Is Webflow Good for SEO? Here's My Honest Take After 6+ Years

Here's a question I get asked constantly: "Can I actually rank with Webflow?"

The short answer is yes. And this is coming from someone who was building WordPress sites for 10 years before switching to Webflow.

But like most things in SEO, it's a bit more nuanced than that. And I try to share some of that through videos like this one I made covering newer Webflow SEO features that even touch AI optimization.

I've been building and optimizing Webflow sites since 2018, and I've watched Webflow evolve into a legitimately solid platform for SEO work. I've ranked sites on Webflow, outranked WordPress sites with the same sites, and debugged SEO issues on dozens of Webflow projects. So let me give you the real talk on what works, what's tricky, and how to actually nail SEO on Webflow.

What Webflow Gets Right (The oh so good!)

Let's start with the wins. Webflow does several things exceptionally well for SEO right out of the box.

The Code is Clean

Webflow generates semantic HTML. This matters more than some people realize. When Google's crawlers hit your site, they're reading well-structured, valid HTML. No bloated divs. No CSS embedded in your markup. No mystery code cluttering things up.

I've audited countless WordPress sites loaded with plugin bloat. Webflow doesn't have that problem. The HTML is clean, organized, and follows web standards.

Speed is Built In

Your Webflow site is hosted on Webflow's own infrastructure. You don't need to hunt for a hosting provider, configure CDNs, or optimize server response times. It's all there.

Google loves speed. Core Web Vitals matter. Webflow sites typically score well on PageSpeed Insights right out of the gate. I've seen Webflow sites hit 90+ scores without much optimization work.

SSL, Sitemaps, and the Basics

HTTPS? Enabled by default. XML sitemap? Automatically generated. Responsive design? You're building it that way anyway. These aren't luxuries - they're table stakes for SEO. Webflow includes them.

You also get control over meta descriptions, title tags, canonical tags, and open graph tags right in the editor. No plugin needed.

The CMS is Flexible

If you're using Webflow CMS for blog posts, product listings, or any dynamic content, you have serious control. You can create custom fields for schema markup, internal linking strategies, and structured data. This flexibility is solid for scaling SEO across large content collections.

WordPress has plugins for this, sure. But Webflow's approach feels more intentional and less hacky.

Schema Markup Automation

As show in the video above, this is where things get interesting with Webflow. Recently they introduced AI optimzation into their platform whcih helps you generate SEO elements like headlines, meta description and even schema automatically. This is a huge timesaver and very relevant as we trying help AI tools understand our sites.

Where It Gets Tricky

Now for the honest part. Webflow isn't perfect for SEO, and there are some real trade-offs.

No Plugins Means Manual Work

In WordPress, you install Yoast or All in One SEO and suddenly you have tools suggesting improvements, automating redirects, and managing sitemaps. Webflow doesn't have that ecosystem.

Everything is more manual. Want to bulk redirect 50 old URLs? You're editing redirect settings one by one. Need to add structured data to 200 blog posts? You're either writing custom code or doing it through CMS fields.

This isn't a dealbreaker, but it's real work. You need to be organized, intentional, and sometimes comfortable with code.

Limited Built-in Blog Features

Webflow's CMS is powerful, but some standard blog features require customization. Comments, for example. There's no native commenting system. You're looking at Disqus, custom code, or just not having comments.

This is fine - lots of blogs skip comments anyway. But it's worth knowing.

No Plugin Ecosystem for SEO Tools

Want to add advanced structured data? You're writing code. Want to create dynamic XML sitemaps with complex logic? You're in the developer settings or using Zapier. There's no "install a plugin and configure it" option.

This keeps Webflow clean and fast, but it means you need either knowledge or a developer.

Webflow vs WordPress for SEO: Real Talk

I get this comparison all the time, so let me address it head-on.

WordPress wins on convenience and plugin ecosystem. If you want the fastest, easiest setup with maximum automation, WordPress with good plugins does that well.

Webflow wins on code quality, speed, and simplicity at scale. You're not managing hosting, you're not fighting plugin conflicts, and your code is clean. For serious technical SEO work, Webflow's control is actually better.

Real story: I optimized a Webflow client site that was competing against a WordPress competitor in the same niche. Same content quality, similar backlink profile. The Webflow site outranked the WordPress site for the main keywords. Core Web Vitals and crawlability were notably better.

Could that WordPress site have been optimized better? Sure. But out of the box, Webflow's foundation is stronger.

What You Actually Need to Do

If you're serious about SEO on Webflow, here's what matters:

Start with the Basics

Read my guide to Webflow SEO settings. Get your site settings locked in. Make sure your domain is set correctly, robots.txt is configured, and you've connected Google Search Console.

Use the CMS Strategically

If you have dynamic content, create CMS fields for SEO work. Title fields. Meta description fields. Schema markup fields. Make it part of your content creation workflow from day one.

Know Your Tools

Google Search Console is your friend. Use it constantly. Check for crawl errors, see which keywords you're ranking for, and monitor Core Web Vitals. This isn't Webflow-specific, but it's essential.

Plan for Custom Code

Advanced SEO tasks will require custom code sometimes. That's okay. Learn to use embed codes, footer scripts, and CMS custom attributes. Or hire a developer who knows Webflow.

Follow the Checklist

I've built a detailed Webflow SEO checklist that covers everything from meta tags to technical setup. Use it. Also download the free SEO checklist I created specifically for Webflow projects.

And definitely read about the 5 most common SEO mistakes people make on Webflow. Learning what not to do is half the battle.

The Real Answer

Is Webflow good for SEO? Yes. It's genuinely good.

You get clean code, fast hosting, built-in HTTPS, and control over the technical fundamentals. That's a solid foundation. Your site will be crawlable, indexable, and technically sound.

But Webflow requires you to be more hands-on than WordPress. There's no plugin ecosystem to offload work. You need to understand what you're doing, or work with someone who does.

If you're willing to put in that effort, Webflow won't hold you back. You can build a legitimately SEO-optimized site that ranks well and serves your business.

I've done it. Multiple times. And I'd choose Webflow for SEO over a poorly optimized WordPress site any day.

FAQ

Can I get a site ranking on Webflow?

Absolutely. I've ranked dozens of Webflow sites in competitive niches. Webflow's technical foundation is solid, and the platform doesn't penalize you for using it. Ranking comes down to content quality, backlinks, and smart optimization - not the platform you build on.

Is Webflow slower than WordPress?

Not at all. Webflow hosting is actually faster than most WordPress setups. You get global CDN, optimized servers, and no plugin bloat. WordPress can be fast too, but it requires more optimization work. Webflow wins on speed by default.

Do I need custom code for good SEO on Webflow?

Not necessarily. The basics - meta tags, site structure, content quality - work great without code. But advanced things like complex schema markup or automated redirects do require either custom code or workarounds. Plan for it as your SEO strategy grows.

Can I use Webflow if I'm not technical?

You can build a site on Webflow without being technical, but serious SEO work does benefit from technical knowledge or a developer partner. Webflow is more approachable than coding from scratch, but it's not quite as hands-off as WordPress with plugins. Budget accordingly.