Can I design a website on Webflow, export it, and then deploy it on a "deployable" environment through Vercel to have access to an SSL verified domain specific to that page?
TL;DR
- Export static HTML, CSS, JS, and assets from Webflow, then deploy via Git or Vercel CLI.
- Configure a custom domain and SSL in Vercel by updating DNS and letting Vercel auto-provision the certificate.
- Dynamic Webflow features like CMS, forms, and logic won't function—replace with third-party tools or custom code.
Yes, you can export a Webflow website and deploy it on Vercel while using an SSL-secured custom domain, but there are important limitations to be aware of.
1. Webflow Site Export Limitations
- Only static content (HTML, CSS, JS, assets) is included when you export from Webflow. Features like the CMS, Webflow Forms, Memberships, Logic, and Ecommerce do not function outside of Webflow hosting.
- You’ll receive a zipped folder with clean HTML files, stylesheets, JavaScript, and image assets.
2. How to Export and Deploy to Vercel
- Design your site fully in Webflow.
- Go to Export Code (upper right corner of Webflow Designer, next to publish icon).
- Download the ZIP of your site.
- Unzip the folder and move the contents (HTML, CSS, etc.) into a local repo.
- Initialize a new project with Git and connect it to Vercel via their dashboard or Vercel CLI.
- Ensure your
index.htmlis in the root directory or configured correctly via avercel.jsonfile if needed. - Deploy to Vercel through the CLI (
vercel) or automatic Git integration.
3. Set Up a Custom SSL-Enabled Domain on Vercel
- In the Vercel dashboard, Go to your deployed project > Settings > Domains.
- Add your custom domain (e.g., www.example.com).
- Update your domain's DNS settings:
- Point the A records to Vercel’s IPs (a) 76.76.21.21 or set up CNAME for subdomains like
www. - Vercel will automatically provision an SSL certificate via Let's Encrypt once the DNS is set up correctly.
- You get an HTTPS-secured custom domain with zero additional cost.
4. Important Considerations
- Interactivity and CMS limitations: No CMS, Webflow form handling, or logic will work. You must replace these with third-party solutions (e.g., Netlify Forms, Formspree) or your own backend.
- Future updates: Every design change in Webflow will require a manual re-export and re-deploy.
Summary
Yes, you can export a static Webflow site and deploy it to Vercel to use an SSL-secured custom domain. However, CMS and dynamic features won’t work unless hosted on Webflow. For purely static sites, this flow works well with Vercel’s free SSL and global delivery.