ExpressionEngine vs Webflow CMS
ExpressionEngine
expressionengine.comWebflow CMS
webflow.comSide by side
| Figure | ExpressionEngine | Webflow CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3.25/mo | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 5 |
| Spec score · Web Content Management Software | 9.0 (#1) | 8.4 (#9) |
| Spec score · Content Management Systems | 9.1 (#9) | 9.2 (#4) |
| Custom content types | Yes | Yes |
| Custom user roles | Yes | Yes |
| Editorial workflows | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Media library | Yes | Yes |
| Multilingual content | Yes | Yes |
| Platform type | self_hosted | Webflow describes its CMS as a visual-first, composable CMS and a hybrid CMS. |
| SEO tools | Yes | Webflow provides metadata, alt text, structured content, clean code, SEO, and AEO tools. |
| Support | Support plans provide guaranteed first responses ranging from one business day to two business hours, depending on plan. | Webflow lists the Help Center, Support Portal, and Webflow University, while its Team plan includes priority support. |
Plans
ExpressionEngine
- CoreFree
- Pro$249, paid once
- Pro Renewal Subscription$49 a year
- Pro Renewal$59, paid once
- Additional MSM Site$49, paid once
- MSM Pro Renewal Subscription$39 a year
- MSM Pro Renewal$49, paid once
- MSM Pro Renewal$49 a year
- Pro Renewal$59 a year
- MSM Pro License Renewal$49 a year
Webflow CMS
- StarterFree
- Basic$15 a month
- Premium$25 a month
- Team$2,500 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
ExpressionEngine
ExpressionEngine is an open source CMS from Packet Tide for storing, managing and publishing website content. Its flexible channels and fields support custom content types, editorial workflows, multilingual content, SEO tools and a media library. Templates can include HTML, JavaScript, PHP and ExpressionEngine tags, and the CMS provides more than 20 field types. Editors can update content on a site's front end, while administrators can also bring the control panel there. One installation can manage multiple sites and share design, content and members; each additional MSM site requires an additional MSM Pro License. The free Core plan allows one control panel user. Pro costs $249, paid once, includes unlimited control panel users and one year of updates. Continued updates are available through renewal options, including a Pro Renewal Subscription at $49 a year. ExpressionEngine runs on web, self-hosted and API platforms. Learning resources include documentation, forums and ExpressionEngine University.
Webflow CMS
Webflow CMS is a hosted content management system for building dynamic websites and editing content on a visual canvas. Teams can see changes rendered in real time, organize items into Collections that share a template, and use draft previews, publishing controls, comments, and on-canvas editing. SEO tools cover metadata and alt text, and Webflow supports localized site experiences. Its headless CMS APIs serve content in and out of Webflow and connect external tools. The browser-based service includes a media library, custom content types, and user roles. The free Starter plan includes a Webflow.io domain, limited CMS, 2 static pages, 1 GB bandwidth, and 50 form submissions. Paid plans start at $25 a month billed yearly; the Premium plan supports 20,000 CMS items and 40 Collections. Webflow supports the last three major versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, but not Internet Explorer. Code export can include HTML and CSS, while dynamic CMS items and pages cannot be exported.