Webflow vs Joomla: 2026 comparison

Webflow vs Joomla, what are the differences?

Philosophy and type of tool: no-code builder vs traditional open source CMS

• Webflow:
  
  • Proprietary SaaS, no-code/low-code oriented
  • Visual designer + CMS + integrated hosting
  • Focused on pixel perfect design and speed of upload

Webflow is fully in line with the no-code logic, making it possible to design complex sites without traditional development, as we explain in our article on the fact of create a Webflow site without coding.

• Joomla:
  
  • Open source CMS to be installed on a server
  • Modular structure (core + extensions + templates)
  • Focused on technical flexibility and advanced content management

Hosting, infrastructure, and deployment mode

• Webflow
  
  • Accommodation included (global CDN, integrated optimization)
  • 1-click deployment (staging → production)
  • No server management, FTP or database

• joomla
  
  • Requires shared, VPS, or dedicated hosting
  • Deployment via FTP/SSH, Git, CI/CD deployment tools
  • Total freedom on the stack (PHP, MySQL/MariaDB base...)

Good to know

For high-traffic international websites, Webflow’s managed hosting often delivers better out-of-the-box performance than a poorly configured Joomla site on basic shared hosting.

Admin interface and content editing experience

• Webflow
  
  • Modern, unified interface (Designer + Editor)
  • Inline editing directly on the pages
  • Simple CMS panel for collections (articles, projects, etc.)

• joomla
  
  • More traditional back office, segmented into numerous menus
  • Editing via form (title, alias, content, associated modules, etc.)
  • Richer but also more intimidating for a non-technician

• Webflow:
  
  • UX designed for designers
  • Visual learning (layout, styles, interactions)
  • Simplified editor for end customers

• Joomla:
  
  • Powerful but complex back office
  • Fine management of menus, modules, categories, access levels
  • Very suitable for institutional sites and dense content portals

Getting started for beginners and technical profiles

For a non-technical beginner

• Webflow is generally easier to use to create a modern site.
• Joomla requires understanding: articles, categories, modules, menus, templates...

For a technical profile (developer/integrator)

• Webflow limits what can be done on the server side or complex business logic.
• Joomla allows you to go a long way: extension development, information system integration, API, etc.

Freedom to customize code and front-end

• Webflow
  
  • Extensive HTML/CSS control via designer
  • Possibility to add custom code (JS, snippets)
  • No access to the server code, or to the “internal” CMS

• joomla
  
  • Full customization:
    
    • Templates, overrides, plugins, components
    • Hooks, events, advanced ACLs

• If you need:
  
  • Complex internal integrations (ERP, SSO, Intranet) → Joomla
  • Deep custom developments → Joomla
  • Very stylish marketing/product site with animations → Webflow

Multi-site, multi-language management and content structure

• Multilingual
  
  • Webflow: Multilingual possible, but more limited and paid (Webflow Localization).
  • Joomla: powerful native multilanguage (structures by language, dedicated menus, filters).

• Multi-sites
  
  • Webflow: one site = one project, no native multi-site sharing the same core.
  • Joomla: possible to manage several sites with certain setups, but requires expertise.

Good to know

Joomla has historically been widely used by public institutions, NGOs, and multilingual organizations, largely thanks to its robust, native multilingual system.

Support, support and development model (SaaS vs open source community)

• Webflow
  
  • Official support (tickets, documentation, Webflow University)
  • Roadmap managed by the company Webflow
  • Less risk of “fragmentation”, but strong dependence on the publisher

• joomla
  
  • Open source community project (Joomla! Project)
  • Support via forums, Slack, specialized agencies
  • Evolution dependent on the community, but no proprietary publisher

Webflow vs Joomla, what do they have in common?

Complete solutions to create professional sites

Both solutions allow you to create:

• Showcase and corporate sites
• Blogs and magazines
• Portfolios and landing pages
• E-commerce sites (with different limits depending on the case)

Both have a professional ecosystem (freelancers, agencies, integrators) capable of taking on projects of all sizes.

