Migrating Your Webflow Site to Custom Code
Your Webflow site has outgrown its current platform and needs to evolve into a full-fledged application? Are you essentially turning your website into a real SaaS platform?
First Things First: Do You Really Need to Develop Beyond Webflow?
Here I've listed the truly problematic points that show Webflow alone is no longer suitable for your needs. If you don't recognize yourself in any of these points, you can probably continue using Webflow exclusively!
- Need for client portal with complex authentication - Role management, permissions, personalized content per user
- Business logic requirements - Automatic calculations, conditional workflows, specific business rules
- Advanced API integrations - Bidirectional webhooks, real-time synchronization, complex API connections
- Relational data management - Beyond basic Webflow CMS, needs for proper structured databases
- Critical performance - Site that must support thousands of simultaneous visitors with <500ms response times
- Business automation - Conditional email sending, scheduled tasks, automatic workflows
- SaaS features - Analytics dashboard, billing system, subscription management
- Advanced technical SEO - Complex schema markup, specific server optimizations, advanced A/B testing
Comparison Table: 3 Possible Approaches
| Criteria | Webflow Only | Custom Code | Webflow + Custom App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | ✅ Low | ❌ Higher | 🟡 Moderate |
| Marketing/Showcase Site | ✅ Excellent | 🟡 Overkill | ✅ Excellent |
| Quick Launch | ✅ Very Fast | ❌ Slow | 🟡 Fast (phase 1) |
| Content Autonomy | ✅ Complete | ❌ Dev Required | ✅ Complete (site) |
| Complex Client Portal | ❌ Impossible | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Business Logic | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Performance at Scale | ❌ 2-4s | ✅ <500ms | 🟡 Mixed Optimized |
| API Integrations | ❌ Limited | ✅ All | ✅ Yes (custom app) |
| Technical SEO | 🟡 Basic | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Combined |
| Cost at 10k users/month | ❌ €300-800 | ✅ €100-300 | 🟡 €200-400 |
| Maintenance | ✅ None | ❌ Dev Required | 🟡 Minimal |
| Full Control | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | 🟡 Hybrid |
Simply put, Webflow remains an excellent solution for showcase sites, portfolios, and basic e-commerce. It allows great autonomy for content and marketing iterations.
Once you need real business features, client portals, or automation, it's time to consider custom development as a complement or replacement.
I rarely recommend throwing your Webflow in the trash and starting over completely. Webflow still does many things very well that would be expensive to code. Except in exceptional cases, the hybrid approach is the most judicious.
In 80% of Cases: The Hybrid Approach is the Smartest
Rather than migrating everything at once, it's often wiser to keep Webflow for what it does well and develop custom only what requires it.
✅ Keep Webflow for:
- Showcase site and marketing pages
- Blog and editorial content
- Landing pages and product pages
- Legal and institutional pages
✅ Develop custom for:
- Client portal and user dashboard
- Business logic and SaaS features
- API and complex integrations
- Billing and subscription system
When to Migrate Completely vs. Hybrid Approach?
🔄 Complete Migration if:
- Very advanced technical SEO needed everywhere
- Absolute technical consistency indispensable
- Substantial budget available to redo everything
🔗 Hybrid Approach if:
- Marketing team that must remain autonomous
- Current Webflow site that performs well
- Budget to optimize intelligently
- Need to quickly launch business features
How to Proceed Concretely?
If you know how to code and your schedule allows it, it's your turn to play!
If you don't know how to code, or you're now too busy with your business, I can support you in developing the features that Webflow cannot handle.
Do You Need to Change Everything at Once?
Absolutely not. The huge advantage of this approach is that it's possible to develop progressively:
- Phase 1: Development of business application parallel to Webflow
- Phase 2: Connection and testing with a few pilot users
- Phase 3: Progressive deployment
- Phase 4: Optimizations and new features
Your Webflow site continues to function normally throughout the development. No risk of breakage or traffic loss.
The Support is Tailored for You, Adapted to Your Situation
My objective in this mission is first to be your tech advisor and establish the best strategy according to your constraints. On the other hand, I handle the complete development to allow you to focus on your business.
Throughout the mission, I support you in decision-making and regularly present progress to you. The goal is that you're not dispossessed of your tech project. At the end of the mission, I make myself available to maintain the application until you recruit internally. I also support your team for a smooth transition.