Can I add hosting to someone else's Webflow Pro account and then transfer the hosted websites to my own account in the future? I am new to web building and Webflow.
TL;DR
- Hosting is tied to the individual site, not the account, and must be repurchased if transferred.
- Transferring a project requires paid Workspaces on both accounts and results in loss of form data, ecommerce data, and integrations.
- To avoid future issues, create and build in your own Webflow account from the start and collaborate via invites or Workspaces.
You can host a website using someone else's Webflow Pro account, but transferring hosted sites to your own account later involves limitations and steps. Here's what you need to know.
1. Understanding Hosting and Accounts in Webflow
- Hosting is tied to the project, not the account, which means any paid hosting (e.g., CMS or Business plan) is connected to the individual website, regardless of the Webflow account.
- If you're building websites within someone else's account, you're using their subscription and dashboard.
- You can purchase hosting on any project, whether it’s in a Free, Starter, or Pro account. Hosting is separate from Workspace or account plans.
2. Transferring Projects to Your Account Later
- Webflow allows project transfers using the “Transfer Project” feature, but only if both the sending and receiving accounts are on a paid Workspace plan (e.g., Starter Workspace is free but limited).
- However, site hosting does not carry over. Once a project is transferred to your account:
- You have to re-publish the project.
- You need to reconnect custom domains.
- You must re-add hosting (i.e., pay again for a Site Plan).
3. What Gets Lost During Transfer
- Form data, CMS item IDs, and site traffic analytics do not migrate.
- Ecommerce products, orders, and customers may be lost or require re-entry if you're using Ecommerce features.
- Style and structure remain intact, but you'll need to reconfigure integrations (like custom code, third-party apps, or SEO settings).
4. Best Practice for New Users
- If you plan to own and manage the website long-term, it’s better to:
- Create your own free Webflow account right away.
- Collaborate with others using Workspaces or the Freelancer Workspace plan.
- Build the project in your account and simply ask for help from experienced users through invites, rather than using their account.
Summary
You can host a site on someone else’s Webflow account, but transferring it to your own account later will require re-publishing and re-purchasing hosting. To avoid complications, it's best to start building sites in your own account from the beginning.