Structured content management (articles, pages, categories, collections)

• Webflow: Collections to model content (blog, projects, team members...).
• Joomla: Articles + categories + custom content types (via extensions).

In both cases, you can:

• Define custom fields
• Structuring complex content
• Link content together (relationships, tags, categories)

Advanced design and layout possibilities

• Webflow focuses on:
  
  • The pixel perfect
  • Animations, interactions, microinteractions
  • Prototyping similar to a UI design tool

Joomla allows:

• Advanced designs via:
  
  • Modern templates, frameworks (Helix, Gantry, YOOtheme, etc.)
  • Integrated builders (SP Page Builder, YOOtheme Pro...)

In both cases, a very professional and modern site is possible, with a certain level of mastery.

Integrated SEO functions and performance optimization possible

• Title, meta description, own URLs
• Sitemap management
• Integration with Google Analytics, Search Console
• Possible performance optimizations (cache, CDN, minification, etc.)

Compatibility with third-party integrations (CRM, marketing, analytics...)

• Webflow: via native integrations, custom scripts, Zapier/Make.

• Joomla: via extensions, REST APIs, hooks, custom scripts.

Webflow vs Joomla: which is the easiest to learn in 2026?

Onboarding, documentation, and training resources

• Webflow
  
  • Webflow University (videos, guided courses)
  • Very visual onboarding
  • Ready to use templates

• joomla
  
  • Official documentation and active community
  • More text, fewer guided tours
  • Often requires a tutorial or training to be comfortable

User experience for a non-developer

Webflow is generally perceived as:

• More reassuring (modern, all-in-one interface)
• Faster to get a visual result
• Fewer technical concepts to integrate

Joomla might seem like:

• Complex (menus, modules, plugins, ACLs...)
• Less intuitive at first
• But more powerful once mastered

Experience for a web developer or integrator

• A PHP/JS developer used to open source CMS will find in Joomla:
  
  • A freer playing field
  • Better integration with back‑office or business systems

• A front end integrator or UI/UX oriented designer will often prefer Webflow for:
  
  • Immediate visual editing
  • The speed of iteration with customers

Average time to create a first functional site

Webflow vs Joomla: design, flexibility and creative experience

Webflow Designer vs creating Joomla templates (templates, overrides, frameworks)

• Webflow Designer
  
  • Visual drag & drop editor based on CSS (flexbox, grid...)
  • Very fine rendering control without writing CSS by hand
  • Ideal for prototyping and producing on the same tool

• joomla
  
  • Templates created in HTML/PHP + CSS
  • Possibility to use visual frameworks & builders
  • More technical, but freer in terms of server structure

Mock-up, prototyping, and pixel perfect

• Webflow:
  
  • Can replace some of the Figma/Sketch work for marketing sites
  • Allows you to show an interactive prototype very close to the final

• Joomla:
  
  • Prototyping often done beforehand (Figma, XD,...) then integrated into the template
  • Pixel perfect possible, but via a more technical workflow

Good to know

Many agencies now rely on a Figma → Webflow workflow to quickly deliver high-end marketing websites without going through complex front-end integration.

Responsive design, grid, flexbox and layout systems

• Webflow:
  
  • Native interface to manage breakpoints, grid, flexbox
  • Instant overview on various devices

• Joomla:
  
  • Depends on the template/framework chosen
  • Modern frameworks (Helix, YOOtheme...) integrate powerful layout systems

Component libraries, design systems and element reuse

• Webflow:
  
  • Symbols/Reusable components
  • Design Systems managed in the same project

• Joomla:
  
  • Reuse via modules, layout overrides, builders
  • Less centralized by default, more dependent on third-party tools

Webflow vs Joomla: CMS features and content management

Content modeling: Webflow collections vs Joomla content types

Management of roles, user rights and editorial workflow

• Webflow
  
  • Simple editing roles (editor, admin)
  • Basic editorial workflow

• joomla
  
  • Advanced ACL (Access Control List)
  • Detailed management: groups, access levels, permissions by component, etc.
  • Perfect for complex editorial teams

Media Management, File Libraries, and Related Performances

• Webflow:
  
  • Integrated, easy to use media library
  • Automatic optimization of images (according to plan)

• Joomla:
  
  • Media Manager improved in recent versions
  • Possibility to use extensions for advanced management (DAM, CDN...)

