Webflow initially dazzles with its sleek design tools and visual editor, drawing in users who crave creative freedom without a single line of code. But as your site grows, the cracks in its foundation begin to show: limited customization, constrained scalability, and an ecosystem that feels more gated than open. Add to that the platform’s recent price hikes, and the shine of Webflow starts to fade.
Enter WordPress – a powerhouse that offers design flexibility and a vast array of tools to build, optimize, and grow your site without compromise. With WordPress, you’re given a solid foundation for everything from SEO to eCommerce to advanced functionalities, all while maintaining full ownership of your digital real estate.
Switching from Webflow to WordPress is an undeniable upgrade. Let’s talk about how to make it happen.
Can you convert a Webflow site to WordPress?
Let’s start by tempering expectations. Converting a Webflow site to WordPress is a hassle, full stop. Webflow’s a walled garden by design – they lock you in because that’s how they make money.
The most reliable way to get an exact replica of your site in WordPress is through a manual 1:1 rebuild. If your design is intricate – think animations, dynamic elements – you’ll probably need tools like React to even come close. It’s time-consuming, technical, and not something you want to do yourself unless you’re a pro.
The smarter move is to hire a WordPress expert through a platform like Codeable to handle the rebuild. They’ll recreate your site properly, without the headaches.
Your other option is to export your Webflow content and start fresh in WordPress with a new design. It’s less expensive, but obviously, it won’t be a pixel-perfect clone. We’ll walk through how to approach that in the next section.
How to migrate from Webflow to WordPress
Migrating from Webflow to WordPress involves exporting your content from the old platform and importing it into the new one. Let’s cover the exact steps you’ll need to go through:
Step 1: Set up your WordPress hosting environment
Before you can can migrate your site, you need to choose the right hosting environment. The decision largely depends on your site’s traffic, growth trajectory, and resource needs.
If your site is outgrowing Webflow’s limitations and experiencing a surge in traffic, basic shared hosting won’t cut it. You’ll need a hosting solution that scales with you: VPS (Virtual Private Server) or dedicated WordPress hosting.
VPS hosting offers a balanced mix of performance, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, giving you dedicated resources and more control over server configurations.
For even higher traffic or mission-critical sites, managed WordPress hosting, from providers like Kinsta or WP Engine, provides premium performance, automatic scaling, and enhanced security without the hassle of server management. These providers are purpose-built for WordPress and optimized for speed and reliability, making them ideal for serious site owners.
On the other hand, if you’re early in your WordPress journey and simply want more customization than Webflow allows, shared hosting could suffice. Look for plans with easy upgrade paths, as your hosting needs may escalate quickly.
Step 2: Choose your WordPress theme
You’ll need to select your WordPress theme early in the migration process because it defines the foundation of your site’s design, structure, and user experience. This step influences everything from layout and typography to site performance, so don’t rush it.
For most migrating from Webflow, a sleek, professional aesthetic is probably what’s going to guide the decision, and that’s a good thing. Prioritize themes that deliver clean design and lightweight code rather than feature-bloated templates that can tank your site’s speed.
This is WordPress – if there’s functionality you find you need later, there’s a plugin for it.
Free themes like Kadence are excellent for beginners and site owners who need something fast, flexible, and easy to customize. They provide just enough functionality without bogging down performance.
If you’re ready to invest, premium options offer enhanced design options, improved support, and better scalability as your needs evolve.
Again, those who want to preserve their Webflow site’s aesthetic should consider custom development. While no WordPress theme will perfectly replicate another Webflow site’s look and feel out of the box, a developer can build a custom theme that mirrors your current design. This approach requires time and budget but ensures continuity for your brand’s visual identity.
Step 3: Export your content from Webflow
Fortunately, Webflow offers built-in tools to export site data, but the process isn’t entirely seamless. You’ll primarily export content like blog posts, pages, and collections, but be prepared for some manual adjustments post-import.
Start by exporting your Webflow CMS content as a CSV file. Navigate to Webflow’s CMS Collections and use the export feature. This will give you a structured file containing your posts, titles, body content, categories, and tags. Keep in mind, however, that Webflow won’t export dynamic elements like sliders, custom layouts, or images embedded in rich text fields. You’ll need to manually re-upload those later.
