What can you expect?
This comparison will help you understand the strengths of each platform and decide which is best for your specific needs.
Ease of use
Customization
SEO
E-commerce
Hosting
Templates
Plugins
Performance
Support
Cost
Learning curve
Security
Scalability
Webflow
Cost starts at
Visual user-friendly editor
Services offered
Highly customizable without code
Capabilities
Integrated SEO tools
Projects
Misses a lot of important features
Revisions
Secure integrated hosting
Requests
Ready-to-use templates
Starting work
Approved apps library
Communication
Built-in optimization features
Client manager
Direct customer support
Client manager
Higher, scalable costs
Client manager
Intuitive but takes some time
Client manager
Regular updates and SSL certification
Client manager
Scalable with supported features
Joomla
Cost starts at
Requires some technical knowledge
Services offered
Customization with templates and extenstions
Capabilities
Built-in tools and SEO metadata
Projects
E-commerce support with extensions
Revisions
Requires 3rd-party hosting
Requests
Thousands of templates
Starting work
Extensive extensions library
Communication
Requires optimization
Client manager
Support and a lot of documentation
Client manager
Free core CMS and extra costs for hosting
Client manager
Steeper and more technical
Client manager
Strong security features
Client manager
Highly scalable with extensive options
Ease of use
Webflow allows users to design websites without any coding knowledge. However, it has a steeper learning curve compared to more basic platforms. Webflow's extensive learning resources, including Webflow University, help mitigate this challenge.
Joomla is designed for users with some technical knowledge. It has a steeper learning curve than Webflow due to its comprehensive feature set and customization capabilities. However, once mastered, it offers powerful tools for managing complex websites.
Customization and flexibility
Webflow offers extensive customization options, enabling users to create highly tailored websites. It supports custom code and offers advanced design tools, although its app ecosystem is not as extensive as Joomla’s.
Joomla excels in customization with its vast array of templates and extensions. It allows for heavy customization directly from the admin interface without the need for extensive coding. Joomla's flexibility is enhanced by multiple databases and extensive plugin ecosystem.
SEO and performance
Webflow provides strong SEO capabilities with built-in tools that help optimize site content for search engines. Webflow’s clean, semantic code, responsive design and global CDN ensure fast loading times, enhancing overall site performance.
Joomla offers robust SEO tools, including options for meta tags, keywords, and SEF URLs, which help improve search engine rankings. However, performance can vary based on the hosting environment and site complexity.
E-commerce capabilities
Webflow’s e-commerce features are relatively new but growing. It supports selling physical and digital products, managing inventory, and customizing checkout processes. However, it lacks some advanced features that are standard in more established e-commerce platforms.
Joomla is highly versatile for e-commerce with numerous extensions like VirtueMart, HikaShop, and J2Store. These extensions provide comprehensive e-commerce functionalities, including product management, payment gateways, and shipping options.
Cost and pricing
Webflow's pricing includes hosting and ranges from free to premium plans with advanced features. Although it simplifies the cost structure, it tends to be more expensive overall. It’s suitable for businesses that anticipate growth and need advanced design capabilities.
Joomla itself is free, but costs can accumulate with hosting, premium templates, and extensions. This makes Joomla a flexible and potentially cost-effective solution, as businesses can control expenses based on their specific needs.
Security
Webflow provides integrated security features including SSL certificates, DDoS protection, 2F authentication, and regular backups. Its closed system reduces the risk of security vulnerabilities, ensuring a secure environment for website management.
Joomla prioritizes security with regular updates and built-in features like two-factor authentication and CAPTCHA. Its community also contributes to security by rapidly addressing vulnerabilities, but Joomla’s open-source nature requires diligent management.
Scalability
Webflow is designed to scale with growing businesses, supporting high traffic and complex website designs. It is suitable for smaller businesses as well as enterprises that require extensive customization and design flexibility.
Joomla is highly scalable, addressing the needs of small businesses and large enterprises. Its customization options and robust architecture make it also ideal for high-traffic websites. Joomla’s ability to support multiple languages and databases further enhances its scalability.
Market position comparison
The graph displays the market positions of selected content management systems (CMS) based on their usage by high and low traffic sites.
Webflow has quickly gained traction among businesses needing advanced customization and performance optimization for their high-traffic websites.
Joomla is used by fewer sites and primarily low-traffic sites. It's popular among small to medium-sized businesses that need a powerful and flexible CMS.
Webflow vs Joomla summary
Webflow
Webflow offers superior website building capabilities with an intuitive and user-friendly visual editor, making it perfect for businesses that need to iterate fast without having to wait on developers. Webflow’s integrated hosting, scalable features, and visual customization tools cater to professional designers and developers looking for a high-performance solution.
Joomla
Joomla is a powerful CMS that provides extensive customization and robust user management capabilities. It’s the go-to choice for businesses that require detailed control over their websites, including multiple languages, complex content structures, and extensions for added functionality. Joomla’s flexible architecture makes it ideal for managing content-rich websites.
