"I just want a straight answer. How much is this actually going to cost me?"
I hear this question almost daily, and I get the frustration. Webflow's pricing structure isn't exactly straightforward, and most online breakdowns gloss over the real-world costs that add up once you're in the thick of building.
After years of helping small businesses navigate this exact confusion at Bloomr Design, I've learned that those neat pricing tables only tell about half the story. Let's cut through the marketing speak and get to the real numbers.
First things first – what is Webflow? It's a website building platform that combines visual design tools with powerful hosting infrastructure. Think of it as Photoshop meets WordPress, but with less technical headache.
Unlike most platforms that bundle everything into one subscription, Webflow splits their pricing into two categories:
And yes, you generally need both. This is surprise #1 for most people.
I can almost guarantee you'll need at least the CMS plan. The Basic plan doesn't allow for dynamic content like blog posts or team members – and nearly every site needs at least one of these features.
Many small businesses can actually get by with the free Starter Workspace if they're only managing one website. But the moment you need to grant access to a team member or contractor, you'll need to upgrade.
For a typical small business website using the CMS plan and an annual Core workspace for one person:
That's just your baseline. The real costs come from design and development.
Design and Development: Where Your Budget Goes
As a Webflow web design agency, we typically see most small business websites falling in the $5,000-$10,000 range for professional design and development, plus the annual platform costs.\
Your website isn't a "build it and forget it" asset. Budget for:
Think of your website like a car – regular maintenance is far cheaper than waiting for a breakdown.
Additional Costs to Consider
Basic Site Plan ($14/month annually)
Real talk: Almost no one should choose this. The moment you want a blog, team page, or any kind of updatable content, you'll need to upgrade.
CMS Site Plan ($23/month annually)
Real talk: This is where most small businesses should start. The ability to update content without a developer is worth way more than the $9 difference from Basic.
Business Site Plan ($39/month annually)
Real talk: You probably don't need this until you're getting serious traffic (50k+ visits monthly) or have a large team needing content access.
Enterprise Site Plan (Custom pricing)
Real talk: Unless you're a well-established business with serious traffic, this is overkill.
Why is Webflow so expensive?
Webflow gives you significantly more control and capability. You're paying for both professional-grade design tools AND hosting infrastructure in one platform.
If your business just needs a basic online presence with minimal functionality, Webflow might indeed be overkill.
How much is Webflow valued at?
As of early 2025, Webflow is valued at approximately $4.2 billion following their Series D funding round. That's billion with a B.
This matters because it tells you they're not some fly-by-night operation that might disappear with your website. The company's substantial funding means they're investing heavily in development and support.
The Webflow costs are absolutely worth it when:
However, for very simple business needs – essentially a digital business card – it might be overkill.
The benefits of using Webflow really shine when you need both design flexibility and content management capabilities without the technical overhead of more complex systems.
WordPress itself is free, but the total cost of ownership includes:
I've seen too many businesses lured by WordPress's "free" price tag, only to end up spending more over time dealing with security issues, plugin conflicts, and maintenance needs.
For businesses weighing custom vs template website options, Webflow often provides better long-term value due to built-in hosting, better security, and less maintenance overhead.
On pure platform costs, yes. Wix's comparable business plans run $16-$45/month in 2025, while Webflow starts at $14/month plus potential workspace costs.
But here's what that price difference gets you with Webflow:
Wix is like renting an apartment where you can't paint the walls. Webflow is like owning a house – it costs more, but you can customize everything and your investment grows in value.
Webflow offers significant discounts for annual billing across all their plans. For a CMS site with two team members on Core workspaces, switching from monthly to annual billing would save you $168 per year.
Almost all of our clients choose annual billing after seeing these numbers.
If you're on a tight budget, Webflow's free "Business Starter" template includes:
While it won't win design awards, it's clean, professional, and a solid foundation. For something more customized, our Webflow websites for small businesses service can help you create something that truly stands out.
Before committing to any platform, proper planning is essential. Our website planing guide walks you through the key questions to ask before spending a dime.
If you're coming from the design world, our Figma to Webflow guide explains how to efficiently translate designs into a working Webflow site.
Webflow isn't the cheapest option, but it offers exceptional value for businesses that:
If you're operating on a very tight budget and need only basic functionality, platforms like Squarespace or Wix might be a better starting point.
The businesses most satisfied with their Webflow investment are those who took the time to properly assess their needs and plan their project – whether working with an agency like ours or investing in their own learning.
For more detailed information about specific pricing and plans, visit Webflow website directly.
Here at Bloomr Design, we offer custom web design and development services by creating affordable web design for small business or custom webflow websites just like yours every day.
Why not drop us a line? Reach out to schedule a free consultation today and learn more about our web design services for small business!
