Can I design a site in Webflow with placeholder copy that clients can edit in while the site is still in development, and then revert back to static elements once all content is finalized and publish it as a normal website without incurring CMS costs?
TL;DR
- Use Webflow CMS to let clients edit placeholder content during development via the Editor interface.
- After finalizing content, manually replace CMS-bound elements with static ones, delete CMS Collections, and publish using a cheaper static hosting plan.
Yes, you can design a site in Webflow with placeholder text content editable by clients during development using the CMS, and later convert that content to static elements before publishing to avoid ongoing CMS costs.
1. Use CMS Collections for Editable Content During Development
- Create CMS Collections (e.g., "Pages", "Sections", or "Content Blocks") to structure editable areas of the site during the development phase.
- Invite your client via Editor access, which allows them to edit CMS content without touching the site structure or styles.
- This gives clients a streamlined interface to input and revise copy during the build phase.
2. Style the Site Using CMS Bindings
- Bind CMS fields (e.g., headings, paragraph text, images) to dynamic elements in the Webflow Designer.
- This allows live preview of how real content will look once published.
3. Export or Replace CMS Content with Static Content
Once you finalize the site:
- Duplicate the project to preserve the CMS-enabled version if needed for backup.
- In your working version, manually replace all CMS-bound elements with static elements, copying and pasting the finalized content into regular Webflow elements (like Text Blocks, Rich Text, or Image elements).
- Delete the CMS Collections to remove any dynamic dependencies.
- This removes Webflow's CMS usage, so you can publish without needing a CMS Hosting Plan.
4. Host on Basic or Starter Plan
- Once the site uses only static content, it can be published under Webflow's Basic Site Plan (no CMS/database support).
- This reduces monthly hosting costs if the CMS is no longer needed.
Summary
You can let clients edit placeholder text using Webflow CMS during development, then manually convert CMS content into static elements before publishing. This approach allows for client collaboration without locking you into CMS hosting costs after launch.