Discover the essential features to look for in a free Webflow alternative.
From design flexibility to ease of use, we'll explore the key elements that make an alternative website builder truly stand out. Upgrade your website-building game with these must-have features that come with a free plan!
Let's create kickass no-code websites.
10 Must-Have Features of a Free Webflow Alternative
Creating websites from scratch has been easier than ever, thanks to various no-code website builders available today.
Web designing may look complicated to many on the outside, but it’s a fairly simple process that anyone can do. All you need is to take that one step and find a super-resourceful website builder—even free ones to start with!
Some free Webflow alternatives offer more value for your business. Here are some important things you should look for when comparing free Webflow alternatives:
1. Responsive Web Design
People nowadays prefer surfing on their mobiles. And this is why you must ensure that your website is responsive, so the size, format, overall look and feel are adjusted according to the device.
If you don’t have a responsive web design, your website will not look good on mobile devices like tablets and phones.
Getting visitors to your website is difficult; losing them because their mobile devices didn't find your website particularly user-friendly would be a major issue.
This way, anyone can build a website from scratch without needing technical assistance.
Find a website builder with templates, it will allow you to build responsive websites without writing even one line of code.
2. Drag-and-Drop Website Functionality
So, make sure your free Webflow alternative has drag-and-drop functionality and allows you to build impressive websites using pre-made templates or custom widgets.
That makes it easier for beginners with no coding knowledge or experience with HTML. These no-code site builders help you to build any website you want with ease.
3. CMS
CMS is Content Management System that helps you to create and manage your website content. Blogging get's easy with CMS platforms, you can simply create and optimize your content for better SEO performance.
You can build websites with membership features where you provide gated content/ articles and give them members-only access and earn from it.
4. White Label
When choosing other builders like Webflow choose a site builder with white label features. You can start your own website development agency and earn from it. White label helps to go with your personal or company branding. It will save you time and cost too.
5. Option to Add Custom Code
Yes, website builders are supposed to be code-free, but there could be some scenarios where you might need to add new functionality to your website.
Something that your visual website builder cannot do for you. For example, there could be some new javascript libraries you want to add, or you want to try out a new third-party analytics tool everyone is talking about.
For that, you must ensure that your free Webflow alternative has an option to add custom code in the visual console itself, like how it’s shown in the video.
6. SEO Tools
SEO is crucial for any website if you want Google to crawl and rank your site.
Make sure that your free Webflow alternative has built-in SEO tools to help you get started (or continue) with organic traffic and rankings in no time.
These tools will help you build better content by researching keywords related to your business and finding ways to optimize it. You'll also be able to check which pages are getting good rankings from search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! And then use this information as a guide when creating new pages or posts!
If you want to know more about SEO (Search Engine Optimization), then read the following blog below:
60+ Popular FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
7. An easy-to-navigate UI
The UI of the website builder should be intuitive and easy to use—something you and your entire team can get the hang of quickly—and not just the tech team! What’s the point of even investing in a tool that most of your team members don’t know how to use, and it instead stays unused?
Moreover, it should be consistent across all platforms (e.g., mobile devices, desktops, tablets, etc.). If the interface looks similar on mobile and desktop browsers, there's less chance of confusion when moving between devices—and this could lead someone down a dangerous path because they're not sure what they're doing or where they're going!
8. Built-in Integrations
You often need tons of functionalities and features to add to your website to make it fully functioning. Features like forms, emails to launch a campaign from your webpage, and so much more can be integrated into your website when you have the right website builder at your service.
When it comes to free Webflow alternatives, you should ensure that they support all of the following integrations:
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Integration with other software
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Email marketing functionality
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A/B testing
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Responsive forms
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Facebook pixel
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Google Analytics
9. Payment Gateways
A payment gateway can streamline and expedite payments in an increasingly cashless society where most payment services are carried out online or through credit cards. This benefits both customers and businesses.
It’s a merchant service that handles credit card processing for traditional brick-and-mortar establishments and e-commerce websites. They might be viewed as the electronic equivalent of a cash register.
