Webflow vs Shopify: Which One is Better in 2025?

Choosing the right platform for your online store can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it's essential to understand the key differences between popular choices like Webflow and Shopify.

This article will delve into the features, pricing, and limitations of both platforms, helping you make an informed decision for your e-commerce needs.

Overview of Webflow and Shopify

What is Webflow?

Webflow is a visual website builder that enables users to create custom websites without writing code. It integrates design, content management, and optimization tools to assist marketers, designers, and developers in building, managing, and optimizing web experiences.

Key features of Webflow include visual control over HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, a content management system (CMS) for scalable content updates, and tools for AI-powered personalization, A/B testing, SEO, and localization. Additionally, Webflow offers secure hosting, compliance tools, and various integrations through APIs.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a commerce platform that enables businesses to create, customize, and manage their online stores. It supports selling products both online and in person, locally and globally, and offers tools for marketing, managing finances, shipping, and more.

Main features of Shopify include a world-class checkout system, social media integrations, and comprehensive analytics tools. Additionally, it offers a centralized admin for managing everything in one place and a mobile app for running the store from anywhere.

Features of Webflow & Shopify

Similarities

Webflow and Shopify share several key features that make them popular choices for building and managing online stores.

• Design Flexibility: Both platforms offer extensive customization options, allowing users to create unique, visually appealing websites without needing to write code.
• E-commerce Capabilities: Each platform supports comprehensive e-commerce functionalities, including product management, shopping cart, and checkout processes.
• Content Management: Both Webflow and Shopify provide robust content management systems (CMS) for easy updates and scalability.
• Analytics and Optimization: Both platforms include tools for tracking performance, conducting A/B testing, and optimizing for SEO.
• Integrations and APIs: Each platform supports various integrations and APIs, enabling users to connect with other tools and services seamlessly.

Differences

Here are the biggest differences in features between Webflow and Shopify:

• Visual Design Control: Webflow offers a visual canvas for designing with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, while Shopify focuses on pre-built themes and templates.
• AI Assistance: Webflow includes an AI assistant for design, whereas Shopify provides AI tools for generating product content and optimizing usage.
• Figma Integration: Webflow can convert Figma designs into production-ready code, a feature not available in Shopify.
• Point of Sale (POS): Shopify offers a comprehensive POS system for in-person sales, which Webflow does not provide.
• Funding Options: Shopify Capital offers funding to merchants, a service not available through Webflow.

Pricing of Webflow & Shopify

Webflow Pricing

Webflow offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different needs, from individuals to large enterprises.

• Starter (Free): Includes a Webflow.io domain, 2 pages, 20 CMS collections, 50 CMS items, 50 form submits (lifetime), and 1 GB bandwidth.
• Basic ($14/month, billed yearly): Offers a custom domain, 150 pages, unlimited form submits, 10 GB bandwidth, and surge protection.
• CMS ($23/month, billed yearly): Provides a custom domain, 150 pages, 20 CMS collections, 2,000 CMS items, unlimited form submits, 50 GB bandwidth, surge protection, 3 legacy Editor users, and site search.
• Business ($39/month, billed yearly): Features a custom domain, 300 pages, 40 CMS collections, customizable CMS items, unlimited form submits, customizable bandwidth, surge protection, 10 legacy Editor users, site search, and form file upload.
• Enterprise (Custom pricing): Includes enterprise-ready scale, advanced collaboration, guaranteed SLA, enterprise security, customer success, and enterprise support. Contact Webflow for a demo and custom pricing.

Shopify Pricing

Shopify offers a variety of pricing plans to cater to different business needs and sizes.

• Basic: $39 USD/month (monthly) or $29 USD/month (yearly). Includes a full-featured online store, 2 staff accounts, and standard checkout capacity.
• Shopify: $105 USD/month (monthly) or $79 USD/month (yearly). Offers 5 staff accounts, enhanced live chat support, and standard checkout capacity.
• Advanced: $399 USD/month (monthly) or $299 USD/month (yearly). Provides 15 staff accounts, 10x checkout capacity, and enhanced live chat support.
• Plus: Starting at $2,300 USD/month on a 3-year term. Includes unlimited staff accounts, 40x checkout capacity, and priority support.
• Starter: $5 USD/month. Basic features for small-scale operations.
• Retail: $89 USD/month. Tailored for in-person selling with Shopify POS Pro.
• Enterprise Commerce: Custom pricing available upon request. Contact support for details.

