Google Web Designer vs. Webflow: Which One Should You Use?

Web design tools have made it easier than ever for people to bring their ideas to life online, whether that’s building a website, creating eye-catching ads, or designing interactive content. 

You don’t have to be a coding expert anymore to create something that looks great and works well across all devices. These tools help businesses, designers, and marketers quickly turn their creative visions into reality.

Two popular tools in this space are Google Web Designer and Webflow. While both offer powerful design features, they serve different purposes.

Google Web Designer focuses on creating animated HTML5 ads and interactive content, especially for Google Ads campaigns. Webflow, on the other hand, is a no-code website builder with a built-in CMS and hosting, perfect for designing full websites.

Ready to find the perfect tool for your next project? Dive in to see whether Google Web Designer or Webflow is the right choice for you!

What is Google Web Designer?

Google Web Designer is your creative sidekick for building beautiful, eye-catching HTML5 ads and interactive content, whether you’re all about drag-and-drop design or getting hands-on with code. It’s a free HTML5-based design tool from Google that helps you bring your ideas to life.

With Google Web Designer, you can animate elements with ease, build layouts visually, and even add custom code if you’re feeling fancy. It’s like having your own mini animation studio, minus the stress. 

The real magic happens when you’re creating animated and interactive ads. From motion-rich banners to tap-activated effects and expandable ad formats, it gives your content that extra sparkle to stand out and get noticed.

And here’s the best part? It integrates smoothly with the rest of your marketing toolkit such as Google Ads and DoubleClick. So once your designs are ready, they flow straight into your campaigns without any issue.

Its creative power meets marketing convenience, all wrapped up in one smart, fun-to-use package.

What is Webflow? 

Imagine a platform where you can design, build, and launch powerful websites without the coding hassle. That’s Webflow.

It’s an all-in-one tool that combines design, content management, and hosting, making it a go-to for creators and businesses who want to bring their web ideas to life with ease.

At its core, Webflow is a visual website-building platform and web development tool that gives you full control over your site’s look and feel. From animations to dynamic content and built-in hosting, Webflow gives you everything to create stunning,    responsive websites for any device. 

The best part? Webflow's no-code/low-code approach means you can create professional websites without needing a developer.

And if you're looking to take things further, you can easily add custom code. It’s creativity and flexibility combined, designed to help you craft standout websites that get noticed.

Key Differences Between Google Web Designer and Webflow

Before we go into detailed discussions, let's have a look at the key differences at a glance -

Now let's move on to a more detailed discussion-

Purpose and Target Audience

Google Web Designer is perfect for those focused on creating interactive ads and animations. This makes it ideal for marketers and ad designers looking to craft eye-catching HTML5 ads.

Webflow is customized for website designers, developers, and businesses who want to build, manage, and automate websites with ease. It’s great for those who need both creative control and flexibility in website design, CMS management, and hosting, making it perfect for e-commerce design.

Ease of Use & Learning Curve

Google Web Designer is great for beginners when creating basic designs, but may require some basic coding knowledge for advanced features like custom animations and interactivity. It’s a step up for users looking to dive deeper into creative control.

Webflow is designed for a no-code/low-code experience with an intuitive visual builder. For anyone who is just getting started, this will be easier to use. 

 It’s perfect for both beginners and experienced users who want to create websites without the need for coding, yet still offers advanced customization options.

Design Flexibility and Customization

Google Web Designer is perfect for users who need a straightforward, template-based approach for ad creation. It’s ideal for marketers and designers focusing on interactive HTML5 ads with customizable templates.

Webflow offers greater design flexibility with custom interactions, animations, and CMS integration. It is the ideal choice for website designers and developers seeking full creative control.

Development and Coding Requirements

Google Web Designer is great for those with some coding experience, as it supports HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for advanced customization of ads.

Webflow is a no-code platform but also allows custom code embedding, making it accessible to beginners and developers alike who want to tweak their designs.

Animation & Interactive Elements

Google Web Designer is ideal for marketers and ad designers focusing on animations, timelines, and event-based interactions for HTML5 ads.

Webflow provides advanced animation options through its interaction panel, offering custom, GSAP-style animations perfect for engaging website design.

SEO & Performance

Google Web Designer is optimized for ad performance but isn’t focused on SEO, making it perfect for creating ads with high engagement.

