Comparison · Real numbers
Custom website vs Webflow: when to pick each.
Webflow is right for design-heavy marketing sites where the marketing team needs self-service visual editing, you accept the $24-$49/mo platform fee, and you don't need backend custom logic. Custom code is right when you need performance, custom backend, federal compliance, or zero platform lock-in.
Side by side.
| Metric | Custom | Webflow |
|---|---|---|
| Starting cost | $0 | $1,997 one-time |
| Real monthly cost (CMS plan) | $29/mo | $9/mo hosting |
| Lighthouse Performance | 65-85 | 95+ |
| Custom backend logic | Limited (Logic add-on) | Unlimited |
| Federal contracting compliance | Limited | Full |
| Section 508 / WCAG AA | Possible with effort | Standard |
| Hosting choices | Webflow Cloud only | Any host |
| Visual editing | Yes (main strength) | With Sanity/Strapi |
| Code export | Yes (with CMS plan) | N/A — you own it |
FAQ.
Is Webflow better than Custom for SEO?
Roughly equivalent if Webflow is properly configured. Custom is more flexible but Webflow's defaults are decent.
Can I export Webflow to custom code?
Yes with the CMS plan. Code export gives you static HTML/CSS/JS. Migration to custom backend then takes 1-2 weeks.
When is Webflow the right choice?
Marketing-heavy sites with frequent visual updates by non-developer marketing team.
How does Webflow handle federal compliance?
Limited. Section 508 conformance requires manual implementation. VPAT documentation not built-in.