Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Netlify CMS VS Webflow CMS

Compare Netlify CMS VS Webflow CMS and see what are their differences

Netlify CMS logo Netlify CMS

An open-source CMS for your Git workflow

Webflow CMS logo Webflow CMS

Build professional dynamic websites without any code
  • Netlify CMS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01
  • Webflow CMS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-27

Netlify CMS features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Netlify CMS is designed to be user-friendly, providing a simple interface for content editors. It allows non-technical users to manage content without needing to understand complex coding or technical details.
  • Git Integration
    Being Git-based, Netlify CMS integrates seamlessly with Git repositories, allowing you to manage content in a version-controlled manner. This makes tracking changes and collaboration among multiple content editors straightforward.
  • Static Site Support
    Netlify CMS is particularly well-suited for static site generators like Jekyll, Hugo, and Gatsby. It complements the JAMstack architecture, enabling consistent workflows from development to deployment.
  • Customizable
    Highly customizable, allowing developers to tailor the admin interface and workflows to match the specific needs of a project. You can define custom widgets, workflows, and even authentication methods.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Netlify CMS benefits from community contributions and transparency. Users can inspect the source code, contribute new features, or fork the repository to create bespoke solutions.
  • Built-in Previews
    Offers real-time preview capabilities, enabling content editors to see exactly how their content will appear on the live site as they are editing it. This reduces the likelihood of formatting errors and enhances content quality.
  • Deploy Hooks
    Integrates well with Netlify's deployment hooks, allowing for smooth continuous deployment processes. Changes in the CMS can trigger automatic rebuilds and deployments of the site.

Possible disadvantages of Netlify CMS

  • Complexity for Advanced Customization
    Though customizable, more advanced setups might require a more significant understanding of JavaScript, React, and Git, which can be a barrier for some developers.
  • Limited Plugins and Extensions
    Compared to other content management systems like WordPress, the ecosystem for plugins and extensions is relatively limited. This can restrict functionality and necessitate more custom development.
  • Dependency on Git
    As a Git-based CMS, it requires content editors to have at least a basic understanding of Git workflows. This could be a hurdle for smaller teams or non-technical editors.
  • Performance for Large Sites
    Managing a large number of markdown files directly in a Git repository can become cumbersome and affect performance, particularly for very large sites with many contributors.
  • Learning Curve
    While user-friendly once set up, the initial setup and configuration can be complex, particularly for those unfamiliar with the JAMstack approach or static site generators.
  • Lack of Built-in Analytics
    Unlike some other CMS platforms, Netlify CMS does not come with built-in analytics or performance tracking. Users will need to integrate third-party solutions to gather such data.
  • Content Workflow
    For more complex content workflows, including roles and permissions, additional customization or third-party tools are often required. This can complicate the setup and ongoing maintenance.

Webflow CMS features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Webflow CMS has an intuitive user interface that allows for easy content management and website design without the need for extensive coding knowledge.
  • Design Flexibility
    Webflow CMS offers a robust set of design tools that give users the freedom to create highly-customized layouts and styles directly from the browser.
  • Responsive Design
    Webflow automatically generates responsive designs for multiple screen sizes, which ensures that websites built with it look great on both desktop and mobile devices.
  • Hosting Included
    Webflow provides reliable hosting solutions, including fast CDN, which simplifies the process of publishing and ensures high performance for your site.
  • Integrated E-commerce
    Webflow CMS includes built-in e-commerce capabilities, enabling users to create, manage, and customize online stores easily.
  • Custom Content Structures
    Webflow allows for the creation of custom content structures and collections, making it easier to manage complex content architectures.
  • SEO Capabilities
    The platform includes powerful SEO tools that help users optimize their websites for search engines, including meta tags, Schema markup, and more.
  • Animations and Interactions
    Webflow offers advanced animation and interaction capabilities, allowing users to create engaging, interactive websites without additional scripts.

Possible disadvantages of Webflow CMS

  • Pricing
    Webflow CMS can be relatively expensive compared to other CMS platforms, especially when factoring in advanced features and hosting services.
  • Learning Curve
    While easier than coding from scratch, Webflow still has a learning curve, especially for users not accustomed to design tools and concepts.
  • Limited Extension Ecosystem
    Webflow has fewer third-party plugins and extensions compared to other CMS platforms like WordPress, which can limit functionality.
  • Platform Lock-In
    Webflow exports static HTML/CSS/JS files, which makes transitioning to other CMS platforms more challenging if you decide to leave Webflow.
  • Content Management Limitations
    The CMS is not as robust as some dedicated content management systems, which might be limiting for complex data relationships or large-scale content sites.
  • Dependency on Webflow’s Hosting
    While Webflow provides hosting, there might be less flexibility compared to self-hosting solutions, and users must rely on Webflow's infrastructure.
  • Limited Blogging Features
    Webflow's blogging capabilities are not as extensive as platforms specifically designed for blogging, which might be a hindrance for content-heavy blogs.

