Table of contents
- 1. Super
- Why choose Super over Framer
- 2. Webflow
- Why choose Webflow over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Webflow
- 3. WordPress
- Why choose WordPress over Framer
- Where Framer is better than WordPress
- 4. Wix
- Why choose Wix over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Wix
- 5. Figma
- Why choose Figma over Framer
- Where Framer excels over Figma
- 6. Squarespace
- Why choose Squarespace over Framer
- Where Framer excels Over Squarespace
- 7. Ghost
- Why choose Ghost over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Ghost
- 8. Drupal
- Why choose Drupal over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Drupal
- 9. Duda
- Why choose Duda over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Duda
- 10. Contentful
- Why choose Contentful over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Contentful
- 11. Strikingly
- Why choose Strikingly over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Strikingly
- 12. Dorik
- Why choose Dorik over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Dorik
- 13. Format
- Why choose Format over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Format
- 14. Weebly
- Why choose Weebly over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Weebly
- 15. Shopify
- Why choose Shopify over Framer
- Where Framer is better than Shopify
- How to choose the best Framer alternative?
- 1. Comparable design features
- 2. Customer support
- 3. Return on investment
- 4. Ease of use and website setup
- 5. Website performance
- 6. SEO capabilities
- Reasons to switch from Framer to another website builder
- 1. Too design centric
- 2. CMS features are retrofitted
- 3. Steeper learning curve
- 4. Subpar content management and scheduling
- 5. Basic analytics and reporting
Design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s the secret sauce of standout websites. A well-designed site doesn’t just look good—it builds trust, communicates your brand, and keeps visitors coming back for more. That’s why website builders that empower non-designers to create stunning designs have an edge over others.
Framer is one of those tools.
Originally designed for prototyping, Framer has grown into a sleek content management system (CMS), offering designers an intuitive interface and advanced design capabilities. With its ability to import Figma designs with a single click and an array of modern animations and components, Framer makes creating jaw-dropping websites a breeze.
But here’s the catch: Framer isn’t perfect. While it excels in design, UX, and prototyping, it stumbles in areas like analytics, mobile performance, API integration, and content management. And if you’re looking to scale your site, monetize a blog, or manage a robust backend, Framer might leave you wanting more.
This is where alternatives shine. Take Super, for example—a Notion-based website builder that’s perfect for content-centric sites and no-code creators. Its simplicity and functionality make it a strong contender for building scalable online businesses.
So, if you need a website builder that offers more than just flashy designs, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our handpicked list of 15 Framer alternatives that bring both style and substance to the table.
Let’s dive in.
1. Super
If you write and manage your content in Notion, using Super to create your website is a no-brainer. Super provides stellar design capabilities on top of Notion’s flexibility and features. It helps you add hierarchy to your Notion pages, turning them into beautiful websites with a custom domain name and superior performance.
Why choose Super over Framer
1. Better overall website design and creation experience
Super provides an intuitive dashboard and intricate design customization capabilities. Get as detailed with your design as you like — From choosing a font to changing the border color of your CTA buttons.
While Super is a no-code tool, it supports adding custom code, opening up many more design avenues. Unlike Framer, Super provides a more holistic website building experience touching many aspects beyond just design.
2. Website performance and SEO
Super pages load crazy fast and you get uptime even when Notion is down. You need not invest time in setting up hosting or figuring out how to connect a custom domain because Super has it handled.
Furthermore, technical SEO is managed completely in the backend without you having to worry about any of it. Also, it is easy to add redirects and integrate with SEO tools through code snippets.
Finally, on-page SEO is a breeze, thanks to Super’s intuitive SEO dashboard that makes adding meta tags super-easy. So if leveraging SEO and other marketing channels is important for your business, Super is a better choice than Framer.
3. Easy to use and setup
You can create a website and publish with Super in less than 4 minutes by using customizable templates. Whether it is a blog, business website, personal site, portfolio, or even a single page site, you won’t have to break a sweat building and managing them with Super.
Super provides a clean dashboard, leaving little ambiguity. And even if you get stuck, you have the support of a vibrant community, detailed guides, and a responsive customer support team.