A website builder that also allows you to integrate payment multiple gateways in your website is the one you want to invest in! Check out the video below to understand what the integration process should look like.
10. Export Code Functionality
Often we wish to keep some design assets safe with us in case we might want to rework them and transform them into something bigger. Guess what? You can export your designs into codes that you can further develop without a lengthy workflow!
Fortunately, we have some other website builders that allow you to export a piece of code. Some are also open source, and you may use your PC to run them locally or a server to host them. So, choose a website builder that has this feature. If you are exporting your designs and importing codes to your website is on your list.
Read: How to host a website.
FAQ
What is Webflow?
Webflow is a website builder popular with design professionals, startups, and entrepreneurs. It’s an all-in-one web design tool that helps you build responsive websites without any coding knowledge.
What makes it unique is that it gives designers and non-coders the freedom to build custom, production-ready sites without relying on developers.
Like most no-code website builders, templates serve as the basis of a Webflow site. You can pick from hundreds of templates that are pre-built by experts.
You can alter your chosen template, making it ideal for your brand and objectives.
Check out this website builders list to know more about the website builders in-depth.
Do I Need a Webflow Alternative?
While Webflow is a popular choice among many business owners, it’s not for everyone!
Although Webflow is mostly marketed as a DIY web design platform, it can get extremely challenging for an amateur to design a full-functioning website on it.
It may work for you if you're just starting with web design and want to experiment with some basic ideas. But you’ll need to devote a lot of time to learning and understanding the workflow.
However, it's probably not worth your time and money if you're more experienced or have more complex needs.
Think of Webflow as a platform more suited for:
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Professional developers or designers skilled with technical and coding knowledge and looking to use custom code on a website builder platform.
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Enterprises having a scope of project-level collaborations with internal teams or clients. Webflow is a good option if you wish to share the website with multiple members at a time and suggest changes on the go.
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Design pros who like to add innovations and experiment with their designs and are most comfortable with visual development.
You see, Webflow is not made for everyone—it has some limitations that make it lag in some departments—listing those limitations below. Explore viable alternatives like wix alternatives to find the perfect fit for your web design needs.
Code Customization
Even though Webflow is pretty easy to use with its drag-and-drop functionality, it’s not a viable option if you are looking for complex code-level customizations.
And in some cases, the predefined templates and editor customizations in a website builder aren’t enough to add new functionalities to a website.
Additionally, you can not import code into Webflow but only export it via download.
Steep Learning Curve
Webflow has a gigantic list of features. While having many features in a website builder is good, it also comes with a steep learning curve.
However, Webflow has made it easy for anyone to learn and implement tips and techniques with the massive library of tutorials they’ve made freely available for anyone.
If you’re a beginner or don’t have much time to go through their tutorials, you may find the platform very overwhelming. You might be looking for a way to explore and start using their editor quickly.
Limitations with Ecommerce Sites
Webflow doesn’t create well-functioning eCommerce websites. A website for an e-commerce business must fulfill several requirements.
Although Webflow can be used to create an e-commerce website, doing so will cost you more money and time and restrict your accessibility.
This is due to the limited number of payment gateways, lack of POS (point of sale) support, and lack of features for dropshipping businesses.
You may integrate Webflow with Shopify, but the solution isn’t as seamless as one would want!
Is There a Free Webflow Alternative?
Yes, there are, in fact, many free Webflow alternatives that could offer just the right amount of features you need while getting started.
You can find an option that is suited to your business needs and budget. This is mainly for small businesses and startups that don’t have enough budget to put into the website but need a website to draw in traffic and customers.
Dorik: The Ultimate Free Webflow Alternative!
Now that you’re aware of the best features you need to look for in a free Webflow alternative, we hope you find your match and take your business to the next level!
One such great platform is Dorik, which helps you get your website up and running in no time with its stunning templates, UI blocks, and elements. The platform has all the features we’ve listed above (and more!) to ensure that you launch the perfect website for your business without any compromise!
Whether it is a landing page, eCommerce website, portfolio, blog, or CMS—with Dorik, you can create any website for your and your client's business and make it a powerhouse of traffic and sales!
