Marketing should run the website
The team needs to build campaigns, update structured content and evolve pages without treating each change as a software release.
When Webflow fitsAll comparisonsWebflow Gatsby
Webflow vs Gatsby
Webflow is an integrated visual website platform with a native CMS. Gatsby is an open-source React framework that a development team connects to content, hosting and deployment services. Choose the operating model, not just the rendering technology.
A React frontend is a requirement
The website shares components, engineering practices or substantial application behaviour with a wider React product ecosystem.
When Gatsby fitsWebflow vs Gatsby,
at a glance.
Webflow and Gatsby can both produce fast, search-visible websites, but they are not equivalent products. Webflow brings visual development, CMS and managed website operations together. Gatsby supplies a React framework and data layer; the team chooses and maintains the CMS, deployment, integrations and application code around it.
The useful comparison is who will own the website after launch. Test a real content change, a new landing page, a dependency update and a failed build. The platform that makes those routine events supportable for your team is likely to be the better choice.
| What matters | Webflow | Gatsby |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A commercial visual website platform with native CMS, collaboration and managed hosting. | An open-source React framework for building websites from components and connected data sources. |
| Who builds | Designers and developers can create the system visually, with code available for specialist additions. | React developers work in a codebase, normally using Git, package management and a deployment pipeline. |
| Content | CMS collections and editor workflows live in the same website platform. | Content can come from files, APIs or a headless CMS through source plugins, GraphQL or custom data handling. |
| Rendering | The managed platform publishes website pages and CMS templates to Webflow hosting. | Gatsby supports generated static pages, client-side behaviour and server-rendered routes for suitable requirements. |
| SEO controls | Metadata, canonicals, redirects, sitemaps, indexing settings and structured data can be managed per page or template. | Developers implement metadata, structured data, sitemap and redirect behaviour in code or plugins and verify the deployed output. |
| Hosting | Standard hosting is managed by Webflow, with custom-hosting options for some enterprise needs. | The team chooses a supported host or deployment target and owns the build and runtime configuration. |
| Best fit | Marketing teams wanting custom design and content publishing in one managed environment. | Development teams needing React, multiple data sources or application behaviour within a custom frontend. |
The work behind our advice.
Explore the design, content and development decisions behind two Hilvy projects. These case studies show our approach, rather than a benchmark between the platforms above.
Derrick and his team were wonderful to work with and helped us a lot with launching multiple Webflow projects in addition to doing a full website backend revamp. Recommend him to anyone!
Which would work for your team?
Bring your shortlist. We can talk through the website you need and the people who will manage it.
What is Webflow?
Webflow combines visual website development, a structured CMS and managed hosting. A designer or developer can create custom layouts, classes and reusable components, then give content teams collection fields and page structures they can update without working in the codebase.
What is Gatsby?
Gatsby is an open-source React framework for creating websites. It can generate pages from components and data at build time, add client-side React behaviour and use server rendering for selected routes. Its data layer can connect files, APIs and headless content systems, with hosting and editorial workflow chosen separately.
The differences
you will feel.
How the choice affects publishing, building and looking after your website.
Integrated CMS versus chosen content stack
Webflow
Webflow CMS is part of the same environment as the visual design and publishing workflow. This can reduce coordination for a marketing team whose structured content primarily serves the public website.
Gatsby
Gatsby can source content from files, a headless CMS, WordPress, APIs or other systems. Its plugin and GraphQL data layer can unify several sources, but preview, permissions and publishing depend on the selected stack and its implementation.
Our take: Webflow favours a simpler website-first operation. Gatsby favours a custom content architecture when the development team can own it.
Visual iteration versus code review
Webflow
A Webflow team can adjust responsive layouts and components inside a visual environment. Good governance still matters, but many design changes do not need a separate React release.
Gatsby
A Gatsby interface is built from React components, styles and application logic in a codebase. Git review and automated tests can make changes rigorous, while routine design iteration usually remains a development task.
Our take: choose Webflow when marketing and design need more direct control; choose Gatsby when code ownership and engineering workflow are requirements.
Rendering and application behaviour
Webflow
Webflow is strongest as a managed content and marketing website. Custom code and services can add behaviour, but it is not intended to replace a full application framework.
Gatsby
Gatsby supports static generation, client-side React and server-rendered routes. It can mix build-time content with runtime data and application features when the project needs a tailored frontend.
Our take: Gatsby offers the broader application architecture. Do not accept that extra surface area when the brief is simply an editable marketing site.
SEO implementation
Webflow
Webflow provides direct controls for page and CMS metadata, canonicals, redirects, sitemaps and indexing. Structured data can be added to the site or relevant templates.
Gatsby
Gatsby renders HTML and lets developers implement metadata and structured data through React and framework APIs. Sitemap, canonical and redirect behaviour must be included in the code and deployment rather than assumed from the framework.
Our take: both can support excellent technical SEO. Inspect the rendered output and publishing process; the framework does not create useful content or authority.
Maintenance and longevity
Webflow
Webflow manages the platform and standard hosting. The website team still maintains content, access, integrations and custom scripts, but not a normal React dependency and deployment stack.
Gatsby
A Gatsby site has packages, source plugins, build configuration, hosting adapters and connected services. Version control helps make changes visible, but a technical owner needs to test and maintain the system over time.
Our take: Webflow usually requires less engineering care for a marketing site. Gatsby is appropriate when the custom architecture earns that ongoing work.
Choose for your team.
Not the badge.
The best fit depends on what you need to publish, what you need to connect and who will keep things moving.
