Webflow vs Framer: How We Choose the Right Tool for Every Build

I’ve lost count of how many times a client has asked:

“So… do you build in Webflow or Framer?”

The honest answer is yes.

The more useful answer is it depends on what we’re building and what it needs to become later.

At Base Layer Studio, we’re not loyal to platforms. We’re loyal to outcomes. The job isn’t to pick the trendiest tool. It’s to ship a site that works now and doesn’t quietly fall apart six months from now.

So let’s break down how we actually choose between Webflow and Framer, and why, more often than not, bigger builds tend to land in Webflow.

The Real Difference (It’s Not Features)

Most comparisons obsess over checklists. CMS limits. Animation controls. Pricing tiers.

That stuff matters, but it’s not the core difference.

Here’s the real split:

• Webflow is development-first
• Framer is design-first

Webflow asks “How complex can this get?”
Framer asks “How fast can this look amazing?”

Neither is better. They’re just optimized for different jobs.

And once you see that, the choice usually makes itself.

When We Reach for Webflow

Webflow is our default when a site has weight to it. More content, more people involved, more future unknowns.

1. Content That’s Going to Grow (and Keep Growing)

If a site has:

• Hundreds or thousands of CMS items
• Multiple content types that reference each other
• Plans for expansion, localisation, or SEO-heavy publishing

Webflow is the safer bet.

Its CMS isn’t just a database. It’s a system for relationships. Blog posts linked to authors. Case studies tied to industries. Resources reused across pages without duplication.

That separation between design and content editing is huge. It means your marketing team can ship content without touching layout, and nothing accidentally explodes.

Framer can handle content, but Webflow is built for content gravity.

2. Larger Teams, Real Workflows

Once more than a couple of people are involved, things change.

Webflow shines when:

• Multiple editors need different permissions
• Marketing teams publish frequently
• Designers and content editors work in parallel

The Designer and Editor split is one of those boring-sounding features that turns out to be everything. It creates a clear mental model. This is where structure lives. This is where content lives.

Don Norman would be proud.

3. E-commerce That Isn’t an Afterthought

If a site needs:

• Product management
• Inventory
• Real checkout flows
• Native Stripe or PayPal integration

Webflow wins by default.

Framer can handle payments via embeds and links, which is fine for simple launches, but Webflow treats commerce as a first-class citizen. That matters once money is on the line.

4. Projects That Need to Scale Without a Rebuild

This is the quiet reason we lean Webflow for bigger builds.

Webflow sites age well.

The code is clean. The CMS scales. The design system stays intact as content grows. You don’t paint yourself into a corner where the only way forward is rip it out and start again.

If a client says “We don’t know what this will look like in two years”, that’s usually a Webflow conversation.

When Framer Is the Better Move

Framer isn’t the smaller tool. It’s the faster one.

When speed, clarity, and visual impact matter more than long-term complexity, Framer is hard to beat.

1. Startups, MVPs, and Early-Stage Teams

If the goal is:

• Launch quickly
• Validate an idea
• Look world-class without over-engineering

Framer is ideal.

Founders don’t need to learn a new mental model. It feels like Figma because it basically is. You design, you publish, you move on.

Lower overhead. Less ceremony. Faster feedback loops.

2. Design-First, Story-Driven Sites

Framer is brilliant for:

• Landing pages
• Personal brands
• Campaign sites
• Portfolios

Its animation model is smooth, expressive, and intuitive. Micro-interactions feel native instead of bolted on. You spend more time shaping the experience and less time fighting the tool.

For visually led storytelling, Framer gets out of the way.

3. Short-Lived or Highly Focused Projects

If something needs to be live next week and doesn’t need a complex backend, Framer is the obvious choice.

Campaigns. Events. Product launches. One-page narratives.

Build it. Ship it. Iterate in real time.

A Quick Mental Model We Use

Here’s the shorthand we run internally:

• More content, more people, more unknowns equals Webflow
• More speed, more polish, less complexity equals Framer

Or put another way:

Webflow is an investment.
Framer is momentum.

Yes, We Sometimes Use Both

Some projects don’t fit neatly into one box, and that’s fine.

We’ll happily:

• Launch a Framer landing page while a Webflow content hub is built behind the scenes
• Prototype interactions in Framer before implementing them at scale in Webflow
• Start in Framer, then migrate to Webflow once the product proves itself

Tools aren’t identities. They’re levers.

How We Frame This to Clients

We don’t ask clients what platform they want.

We ask:

• How often will this site change?
• Who will be editing it?
• How big could this get?
• What happens if this succeeds?

Then we choose the tool that makes those answers easier, not harder.

Sometimes that’s Framer. Often, for larger builds, it’s Webflow. Either way, the goal is the same. A site that feels obvious to use, easy to maintain, and built to last.

The Bottom Line

Webflow and Framer aren’t competitors in our process. They’re complementary.

Webflow wins when scale, structure, and longevity matter.
Framer wins when speed, design, and clarity matter.

Our job isn’t to force a platform. It’s to make the right trade-offs visible, then build the hell out of it.

If you’re curious which direction your project leans, that’s usually a short conversation. And a surprisingly revealing one.

‍