Why I Migrate My Clients From WordPress to Webflow
After migrating more than a dozen websites from WordPress to Webflow, I’ve learned a hard truth: WordPress sites are often held together by plugins, themes, and crossed fingers. While it remains the most popular CMS on the planet, WordPress is riddled with long-term risks—particularly when it comes to accessibility, maintainability, and security. In this post, I’ll explain why Webflow is a better long-term investment for site owners, especially when accessibility and security matter.
Theme Dependency and the Accessibility Trap
One of WordPress’s biggest weaknesses is its theme-based structure. Whether you’re using Elementor, Beaver Builder, or any other theme or page builder, your website becomes inherently dependent on that theme’s codebase. Most themes are not accessible out of the box—and even when you put in the work to make them accessible, that work is fragile.
Here’s the problem: once you apply accessibility fixes—custom scripts, class-based styling, and ARIA markup—they become tightly coupled to the structure of the theme. Update the theme, and those carefully applied fixes can break. I’ve seen IDs change, DOM structure shift, and entire components go missing after updates. If you’ve manually applied accessibility features, you may be forced to re-audit and reapply fixes after every update. This isn’t just annoying, it’s a legal liability.
Sadly, this is often the point where many developers give up on accessibility altogether and settle for whatever the theme offers out of the box. That’s not acceptable. And that’s why I move them to Webflow.
Webflow Has No Themes — And That’s a Good Thing
Webflow isn’t built on themes. Every element is custom. That means once you build it, it’s yours—and it stays yours.
- No unexpected updates to structure
- No broken class names or altered IDs
- No worries about update-induced regressions
In Webflow, you control your CSS classes, custom code, and page structure. Webflow never overwrites or adjusts your site code without your action. Accessibility fixes stay in place. Developer intent is preserved. That stability alone is worth the switch.
Plugin Dependency and a Web of Risk
Unless you’re custom-coding your WordPress site from scratch, you’re plugin dependent. Contact Form 7. Elementor. WP Bakery. Yoast SEO. ACF. These plugins often control critical features—and they each come with their own update cycles and security risks.
- Update the plugin? Risk breaking your accessibility fixes.
- Don’t update the plugin? Risk a security breach.
There’s no winning.
WordPress is the most used website platform, and unfortunately, that makes it the most attacked.
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of WordPress sites get hacked... In 2016, Sucuri reported that 61% of WordPress hacks were due to outdated core software.” — Kinsta
One of my current clients is using WordPress and when their site was hacked it was an absolute nightmare. They thought backups were running—but they weren’t. My small update retainer substantially increased as we ended up rebuilding numerous pages and sections from scratch using the Wayback Machine. GoDaddy charged hundreds of dollars for emergency cleanup and ongoing protection. It was a nightmare.
Webflow Is Secure By Design
Webflow doesn’t rely on plugins—or plugin, core, or PHP updates. With Webflow, you’ll never need to worry about updating software or managing outdated extensions. You're always on the latest version, updated automatically in a secure sandbox with zero downtime.
More importantly, you don't need to rely on plugins anymore. Webflow has built the most popular WordPress plugin functionality directly into the platform—from SEO tools to form handling and CMS control—as native features. Plus, Webflow’s App Marketplace offers vetted integrations, APIs, and extensions to support any advanced custom logic your build needs.
It’s hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and includes:
Reports of Webflow sites being hacked are rare by comparison. In my experience, Webflow is far more secure than WordPress—and far less stressful to maintain.
Customization, Creativity, and Control
Another reason I consistently migrate clients from WordPress to Webflow? Creative freedom.
Webflow gives me—and my clients—control over every element of the site. I can:
- Add custom HTML, CSS, or JavaScript in seconds
- Apply custom attributes directly within the Designer
- Visually style my layouts without battling hidden settings
No more flipping between edit mode and preview mode. No more publishing one page at a time. Webflow's interface is fluid, intuitive, and built for designers and developers alike. I’m not locked behind one restrictive theme after another, or stuck hacking together accessibility with duct tape.
With WordPress, it's often locked door after locked door. If you're not a PHP developer (I’m not), the system works against you. Editing layouts, adding semantic structure, or inserting interactive features can turn into a frustrating tangle of theme builder limitations and clunky plugin dependencies.
Yes, Elementor has made solid strides in accessibility—and I give them credit. But it still pales in comparison to the clarity, semantic structure, and customizability Webflow offers out of the box.
And don't even get me started on WordPress’s CMS. Complex. Unintuitive. Designed for devs, not users.
In Webflow, clients actually understand how to use their websites. They can:
- Add blog posts
- Publish case studies
- Swap out an image
...all without breaking the layout or calling me in a panic.
And when they do need help with something more complex? I’m still here to support them. But in Webflow, I’m empowering them, not trapping them in a maze of PHP templates and plugin chains.
Webflow vs. WordPress: An Honest Pros & Cons Breakdown
Both platforms have strengths—but they serve different priorities. Here's how they stack up:
Webflow
Pros:
- Visual design interface: Great for designers and visual thinkers.
- Streamlined development: Rapid no-code/low-code workflows.
- Built-in hosting: Everything in one platform—no third-party services needed.
- Clean codebase: Minimal reliance on plugins, resulting in faster, more stable builds.
Cons:
- Limited code-level access: Not ideal for backend-heavy builds or server-side logic.
- No mobile app: Cannot edit content from your phone.
- E-commerce still growing: More limited than WordPress + WooCommerce.
WordPress
Pros:
- Open-source and free: Fully customizable with massive community support.
- Extensive plugins and themes: Thousands of options to extend functionality.
- SEO-friendly: Deep integration options and flexibility for custom strategies.
- Scalable: Handles high-traffic, content-heavy sites well.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve: Non-developers often struggle with the admin.
- Plugin dependency: Frequent conflicts, security issues, and update fatigue.
- Performance issues: Bloated themes and plugin stacking can slow your site.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Webflow if you want:
- Full visual control over your design and layout
- Less time maintaining and troubleshooting plugin/theme conflicts
- A faster, cleaner, more accessible build process
Choose WordPress if you:
- Need heavy custom server-side functionality
- Already work with a developer team fluent in PHP
- Are building a massive content library with complex taxonomy needs
Webflow isn’t just easier to maintain—it’s safer, more accessible, and gives you complete control over your site structure. No more plugin conflicts. No more accessibility regressions. No more late-night recovery jobs.
If you’re tired of WordPress breaking your fixes, risking your compliance, and stressing your team, it’s time to move. I can help you migrate everything from WordPress to Webflow with accessibility and SEO at the forefront.
💬 Let’s talk about your migration. Request a quote today!
