Sitecore to Webflow Migration Guide 2025 | Sitecore XP/XM Migration

Is Webflow Enterprise Right for Your Sitecore Site?

✅ Strong indicators to migrate:

Marketing needs speed to market without .NET release cycles
Current Sitecore is heavy (Helix solutions, SXA variants, custom pipelines) and costly to operate
Site is content-led (marketing, thought leadership, resources) vs. deep app/personalisation-first
Desire to simplify hosting, end patch/upgrade cycles, and reduce TCO
Frustrated with slow publishing and complex content management

⚠️ Evaluate carefully first if:

You depend on xDB-driven personalisation/EXM or complex Marketing Automation
You run large MSM with deep inheritance and shared layouts that authors rely on
You require tight coupling to .NET back-ends or Sitecore-centric DAM/forms
Heavy reliance on Sitecore Commerce with complex catalogue management

Sitecore to Webflow assessment checklist

Your 8-12 Week Migration Timeline

Typical timeline for mid-size Sitecore sites (adjust for multi-site/multi-language implementations):

Week 1-2: Discovery & Audit

Stakeholders alignment, KPIs definition, comprehensive Sitecore tech/SEO/content audit. Review SXA, Helix architecture, custom pipelines.

Week 2-4: IA & Content Modelling

Map Templates/Items to Webflow Collections, data source items to components, define URL/redirect plan for Link Manager rules.

Week 4-8: Design System & Build

Component library creation from SXA/Helix patterns, templates, interactions, accessibility, performance budgets.

Week 6-10: Data & Asset Migration

Extract Items/fields via SPE/API, transform data, import via CSV/API, re-host Media Library assets.

Week 9-11: QA, UAT & Hardening

Functional testing, SEO validation, accessibility checks, Core Web Vitals, governance tests across all templates.

Week 11-12: Go-Live & Hypercare

DNS cutover, SSL verification, monitoring setup, defect triage, training delivery, post-launch support.

Sitecore to Webflow Feature Mapping

How Sitecore concepts translate to Webflow Enterprise:

Templates & Items → Collections

Sitecore Templates

Complex template inheritance
Standard values management
Branch templates
Field sections and validation

→

Webflow Collections

Visual collection design
Flexible field types
Reference relationships
No code required

Sitecore's template system vs Webflow's intuitive Collections

SXA/Helix → Component Library

SXA Components

Partial designs complexity
Rendering variants
Custom .NET code
Deployment dependencies

→

Webflow Components

Visual component builder
Reusable across sites
Instant preview
No deployment needed

SXA's .NET-based component system vs Webflow's visual approach

Content Management

Sitecore Experience

Complex content tree
Slow publishing targets
Workflow bottlenecks
Version management overhead

→

Webflow Editor

Visual editing interface
Instant publishing
Simple approvals
Automatic versioning

Enterprise content management capabilities

Total Cost of Ownership

Sitecore TCO

High licensing costs
Infrastructure overhead
.NET developers required
Continuous upgrades

→

Webflow TCO

Predictable pricing
Managed hosting included
Marketing team autonomy
No upgrade cycles

Total cost comparison for enterprise deployments

Pre-Migration Audit Checklist

Essential Sitecore-specific items to review before migration:

✓

Environment & Infrastructure

Version (XM/XP), hosting model (Managed Cloud, Azure PaaS, on-prem)
CD/CM roles, cache layers, CDN configuration
Sitecore modules: SXA, JSS/Headless, EXM, Forms/WFFM
Helix architecture patterns, custom pipelines, schedulers

✓

Content & Structure

Content tree under /sitecore/content/
Templates, fields, standard values, branch templates
Data source items, renderings, placeholders, layouts
Languages and versions per Item, dictionary entries

✓

Media Library

Media Library structure and organisation
Custom media handlers and processors
External storage configurations
Total asset volume and formats

✓

SEO & URLs

Link Manager settings (lowercase, trailing slash, .aspx)
Aliases, wildcards, custom URL providers
IIS/Edge/CDN redirects and rewrites
Current Core Web Vitals and crawl status

✓

Integrations

Analytics (Sitecore xDB/Adobe/GA)
Search platforms (Solr/Coveo)
CRM/MAP integrations
External DAMs and services

✓

Governance

Workflows, roles, permissions
Publishing targets and restrictions
Content approval processes
Content freeze planning

