Migrations are expensive when you guess. Predictable when you plan.
Most people think migrations are painful because the platforms are incompatible. That is not the real problem. Migrations hurt because the original build lacked structure. When a site is built page by page instead of as a system, moving it becomes a manual rebuild every single time.
This guide breaks down the difference between Webflow to WordPress, WordPress to Webflow, and when a full rebuild becomes the smarter investment. If you want to navigate the entire Web Platform Series, the hub is here: [link:HUB_WEB_PLATFORMS_SERIES|Series Hub].
The honest truth about Webflow to WordPress migrations
Webflow exports clean HTML, CSS, and JS, but it does not export a CMS you can use. Collections, relationships, and CMS structure do not transfer. If you want to migrate Webflow to WordPress, you are essentially rebuilding the site in a new system, but you can reuse:
- HTML structure
- CSS classes and naming conventions
- responsive logic
- page content as raw HTML
- design tokens if they were implemented in Webflow
The CMS, dynamic content, logic, and component systems must be recreated using WordPress tools like:
- Custom Post Types
- Taxonomies
- Advanced Custom Fields
- Gutenberg block patterns
Most teams underestimate this. They expect a one click migration. It does not exist. But the rebuild can be clean, fast, and stable if the original Webflow build followed a proper design system. For more on that, see: [link:A09_DESIGN_SYSTEMS|Design Systems, Not Pages].
The reality of WordPress to Webflow migrations
Moving from WordPress to Webflow is actually harder. WordPress sites often contain:
- custom fields
- complex taxonomies
- relationships between data
- plugins powering critical functionality
- shortcodes hidden in body content
- structured editorial workflows
Webflow cannot replicate most of that. Migrating to Webflow means simplifying the site significantly, removing dynamic functionality, or replacing workflows with manual equivalents.
You may need to:
- flatten content structures
- convert complex CPT models into simple collections
- replace plugin functionality with Webflow interactions
- abandon automation and integrations
If the WordPress site relies on structure, logic, or scale, moving to Webflow usually creates more long term cost than it saves.
When a rebuild is the right call
Rebuilds are expensive, but they become the cheapest option when:
- your current platform has hit its ceiling
- your current build is structurally unstable
- you are carrying years of bloat or design drift
- your content structure no longer supports your goals
- your site needs a serious SEO or performance upgrade
Sometimes migrating bad decisions is worse than starting fresh. A rebuild gives you the chance to create proper architecture instead of copying the old problems into a new system.
How to prepare for any migration
No matter which way you are migrating, the preparation process is the same. Follow this checklist and you will avoid 80 percent of the pain.
1. Audit your content
List every content type, field, taxonomy, and dynamic relationship. WordPress makes this easy. Webflow requires more manual review.
2. Document everything
Map out pages, components, navigation, SEO metadata, forms, and integrations. Anything undocumented becomes guesswork later.
3. Identify dependencies
Plugins, Webflow interactions, embed scripts, CRM connections, automation. If the site relies on it, list it.
4. Separate content from layout
Content should live in fields. Layout should live in components. If everything is tangled, the migration will cost more.
5. Determine what can be reused
Design tokens, components, and copy usually transfer well. Logic, CMS structure, and integrations rarely do.
Migration workflows
Webflow to WordPress workflow
- Export HTML and assets
- Rebuild the CMS using CPTs, taxonomies, and ACF
- Recreate components using Gutenberg blocks or a block framework
- Migrate content into structured fields
- Rebuild forms and integrations
- Apply SEO metadata
- Launch on stable hosting
WordPress to Webflow workflow
- Identify what functionality cannot be migrated
- Simplify the content model into Webflow collections
- Rebuild the design in Webflow
- Rebuild forms, embeds, and interactions
- Map content manually
- Launch and reconfigure SEO
Performance and SEO considerations
This is the area most teams ignore, and the area that hurts the most. Every migration resets your performance and SEO unless you manage it correctly. That means:
- redirects
- clean information architecture
- preserving URLs where possible
- migrating metadata
- maintaining heading structure (for heading rules, see: [link:SEO_HEADING_TAGS|How to Use Heading Tags for SEO])
When to choose a hybrid workflow instead of migrating
Sometimes the best approach is not switching platforms but integrating them. For example:
- use Webflow for marketing pages
- use WordPress for content or application logic
- connect them with subdomains or gateways
This approach gives you the best of both worlds if your needs are split between visual presentation and structured publishing.
The practical takeaway
Migrations are never plug and play. But they are predictable when you map out your structure, understand the limitations of each platform, and avoid dragging old problems into the new build. If you want someone to help you plan a migration or audit your existing build before committing, you can always reach out here: [link:CONTACT_PAGE|Contact RedShaw Consulting].
