Choosing between Webflow and Figma? Dive into our detailed analysis to make an informed decision for your design and frontend needs.
Irvin Zhan
•
2025-01-13
When comparing design tools, Webflow and Figma often come up as top choices. Both offer unique features and cater to different needs. This article will compare their key features, pricing, limitations, and user reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Webflow: Overview and Key Features
Webflow is a versatile website builder known for its advanced design capabilities and flexibility in custom coding.
Visual Design Tools: Webflow lets users create professional-grade websites visually. Its interface allows detailed customization of HTML, CSS, and even animations without writing code.
Custom Interactions and Animations: A standout feature is Webflow's ability to create complex interactions and animations visually. This can elevate the look of your site beyond basic templates.
CMS (Content Management System): Webflow's integrated CMS allows easy creation, editing, and management of dynamic content. It's especially useful for blogs, portfolios, and news sites.
Hosting and Performance: Webflow provides secure, reliable hosting with built-in security features, SSL certificates, and excellent load speeds. It leverages AWS infrastructure for reliability.
E-commerce Capabilities: Though initially focused on websites, Webflow has robust e-commerce functionality, suitable for small to medium-sized online stores. It supports custom checkout pages, product variants, and inventory tracking.
SEO Optimization: Webflow includes built-in SEO controls, enabling customization of meta descriptions, titles, URLs, and structured data directly within the visual editor.
Code Export Option: Webflow uniquely allows users to export clean, semantic HTML/CSS code, giving designers and developers additional flexibility.
Webflow's Reviews
Overall, user feedback on Webflow highlights its powerful design capabilities and flexibility, though some users find it expensive and challenging to learn.
G2: 4.4/5
"I like the fact that there are virtually no limits in Webflow. I can do anything as a designer and get a good result." - Darya K., 5/5
"Mostly very intuitive way to manage a website. No need to know HTML and like the online help." - Verified User, 4.5/5
"Webflow enables users to build professional websites even when they do not possess programming skills through its effective platform." - Regie F., 5/5
Positive Aspects:
Ease of use and intuitive interface
Flexibility in design and customization
Powerful features for building and managing websites
Excellent learning resources through Webflow University
Strong community support and responsive customer service
Common Concerns:
Steep learning curve for beginners
High cost for advanced features and plans
Some missing or underdeveloped features
Unpredictable pricing structure
Limited support for non-enterprise customers
Figma: Overview and Key Features
Figma is a collaborative interface design tool that has gained popularity for its real-time collaboration and robust feature set.
Real-Time Collaboration: Figma allows multiple users to work on the same design file simultaneously. This feature is ideal for teams, as it eliminates the need for file transfers and version control issues.
Vector Networks: Unlike traditional vector tools, Figma's vector networks let users create complex shapes without worrying about the direction of paths. This makes it easier to design intricate icons and illustrations.
Prototyping: Figma includes built-in prototyping tools that let users create interactive flows directly within the design file. This feature helps in visualizing user journeys and testing interactions without needing additional software.
Design Systems: Figma supports the creation of design systems with reusable components and styles. Users can maintain consistency across projects by using shared libraries for colors, typography, and UI elements.
Plugins: Figma offers a wide range of plugins to extend its functionality. Examples include "Content Reel" for placeholder text and images, "Autoflow" for creating flow diagrams, and "Figmotion" for adding animations.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Figma runs in the browser, making it accessible on any operating system. This eliminates the need for specific software installations and ensures that users can work from anywhere.
Version History: Figma automatically saves version history, allowing users to revert to previous versions of their design files. This feature is crucial for tracking changes and recovering from mistakes.
Figma's Reviews
Overall user feedback on Figma highlights its ease of use, powerful features, and excellent team collaboration, with some areas for improvement.
G2: 4.7/5
"Great functionality for creating a range of designs." - 4.5/5
"Figma is great for collaborating on all kinds of graphics, from webpages and UX/UI panels to marketing graphics and more." - 5/5
"Figma is very intuitive to use and has a low learning curve. It supports complex workflows (e.g., variables, plugins, etc.)." - 5/5
"Figma is very easy to use and helps the team collaborate on the dedicated workspace for each project." - 5/5
"Figma is one of the best and easiest tools I have ever used to design. It provides flexibility and various services like frontend for website creation." - 5/5
Positive Aspects:
Ease of use and intuitive interface
Powerful features for design and prototyping
Excellent team collaboration capabilities
Support for complex workflows
Real-time collaboration
Common Concerns:
Learning curve for new users
Performance issues with large files
Limited offline access
Some missing features
Expensive for some users
Feature Comparison: Webflow vs. Figma
Similarities
Despite targeting different aspects of design and development, Webflow and Figma share several important similarities:
User-Friendly Interfaces: Both platforms offer intuitive, visual interfaces that allow users to create and manage designs without extensive coding knowledge.