Sitecore Data Migration Approaches

Option A — PowerShell Extensions (SPE) Export

PowerShell scripts to traverse Items by Template
Output CSV/JSON with field values and media references
Best for straightforward content structures
Requires Sitecore admin access

Option B — Serialization Tools

Use SCS/Unicorn/TDS to serialise Items
Transform YAML/JSON to CSV for Webflow imports
Good for complex template inheritance
Preserves all field relationships

Option C — Headless APIs (JSS/GraphQL)

For JSS/Headless sites, pull via GraphQL/Item Service
Map API responses to Webflow Collections
Best for already decoupled architectures
Clean data extraction without database access

Risk Mitigation Strategies

Common Sitecore migration risks and how we address them:

Risk	Impact	Mitigation
SXA partial designs not mapped	Layout/content gaps	Component audit; recreate as Webflow components; document usage
Link Manager rules missed	SEO/UX regressions	Extract all rules; master redirect map; crawl validation
Language versions mishandled	Duplicate/thin content	Clear locale strategy; hreflang implementation; editorial rules
Media Library links break	Broken assets	Bulk re-host; update references during transform
Heavy personalisation/xDB	Performance issues	Replace with light client-side testing; audience-based modules
Tracking parity gaps	Data loss	Tag plan; dual-tagging pre-launch; QA events

Expected Migration Outcomes

Typical results from Sitecore to Webflow migrations:

75%

Faster Time-to-Market

Launch campaigns in hours, not weeks

80%

TCO Reduction

Eliminate licensing and infrastructure costs

60%

Better Core Web Vitals

Improved page speed without .NET overhead

90%

Marketing Autonomy

Less dependency on IT for content updates

Migration Do's and Don'ts

✅ Do:

Catalogue Templates/Fields and model Webflow Collections early
Build a component library before page rollout
Preserve slugs/paths where possible; ship a complete 301 map
Budget accessibility and performance from day one
Train Editors on the Webflow Editor and governance model
Document all custom pipeline logic for recreation

❌ Don't:

Attempt a like-for-like port of renderings; embrace Webflow components
Carry over heavy server-side personalisation wholesale
Ship without thorough language/multi-site testing
Leave Link Manager/alias rules undocumented
Underestimate the complexity of SXA migrations
Forget to migrate dictionary items for localisation

Launch & Cutover Checklist

Pre-cutover Tasks:

Content freeze in Sitecore CM
Final extraction run via SPE/API
Final crawl diff (Sitecore vs Webflow staging)
Upload 301 redirect rules from Link Manager
Configure security headers
Lower DNS TTLs; prepare SSL certificates
Staging sign-off from all stakeholders

Cutover Process:

Point DNS to Webflow infrastructure
Verify SSL certificates
Smoke test top 100 pages and key funnels
Submit XML sitemaps to search engines
Request indexing for priority URLs
Monitor real-time analytics

Week 1-2 Hypercare:

Monitor 404s and redirect chains
Track rankings, impressions, conversions
Address author questions immediately
Provide quick-hit training sessions
Document any edge cases for future reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common concerns about Sitecore to Webflow migration:

Can we keep our .aspx URLs?

You can remove .aspx extensions and preserve SEO equity with 301 redirects. If you must keep them, we can map accordingly, but we recommend clean paths for better user experience and SEO.

What happens to Sitecore Forms/WFFM?

We export legacy form data for archival, then rebuild forms in Webflow or embed third-party forms with CRM/MA integration. Complex workflow forms can be handled through specialised form services.

Can we keep our Media Library or external DAM?

Yes—you can serve assets via CDN and embed them in Webflow. Alternatively, we can migrate assets to Webflow's asset manager or a modern DAM solution for better performance and lower costs.

How long does a Sitecore migration typically take?

For a standard Sitecore XM/XP implementation (100-500 pages), expect 8-12 weeks. Complex SXA sites, heavy personalisation, or multi-site setups may take 12-20 weeks. We provide detailed timelines after discovery.

Do we lose personalisation and xDB capabilities?

Replace xDB/Rules Engine personalisation with modern client-side testing tools (Optimizely/VWO) or audience-based content modules. Keep personalisation lightweight to maintain performance. Most teams find simpler tools more effective.

Is SSO supported for content authors?

Yes—Webflow Enterprise supports SAML 2.0 SSO for workspace access. We'll map your existing Sitecore roles and permissions to Webflow's role-based access control system.

Sitecore to Webflow Enterprise Migration