Framer is easy to use as well but it started out as a prototyping tool that evolved into a CMS while Super started as a CMS and only got better with time. Super’s finesse outshines Framer’s adaptation for website building.
4. Excellent analytics and reporting
Super outshine Framer with its built-in analytics tool - Super Analytics, While you can integrate external analytics tools with both the software, the cohesiveness of a built-in tool makes a difference in how you analyze data and generate insights.
2. Webflow
Webflow is a simple drag-and-drop website builder. With its no-code platform, Webflow empowers users to create highly customized, responsive websites without compromising on performance or scalability.
Why choose Webflow over Framer
1. Complex designs and enterprise-grade customization
Webflow stands out for its ability to handle intricate designs and layouts. Its extensive customization options allow for pixel-perfect precision, advanced positioning, and animations. If you're working on complex projects or need robust localization and CMS features, Webflow is the better choice than Framer.
2. Custom No-Code eCommerce Solutions
For eCommerce, Webflow offers unparalleled flexibility in creating unique storefronts. While it requires more effort than platforms like Shopify, the ability to design custom shops without code is a godsent for businesses that want to stand out.
3. Extensive Integrations
With over 150 native integrations and compatibility with thousands of apps, Webflow fits smoothly into enterprise workflows, supporting tools for marketing, analytics, and more.
Where Framer is better than Webflow
1. Pricing
Framer is generally more affordable for smaller projects or individuals. Its free and entry-level plans provide great value, especially for those who don’t need enterprise-grade CMS or eCommerce features.
2. Quick prototyping and small projects
Framer’s focus on rapid design and development makes it ideal for startups, agencies, and smaller-scale projects that don’t require Webflow’s extensive capabilities.
3. WordPress
WordPress is a powerhouse in the website-building space, renowned for its flexibility and extensive capabilities. It’s a robust tool for creating everything from content-heavy websites to e-commerce stores. With its rich plugin ecosystem and customizable themes, WordPress empowers users to craft visually engaging websites without compromising on functionality or scalability.
Why choose WordPress over Framer
WordPress excels in handling complex, content-driven projects that require advanced customization and scalability. Its intuitive dashboard and plugin marketplace make it accessible to beginners while still offering the depth needed for developers.
Whether you’re building a large e-commerce store with WooCommerce, optimizing for SEO with tools like Yoast, or managing extensive content libraries, WordPress provides unmatched versatility. It’s an ideal choice for businesses and creators who prioritize functionality, content management, and long-term growth over pure design aesthetics that Framer offers.
Where Framer is better than WordPress
Framer beats WordPress with its design and interactivity features. It offers a clean workflow for crafting visually stunning websites and prototypes, much more advanced and intuitive than WordPress.
Its minimalist approach and modern animation capabilities make it perfect for creating sleek landing pages and interactive user experiences.
While WordPress focuses on functionality and flexibility, Framer is tailored for designers and teams who value aesthetics and simplicity, providing an intuitive environment to bring creative ideas to life with minimal friction.
4. Wix
Wix is a powerful website builder that combines simplicity with versatility. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and extensive library of templates cater to both beginners and seasoned designers. Whether you want to craft a professional portfolio, a thriving online store, or a sleek business website, Wix provides the tools to create visually compelling and functional sites with ease.
Why choose Wix over Framer
Wix is an excellent choice for users who prioritize ease of use and robust out-of-the-box functionality. With features like built-in e-commerce tools, scheduling systems, and a mobile app, Wix empowers you to manage your online presence efficiently without third-party integrations.
Its template collection ensures you can quickly create stunning designs with minimal effort. For those with limited technical expertise or tight deadlines, Wix’s straightforward interface and pre-configured capabilities make it an ideal alternative.
Where Framer is better than Wix
Stick with Framer if creative freedom and advanced customization are your top priorities. It offers unparalleled control over design elements, making it a preferred platform for designers looking to create dynamic, interactive, and highly personalized websites.
Framer’s animation capabilities and Figma integration enable hurdle-free workflows for those familiar with design software. While Wix excels at convenience, Framer is the tool of choice for crafting unique, visually striking experiences that go beyond traditional web templates.