Collaboration Tools: Each platform supports real-time collaboration, enabling multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously.
Design Systems: Both Webflow and Figma support the creation and management of design systems, ensuring consistency across projects.
Prototyping Capabilities: Both tools include features for creating interactive prototypes, helping users visualize and test their designs.
Third-Party Integrations: Each platform allows integration with various third-party apps and services to extend functionality.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Both Webflow and Figma are accessible on multiple operating systems, making them versatile tools for diverse teams.
Differences
Critical differences between Webflow and Figma will likely influence your choice.
Primary Focus:
Webflow: Primarily a website builder emphasizing visual design freedom and custom web experiences.
Figma: Focused on collaborative interface design, enabling teams to work together on design projects in real-time.
Customization and Design Flexibility:
Webflow: Offers extensive customization down to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript levels, allowing for complex interactions and animations.
Figma: Provides tools like Auto Layout and AI-generated UI for responsive design but does not offer direct HTML/CSS customization.
Content Management:
Webflow: Includes a built-in CMS for managing dynamic content, suitable for blogs, portfolios, and e-commerce sites.
Figma: Lacks a CMS, focusing instead on design and prototyping without content management capabilities.
Hosting and Performance:
Webflow: Provides secure, reliable hosting with built-in security features and excellent load speeds.
Figma: Does not offer hosting services, as it is primarily a design tool.
Prototyping and Development Integration:
Webflow: Allows users to build and publish fully functional websites directly from the platform.
Figma: Focuses on design and prototyping, with features like Dev Mode to bridge the gap between design and development but does not publish websites.
Pricing Comparison: Webflow vs. Figma
Webflow Pricing
Webflow offers a variety of pricing plans tailored to different needs, from individual site builders to large e-commerce businesses.
Site Plans:
Starter: Free
Webflow.io domain
2 pages
20 CMS collections
50 CMS items
50 form submits (lifetime)
1 GB bandwidth
Basic: $14/month (billed yearly)
Custom domain
150 pages
Unlimited form submits
10 GB bandwidth
Surge protection
CMS: $23/month (billed yearly)
Custom domain
150 pages
20 CMS collections
2,000 CMS items
Unlimited form submits
50 GB bandwidth
Surge protection
3 legacy Editor users
Site search
Business: $39/month (billed yearly)
Custom domain
300 pages
40 CMS collections
Up to 20,000 CMS items
Unlimited form submits
Up to 2.5 TB bandwidth
Surge protection
10 legacy Editor users
Site search
Form file upload
Enterprise: Custom (Contact for a demo)
Enterprise-ready scale
Advanced collaboration
Guaranteed SLA
Enterprise security
Customer success
Enterprise support
Ecommerce Plans:
Standard: $29/month (billed yearly)
500 ecommerce items
2,000 CMS items
2% transaction fee
All CMS plan features
Plus: $74/month (billed yearly)
5,000 ecommerce items
10,000 CMS items
0% transaction fee
$200K annual sales volume
All Business plan features
Advanced: $212/month (billed yearly)
15,000 ecommerce items
10,000 CMS items
0% transaction fee
All Business plan features
Workspace Plans:
Starter: Free
Unlimited paid hosted sites
2 webflow.io staging sites
2 pages per staged site
50 CMS items per staged site
1 full seat
2 Agency / Freelancer guests
Core: $19/month (billed yearly)
Unlimited paid hosted sites
10 webflow.io staging sites
300 pages per staged site
50 CMS items per staged site
Custom code
1 full seat
2 Agency / Freelancer guests
Code export
Growth: $49/month (billed yearly)
Unlimited paid hosted sites
Unlimited staging sites
300 pages per staged site
50 CMS items per staged site
Custom code
Site password protection
301 redirects
1 full seat
2 Agency / Freelancer guests
Site-specific access
Site-level roles
Publishing permissions
Code export
Shared Libraries
Enterprise: Custom (Contact for a demo)
Enterprise-ready scale
Advanced collaboration
Guaranteed SLA
Enterprise security
Customer success
Enterprise support
Figma' Pricing
Figma offers a range of pricing plans to cater to different user needs, from individual designers to large enterprises.