Webflow is designed with SEO in mind, offering customizable meta tags, fast loading speeds, and performance-optimized tools for better search engine ranking.

Hosting & Deployment

Google Web Designer is designed for ad exports and does not provide direct hosting.

Webflow includes built-in hosting, enabling direct publishing and staging environments. This makes it a complete solution for seamless web deployment.

Integration & Ecosystem

Google Web Designer integrates seamlessly with Google Ads and the Google Marketing Platform, making it perfect for ad-focused campaigns.

Webflow offers a wide range of third-party integrations, support, and eCommerce compatibility, providing flexibility for website management and growth.

Pricing & Cost Comparison

Google Web Designer is free to use, with no paid plans, making it accessible for users focused on ad creation.

Webflow has multiple pricing tiers depending on features and hosting, making it scalable for both small projects and larger businesses. 

Site plans start with a Free Starter plan, followed by Basic at $14/month, CMS at $23/month, and Business at $39/month (all billed yearly).

For e-commerce, pricing begins with the Standard plan at $29/month, Plus at $74/month, and Advanced at $212/month (also billed yearly).

Pros and Cons of Google Web Designer and Webflow

Each tool has its strengths and trade-offs based on your design goals, technical skills, and budget. Here's a closer look at the pros and cons of both to help you decide which one fits your workflow best:

Google Web Designer Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Completely free to use.
• Excellent for creating eye-catching HTML5 ads.
• Offers robust animation and interactive design tools.
• Seamless integration with Google Ads for fast campaign launches.

Cons: 

• Not suitable for building full-featured websites.
• Advanced features often require coding knowledge, making it less beginner-friendly.

Webflow Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Allows you to build fully responsive, visually stunning websites.
• Includes a built-in CMS, SEO tools, and powerful animations.
• Ideal for designers and businesses who want full creative control.

Cons:

• Has a bit of a learning curve for new users.
• Access to hosting and advanced features requires a paid plan.

Which One Should You Choose? (Decision-Making Guide)

Still wondering which tool is right for you? Let’s make it easy!

Go with Google Web Designer if you're a marketer, advertiser, or designer focused on creating scroll-stopping HTML5 ads and animated content. 

It's your go-to for campaigns that need movement, interactivity, and fast Google Ads integration, no full website building is required.

Choose Webflow if you're a web designer, developer, or business that wants the full package. From custom landing pages to dynamic CMS-driven websites, Webflow offers the creative freedom and visual control you need, with no coding required (unless you want to add some flair).

Bottom line? If ads are your jam, go with Google Web Designer. If you're building out full websites with all the flair, Webflow’s got your back.

FAQs

Can I use Google Web Designer to build a full website?

Not really, it's best for building ad creatives, banners, and animations. For full websites, Webflow is the better pick.

Do I need coding skills to use Webflow?

Nope! Webflow is a no-code platform, but if you're code-savvy, you can still embed custom code for extra control.

Is Google Web Designer really free?

Yes! 100% free with no paid plans. Perfect if you're just starting out or working on a tight budget.

Does Webflow handle hosting?

Yes, Webflow has built-in hosting, direct publishing, and even staging environments for testing your site before it goes live.

Which one’s better for SEO?

Webflow wins here, it’s packed with SEO features like customizable meta tags, clean code, and fast loading speeds. Google Web Designer is more focused on ad performance.

Conclusion

In the world of design tools, both Google Web Designer and Webflow bring serious power, but for totally different missions.

Google Web Designer is your fast, free, ad-making machine, perfect for marketers and creatives who want to build interactive, animated HTML5 ads that dazzle. It’s lightweight, campaign-focused, and syncs beautifully with Google Ads.

Webflow, on the other hand, has a full design agency in your browser. It’s ideal for building stunning, responsive websites with no code required. Add in SEO tools, CMS, eCommerce options, and pro-level animations, and you've got a powerhouse built for big-picture web creation.

Final thoughts on Google Web Designer vs. Webflow: Which is Better?

It’s less about which tool is better and more about what your project needs, quick ad campaigns or full website experiences? While both have their strengths, Webflow covers a broader range of needs, making it the better fit for most users. Try them both and see what clicks, either way, you’re in great hands.

‍