Grow with Low-Code
5 minute read

How to Migrate from Webflow to WordPress in 2024

How to Migrate from Webflow to WordPress in 2024
Written by
Aaron Marco Arias
Published on
December 6, 2023
TL;DR

In a previous guide, we covered how to migrate your WordPress content into Webflow. We've done this for several partners since Webflow is our low-code web design platform of choice. But maybe you're wondering how to migrate from Webflow to WordPress. 

In this guide, we'll cover:

  • What you need to migrate from Webflow to WordPress
  • How to migrate from Webflow to WordPress, step by step
  • How to import a Webflow design into WordPress
  • How to troubleshoot your Webflow to WordPress migration

But first, let's quickly compare these two platforms.

WordPress vs. Webflow: An Overview

WordPress is a popular, PHP-based content management system (CMS) that allows users to easily create and manage websites. It started out as a blogging platform, but as its plugin ecosystem developed, it began to be used for:

  • e-Commerce
  • Marketing
  • Directories
  • And more

On the other hand, Webflow is a web design platform that offers a visual interface for building responsive websites without coding. It's one of the most versatile, reliable, and easy-to-use low-code web development tools.

While both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses, WordPress is known for its flexibility and vast community support. Over 40% of the internet runs on WordPress, and the platform is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023. So if you're a non-technical user trying to troubleshoot a WordPress website, you'll most likely find a relevant and accessible solution. 

Webflow has a large community - but it's far smaller than WordPress. On the other hand, WF is praised for its:

  • Ease of use
  • Custom code support
  • Custom interaction design features
  • Simple and efficient CSS class management
  • And much more

Webflow websites are usually easier to maintain and much more performant than their WP-powered counterparts. However, Webflow has a big disadvantage: Vendor lock-in. 

In short, you can't install Webflow's design tools and CMS on your own server, which means you're tied to their platform and pricing plans. 

For a full WordPress vs. Webflow comparison, check out How to Choose a CMS for your startup.

Webflow Migration Checklist

Already decided that WordPress is the best platform to host your site? To migrate out of Webflow and into WordPress, you'll need:

  • A WordPress hosting plan
  • A WordPress theme
  • A list of plugins you'll use to achieve the functionality you're looking for

Let's dive a little deeper.

A WordPress hosting plan

Webflow is an all-in-one platform that handles hosting for you. But WordPress is just a piece of software that you have to install on a server. For that end, you'll need a hosting plan.

Ideally, you'd hire a hosting provider that specializes on WordPress websites and go for a WordPress hosting plan.

By handling your site's technical maintenance for you, Webflow spares you many headaches, such as being responsible for your website’s security.If you’re looking for a WordPress website management experience that’s similar to what Webflow offers, you’ve got two options:

  • Getting a managed WordPress hosting plan
  • Creating your new website through WordPress.com 

The plans that wordpress.com offers start at $4/month when billed annually. But you’ll have to go for the Business Plan (which starts at $25/month) to get the versatility you need.

A WordPress theme

Your WordPress site’s look and feel will hugely depend on its theme. And your new website will need a good one, even if you plan to only use it as a foundation. Recently, WordPress deployed a new approach to theme creation that involves full-site editing through design blocks.

This change aims to make WordPress creators independent of website builders, which usually:

  • Affect websites’ performance
  • Make websites harder to maintain 
  • Render certain content blocks unusable if uninstalled

We recommend checking out:

An inventory of the WordPress plugins you'll need

WordPress plugins are best used in moderation. We recommend you keep your plugin count under 10, and carefully curate which plugins you install. 

Graph showing CMS infections in 2021

According to Sucuri’s 2021 Website Threat Research Report, WordPress sites suffer 95.62% of all CMS infections. And most of these infections exploit vulnerabilities coming from outdated themes and plugins.

But, to take WordPress beyond a mere blog, you’ll need some plugins. 

We recommend:

And if you’ll handle your site migration yourself, you’ll also need:

  • A content import plugin
  • An image import plugin

Webflow Export to WordPress, Step by Step

Planning to migrate your website from Webflow to WordPress? Here’s how to get it done:

  1. Export your Webflow content
  2. Install a WordPress import plugin
  3. Use the WP All Import wizard to integrate your content into WordPress
  4. Use an automatic image downloader to fetch your images

Export your Webflow content

Exporting your Webflow content is extremely easy. You’ll just have to:

  1. Open the Webflow designer
  2. Go to the CMS Collections tab
  3. Open the collection you want to export
  4. Click on the Export button

That’s it! You’ve just downloaded a CSV with all your blog content.

Install a WordPress import plugin

Plugins like WP All Import allow you to export your content from Webflow and import it directly into your new WordPress site. These plugins typically offer intuitive interfaces and guide you through the migration steps.

  1. Go on the Plugins tab of your WordPress dashboard
  2. Click Add New
  3. Look for your plugin of choice
  4. Install it
  5. Activate it

If you’re looking for WP All Import, you’ll find it under the title “Import any XML or CSV file to WordPress”.

Use the WP All Import Wizard to integrate your content into WordPress

🚨 Important: If your blog posts include SEO fields (as they should), feel free to install an SEO plugin, such as Yoast, before importing your content. That way, you’ll be able to map your SEO fields into WordPress. If you’re using WP All Import, make sure to also download the plugin’s Yoast SEO add-on.

