After several years of building with Webflow, we hit a ceiling. The platform served us well for fast prototypes and visually-driven sites, but we needed more control, better performance, and a smoother workflow for building complex, production-ready websites.

Here’s why we made the switch.

Webflow: Ideal for some, not so much for others

Let’s give Webflow credit where it’s due. It’s a powerful visual builder with solid CMS capabilities. It gave our design team the ability to launch quickly, experiment easily, and even hand off work without involving engineering every step of the way. For marketing pages, simple brochure sites, and quick turnarounds, it did the job well.

But over time, friction began to build:

• Exporting code? Not usable. Once you commit to Webflow, you’re inside a closed ecosystem.
• Custom logic? Painful. Anything outside of simple interactions meant wrestling with embeds, custom JS, or weird workarounds.
• Performance tuning? Not your call. You work within what Webflow gives you.
• Cost? Increasing, unpredictably, and not always tied to the value delivered.
• Collaboration? Better than static tools, but not developer-first.
• Build with AI? Not really.

It became clear: if we wanted to build projects that could scale technically and creatively, we needed something more flexible, yet as fast.

Why Next.js and Builder.io?

What do we actually need?

• Full control over code.
• First-class performance.
• A fast dev workflow.
• Reusable components.
• Editable content for non-devs.
• No vendor lock-in.
• Full AI capabilities.

That’s what Next.js and Builder.io deliver together.

Next.js = Speed, Power, and Precision

Next.js is now our default frontend framework. It gives us:

• Server-side rendering to improve speed and SEO.
• Works well for both dynamic applications and content-heavy sites.
• Built-in routing, image optimization, and API support.
• Full control over code and integrations.
• Freedom to structure projects however we need.
• And much more.

It's React, with batteries included.

Builder.io = Visual Editing, Without the Lock-In

Builder.io gives our clients and marketers the ability to visually edit pages just like Webflow, but using a headless CMS model. The difference?

• You get similar visual editing features as Webflow, but they’re optional.
• We can build your site using custom modules and connect them to Builder.io's CMS so you can reuse components, generate new pages, and modify content without touching code.
• It's open, not black-box code.
• It works nicely with our design system.
• It integrates directly with our components, not against them.
• We can swap it out later if needed.

It’s visual editing without giving up developer control.

The Cherry on Top: Our Blueprint Component Library

A huge piece of this puzzle is our own website starter kit: Blueprint.

It’s a production-ready component library built for Next.js and designed to integrate natively with Builder.io. Think of it like a head start on every new project:

• A pre-built template with all the bells and whistles a default project might need, including 30+ sections ready to be modified.
• Buttons, inputs, media modules, form controls—ready to drop in.
• Clean, accessible, and customizable out of the box.
• Built with Tailwind CSS, Framer Motion, and ShadCN.
• Structured to reduce boilerplate, speed up prototyping, and ensure consistency.

With Blueprint, we can spin up new sites fast, while keeping everything flexible and scalable.

The Payoff

Since switching, we’ve:

• Cut development time for sites.
• Handled more complex business logic without friction.
• Given non-devs visual editing access without compromising code quality.
• Avoided getting boxed in by platform limitations.
• Made future migrations and CMS swaps easier to handle.

And perhaps most importantly—we’ve finally aligned the developer experience with the editorial experience.

Should You Make the Switch?

If your site is mostly static marketing pages and your team isn’t working directly in code, Webflow might still be a great fit. But if:

• You need to scale content dynamically.
• You want full ownership of your codebase.
• You’re tired of workarounds and platform constraints.
• You want real performance optimization.
• Your projects involve deeper logic or integrations.

Then Next.js + Builder.io might be the better foundation.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t about chasing the latest stack—it’s about using the right tool for the job. For us, Builder.io and Next.js offer the flexibility, speed, and clarity that modern websites demand. Pair that with our Blueprint library, and we’ve got a setup that empowers designers, developers, and marketers alike—with no compromises.

If you’re thinking about making the switch, or want help evaluating if it’s right for your setup, we’re happy to chat.

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