If you're reading this article, chances are you're already familiar with one or more of these tools. But to better understand their differences and, consequently, which one to use, let’s take a step back and briefly explain what they are and why they were created. Before we dive in, let me introduce myself so you can better understand my background.
Who I Am
I’m Nicola Toledo, a software engineer with over 10 years of experience in web development. Over the years, I’ve worked as a freelance developer and trainer, collaborating with various companies to bring digital projects to life. In 2019, I transitioned my focus to professional no-code tools like Webflow and Xano, integrating them into my workflow to streamline development without sacrificing quality.
In September 2023, I founded NOCODEPRO, an agency dedicated to building websites and web apps with top-tier no-code tools, helping designers, brand studios, and startups turn their visions into reality. I’ve had the privilege of developing dozens of websites and web apps, using both code-based and no-code solutions.
Now that you know a bit more about me, let’s dive in!
What is Webflow
Webflow is primarily a website builder that allows you to create advanced websites through a visual interface and publish them with a single click. What makes Webflow unique—and what immediately impressed me—is the clean code it generates, almost as if it were handwritten, unlike other site builders like WordPress, which tend to produce bloated, messy code. Webflow’s interface is highly advanced, meaning its level of abstraction is closer to actual code, providing much more control over the design and development process.
What is Wized
Wized is an app designed for Webflow that allows you to add front-end logic to a Webflow project. In simpler terms, it lets you organize JavaScript into actions and requests rather than writing it directly in the "Custom Code" tab on Webflow. This means you can pull in data from external APIs, display dynamic content within Webflow, or add interactive elements like multi-step forms.
From what I’ve seen, there’s still a lot of confusion about Wized for two reasons: First, the current version is entirely different from the initial one, especially since it was acquired by Finsweet. So, people who tried the earlier version might have formed an outdated opinion. Second, on the surface, it might seem similar to platforms like Make or Zapier, but in reality, Wized operates on the front-end, while Make and Zapier are back-end tools.
What is WeWeb
WeWeb is a platform designed to create only the front-end of web apps through a visual interface, essentially combining the functionalities of Webflow and Wized into one tool. However, it has a more advanced logic builder for creating workflows and actions compared to Wized, as you can see in the image below.
WeWeb focuses on web app development. While it offers the option to generate static pages (making them SEO-friendly), SEO is not its primary focus, and its SEO capabilities are more basic compared to Webflow. In fact, even WeWeb’s marketing site is built using Webflow, and they recommend using Webflow for websites that require robust SEO. Additionally, Webflow’s design tool is more powerful than WeWeb’s, though this usually isn't a problem because web apps typically don’t need complex layouts. Web apps tend to have simpler, more minimalist interfaces, so WeWeb works perfectly fine for creating those types of interfaces. Since WeWeb only handles the front-end, you can connect it to any back-end of your choice. However, as of today, Xano is the best no-code back-end, and paired with WeWeb, they form an excellent duo.
The Problem with Webflow + Wized
As mentioned earlier, with Wized, you can add JavaScript to a Webflow project, making it dynamic and responsive to user actions. In theory, you could build almost any web app—Airbnb, Booking, Twitter, etc.—because Webflow generates the static pages (HTML + CSS), and Wized adds the front-end logic (JavaScript). However, the problem arises when managing larger projects. In its current version, it becomes challenging to keep all the code organized and debug various functionalities. Finsweet recently announced that they are working on a new interface for Wized. To be clear, Wized is an excellent tool, but in my opinion, it reaches its limit when you need to manage a high number of actions. Beyond a certain point, maintaining everything becomes quite difficult.
Which One to Use?
Based on what we’ve seen, my general recommendation is to use Webflow for everything public that needs excellent SEO, while for anything behind a login (i.e., private content, dashboards), WeWeb is the better choice. If you’re building a web app, I suggest creating the marketing site with Webflow, and if you need to add some interactivity, use Wized. Then, build the entire web app with WeWeb, using Xano as the back-end. As of now, I believe this is the best no-code stack to create powerful and scalable websites and web apps—capable of handling thousands of users—while also providing a great development experience.
Want to work together?
When you’re ready, here are 2 ways I can help you:
- Agency: If you need help with Webflow, Wized, WeWeb or Xano development
- Consulting: If you’d like to learn more about which solution is best for your project
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* This article is NOT sponsored. If you are considering buying a plan, use the affiliate link in the article to get a discount, e.g., 10% off any Xano plan.