Native multi-language or via extensions, and SEO implications

• Webflow Localization :
  
  • Recent, paid, and easier multilingual management for marketing sites
  • Correct SEO if well configured (hreflang tags generated)

• Joomla:
  
  • Very mature multi-language, allows great granularity
  • Requires more initial configuration, but offers very good SEO control

Webflow vs Joomla: SEO, Performance, and Technical Optimization

If you want to dig deeper into the SEO of your site and we can carry out a free audit, you can contact our Webflow SEO agency.

Integrated SEO tools (meta, tags, sitemap, redirects)

• Both offer:
  
  • Setting up meta-titles and descriptions
  • Management of own URLs
  • XML sitemaps
  • Tools Of redirects (native Webflow, via extensions for Joomla)

Even if Webflow offers good performance by default, it is still essential toFinely optimize the SEO of a Webflow site to get the best results.

Load speed, Core Web Vitals, and code optimization

Good to know

Many tests show that simple Webflow sites often achieve better Lighthouse scores without advanced optimization than poorly configured Joomla sites, although a well-optimized Joomla setup can reach equivalent or even superior performance.

URL management, canonical, hreflang, and site structure

• Webflow:
  
  • Simple and effective management for current needs
  • Proper control of slugs, redirections, canonical

• Joomla:
  
  • Very fine control of the URL structure (menus, aliases, categories)
  • Advanced management possible via specialized SEO extensions

Integration with Google Analytics, Search Console, and other SEO tools

• Webflow:
  
  • Easy integration via dedicated fields or custom code

• Joomla:
  
  • Integration via templates, modules, plugins

In both cases, integration with standard SEO tools is not a particular problem.

Webflow vs Joomla: e-commerce

Webflow Ecommerce vs e-commerce extensions for Joomla (HikaShop, VirtueMart, etc.)

Management of the product catalog, variants and stock

• Webflow:
  
  • Simple management of products, variants and stocks
  • Sufficient for small and medium-sized shops

• Joomla + Hikashop/Virtuemart:
  
  • Very rich catalog, multiple configurations
  • Adapted to complex e-commerce sites (B2B, multi-catalogs)

Payments, taxes, delivery and legal compliance

• Webflow:
  
  • Payment integrations (Stripe, etc.)
  • Standard tax management and delivery areas
• Joomla:
  
  • Multiple payment gateways (depending on extension)
  • Advanced management of taxes, B2B, currencies, complex rules

International sales, multi-currency and marketing integrations

• Webflow: easier for a lightweight international marketing store.
• Joomla: more suitable for complex multi-country, multi-currency, B2B e-commerce.

Webflow vs Joomla: extensions, integrations and ecosystem

Webflow Marketplace vs Joomla Extension Directory

• Webflow:
  
  • Marketplace more limited but growing (Webflow apps)

• Joomla:
  
  • Joomla Extensions Directory (JED) very extensive

Quality, security and maintenance of extensions

• Webflow:
  
  • Apps that are generally controlled and limited in depth of integration

• Joomla:
  
  • Variable quality depending on the developers
  • Importance of choosing reputable and maintained extensions

Native integrations (Zapier, Make, CRM, emailing, automation...)

• Webflow:
  
  • Perfect for integrating into a modern marketing stack (no-code, automation).