Choose Webflow when…
Marketing should run the website
The team needs to build campaigns, update structured content and evolve pages without treating each change as a software release.
The content mainly belongs to the site
Case studies, resources, services and landing pages do not need a separate enterprise content source shared across many products.
Managed operations are an advantage
The organisation would rather focus on the customer experience than maintain a React build and hosting integration.
Choose Gatsby when…
A React frontend is a requirement
The website shares components, engineering practices or substantial application behaviour with a wider React product ecosystem.
Content comes from several systems
A headless CMS, product API, filesystem or other source needs to be composed into one tailored frontend and data layer.
Engineering will own the website
A team is available to maintain packages, build performance, deployments, monitoring and the editor integration after launch.
For the project you have in mind.
- A B2B marketing team rebuilding its main websiteStart by assessing Webflow
- A connected visual system and CMS may let the team publish more directly without permanent React support.
- A product company with several content and data sourcesPrototype Gatsby
- Test the real data connections, rendering mode, preview workflow and deployment before committing to the custom frontend.
- A content site already running reliably on GatsbyImprove before migrating
- Keep it when the engineering ownership, CMS and build process are healthy and a platform change would not solve a clear problem.
- A Gatsby marketing site with no active technical ownerScope a simpler rebuild
- Inventory the valuable content and URLs, then compare Webflow with other managed options around the team that will operate it.
The platform is a start.
The experience is the point.
A look at the design and development work we bring to a project, from the first idea to the details people remember.
Know the
trade-offs.
What each platform makes easier, and what you will need to plan around.
Webflow
Strengths
- Visual design, CMS and hosting in one environment.
- A more direct workflow for many marketing teams.
- Less routine application and deployment maintenance.
Plan around
- Less freedom over the standard infrastructure.
- Custom application behaviour can outgrow the platform.
- The platform creates commercial pricing and product dependencies.
Gatsby
Strengths
- Open-source React framework with code-level control.
- Flexible data sources and rendering options.
- Fits version-controlled engineering and testing workflows.
Plan around
- CMS, hosting and preview workflows must be selected and integrated.
- Dependencies and builds need ongoing technical ownership.
- Routine marketing changes can require developer availability.
Compare the system around the page.
A homepage build will not expose the most important trade-offs. Use a representative content model, integration and release process in the evaluation.
Publish with the real editor
Create and update a recurring page, preview it, change metadata and send it through the expected review process.
Trace the deployment
Record what triggers a build, how long it takes, what can fail and who responds when production does not match the preview.
List every owner
Assign the CMS, codebase, packages, forms, hosting, monitoring and analytics. A flexible stack is only useful when its responsibilities are explicit.
Moving between Gatsby and Webflow?
Treat the move as a rebuild. Crawl the deployed site and inventory routes, metadata, structured data, images, forms, redirects, analytics and data sources. For Gatsby to Webflow, map headless or file-based content into Webflow collections and identify application behaviour that needs an external service. For Webflow to Gatsby, choose the destination CMS and preview workflow before building templates. Preserve useful URLs where possible, redirect changed paths directly and verify rendered HTML, canonicals, sitemaps and forms before cutover.
Explore the migration processOur recommendation
For a custom marketing website run day to day by content and design teams, we would usually assess Webflow first. It keeps the visual system, CMS and standard hosting together and reduces the amount of application infrastructure the team owns. Gatsby remains a strong option when React, multiple data sources or tailored rendering are real architectural requirements and engineering will continue to own the site. A working Gatsby site should not be replaced simply because Webflow looks easier; the move needs a clear operational or commercial reason.
Get a recommendation for your projectYour questions,
answered.
More to talk through? Tell us about your project.
What is the main difference between Webflow and Gatsby?
Webflow is an integrated visual website platform with a native CMS and managed hosting. Gatsby is an open-source React framework. A Gatsby team chooses and connects the content source, hosting, deployment workflow and application services around the codebase.
Is Gatsby a CMS?
No. Gatsby can source content from files, APIs and headless CMS platforms, but it is the frontend framework rather than the editorial system. The editing, preview and publishing experience depends on the CMS and integration selected for the project.
Which is better for SEO, Webflow or Gatsby?
Both can produce fast, crawlable pages with metadata and structured data. Webflow provides direct platform controls, while Gatsby gives developers code-level implementation. Rankings depend on the rendered result, content usefulness, internal links and external authority, not the platform name.
Can Gatsby build dynamic pages?
Yes. Gatsby supports generated static pages, client-side behaviour and server-side rendering for selected routes. It can also combine build-time data with runtime requests. The right mode depends on freshness, infrastructure and application requirements.
Does a Gatsby site need developers?
Normally, yes. Editors may work entirely in a connected CMS, but developers still own the React components, data integration, packages, build configuration and deployment. The required support depends on the complexity and rate of change.
Can a Gatsby site be moved to Webflow?
Yes, if the required frontend and content model fit Webflow. The migration maps routes and content into pages and CMS collections, rebuilds the design system, replaces forms and application behaviour, and protects search-visible URLs with a verified redirect plan.
Should an existing Gatsby website be rebuilt in Webflow?
Only when the change solves a clear problem, such as missing technical ownership, slow marketing iteration or an unnecessarily complex content stack. Keep Gatsby when the site is reliable, the CMS serves editors well and its custom architecture continues to earn its cost.
Keep exploring.
All comparisonsLet’s make the
right next move.
Share what you are building, what is getting in the way and who needs to use it. We can help you choose the platform and shape the experience around it.