Starter: Free
Unlimited drafts
UI kits and templates
Basic design file inspection
Suitable for personal projects and basic design, presentation, and brainstorming tools
Professional:
Collab seat: $3/month
Dev seat: $12/month
Full seat: $16/month
Unlimited files and projects
Team-wide design libraries
Advanced Dev Mode inspection
Suitable for professionals or small teams needing advanced prototyping tools and easier dev handoff
Organization:
Collab seat: $5/month
Dev seat: $25/month
Full seat: $55/month
Unlimited teams
Shared libraries and fonts
Centralized admin tools
Suitable for businesses designing products across the organization, needing basic security, and centralizing assets, libraries, and workflows
Enterprise:
Collab seat: $5/month
Dev seat: $35/month
Full seat: $90/month
Custom team workspaces
Design system theming and APIs
SCIM seat management
Suitable for businesses designing for multiple products or brands, needing enterprise-level security, and scalable design systems
Subframe, a Better Alternative to Webflow and Figma
Subframe is a visual UI design tool that syncs with code. We offer a drag-and-drop editor with real, component-based design, giving you precise control for pixel-perfect, responsive layouts. Our platform instantly translates designs into clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, eliminating the need for handoff and speeding up delivery.
Subframe's Features
Subframe is a visual UI design tool that syncs with code, offering a seamless integration of design and development.
Component-Based Design: Subframe allows the creation of user interfaces with real, reusable components, ensuring precise, production-ready layouts.
Pre-Built UI Templates: The platform offers a library of customizable templates inspired by established design patterns, built with reusable components to speed up the design process.
Code Export: Subframe generates clean, production-quality React and Tailwind code, which can be directly integrated into a codebase, reducing time spent on handoff and manual adjustments.
Free to Get Started: Subframe provides free access to its visual design tools with no credit card required, allowing users to start designing immediately.
AI-Enhanced Design: The tool leverages AI to enhance design efficiency and quality, adapting to user preferences over time for a more intuitive experience.
Subframe's Pricing
Subframe offers flexible pricing options to suit different needs:
Free Plan: $0 per user/month
1 project
Up to 3 page designs
Up to 3 team members
100s of UI templates
Limited AI features
Pro Plan: $29 per user/month
Up to 3 projects
Unlimited page designs
Unlimited team members
Custom components
100s of UI templates
Full AI beta access
Custom Plan: Pricing is customized ("Let's talk")
Unlimited projects
Unlimited page designs
Integrate your components
Dedicated Slack support
Figma plugin
Unlimited AI
For more information, visit our Subframe Pricing page. Book a demo with us to see how Subframe can transform your design process.
Subframe's Reviews
Users have shared positive feedback about Subframe, noting its user-friendly interface, time-saving tools, and the quality of the UI designs it produces. The platform has earned a 5/5 rating on Product Hunt. Customers especially value the visual editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and AI features that help refine designs based on user input.
"Without Subframe, the frontend build of this tool would've taken a lot longer and a lot more financial resources." - Erin Kim
"Subframe helped us make a super clean UI for our console without designers." - Carl Peterson
"Huge shoutout to Subframe guys! Super easy to create UI, and the support is great." - Amartya Jha
Webflow, Figma or Subframe? Which is The Best Tool For You
Webflow excels in web design, offering detailed control over HTML and CSS for visually rich websites. Figma shines in collaborative interface design, making it ideal for teams working on design projects in real-time. Subframe stands out by seamlessly integrating design and code, generating production-ready React and Tailwind code, and leveraging AI to enhance design efficiency.
If you prioritize visual web design with custom interactions, Webflow is a great fit. For real-time collaboration and interface design, Figma may be the better choice. But for those looking for a tool that combines design flexibility with efficient code generation, Subframe stands out.
Explore Subframe today to see how it can streamline your workflow and get started for free.
Join thousands of happy builders.
Subframe lets you build stunning UI with beautifully crafted components and a drag-and-drop visual editor.