Netlify CMS videos

Netlify CMS

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Netlify CMS Tutorial - Build a GatsbyJS Blog in 7 Minutes!
  • Review - Netlify CMS - Content Management System (using Gridsome)

Webflow CMS videos

Webflow CMS for beginners

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Netlify CMS and Webflow CMS)
CMS
39 39%
61% 61
Blogging
100 100%
0% 0
Website Builder
0 0%
100% 100
Blogging Platform
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Netlify CMS and Webflow CMS

Netlify CMS Reviews

Best Headless CMS in 2022
Another open-source headless system, Netlify CMS, can be successfully used with any static generator for a more pleasant and faster web project. The tool is created as a single-page React app. Using Netlify, the content is stored in your Git repository alongside your code for easier versioning, multi-channel publishing, and the option to handle content updates directly in...
Source: flatlogic.com
Best Headless CMS for 2020
I did some research on headless CMS the last few weeks since I am creating some websites for small business. Therefore pricey solution are not an option and open source would be prefered. I did check out Netlify CMS and Strapi.
Source: dev.to
34 Headless CMS That Should Be On Your Radar
Netlify CMS — built by a community of open source contributors — is an extensible CMS built atop React. The platform features an editor-friendly interface and intuitive workflows for content authors.
Source: www.cmswire.com

Webflow CMS Reviews

Resources20+ Non-Traditional Tools to Make Your Website
Build professional dynamic http://s without any code. Webflow CMS Easily create well-structured content with custom fields. It gives you full control over your content structure and how this content is designed throughout your project.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Webflow CMS should be more popular than Netlify CMS. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Netlify CMS mentions (3)

  • Creating a website that the client can edit.
    Looks like there was a pull request merged about 8 months ago https://github.com/netlify/netlify-cms, otherwise it's been like two years. I found a post about it on netlify at one point too, where netlify basically just washed their hands of it. Shame. I REALLY loved it's simplicity and git based approach but I can't have clients using a CMS that works that way with no hope of fixes. I'm still trying to find... Source: over 2 years ago
  • The Best 10+ Open Source Headless CMS 2022
    You may give editors a friendly UI and simple workflows with the help of the open source content management system Netlify CMS for your Git workflow. It may be used with any static site generator to produce web projects that are quicker and more adaptable. Besides, it also helps in multi-channel publishing and handling content updates inside Git. It is designed as a one-page React application; thus, you can create... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Best (Low-/No-Code) Solution for Simple Web-Based Database Front Ends
    Here are a few that are in the ball park, but mostly lacking the form bit (you have to make your own though most of these offer a way to have a append-only user for the form to act as): - Strapi (https://github.com/strapi/strapi) - Directus (https://github.com/directus/directus) - React Admin (https://github.com/marmelab/react-admin) - Netlify CMS - a bit off the mark but maybe worth considering... - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago

Webflow CMS mentions (5)

  • Build a custom CMS using Baserow and integrate it with Make and Webflow 💻
    If you connect Baserow with Webflow through Make, you can build a custom and flexible content management system for your blog, website, or app. Let’s dive into how to do it! Source: over 2 years ago
  • What theme is this / Close to this
    Blog.dropcommerce.com is built with WEBFLOW website builder. Even though a bit custom it might be replicated at https://webflow.com/cms. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Scroll to reveal in Elementor?
    I'm trying for like 4 days straight to achieve effect like below in Elementor. It's quite easy if the image will have position: absolute/fixed, but then the image is out of the grid. I tried a section with 2 columns, left w. text, right with image being sticked to the top, and then duplicating it 3 times, but there's the initial scroll of the images on the right anyway. I played with transparency scroll effect... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: How do you manage your site content in 2022
    Each day, our content writers publish one post. At the moment we use WebFlow CMS [1], which was easy to setup, but its limitations start to show as we grow our publishing rate (no real collaboration, weird editor, etc.). How do you publish content (multiple writers, technical and non-technical posts with rich media, SEO friendly)? [1] https://webflow.com/cms. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • 'No-code' startup Bubble raises $100 mln in round led by Insight Partners
    Webflow has CMS now: https://webflow.com/cms. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Netlify CMS and Webflow CMS, you can also consider the following products

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

Bubble.io - Building tech is slow and expensive. Bubble is the most powerful no-code platform for creating digital products.

Drupal - Drupal - the leading open-source CMS for ambitious digital experiences that reach your audience across multiple channels. Because we all have different needs, Drupal allows you to create a unique space in a world of cookie-cutter solutions.

DatoCMS - Connect DatoCMS to your favorite site generator, build the perfect backend and deploy anywhere you like.

Webflow - Build dynamic, responsive websites in your browser. Launch with a click. Or export your squeaky-clean code to host wherever you'd like. Discover the professional website builder made for designers.

Sanity.io - Sanity.io a platform for structured content that comes with an open-source editor that you can customize with React.js.