5. Figma
Figma is a popular web design tool that combines powerful design features with cloud-based collaboration. It excels in creating responsive layouts and maintaining consistent design systems, while offering an extensive library of web-focused components and plugins that simplify the website design process.
Why choose Figma over Framer
Figma shines in the foundational aspects of website design. Its robust design system features make it easier to maintain consistency across web components, and its auto-layout capabilities excel at creating responsive designs.
The platform's extensive plugin ecosystem (around 3,000 integrations) provides crucial web development tools, from responsive grid systems to code export utilities. Figma's real-time collaboration features also make it ideal for larger web projects where multiple designers and developers need to work together, with superior version control and handoff capabilities.
Where Framer excels over Figma
Framer sets itself apart with its direct website building and publishing capabilities.
Unlike Figma, which primarily focuses on design, Framer allows designers to create fully functional websites without leaving the platform. Its strength lies in quickly transforming designs into live, interactive websites with sophisticated animations and transitions that are ready for deployment.
6. Squarespace
Squarespace is a go-to platform for anyone seeking to craft beautiful, functional websites without a steep learning curve. Renowned for its intuitive design tools and robust feature set, it empowers creators to deliver visually stunning online experiences. Whether you're launching a portfolio, blog, or e-commerce site, Squarespace offers a range of customizable templates and tools to bring your vision to life.
Why choose Squarespace over Framer
Squarespace’s USP lies in its simplicity and accessibility, making it an excellent choice for individuals without a technical background. Its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality mean you can build a professional-looking website with ease, even if you're a complete novice.
The platform's extensive library of templates caters to diverse industries, offering designs that are both stylish and practical. For e-commerce, Squarespace is a clear winner over Framer, providing built-in tools for product listings, payment processing, and inventory management, all without the need for third-party integrations.
Where Framer excels Over Squarespace
Framer is ideal for those seeking design freedom and advanced customization. Unlike Squarespace, Framer offers unmatched flexibility, allowing users to craft unique, interactive designs with animations, effects, and responsive layouts. Its compatibility with tools like Figma makes it a favorite among designers who want to translate their prototypes into fully functional websites seamlessly.
While the learning curve is steeper, Framer’s real-time collaboration tools and dynamic design capabilities provide unparalleled creative control, enabling users to push the boundaries of web design.
7. Ghost
Ghost strips away the clutter and focuses on what matters: your content. If you're looking to build a membership site or monetize your writing, Ghost's minimalist approach might be exactly what you need.
Why choose Ghost over Framer
While Framer's busy perfecting animations, Ghost is helping you build a sustainable content business. You get built-in SEO tools, membership features, and newsletter capabilities right out of the box. Plus, its native support for paid subscriptions means you can start monetizing your content from day one.
Where Framer is better than Ghost
If you want those eye-catching interactions that make visitors go "wow," Framer's your best bet. Ghost keeps things simple and content-focused, which means you're missing out on sleek animations and interactive elements that Framer handles like a pro.
8. Drupal
Drupal is an open-source CMS offering flexibility for developers and enterprises. Its modular design allows users to build highly customized websites with extensive functionality and scalability.
Why choose Drupal over Framer
Drupal is perfect for enterprise-grade websites requiring custom workflows, multilingual capabilities, and robust data handling. Its scalability and security make it ideal for large projects or organizations.
Where Framer is better than Drupal
Framer offers a much simpler and design-focused experience. Drupal’s steep learning curve and developer dependency make it less suitable for teams seeking quick prototyping or visually rich interfaces.
9. Duda
Duda is a website builder tailored for agencies and freelancers, offering modern design tools and client management features. Its sleek templates and responsive design capabilities are standout features.
Why choose Duda over Framer
Duda’s client-facing features, such as white-labeling and team collaboration, are excellent for agencies. Its templates are well-suited for building professional, responsive websites quickly.
Where Framer is better than Duda
For unique, interactive designs and advanced animations, Framer takes the lead. Duda’s reliance on templates can limit creativity compared to Framer’s freeform design environment.
