Reflecting on the past year, one of WebFlow most significant missteps has been drastically reducing bandwidth allocations across all pricing plans. If you’re considering building and hosting a website on WebFlow, especially with plans to scale, grow, or handle substantial traffic, I strongly urge you to reconsider.
Bandwidth Reductions: A Troubling Trend
A quick dive into Webflow’s history and forums (Read this eye-opening Reddit post), using tools like the Wayback Machine, reveals just how stark the changes are. Previously, the Business Plan offered a generous 400 GB of bandwidth. Today, it has been slashed to just 100 GB, with no corresponding drop in price. The CMS plan, once offering 200 GB, now provides only 50 GB as well. For businesses or creators relying on traffic-heavy websites, this is a major downgrade.
To make matters worse, while WebFlow has introduced an “add-on” bandwidth option, this is only available for Business Plan users. CMS plan users, many of whom are freelancers or small-scale creators, are left with no similar option.
The Cost Implications: More Than Just Numbers
The price hike to maintain previous bandwidth levels is shocking. Under the old Business Plan pricing, 400 GB of bandwidth cost $39 per month. Now, achieving that same bandwidth requires a staggering $159 per month—over triple the original price.
WebFlow’s justification? According to the company, 90% of users never exceed their bandwidth limits, and they provide surge warnings when limits are approached. However, this explanation feels disconnected from reality. Websites often start small, but as they grow and scale—something every creator hopes for—bandwidth needs naturally increase. By preemptively capping bandwidth, WebFlow risks stifling growth for smaller users or saddling them with exorbitant costs down the line.
A Personal Experience
As a long-time WebFlow user, I’ve felt the effects of these changes firsthand. My CMS plan originally provided 200 GB of bandwidth, because I was on the “legacy plan,” I’m nearing the CMS item limit of 2,000 as I grew. Upgrading to the Business Plan seemed like the logical step—until I realized I’d lose half my bandwidth, going from 200 GB to just 100 GB. This isn’t an upgrade; it’s a clear downgrade.
The Bigger Picture: Who Is Webflow Serving?
Many users, myself included, feel these changes reflect a shift in Webflow’s priorities. Since the appointment of CEO Linda Tong, it appears Webflow is increasingly focused on enterprise clients, leaving freelancers and smaller creators behind. This sentiment is echoed across forums and community discussions: WebFlow doesn’t seem to care about its loyal customers anymore.
Final Thoughts
WebFlow’s bandwidth reductions and pricing changes send a concerning message. While they’ve made minor improvements in other areas, bandwidth is a fundamental aspect of website functionality—something they’ve chosen to de-prioritize for the majority of their users.
If you’re considering WebFlow as your website platform, tread carefully, especially if you plan to grow your traffic. For now, I remain disappointed in a platform I once wholeheartedly recommended.
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