We build on Webflow at Spect Agency, so we’ll be upfront about that bias. That said, WordPress is genuinely the better security choice in certain situations, and we’ll be clear about when that’s the case.
One important note: Security on either platform depends on implementation quality. A Webflow site with poorly configured integrations creates different risks than a WordPress site with outdated plugins, but both reflect poor implementation rather than platform limitations. The comparisons below assume a properly maintained site on each platform.
What this guide covers
You’re comparing Webflow and WordPress security because your B2B website handles sensitive data and serves as the first impression for buyers who pay attention to how vendors protect information. Lead forms capture company emails, phone numbers, and business details. Enterprise procurement teams send security questionnaires before signing contracts. A security incident doesn’t just affect your website. It stalls deals, erodes trust, and pulls your team away from revenue-generating work.
WordPress has been the default choice for years, and its plugin library offers security tools for every scenario. Webflow is newer to the conversation, and there’s still a perception that a managed platform means less security control. That perception misses the point.
This guide breaks down how each platform handles the security factors B2B teams actually care about: vulnerability exposure, maintenance burden, compliance readiness, and the operational cost of keeping everything protected. We’ll cover where Webflow removes risk by design, where WordPress offers more granular control, and how to decide based on your team’s situation.
For a full platform comparison covering design, CMS, pricing, and team workflow, see our complete Webflow vs WordPress guide.
How Webflow and WordPress handle security differently
The difference between these platforms isn’t whether they can be secured. Both can. The difference is architectural.
Webflow: managed security by default
Webflow is a managed SaaS platform where security is handled at the infrastructure level. SSL certificates are provisioned automatically for every site. HTTPS is enforced, not optional. The hosting runs on AWS with Cloudflare CDN, which includes DDoS mitigation, edge caching, and automatic failover. Platform updates happen in the background without any action from your team.
Because Webflow is a closed system, there’s no plugin architecture that introduces third-party code into your site’s core. The Webflow App Marketplace includes third-party apps, but they go through a review process before being listed. The attack surface is smaller by design, not by effort.
For B2B marketing teams, this means your website’s security baseline is strong from day one. You don’t need to install security tools, configure firewalls, or schedule patch windows. The platform handles it.
That said, Webflow’s managed approach comes with trade-offs. You don’t get server-level access. Custom authentication flows (like single sign-on) require external services. If you need to implement security configurations that go beyond what the platform provides, you’re limited. For most B2B marketing websites, these limitations don’t apply. For sites with complex functional requirements, they’re worth considering.
WordPress: full control, full responsibility
WordPress is open-source software that you host yourself (or through a managed WordPress host). Security is layered on through your hosting provider, plugins, theme choices, and custom configuration. The core WordPress software receives regular security updates, but everything beyond that is your responsibility.
This means you choose your hosting environment, install and maintain security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri, iThemes Security), configure firewalls, manage file permissions, secure your database, and control user access. You have full visibility into and control over every aspect of your site’s security posture.
WordPress’s plugin architecture is both its greatest strength and its primary security concern. Every plugin you install is third-party code running on your server with access to your database and files. Most WordPress security incidents don’t come from the core software. They come from vulnerable plugins, abandoned themes, or misconfigured hosting.
For teams with dedicated development resources and specific security needs, WordPress’s openness is genuinely valuable. You can implement custom authentication, run server-level security scans, and configure protection exactly as your security team requires. Just make sure someone on your team actually owns this ongoing work.
Detailed breakdown
Vulnerability exposure and attack surface
The “attack surface” is the sum of potential entry points an attacker could use to compromise your site. A smaller attack surface means fewer opportunities for something to go wrong.
Webflow’s attack surface is limited by design. There’s no server for attackers to target directly, no database they can attempt to access, and no plugin code that could contain vulnerabilities. The platform handles infrastructure security centrally, which means a single security improvement from Webflow’s team protects every site on the platform simultaneously.
WordPress has a larger attack surface because of its open architecture. The average WordPress site runs 20+ plugins, each one a potential entry point. Plugins can have unpatched vulnerabilities, request more database access than they need, or be abandoned by their developers while remaining installed on thousands of sites. Supply chain attacks (in which malicious code is injected into a legitimate plugin during an update) have affected WordPress sites in recent years.
WordPress core itself is reasonably secure and receives regular patches from a dedicated security team. The risk comes from the surrounding plugin layer. A well-maintained WordPress site with carefully chosen, regularly updated plugins from reputable developers has a manageable attack surface. The problem is that “well-maintained” requires ongoing effort that many B2B teams underestimate.
Security maintenance and operational burden
How much ongoing work does each platform require to stay secure?
Webflow requires essentially no security maintenance from your team. SSL certificates renew automatically. Platform updates deploy in the background. DDoS protection runs continuously. There are no plugins to patch, no themes to update, and no server configurations to audit. Your marketing team publishes content and manages the site without thinking about security operations.
WordPress security is an ongoing process. Core, theme, and plugin updates all need to be reviewed, tested in a staging environment, and deployed to the live site. Skipping updates leaves known vulnerabilities exposed. Applying updates without testing risks breaking functionality.
A typical WordPress security maintenance routine includes:
- Weekly or monthly plugin and theme updates (tested before deployment)
- Regular security scans for malware and suspicious file changes
- Firewall rule management and monitoring
- Backup verification and testing
- User access audits and password policy enforcement
- Log monitoring for unusual activity
Many B2B teams lack the internal capacity for this work. It either gets delegated to an agency (adding cost), handled inconsistently by someone whose primary responsibility isn’t (adding risk), or neglected entirely (adding significant risk).
Hidden security costs
Security has real operational costs beyond the sticker price of either platform.
