Can I create a portfolio site on Webflow using subdomains for multiple example sites, and can they all be published under a single Website Site Plan or would I need separate plans for each site? Can I also export some of the example sites and host them outside of Webflow to save costs?
TL;DR
- Each subdomain requires its own Webflow Site Plan, making multi-subdomain setups costly.
- To save money, host your main portfolio under one Site Plan and export individual project sites to self-host externally on subdomains.
You want to build a portfolio site on Webflow, where each project lives on its own subdomain, and you're wondering if this can be handled under one Site Plan or if each subdomain needs a separate plan. You're also asking if it's possible to export some projects for external hosting to reduce costs.
1. Webflow Site Plans Are Per Domain or Subdomain
- Webflow's Site Plans apply per custom domain or subdomain, not per project.
- If you want multiple subdomains (e.g.,
project1.yourdomain.com,project2.yourdomain.com), each subdomain will require its own Site Plan. - Webflow does not support mapping multiple subdomains under the same Site Plan. You can only connect one custom domain or subdomain per Site Plan.
2. Webflow Hosting Options
- One Site Plan allows you to publish your portfolio to a main domain (e.g.,
yourportfolio.com). - If you want separate subdomains for each project (like
project1.yourportfolio.com), each must be set up as a new Webflow project with its own Site Plan.
3. Exporting Sites to Host Outside Webflow
- Yes, you can export your Webflow projects (HTML, CSS, JS, images) if you’re on a paid Workspace plan (Freelancer or above).
- Once exported, you can host them externally (e.g., via Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages, DigitalOcean, etc.) under any subdomain structure you like.
- Exporting is a cost-effective option for static sites or projects not requiring a CMS, Webflow forms, or interactions tied to Webflow-specific features (like Memberships or Logic).
4. Recommended Approach for Cost Efficiency
- Use one Site Plan for your main portfolio site (e.g.,
yourportfolio.com). - For example sites, either:
- Include them as pages (e.g.,
yourportfolio.com/project1) within the same Webflow project. - Export them and host on external subdomains (
project1.yourportfolio.com) using free or low-cost hosting services.
Summary
Each subdomain in Webflow requires its own Site Plan, so hosting multiple subdomain projects could get expensive. However, you can export projects and self-host them outside Webflow under subdomains to save cost, while keeping your main portfolio under a single Site Plan.