What are alternative solutions to the 10,000 item limit in Webflow for building a theater website with multiple shows, performances, and characters?
TL;DR
- Use multiple Webflow projects to split content and link them via navigation or automation tools.
- Embed external databases (Airtable, Firebase) using API and JavaScript.
- Integrate a headless CMS (Contentful, Sanity) to manage data outside Webflow.
- Use Jetboost for dynamic filtering and pagination without adding CMS items.
- Leverage Webflow E-Commerce to manage performances as products instead of CMS entries.
- Automate content sync with Zapier, Make, or Whalesync to update Webflow from an external source.
- Pre-render static pages for archival content to reduce CMS load.
Webflow’s 10,000-item CMS limit can be restrictive for a theater website managing multiple shows, performances, and characters. Below are alternative solutions to expand beyond this limitation.
1. Use Multiple Webflow Projects
- Split content across multiple Webflow sites (e.g., a site for current shows and a separate archive).
- Link the sites together using navigation menus or subdomains.
- Sync content manually or with automation tools like Zapier or Make.
2. Use Dynamic Embeds with an External Database
- Store data in Airtable, Firebase, or Supabase, then use Webflow’s Dynamic Embed to pull data via an API.
- Embed content dynamically using JavaScript (fetch API) inside Webflow’s custom code blocks.
3. Integrate Webflow with a Headless CMS
- Use platforms like Contentful, Sanity, or Strapi to store and manage large datasets.
- Retrieve and display content via JavaScript and Webflow's CMS API.
4. Utilize Jetboost for Dynamic Filtering & Pagination
- Jetboost allows filtering without hitting CMS limits, effectively simulating larger collections.
- Helps paginate and categorize items dynamically without adding more CMS entries.
5. Leverage E-Commerce for Ticketing & Show Listings
- Webflow’s E-Commerce can store products (performances) separately from CMS collections.
- Assign variant options for different seat categories or dates instead of CMS items.
6. Automate Content Sync with External Tools
- Use Zapier, Make, or Whalesync to connect an external database (Google Sheets, Airtable) with Webflow.
- Automate syncing, updating, or deleting records as needed without exceeding CMS limits.
7. Pre-Render Static Pages for Historical Content
- Export older events as static HTML pages to remove them from the CMS but keep them available.
- Store archived content externally (on a subdomain or external hosting service).
Summary
To work around Webflow’s 10,000-item CMS limit, consider multi-site setups, external databases, headless CMS solutions, Jetboost filtering, E-Commerce, automation tools, or static HTML exports. The best approach depends on how often content updates and how dynamic the data needs to be.