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Webflow

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Sanity

Webflow vs Sanity

Webflow vs Sanity: which is right for your project? Webflow is visual web development platform with clean code output. Sanity is real-time collaborative headless cms with customizable studio. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Sanity wins overall, but Webflow is better for designers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code. Choose Webflow for Designers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code. Choose Sanity for Developer-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience.

Official docs: Webflow Developer Docs · Sanity Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Webflow	Sanity
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Performance	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Scalability	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Webflow

Pros

Generates clean, semantic HTML/CSS — no code bloat
Full CSS control with a visual interface (like coding without typing)
Built-in CMS with API access and structured content
Good performance with global CDN hosting included

Cons

Steep learning curve for non-designers (CSS concepts required)
CMS is limited to 10,000 items on the highest plan
No server-side logic — relies on third-party integrations
Per-site pricing adds up for agencies managing multiple clients

Sanity

Pros

GROQ query language is more powerful and flexible than GraphQL
Real-time collaborative editing (like Google Docs)
Fully customizable React-based Studio admin panel
Portable Text format gives structured rich text (not raw HTML)

Cons

GROQ is a custom query language with its own learning curve
Studio customization requires React development knowledge
Per-user pricing gets expensive for large editorial teams
Steeper setup curve than GUI-first headless CMS options

Platform Details

Detail	Webflow	Sanity
Language / Stack	Visual (generates HTML/CSS/JS)	JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio)
Type	website builder	headless cms
Pricing	Free / $14-39/month	Free / $15+/month per user
Open Source	No	Yes
Best For	Designers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code	Developer-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience
Export Method	CMS API or HTML export (static code)	GROQ API, GraphQL API, or Sanity CLI export

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Webflow if…

You need designers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code
Your team is comfortable with Visual (generates HTML/CSS/JS)

Choose Sanity if…

You need developer-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience
Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio)
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Webflow and Sanity depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Webflow is a website builder built with Visual (generates HTML/CSS/JS), while Sanity is a headless cms built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, Webflow's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

From a cost perspective, Sanity is open-source (Free / $15+/month per user), while Webflow (Free / $14-39/month) carries ongoing license costs. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Webflow better than Sanity?

Sanity scores higher overall (24/30 vs 19/30) thanks to better performance. However, Webflow remains the better choice for Designers who want pixel-perfect control without writing code.

Can I migrate from Webflow to Sanity?

Yes. Export your Webflow content via CMS API or HTML export (static code), then import it into Sanity. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.

What are the main differences between Webflow and Sanity?

Webflow is visual web development platform with clean code output, while Sanity is real-time collaborative headless cms with customizable studio. Key differences: performance (Webflow: 4/5, Sanity: 5/5), pricing (Free / $14-39/month vs Free / $15+/month per user), and scalability (Webflow: 3/5, Sanity: 5/5).

How much does Webflow cost compared to Sanity?

Webflow: Free / $14-39/month. Sanity: Free / $15+/month per user. Sanity is open-source and free to self-host, while Webflow is a paid platform.

Which is easier to learn, Webflow or Sanity?

They're similarly approachable (both 3/5). Webflow uses Visual (generates HTML/CSS/JS), while Sanity uses JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio). Your team's existing skills will determine which feels easier.

Which performs better, Webflow or Sanity?

Sanity has the performance edge (5/5 vs 4/5). Sanity has strong performance characteristics. Webflow may require additional optimization for high-traffic sites.

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