It’s also worth noting that custom Webflow designs won’t transfer over, so you’ll need to recreate those within your WordPress theme or via a page builder like Elementor if you want to keep them.
Step 4: Import your content into WordPress
After exporting your content from Webflow, the next step is importing it into WordPress. You have two main options: manual migration or using content migration tools. Manual migration involves copying and pasting content page by page, which is time-consuming and error-prone but offers full control over formatting. On the other hand, content migration tools streamline the process and are far more efficient.
The WP All Import plugin is widely regarded as one of the best tools for content migration. It’s versatile, allowing you to import data from CSV or XML files, and it gives you full control over how your data is mapped to WordPress fields.
Here’s how to use it:
- Go to Plugins > Add New from your WordPress dashboard and search for WP All Import. It might show up as “Import any XML, CSV or Excel File to WordPress,” for what we assume are search optimization reasons, but the description should contain the official name just so you’re sure. Install and activate it.
- Open the plugin from All Import on the dashboard then click on Upload a file. Select and upload the CSV file exported from Webflow.
- WP All Import will let you drag and drop your Webflow fields (like Title, Body, Categories) to corresponding WordPress fields (like Post Title, Post Content, and Tags).
- Once mapping is complete, run the import process. The plugin will automatically populate your WordPress database with the content.
After importing, check your site thoroughly. Look for broken links, missing images, or formatting issues. Address these promptly to ensure a seamless transition.
You might also encounter tools like Udesly, which claim to offer direct Webflow-to-WordPress migration. While intriguing, these tools are often prone to errors, such as broken layouts or non-functional dynamic elements. Additionally, they may require manual code adjustments, which defeats the purpose of using an automated solution.
For most users, sticking with WP All Import is the safest, most reliable way to migrate your content. It minimizes errors, saves time, and allows you to focus on refining your WordPress site.
Step 5: Configure your permalinks and point your domain to your WordPress website
Once your content is safely migrated, it’s time to get your URLs and domain aligned. This step ensures visitors can find your content and that search engines know where your pages now live.
Properly configuring permalinks and pointing your domain helps maintain your SEO rankings, avoids broken links, and provides a polished, professional experience. Let’s break it down into actionable steps.
Start by setting up your permalinks. Permalinks define your URL structure, which impact SEO and user experience. Here’s how to set them up:
- Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.
- Select the Post Name option for SEO-friendly URLs.
- Save the changes.
Use a plugin like Redirection to set up redirects for any old URLs from Webflow to prevent broken links and maintain SEO continuity.
Next, point your domain to your new WordPress site. This ensures users can find your site at the correct web address. It also lets you maintain your SEO rankings and brand consistency. Here’s how to do it:
- Log in to your WordPress hosting provider and find the DNS settings to get the A record (IP address) and CNAME record if applicable.
- Access your domain registrar and update the A record to point to your hosting provider’s IP address.
- Modify the CNAME record for the www subdomain if required, following your host’s instructions.
- Wait a few hours for the DNS changes to propagate globally.
Once propagation completes, visit your domain to confirm it’s live and loading your WordPress site. Double-check for any broken links or missing assets.
Ready to migrate? Get expert WordPress help from Codeable
Converting your Webflow site to WordPress can be as straightforward or as complex as you want it to be.
Achieving a 1:1 replica of your Webflow design is entirely possible but requires manual coding and custom theme development – work best left to a professional.
Alternatively, you could export your content (posts, images, etc.) and use it to build a fresh WordPress site with a new design, taking full advantage of WordPress’s flexibility and its ecosystem of lightweight, highly customizable themes.
Whichever route you choose, working with an expert from a platform like Codeable ensures the transition is efficient, professional, and tailored to your needs. An expert saves you hours of frustration and ensures the underlying code is optimized for performance, scalability, and SEO.
A poorly executed migration risks broken functionality, lost traffic, and endless troubleshooting. Investing in expertise means your WordPress site will thrive, laying the foundation for long-term growth after the switch.
When you’re ready to start your new life with WordPress, submit your project to Codeable and get matched with an expert!
20 000+ businesses of every shape and size have already trusted us to hire WordPress developers and scale their growth.
The post Migrating Webflow to WordPress 5 Expert Tips for Success appeared first on Codeable.