Which Drag and Drop Editors to use in 2025

Webflow vs Framer and alternatives

Todd Wilson

December 27, 2024

Webflow and Framer are popular drag and drop editors for building websites, each with its unique strengths. However, other platforms like Storyblok, Payload, and Builder.io offer compelling alternatives. Here's a breakdown to help you choose the best tool based on your needs:

Webflow: The All-In-One Powerhouse

A robust no-code platform designed for experienced designers and complex projects requiring fine-grained control. Webflow blends design and development capabilities, offering deep control over every aspect of your website.

Platform Highlights

Unparalleled Design Flexibility: Granular control over layout, interactions, and animations for executing intricate designs.
Visual CMS: Easily manage and update website content without touching code.
Clean Code Generation: Outputs W3C-compliant HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for a solid foundation.

Note: While powerful, Webflow's extensive features come with a steeper learning curve and may not suit absolute beginners.

Framer: Simplicity Meets Interactivity

A user-friendly platform designed for newcomers and designers seeking a code-free experience. Framer prioritizes user-friendliness, providing an intuitive interface that abstracts away complex coding concepts.

Key Features

Ease of Use Framer's streamlined design makes it easy to pick up, even without prior web design knowledge.
Seamless Figma Integration Directly copy and paste designs from Figma into Framer, simplifying the design-to-development handoff.
Focus on Interactivity Create engaging animations and micro-interactions with Framer's intuitive tools.

Note: While great for getting started, Framer might lack the depth of customization and features found in platforms like Webflow.

Storyblok: Headless CMS for Content-Rich Experiences

A headless CMS with a powerful visual editor, designed for developers and marketers collaborating on content-heavy websites.

Key Features

Content Management & Collaboration: Storyblok empowers developers and marketers to work together seamlessly on creating and managing content.
Omnichannel Delivery: Deliver content to any platform or channel with its API-first approach.
Flexibility: Storyblok works with a wide range of frontend frameworks like Vue, React, Next.js, and more.

Note: While Storyblok's visual editor is intuitive, understanding the headless CMS concept might require some technical knowledge.

Payload: Developer-First Headless CMS & App Framework

A headless CMS and application framework built specifically for Next.js, designed for developers seeking a highly customizable, open-source solution.

Key Features

Customization and Extensibility: Payload is open-source and code-first, giving developers complete control over its functionality.
Next.js Integration: Built for seamless integration with Next.js, allowing for a streamlined development workflow.
Built-In Features: Includes robust features like access control, multi-tenancy, localization, and more.

Note: Payload targets developers familiar with Next.js and comfortable working with code.

Builder.io: Component-Driven Visual Headless CMS

A visual headless CMS designed for React developers seeking a performant and visually-driven workflow. Builder.io aims to bridge the gap between developers and marketers with its visual headless CMS approach.

Key Features

Component-Driven Approach: Drag, drop, and arrange your existing React components to build pages.
Performance Focus: Builder.io prides itself on speed, with features like optimized image compression and fast response times.
Flexibility: Integrate Builder.io with various frameworks and tools.

Note: Builder.io is most beneficial for teams already working with React and seeking a visual way to manage content.

In Conclusion:

For beginners, Framer's ease of use and intuitive design make it a great starting point.
Experienced designers who require extensive control and customization should consider Webflow.
Teams with specific framework preferences and a desire for a headless approach might explore Storyblok, Payload (for Next.js), or Builder.io (for React).

By carefully considering your needs and experience level, you can select the ideal drag and drop editor to streamline your workflow and create exceptional digital experiences.