Next.js vs. Webflow: do you need a web app or a website?
The short answer
- Pick Webflow if you need a marketing website, landing pages or a blog that you edit yourself, with hosting included.
- Pick Next.js if users log in, store data, pay or use features in your product. That's a web app, built by a developer.
- You can also use both: Webflow for the website, Next.js for the app behind the login.
The question isn't which tool is better, but what your users do. Reading and contacting you is a website. Logging in and working with their own data is an app.
Side by side
| Topic | Next.js | Webflow |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Open-source React framework (MIT licence) | Visual website builder with CMS and hosting |
| Who builds it | A developer, in code | You or a designer, visually |
| Best for | Web apps with accounts, data and logic | Marketing sites, landing pages, content |
| Hosting | Your choice, for example Vercel | Included in paid Site plans |
| Price | Framework free; hosting and services extra | Free Starter; Basic $15/month, Premium $25/month (billed yearly) |
| Code export | It is your code | HTML and CSS on paid Workspace plans; CMS content can't be exported |
What each one is good for
Next.js
- Products with logins, payments and user data
- Working with Supabase, Stripe and other services
- Code you own, under the MIT licence
Webflow
- Designing pages visually without code
- A CMS for blog posts and other content
- Hosting included, with your own domain on a paid plan
Limits to know
Next.js: Every change to the app needs a developer, and hosting and services cost extra. Vercel's free Hobby plan is for personal, non-commercial use, so a commercial product needs a paid plan or another host.
Webflow: The Basic plan is for simple sites without a CMS. Exported code doesn't include CMS content. Complex product logic, like bookings or a dashboard with your users' data, belongs in an app built by a developer.
Cost model
Webflow: Starter is free, with a webflow.io domain, limited CMS, 2 static pages, 1 GB bandwidth and 50 form submissions. Basic is $15/month billed yearly, for simple sites without a CMS. Premium is $25/month billed yearly, for content-rich sites with CMS. Team is $2,500/month with an annual contract; Enterprise on request. Code export needs a paid Workspace plan, for example Core at $19/month billed yearly.
Next.js: Free and open source under the MIT licence. Hosting on Vercel: Hobby $0/month for personal, non-commercial use, Pro $20/month per developer seat, Enterprise custom. Your database, payments and other services are billed separately.
Facts from the official pages, checked on 30 October 2026. Prices change, so check the source before you decide.
What this means if you have it built
If users only read and contact you, Webflow is enough, and you can edit it yourself without a developer. If they log in and use features, you need a web app: that's where Next.js with a developer fits, and this site recommends it in that case.
Keep the domain, the Webflow account and the code repository in your company's name.
Frequently asked questions
Is Next.js free?
Yes, the framework is open source under the MIT licence. You pay for hosting and the services your app uses.
Can Webflow build a web app?
Webflow builds websites with a CMS and hosting. For products where users log in, store data and pay, a web app built in code, for example with Next.js, is the more direct route.
Can I export my Webflow site?
On a paid Workspace plan you can export HTML and CSS. Webflow says dynamic CMS content can't be exported.
Do I have to host Next.js on Vercel?
No. Vercel makes Next.js and is a common host, but the framework can run on other hosting too.
Related
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