Your plugin’s set-up wizard will help you to intuitively navigate the import process. For instance, here’s how it works with WP All Import: 

  1. Upload your CSV and choose the taxonomy you’ll want to import your content to. For instance, blog posts. Then, go to Step 2.
  2. On Step 2, verify that your CSV file is being processed correctly. Is all the data you want to import available and properly formatted? If yes, move to Step 3.
  3. Use the drag-and-drop interface to map your CSV’s field into your WordPress content structure.
  4. Do some final tweaks, such as choosing how WordPress will structure each post’s unique ID.
  5. Start importing
  6. Congrats, you’re done!

Use an automatic image import plugin

Images included within your exported content are basically links that lead to that piece of media within your Webflow website. So, if your Webflow website won’t be live for much longer, you’re at risk of losing those images.

Use an automatic image downloader to fetch your images from your original website. If you’re using a premium version of your content importer, this option will probably be available as part of your content import process. 

How to Migrate a Design from Webflow to WordPress

We've just covered how to migrate your content from Webflow to WordPress - but what about your design?

As we mentioned earlier, WordPress sites’ designs are based on themes. So you’ve got two options to integrate your existing design into WordPress:

  • You can install a normal WordPress theme and import your Webflow landing pages as special pages, using Webflow’s WordPress plugin.
  • You can turn your Webflow design into a WordPress theme using a tool like Udesly.

Let’s explore each option.

Using the Webflow Pages WordPress Plugin

The Webflow Pages WordPress plugin allows you to deliver Webflow landing pages straight on your WordPress website. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Install the Webflow Pages plugin
  2. Add your Webflow API key
  3. Publish the website where your pages are (a staging domain will be more than enough)
  4. Add your pages’ URL slugs to Webflow Pages’ panel. 

Using Udesly

Udesly is a tool that allows you to convert your Webflow website into a WordPress, Ghost, Shopify or JAMStack site. 

In the case of WordPress, Udesly:

  • Turns your design into a theme
  • Adds your Webflow blog posts to WordPress’ Post collection
  • Creates custom collections for all your other content types

Udesly requires specific set-up. So you’ll need to make some changes to your Webflow website to leave it migration-ready. It’s also worth mentioning that, if you want to change anything in your original Webflow design, you’ll have to re-export it. And that can be a pain in its own. However, it’s definitely worth looking into.

Udesly offers a single pricing plan, at 99 euros per year.

How to Troubleshoot Your New WordPress Site

Webflow SEO rocks out-of-the-box. WordPress SEO is a bit trickier. Before you can declare your content migration a success, make sure you:

  1. Check that all your content’s properly formatted - however, this is highly likely
  2. Set your permalinks to a neat and readable structure
  3. Detect and fix any problematic content embeds 
  4. Run a technical SEO audit through your tool of choice

Key Takeaways

In this post, we covered how to migrate from WordPress to Webflow. It’s a simple process that can be the beginning of a new stage in your digital marketing journey.

But whether your website runs on Webflow or WordPress - is it optimized for conversions? Let’s explore how you can leverage design to convert more. Book a free consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s better for SEO, Webflow or WordPress?

Webflow websites are generally more performant than WordPress sites. Additionally, most of the SEO features you’ll have to add to your WP platform through plugins are available in Webflow out-of-the-box. So with SEO in mind, we usually recommend Webflow over WordPress.

Can I import custom content collections?

Yes, you can. Either by using Udesly or by setting up custom content types through a third-party plugin. In the latter case, you’ll probably also need to dive into a bit of PHP. It’s a bit tricky, but it definitely can be done.

Can I migrate my entire Webflow website, including design and functionality, to WordPress?

Yes, you can migrate your entire Webflow website, including design and functionality. But doing it in a sustainable and efficient way may require hiring an expert. Especially when it comes to design migration.

What is the difference between manual migration and using an automatic migration service?

Manual migration involves transferring your content manually, whereas automatic migration services use tools or platforms to automate the process, saving time and effort.

Are there any potential risks or challenges involved in migrating from Webflow to WordPress?

While the migration process can be smooth, there may be challenges such as data loss, differences in features or functionality, or the need for theme adjustments during the transition.

Will my SEO rankings and URLs be affected during the migration process?

There is a possibility of temporary fluctuations in SEO rankings and URLs during the migration. Proper planning can help minimize the impact. Migrate your content to a staging site while your Webflow website remains live. Once you’re fully ready to transition out of Webflow, point your domain to your new WordPress website. Ideally, do it during low-traffic times.

Do I need any coding knowledge to migrate my website from Webflow to WordPress?

No, you don't necessarily need coding knowledge to migrate your website. Various tools and plugins offer user-friendly interfaces for seamless migration.

What happens to my Webflow-hosted assets, such as images and videos, during the migration?

Webflow-hosted assets like images and videos can be downloaded and then re-uploaded to your WordPress site during the migration process. There are several plugins designed for this purpose, and some content import plugins include image import features in their premium version.

Can I maintain the same website structure and navigation when moving from Webflow to WordPress?

Yes, you can maintain a similar website structure and navigation by carefully mapping and recreating the structure within WordPress.

Are there any specific plugins or tools recommended for the Webflow to WordPress migration process?

There are several plugins and tools available for Webflow to WordPress migration, such as the WP All Import plugin for content migration and the Webflow Pages WordPress plugin for integrating Webflow landing pages into WordPress.

Do you provide Webflow to WordPress migration services?

No, we don’t. We fully focus on conversion design solutions powered by Webflow.

First name
E-mail
Company
✌️ Thanks for signing up. You'll receive access to the course soon.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Free consulting in your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter & receive exclusive resources every month.

Name
E-mail
You're in! You'll receive access to the webinar as soon as it's ready.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy