow and is optimized for its platform, which means fewer compatibility issues and higher performance levels. Additionally, their global CDN ensures fast loading times worldwide.

On the other hand, while Elementor allows for more freedom in choosing a hosting provider, you may encounter compatibility issues, especially if you try to save costs on lower-tier providers that might not offer optimal performance and site speed.

Design Experience

When it comes to design freedom, Webflow definitely takes the cake. Its intuitive interface allows for unlimited customization and a superior responsive design experience. With Webflow, you can create unique animations and interactions, edit CSS directly and work like a pro even without access to a coder.

Elementor, on the other hand, is more limited in its design capabilities. While it does provide various widgets and the ability to work with a theme builder, it's simply not as powerful and versatile as Webflow.

Platform Speed

Webflow's hosting platform was developed specifically with Webflow in mind, making it optimized for faster loading times and smoother performance. Additionally, its global CDN guarantees fast load times globally, likely contributing to your website's better user experience and higher overall SEO rankings in Google search results.

On the other hand, for optimal performance and speed with Elementor, you'll need to choose a premium hosting provider that offers fast, high-quality server support. As mentioned earlier, the cost of such hosting is comparable to that of Webflow's.

Security

Webflow offers robust security with built-in SSL certifications and automatic security updates. This ensures a safer browsing experience for your site's visitors and helps maintain your website's integrity.

Elementor, being a WordPress plugin, might be more susceptible to potential security issues down the line, especially given WordPress's open-source nature. Still, it's essential to stress the importance of keeping your WordPress up-to-date and choosing a reliable hosting provider for your Elementor-based website.

Pitfalls & Potential Issues

Both platforms have their own set of potential issues an agency owner or freelancer might face. Webflow, with its all-in-one approach, offers a more streamlined experience, while Elementor relies on a variety of third-party plugins and widgets that might cause compatibility and security issues.

Moreover, unlike Elementor, Webflow offers better built-in SEO capabilities, which can be crucial in today's competitive online landscape. Webflow also outshines Elementor in terms of design freedom and advanced features suitable for more complex projects.

That said, Elementor is still an excellent choice for those who prefer staying within the WordPress ecosystem, as the latter is the most popular CMS globally and offers an almost infinite pool of resources, themes, and plugins.

Wrapping Up

Ultimately, the choice between Webflow and Elementor will come down to your personal preferences, your design and hosting budget, and your website's specific requirements. It would be best if you also considered the types of clients you work with and their expectations.

Both platforms are outstanding in their own way, and as an agency owner or freelancer, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each platform to make the best decision for your business and projects.

At Live Learning Editor X, we support both Webflow and Elementor users in developing their design skills and building a successful design business. Join our community, take part in our monthly NoCode design challenges, and stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, tools, and best practices. Happy designing, everyone!