Webflow Takes Users from Concept to Realization With No-Code Website Builder and Hosting Platform

TL; DR: Webflow provides a complete SaaS-based platform for website building and hosting. Its no-code visual editor allows users to create websites their way without fixed templates or coding required. Webflow expands design parameters, allowing teams to take on HTML and CSS in a visual canvas while generating the code for them. Webflow also handles the hosting side of things, providing security, network connectivity, and performance throughout the website journey. We spoke with Allan Leinwand, CTO of Webflow, about the platform and its all-in-one capabilities.

The rise of no-code is no fluke. In fact, no- and low-code tools are here to stay. According to Kissflow, low-code tools will be responsible for more than 65% of application development by 2024. And why are these tools so popular? About 85% of workers surveyed say that no-code tools add value to their lives.

No-code tools have transformed workflows and made building web applications and websites more accessible. Users once deemed underskilled for specific tasks can now take them on with confidence and accuracy. No- and low-code platforms have helped change the tech landscape, allowing users to pump out applications faster and streamline their processes.

The folks at Webflow know a thing or two about no-code tools. Better yet, Webflow not only offers a no-code website builder but also an all-in-one platform for web development and deployment, simplifying the web process altogether.

“We allow designers to build websites visually and then effectively push a button and have it hosted and published on the CDN within seconds. So the way we like to say it is that we bring the web development superpowers to everyone,” said Allan Leinwand, CTO of Webflow.

Webflow offers a reliable and effective platform for building websites your way. Using its visual canvas, users can control HTML, CSS, and JavaScript without writing a line of code. Webflow then generates clean, semantic code ready for publishing. Webflow also handles all of the security, performance, and hosting duties for its customers.

SaaS platforms have enabled teams to simplify and streamline their web processes with only a few clicks. Webflow is no different. Its platform offers a comprehensive solution for web development, from design to hosting, allowing users to manage everything with the push of a button.

“You visually design and build your brand since the website is the front asset or web presence for a business. Once you hit publish, we take care of the rest. So we scale it up securely. We don’t have things like plugins and dependency trees. We do it all,” said Allan.

Webflow sets up and powers user content while users focus on designing. Its complete platform includes security, performance, and network connectivity. So users can find everything they need under one roof.

“Webflow drives performance capability while maintaining 99.99+% uptime. Webflow does this for all customers by leveraging cloud computing infrastructure around the globe and serving content from the edge using a global CDN. We also have HTTP/3 and HTTP/2 connectivity for our clients, so they get fast, highly performant protocol connectivity. We host on Amazon, and we use CDN providers to do that,” said Allan.

As for design, its visual editor is flexible and easy to use. Users can leverage every HTML element possible and access 95% of CSS using style panels. Unlike other website builders with fixed formats and templates, Webflow allows teams to leverage a diverse set of design parameters to make their websites look unique to their style.

“The left-hand side is HTML, and the right-hand side is all the CSS properties. Honestly, the possibilities are infinite. You can do anything you want. You can even import a design system from somewhere like Figma straight into Webflow to host it directly,” said Allan.

With Webflow, companies can focus on pushing their brands forward. Webflow eliminates the guesswork and tedious tasks associated with web development so its users can run full steam ahead with their designs and get their web presence up and running.

“We don’t want customers to think about Amazon regions, Google, or Microsoft. They don’t have to think about CDN providers. We want them to think about building the best web property possible. And we’ll take care of the hosting and design sides once it’s all built,” said Allan.

Webflow offers a custom website-building platform for everyone. Trusted by 200,000-plus organizations, it has helped companies of all sizes design and launch attractive and powerful websites. Its platform is built for growth, making it ripe for scalability.

“We see everything from individuals building their web presence to the largest Fortune 100s. We have Dell, NCR, and other big customers doing some incredible things on the platform. And the fun part is building something that scales from smaller to larger enterprise customers,” said Allan.

Webflow’s platform meets the needs of a diverse client base. Users can leverage Webflow to accelerate time to market and create well-designed and performant websites to wow end users. It also ensures user websites remain performant. Its quick content delivery speed reassures customers that their end users will have a great user experience.

“Once we hit that publish button, it takes seconds. And now you’re in hundreds of CDN PoPs. You’re automatically backed up and have all the scalability and security you need. It just works,” said Allan.

The Webflow team prides itself on providing updates and new features quickly. Allan told us the team ships many times a day, whether bug fixes, new features, or enhancements. It is clear that the Webflow team prioritizes agility.

“We spend a lot of time keeping up on the technology, working with our application and development partners, and just staying abreast of what’s happening in the industry,” said Allan.

The team also looks at different integrations to see how they can best fit into the Webflow platform to produce the highest-quality product. Speaking of which, Webflow recently acquired Intellimize to unlock AI-driven website optimization and personalization for its users.

“Intellimize allows brand owners to personalize and optimize their website based on particular preferences. Maybe they’re trying to do A/B testing in different markets or geographies. So I’m really excited about this integration, and it’s going to be key for us,” said Allan.

The inclusion of Intellimize capabilities will allow marketing teams to create more personalized user experiences for different audiences seamlessly using the power of AI. This way, teams can better understand end-user needs and optimize for conversions.

“Thinking about what we can do to evolve and make the web a real, live, breathing property for our customers has been fun because the website is our priority. It is the presence. It helps them sell their products, market themselves, or recruit the best talent. And we’re just excited to be a part of that,” said Allan.