• Joomla:
  
  • Possible integrations, sometimes more technical (API, custom plugins).

Overall cost related to plugins, apps and ancillary services

• Webflow:
  
  • Minus Of plugins to buy, but monthly plans are sometimes more expensive.

• Joomla:
  
  • Extensions that are often paid for (support & updates)
  • But hosting and recurring costs can remain very under control.

Webflow vs Joomla: security, maintenance and updates

Update policy (core, themes, extensions)

• Webflow:
  
  • Updates managed by the publisher, almost invisible to the user.

• Joomla:
  
  • Regular updates to apply (core + extensions + PHP).

Attack surface, vulnerabilities and vulnerability management

• Webflow:
  
  • Reduced attack surface on the client side, security managed on the Webflow side.

• Joomla:
  
  • Attack area depends on the number of extensions and the quality of hosting.

Backups, recovery, and disaster recovery plans

• Webflow:
  
  • Content version management, but not full access to the server or database.

• Joomla:
  
  • Full backups possible (files + database)
  • Dedicated extensions (Akeeba Backup, etc.)

Responsibilities: what Webflow manages vs what should the Joomla host/publisher manage

Webflow vs Joomla: costs, licenses and business model

Base cost: free, paid plans, hosting, licenses

• Webflow:
  
  • limited free account + paid plans per site/workspace.

You can find the details in our article on The price of Webflow.

• Joomla:
  
  • Free CMS, cost = hosting + possible premium extensions + maintenance.

Total cost of ownership (TCO) over 3 to 5 years

Good to know

For a small professional brochure website, Webflow is often slightly more expensive in the long run, but it saves a significant amount of technical maintenance time.

Cost in time: maintenance, updates, technical support

• Webflow:
  
  • Very little time spent on maintenance.

• Joomla:
  
  • Recurring time for updates, checks, backups.

Business Model: Proprietary SaaS vs Self-Hosted Open Source

• Webflow:
  
  • Dependence on a private player, but the comfort of a managed SaaS.

• Joomla:
  
  • Full independence, but greater technical responsibility.

Webflow vs Joomla: for what types of projects and profiles?

Webflow vs Joomla for a freelancer or a small agency

• Webflow
  
  • Ideal for: showcase sites, landing pages, mini-businesses, portfolios.
  • Very attractive for design & marketing agencies.

• joomla
  
  • Interesting for: institutions, associations, complex content sites.
  • Technical agencies or agencies that have been historically positioned on Joomla.

Webflow vs Joomla for an SME/ETI

• Webflow:
  
  • Great for corporate, product, marketing sites.

• Joomla:
  
  • Very suitable if complex editorial workflows, advanced multi-languages, public/private intranet are needed.

Webflow vs Joomla for a large company or an institutional project

• Webflow:
  
  • Can be used for certain campaigns or micro-sites.

In connection with this topic, our article onuse of Webflow by large companies.

• Joomla:
  
  • More suitable for institutional portals, intranets, major editorial platforms.

Webflow vs Joomla for a blog, a showcase site, a portfolio, an intranet, an e-commerce

Webflow vs Joomla: migration, scalability and sustainability in 2026

Migrating an existing site: Joomla to Webflow, Webflow to Joomla

• No perfect automatic migration between the two.
• Migration = export/import of content + reintegration of design and functionalities.

Growth management: traffic, content, team, features

• Webflow:
  
  • Manages well the increase in traffic via its infra.
  • Limits on CMS volumes (number of items) according to plans.

• Joomla:
  
  • Manages large volumes of content and complex teams very well, if the infra follows.

Vendor lock-in vs data portability

• Webflow:
  
  • SaaS lock: strong dependency, partial export.

• Joomla:
  
  • Complete portability: database + files, open source standard.

Roadmap, community and medium/long term perspectives

• Webflow:
  
  • Strong growth, numerous innovations (localization, apps, memberships...).

