How can I export and integrate the code from my Webflow website into a free system like WordPress or GitHub, in order to cut costs on monthly Webflow and hosting fees?

To reduce Webflow hosting costs, you can export your Webflow site's code and host it independently on platforms like GitHub Pages or integrate with WordPress (though with limitations). Here’s how to do both.

1. Export Your Webflow Code

• Go to your Webflow project, then open the Designer.
• Click the Export Code icon (an arrow pointing out of a box) at the top-right.
• Webflow will package your site’s code into a ZIP containing:
• HTML files
• CSS files
• JavaScript files
• Images/assets
• Download and extract the ZIP to prepare for deployment.

Important: This feature requires a paid Webflow Workspace plan (at least Core); it's not available on the free Starter plan.

2. Host on GitHub Pages (Free Static Hosting)

• Create a free GitHub account if you don’t have one.
• Create a new public repository named in the format yourusername.github.io.
• Upload your exported site files to the main branch of that repository.
• Enable GitHub Pages:
• Go to Settings > Pages
• Set the source to main branch
• Your site will be live at https://yourusername.github.io

Note: GitHub Pages supports only static HTML websites—no CMS or backend features.

3. Integrate with WordPress (Requires Static or Custom Theme Approach)

If you choose to use WordPress to save hosting costs (e.g., with cheap or free hosting):

• WordPress is not compatible with Webflow CMS or dynamic content.
• You can convert your Webflow site's exported HTML into a custom WordPress theme:
• Requires HTML/CSS familiarity
• You must split your layout into WordPress template files (e.g., header.php, footer.php)
• Alternatively, use a plugin like Simply Static inside WordPress to generate a static version later for deployment.

Note: Using WordPress introduces complexity and doesn’t fully preserve Webflow’s interactions unless manually re-implemented with JavaScript.

4. Keep Webflow Interactions Working

Webflow’s export includes JS to power animations/interactions created in the Designer:

• Ensure the webflow.js script is included in your exported site. It's located in the /js folder.
• Don’t modify or omit this file unless you're replacing interactions manually.

5. Optional: Use Netlify or Vercel (Free Static Hosting Alternatives)

Besides GitHub Pages, you can also use:

• Netlify or Vercel for easy drag-and-drop deployment or Git-connected hosting.
• Both offer features like continuous deployment and custom domains on their free tiers.

Summary

You can lower costs by exporting your Webflow site's static code (requires a paid Workspace plan), then hosting it on free platforms like GitHub Pages, Vercel, or Netlify. If using WordPress, be prepared to rebuild the layout as a custom theme manually. Webflow CMS and dynamic features will not export.