10. Contentful
Contentful is a headless CMS that prioritizes content delivery across multiple platforms. Its structured content model and design-independent approach are perfect for teams focusing on scalability.
Why choose Contentful over Framer
Contentful allows developers to create and manage content seamlessly across various channels, such as websites, apps, and IoT devices. Its API-first approach is a boon for complex content strategies.
Where Framer is better than Contentful
Framer’s design-centric focus is unmatched when creating visually engaging pages. Contentful’s lack of design tools makes it unsuitable for teams without dedicated front-end developers.
11. Strikingly
Strikingly is a beginner-friendly website builder aimed at creating simple yet stylish single-page websites. Its clean design options make it perfect for personal portfolios and small businesses.
Why choose Strikingly over Framer
Strikingly is ideal for quickly building minimalist, mobile-responsive websites. Its ease of use and focus on single-page layouts make it a great choice for non-technical users.
Where Framer is better than Strikingly
For more complex, interactive, or multi-page websites, Framer offers better customization and design capabilities. Strikingly’s simplicity can be limiting for larger projects.
12. Dorik
Dorik is a no-code website builder that balances simplicity and design freedom. Its pre-designed blocks and custom styling options make it a great choice for sleek, professional-looking websites.
Why choose Dorik over Framer
Dorik’s affordability and ease of use make it a compelling option for freelancers and small businesses. Its pre-built templates and CMS features provide a quick path to launching visually polished sites.
Where Framer is better than Dorik
Framer’s design capabilities outshine Dorik’s, especially for those wanting intricate animations and prototyping. Dorik is better for static websites, while Framer excels at dynamic, interactive designs.
13. Format
Format is a portfolio builder tailored for creative professionals like photographers, artists, and designers. Its templates are crafted to highlight visual work, making it ideal for showcasing portfolios.
Why choose Format over Framer
Format offers a streamlined experience for creatives who want to display their work in visually stunning layouts. Its client-proofing tools and integrated store features cater specifically to artists and photographers.
Where Framer is better than Format
Framer’s versatility and customization options are better for creating unique, interactive portfolios. Format’s templates, while beautiful, lack the dynamic design possibilities Framer provides.
14. Weebly
Weebly is a versatile website builder designed for simplicity and accessibility. Known for its drag-and-drop functionality, Weebly offers a balance of design flexibility and ease of use, making it a favorite for small businesses and personal websites.
Why choose Weebly over Framer
Weebly shines with its simplicity, making it perfect for non-designers who want to build functional websites without technical skills. Its integration with Square for eCommerce is a significant advantage for small businesses. Additionally, Weebly's app center provides a range of add-ons to enhance functionality, something Framer lacks.
Where Framer is better than Weebly
Framer offers more advanced design and prototyping capabilities, giving designers granular control over animations and components. Its modern design-centric approach outpaces Weebly, which focuses more on functionality than visual finesse.
15. Shopify
Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform offering robust tools for building and managing online stores. With its polished themes and powerful backend, Shopify prioritizes functionality while keeping design options sleek and modern.
Why choose Shopify over Framer
Shopify is unbeatable for creating fully functional online stores. Its eCommerce-specific features, like payment gateways, inventory management, and analytics, make it a no-brainer for businesses focused on selling products online.
Where Framer is better than Shopify
For non-eCommerce websites, Framer provides greater design flexibility and animation capabilities. Shopify’s themes, while professional, are more rigid compared to Framer’s customizable design features.
How to choose the best Framer alternative?
The Framer alternative you choose must get close to the design capabilities while offering better website building, marketing, and monetization features. Furthermore, you must get comparable or better customer support and return on investment.
Here are a few factors to consider:
1. Comparable design features
As a prototyping tool, Framer was created with a design first approach — most website builders are behind in that aspect. But a few come close enough to replace Framer without losing out a lot. Most tools do not have slick animation like Framer but they have everything required to build a clean and professional site.
Super, for example, has top-notch design features that are perfect for branding, engaging users, and turning them into paying customers. In fact, Super is better than Framer in some aspects such as better dark mode, color palette, and navbar styling.