Reviews of Webflow & Shopify

Webflow Reviews

Overall, users have given Webflow a mixed reception, with an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5. While some appreciate its design flexibility, others find the learning curve and pricing frustrating.

"Webflow has a steep learning curve, making it challenging for beginners to get started." - John D., 3/5

"The pricing structure is confusing and can get expensive quickly." - Sarah K., 2.5/5

Shopify Reviews

Shopify has received mixed reviews from users, with an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5. Customers found the platform's pricing and customization options frustrating, while some appreciated its ease of use.

"The pricing is too high for small businesses, and the customization options are limited." - Alex P., 3/5

"Customer support is slow and not very helpful." - Jamie L., 2.5/5

Subframe, a Better Alternative to Webflow and Shopify

Subframe is a code-first design tool that empowers users to build user interfaces quickly and efficiently. With features like a drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and pixel-perfect code generation using React and Tailwind CSS, Subframe streamlines the transition from design to high-quality code.

Pros of Subframe

Subframe stands out as a premier tool for building user interfaces quickly and efficiently.

• Real Components, Not Mockups: Subframe allows you to design with actual components, ensuring a seamless transition from design to development.
• Personalized UI Templates: With stunning templates inspired by world-class products, you never have to start from scratch again.
• High-Quality Code Generation: Skip the handoff process and get pixel-perfect React and Tailwind code that you can directly integrate into your codebase.
• Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Editor: The responsive canvas makes it easy to create visually appealing UIs without any coding knowledge.
• Free to Start: Begin building your UI visually without needing a credit card, making it accessible for everyone.

Subframe's Pricing

Subframe offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs:

• Free Plan: $0 per user/month. Includes 1 project, up to 3 page designs, up to 3 team members, and access to 200+ UI templates & snippets.
• Pro Plan: $29 per user/month. Offers up to 3 projects, unlimited page designs, unlimited team members, custom components, and 200+ UI templates & snippets.
• Custom Plan: "Let's talk". Provides unlimited projects, unlimited page designs, custom fonts, integration of your own components, dedicated Slack support, and a Figma plugin.

For more details, visit our Subframe Pricing page. Ready to elevate your UI design? Book a demo with Subframe today!

What Are Others Saying?

Users have given Subframe an overall rating of 5 out of 5. They appreciate its ease of use, especially with templates, and its ability to turn ideas into code efficiently.

• "I love how easy this is to get started, especially with templates." - Dakota
• "Turning ideas into code is one of the most critical tasks I've ever had. Subframe is super useful and user-friendly." - Germán Merlo
• "Finally something that's not just a mockup. Would give you 5 upvotes, if I could!" - Aris Nakos

Why Choose Webflow, Shopify or Subframe?

If you are a designer or marketer who values extensive visual design control and the ability to manage content without writing code, Webflow might be the right choice for you. It's ideal for those who want to create custom, visually appealing websites with a high degree of flexibility.

On the other hand, if you are an entrepreneur or business owner looking for a comprehensive e-commerce solution with robust selling, marketing, and management tools, Shopify could be your best bet. It's perfect for those who need an all-in-one platform to sell products online and in person, manage operations, and expand globally.

As part of Subframe, we believe that if you are a developer or a team that prioritizes high-quality code and efficient UI design, Subframe is the superior choice. It's designed for those who want to build user interfaces quickly with real components, stunning templates, and pixel-perfect React and Tailwind code.

Webflow, Shopify, or Subframe: Which is The Best Tool For You?

Ultimately, whether you choose Webflow, Shopify, or Subframe, each platform offers unique strengths tailored to different needs. Webflow excels in visual design control, Shopify provides a comprehensive e-commerce solution, and Subframe stands out for its code-first approach and high-quality UI design capabilities.

As part of Subframe, we believe our platform offers the best of both worlds, combining ease of use with powerful code generation. If you're looking to build stunning user interfaces quickly and efficiently, we highly recommend giving Subframe a try. Happy designing!