• Joomla:
  
  • More mature and stable project, loyal community, LTS versions.

Is Webflow still relevant in 2026?

Positioning Webflow on the builders and CMS market

• Webflow remains a major player in high-end no-code, highly adopted by designers and agencies.

Recent innovations and roadmap announced

• Strengthening CMS, localization, apps, and no-code/automation integrations.

Adoption by agencies, freelancers and businesses

• Used for:
  
  • Corporate sites, landing pages, marketing campaigns
  • Portfolios of agencies and freelancers

Current limits and cases where Webflow is not suitable

• Less suitable for:
  
  • Complex intranets, business back offices, elaborate server logics
  • Highly regulated environments with full self-hosting requirements

Is Joomla still relevant in 2026?

Joomla project status, supported versions and community

• Joomla 4/5 remains maintained with an active community and updated extensions.

Using Joomla in current professional projects

• Very present in:
  
  • Communities, public institutions, associations, NGOs
  • Projects where content structure and ACL are critical

Joomla's strengths in the face of new no-code and headless tools

• Full control, open source, robustness of multi-language and ACLs.

Areas where Joomla remains particularly relevant

• Institutional portals, intranets, complex e-commerce, sites with advanced business logic.

Is Joomla still in use?

Usage statistics and estimated market shares

• Joomla has lost market share to WordPress and SaaS builders, but is still used by hundreds of thousands of active sites around the world.

Typical profiles of current Joomla users

• Historical agencies, PHP developers, digital services from institutions and NGOs.

Sectors where Joomla remains widely established (associations, institutions, etc.)

• Public sector, education, associations, projects with controlled budgets but strong technical requirements.

Role of specialized Joomla agencies and developers

• They ensure maintenance, migrations and the creation of new complex projects based on Joomla.

Webflow vs Joomla: 2026 comparison - What to remember

When should Webflow be preferred over Joomla

• You want to:
  
  • A modern showcase/marketing site quickly, without worrying about servers.
  • Great freedom of design and animations without coding.
  • Minimize maintenance and time spent on technology.

When Joomla is still a better choice than Webflow

• You need:
  
  • An advanced multi-language and a very complex content structure.
  • From an intranet, extranet, institutional portal or a complex e-commerce.
  • Totally independent from a proprietary SaaS.

Summary table of the major advantages and disadvantages

Recommendations according to your profile and your project

• Freelance/small design & marketing agency: Webflow
• SMEs with marketing needs + simple multi-language: Webflow or Joomla, depending on internal resources
• Institution, community, intranet, complex portal: Joomla
• Advanced e-commerce, B2B, multi-catalogs: Joomla (with a good e-commerce extension)

Webflow vs Joomla FAQ

Is Webflow a good alternative for Joomla?

Yes, for showcase sites, blogs and small e-commerce where simplicity, design and low maintenance take precedence over technical flexibility.

Which CMS is the most suitable for a beginner: Webflow or Joomla?

Webflow is more suitable for a non-technical beginner, thanks to its visual interface and managed hosting.

Is it easy to migrate a Joomla site to Webflow (and vice versa)?

No, there is no one-click migration; you have to export the content, recreate the design, and reconfigure the functionalities.

What is the best choice for SEO: Webflow or Joomla?

Both can be referenced very well. SEO will mainly depend on the quality of the content, the structure and the configuration.

Webflow vs Joomla: which tool should you choose to launch an e-commerce site in 2026?

For a small and simple shop: Webflow may be enough. For complex e-commerce or B2B: Joomla with a specialized extension will be more suitable.

sourcing

• Webflow official documentation: https://webflow.com
• Webflow University: https://university.webflow.com
• Official Joomla documentation: https://docs.joomla.org
• Joomla Extensions Directory: https://extensions.joomla.org
• CMS usage statistics (market trends) — W3Techs, BuiltWith
• Webflow and Joomla blogs & specialized resources (agencies, developers, technical comparisons)