Download Any Webflow Site with CMS Content: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Designing a website in Webflow is a dream. The visual canvas, the interactions, and the powerful CMS make it one of the best tools for modern web design. But as your site grows, so do the costs. Webflow’s hosting plans are notoriously expensive, especially when you factor in CMS limits and the "Webflow Tax" on every new project.

Many users eventually ask: "Can I just download my Webflow site and host it myself?"

The answer is yes, but there’s a catch. If you use Webflow’s native "Export Code" feature, you quickly realize a major limitation: It doesn't include your CMS content. Your blog posts, portfolio items, and team members? Gone. You’re left with static shells of your pages and a lot of manual work to do.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to bypass these limitations and download a complete Webflow site—CMS and all—using ExFlow, the ultimate Webflow site exporter.

The Problem: Why Webflow Native Export Fails

Webflow is a "walled garden." While they allow you to export the HTML, CSS, and JS of your static pages, they intentionally exclude the dynamic CMS data from the export bundle.

Here’s what happens when you use the default exporter on a CMS-heavy site:

• Missing Collection Pages: Your /blog/post-title pages simply aren't exported.
• Broken Collection Lists: Any list that pulls from a database will appear empty.
• Manual Rebuilding: You are forced to use a headless CMS or manually create hundreds of HTML files.

For most people, this makes the native export useless for moving to a cheaper host.

The "Hacker" Way: Scrapers vs. ExFlow

Some developers try to use tools like HTTrack or wget to "scrape" their own websites. While this can work for tiny, static sites, it usually fails on Webflow for several reasons:

• Broken Animations: Webflow’s interactions rely on specific script loading sequences that scrapers often break.
• Missing Assets: High-resolution images or localized assets might not be caught.
• Messy Code: You end up with a "dirty" export that is hard to maintain.

This is where ExFlow changes the game. Unlike generic scrapers, ExFlow is built specifically for Webflow. It understands how Webflow structures its data, ensuring that every animation, every CMS page, and every script remains perfectly intact.

Step-by-Step: Exporting Your Complete Webflow Site

Ready to take your site with you? Follow these steps to get a clean, full export.

1. Enter Your Site URL

Start by heading to exflow.site. You don’t need to install any complex plugins. Just enter the URL of the Webflow site you want to export.

2. Configure Your Export Settings

ExFlow gives you granular control over what you take with you. For a professional result, we recommend the following settings:

• Export All Pages: This is the magic button. It ensures that every single CMS collection item is converted into a static HTML page.
• Remove "Made with" Badge: Clean up your site's footer automatically.
• Minify Assets: Ensure your CSS and JS files are optimized for fast loading on your new host.

3. Add Custom Scripts (Optional)

One of the best features of ExFlow is the ability to inject custom script.js or style.css files during the export process. This is perfect if you want to add a new analytics snippet or a custom font that wasn't in the original Webflow project.

4. Download Your ZIP Bundle

Once you hit "Export," ExFlow’s engine crawls your site, processes the CMS logic, and packages everything into a neat ZIP file. You now own your code. No more monthly Webflow subscriptions just to keep the site live.

Where to Host Your New Static Site?

Now that you have your files, you need a place to put them. Because your site is now "static," your hosting options are nearly infinite—and much cheaper.

Option 1: ExFlow Hosting (The Easiest Way)

If you want the speed of a static site without the technical headache of setting up servers, ExFlow offers built-in hosting. You can link your custom domain directly and enjoy unlimited bandwidth for a fraction of what Webflow charges.

Option 2: Amazon S3 & Cloudflare

For those who want a "set it and forget it" setup, syncing your export to an S3 bucket and putting it behind Cloudflare is a great way to host for virtually free.

Option 3: GitHub Pages

Developers love this option. You can sync your ExFlow export directly to a Git repository, allowing for version control and free hosting via GitHub Pages or Netlify.

Conclusion: Freedom from Webflow Hosting

Webflow is an incredible design tool, but you shouldn't be held hostage by their hosting prices. By using ExFlow, you get the best of both worlds: the power of Webflow’s visual designer and the freedom of self-hosting.

Whether you’re looking to save money, backup your site locally, or move to a more flexible environment, exporting with CMS content is the only way to go.

Ready to export? Try ExFlow today and take control of your website.