This morning, I was pondering a question...
→ Is Webflow an increasingly sought-after tool in the world? And if so, is it at the expense of older CMS platforms like WordPress, following the principle of communicating vessels?
To answer this, I took the time to:
- Examine the search volume for Webflow and WordPress using Google Trends
- Compare the usage of technologies in the website market through W3techs
- Analyze and confront this data to better anticipate the evolution of the web design market
Over the past three years, from 2020 to 2023, and the results are surprising!
Data Analysis on Trends and Adoption from 2020 to 2023
Tools used for this analysis:
- Google Trends: for search volumes
- W3techs: for the statistics (market share in volume) of technologies used for websites
1.1 — The numbers on Google Trends search trends
💡 What is Google Trends? Google Trends is an online tool that analyzes the frequency of searches for various terms on the Google search engine.
Analyzed period: August 2020 to August 2023
Key data:
- Global search volume for Webflow: from 3 to 6.4 (+108.5%)
- Global search volume for WordPress: from 100 to 77 (-29.8%)
Source: Google Trends
Analysis: The search volume for Webflow has more than doubled over the past three years, indicating a growing interest in this platform. In contrast, searches for WordPress have decreased by nearly 30%. This could suggest that users are looking for more modern or flexible alternatives to WordPress.
However, it's important to note that search volume does not necessarily translate into actual adoption or usage.
1.2 — Usage statistics (CMS market share)
💡 What is a CMS? A content management system (CMS) is software that allows users to create, manage, and modify content on a website without needing specialized technical skills. The most well-known CMSs in the world include: WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Webflow, for example.
Analyzed period: January 2020 to August 2023
Key data:
- Webflow: from 0.1% to 0.6% (+500%)
- WordPress: from 35.4% to 43.1% (+21.75%)
- Sites without CMS (hardcoded): from 43.1% to 31.6% (-26.6%)
Source: W3techs (Historical yearly trends in the usage statistics of CMS)
Analysis: Although Webflow has seen an impressive growth of 500% in terms of market share, this figure should be taken with a grain of caution, as it started from a very low base. In contrast, WordPress, despite a decrease in interest according to Google Trends, has seen its market share increase by nearly 22%. This may indicate that WordPress has a loyal user base that continues to grow.
Notably, the decline in hardcoded sites suggests that more and more businesses and developers are turning to CMS solutions for easier editing and faster development.
1.3 — Analysis and Comparison
Webflow is gaining popularity but still has a relatively small user base. Meanwhile, WordPress sees its search interest declining, yet its market share continues to rise, likely due to its ease of use (templates and plugins).
What is interesting is the decreasing interest and usage for websites that do not use a CMS. Businesses and developers may be starting to understand the advantages of using tools like Webflow, in order to:
- Develop websites more quickly and of higher quality
- Have scalable websites thanks to CMS features,
Does this indicate a potential growth opportunity for the coming years? 🤔
Conclusion on the Future of the Web Market
Therefore, Webflow is becoming an increasingly sought-after tool, but its adoption, and thus its market share, remains modest. In contrast, while WordPress sees a general decline in interest, its market share continues to rise. The increase in WordPress's market share may be attributed to a loyal user base and a wide range of plugins and templates that make it easily adaptable to various needs.
On the other hand, the decline of hardcoded sites suggests a growing adoption of CMS, which could benefit Webflow in the long run.
In my opinion, the real growth potential of Webflow lies not only in capturing market share at the expense of WordPress but also in its ability to empower businesses seeking a highly customizable website that previously had fully coded and non-scalable sites.