Webflow’s security costs are included in the platform subscription. There’s no additional line item for SSL, DDoS protection, security plugins, or maintenance hours. What you pay for Webflow is what you pay for security.
WordPress security costs add up across several categories:
- Security plugin licenses (Wordfence Premium, Sucuri, or similar): $100-300/year
- Premium managed hosting with built-in security features: often $30-100+/month more than basic hosting
- Developer time for updates, audits, and monitoring: 2-4 hours/month at $75-100/hour = $1,800-4,800/year
- Incident response costs if a breach occurs: malware cleanup services typically run $200-500+ per incident, plus the cost of downtime and lost deals
These costs are often invisible in the initial platform comparison because they accumulate gradually. A B2B team evaluating WordPress might budget for hosting and a few plugins, but underestimate the ongoing developer hours needed to maintain a secure site.
Compliance and audit readiness
Enterprise buyers increasingly evaluate their vendors’ security posture before signing contracts. Your website platform affects how confidently you can respond to these evaluations.
Webflow maintains SOC 2 Type II certification, which means the platform has been independently audited for its security controls and processes. When a prospect’s procurement team sends a security questionnaire, you can reference Webflow’s compliance documentation directly. The platform’s GDPR data processing setup is straightforward, and because the infrastructure is managed centrally, your answers to security questions are consistent and verifiable.
WordPress doesn’t have a centralized compliance certification because the security posture depends entirely on your implementation. You need to document your own security setup: your hosting provider’s certifications, your plugin choices, your update schedule, your backup strategy, and your access controls. This is doable, but it requires more effort and more technical knowledge to present convincingly.
For B2B companies selling to enterprise buyers, Webflow’s SOC 2 certification is a practical advantage. It shortens the procurement process and gives your sales team clear answers for security questions. With WordPress, you’re building that documentation from scratch.
Form data and lead security
B2B websites capture sensitive lead data through forms: company emails, phone numbers, job titles, and business details. How that data is protected matters.
Webflow forms transmit data over HTTPS by default (since SSL is enforced). Form submissions are stored in Webflow’s secured infrastructure and can be pushed to your CRM through native apps or Zapier. The data path is short and predictable: form submission to Webflow servers to your CRM. There’s no plugin layer in between that could introduce vulnerabilities.
WordPress form security depends on your plugin choice (Gravity Forms, WPForms, Contact Form 7), your SSL configuration, and your hosting environment. If SSL isn’t properly configured, form data can be transmitted in the clear. If your form plugin has a vulnerability, submitted data could be exposed. The data path typically runs from the form plugin to your WordPress database to your CRM, with each step depending on properly configured and maintained software.
For most B2B teams, either platform protects form data adequately when properly set up. The difference is that Webflow’s protection is automatic, while WordPress requires you to verify each component in the chain.
Incident response and recovery
What happens if something goes wrong?
Webflow sites rarely experience security incidents due to their managed infrastructure and limited attack surface. If an issue does arise, Webflow’s security team handles it at the platform level. Your site benefits from the fix without any action on your part. Automatic backups mean restoration is straightforward.
WordPress incident response is your responsibility. If your site is compromised, the recovery process involves identifying the breach point, removing malware, cleaning affected files, restoring from a known-good backup (if available), resecuring the site, and notifying any affected parties. This process can take days and often requires a specialist.
The indirect costs of a WordPress security incident extend beyond cleanup. If search engines detect malware on your site, it can be flagged with warnings that deter visitors and damage rankings. Rebuilding that trust with both search engines and prospects takes weeks or months. For a B2B company in an active sales cycle, a compromised website can stall deals at the worst possible time.
Which platform fits your B2B security needs?
“We want our marketing team to own the website without worrying about security.”
Webflow. The platform handles SSL, updates, hosting security, and DDoS protection automatically. Your marketing team publishes content and manages the site without any security responsibilities.
“We need to respond confidently to enterprise security questionnaires.”
Webflow. The platform’s SOC 2 Type II certification and documented security controls give your sales team clear answers for procurement questionnaires. With WordPress, you’d need to document your own security setup from scratch.
“We have dedicated DevOps resources and specific security configurations.”
WordPress. If your team includes developers who can manage server-level security, configure custom firewalls, and maintain a strict update schedule, WordPress gives them the control they need.
“We need custom authentication or single sign-on on our website.”
WordPress. Webflow’s managed environment limits custom authentication options. WordPress’s open architecture supports custom SSO implementations, role-based access, and server-side authentication logic.
“We’re spending too much time and money maintaining WordPress security.”
Webflow. If plugin updates, security audits, and vulnerability patches are eating into your development budget, moving to Webflow eliminates that entire maintenance category. Calculate your current security maintenance costs before making a decision.
“We already have a well-maintained WordPress site with solid security practices.”
Stay on WordPress. If your security setup is working, your plugins are maintained, and your team has the process down, there’s no reason to migrate. The cost and risk of switching platforms likely outweigh the benefit.
Our recommendation for B2B website security
For most B2B marketing websites, Webflow provides a stronger security baseline with less effort. The platform handles SSL, security, DDoS protection, and automatic updates. Your team doesn’t manage plugins, patch servers, or run security audits. The SOC 2 certification helps with enterprise procurement, and the limited attack surface means fewer things can go wrong in the first place.
WordPress makes sense for organizations with complex functional requirements that need server-level security control, custom authentication, or specific configurations that a managed platform can’t accommodate. If you have the development resources to maintain WordPress security properly (and “properly” means consistently, not just at launch), the platform’s flexibility is genuinely valuable.
The platform choice matters, but it’s one factor among many. The quality of your implementation, the consistency of your maintenance, and whether the right people on your team are paying attention to security all affect your actual risk more than which CMS logo is in the footer.