2. Customer support
Designers find Framer easy to use but others might need support while they get up to speed. The good news is that Framer has ‘Emergency support’, but the bad news is that free users can’t access it.
Look for an alternative that has help available in the form of guides, community, and of course, customer support irrespective of your pricing plan.
3. Return on investment
Both the Personal and Business category of Framer pricing plans are affordable – in fact, they provide great value for everything design. But you may not get the same returns from a website building perspective.
For most practical purposes that we already covered in the previous section, it might be worth paying a little extra for core website building capabilities.
4. Ease of use and website setup
While Framer excels at design, setting up a complete website can be complex. Look for alternatives that give you a more streamlined website creation process with intuitive dashboards and clear workflows.
Your ideal platform should provide customizable templates, straightforward domain connection, and hosting setup without requiring technical expertise. Consider tools that let you launch your professional website in minutes rather than days.
5. Website performance
Website speed and reliability are crucial for your user experience and search engine rankings. Choose an alternative that prioritizes performance optimization, offering features like fast page loading times, reliable hosting, and consistent uptime.
The platform should handle technical aspects like caching, image optimization, and mobile responsiveness automatically, ensuring your site performs well across all devices and networks.
6. SEO capabilities
Search engine optimization capabilities should be built into the platform, not treated as an afterthought. Look for alternatives that give you comprehensive SEO tools including:
- Customizable meta tags and descriptions
- XML sitemaps
- Robot.txt configuration
- URL structure control
- Built-in redirect management
- Integration with popular SEO tools These features should be easily accessible through an intuitive SEO dashboard, making it simple for you to optimize your content for search engines.
Reasons to switch from Framer to another website builder
While Framer is a stellar design tool, it falls short as a website builder. Here are a few reasons you might want to get started with or switch to another tool.
1. Too design centric
Framer's roots as a prototyping tool are evident in its heavy emphasis on design and animations. While this makes it excellent for creating visually stunning websites, it often comes at the expense of other crucial website functionality.
The platform's focus on aesthetics can overshadow practical features that you need for day-to-day operations, making it challenging to build websites that balance both form and function.
2. CMS features are retrofitted
Since Framer evolved from a prototyping tool into a CMS, its content management features feel more like add-ons than native functionality. This retrofitted approach can make content updates, blog management, and dynamic content handling more cumbersome compared to platforms built primarily as content management systems.
You might find yourself working around limitations rather than having intuitive solutions for content-related tasks.
3. Steeper learning curve
For users without a design background, Framer's professional-grade design tools can be overwhelming. The platform assumes a certain level of design knowledge and familiarity with concepts like components, variants, and interactive animations.
This complexity can significantly slow down the website development process for non-designers and small business owners who need to get their sites up quickly.
4. Subpar content management and scheduling
Framer's content management capabilities lack the sophistication found in dedicated CMS platforms. You might face limitations when it comes to scheduling posts, managing multiple authors, organizing content hierarchies, and handling content versioning.
This can be particularly challenging for content-heavy websites or businesses that require robust editorial workflows.
5. Basic analytics and reporting
The platform's analytics and reporting features are relatively basic compared to competitors. While you can integrate third-party analytics tools, Framer's native capabilities for tracking user behavior, monitoring site performance, and generating insights are limited.
This would make it harder for you to make data-driven decisions about your website's effectiveness and user engagement.
In summary, if you're a designer looking to create visually stunning, animation-rich websites and prototypes, Framer remains an excellent choice. Its design-first approach and seamless Figma integration make it perfect for bringing creative visions to life.
However, if you need more than just beautiful designs—if you're building a content-heavy site, running an online store, or scaling a digital business—you'll likely be better served by one of these alternatives. Whether you choose Super for its all-around capabilities, WordPress for content management, or Shopify for e-commerce, the right tool depends on your specific needs.
Remember to evaluate each platform against the factors we've discussed: design features, ease of use, performance, SEO capabilities, analytics, and monetization options. Focus on finding a solution that not only matches your current requirements but can also grow with your business.
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