Is there a step by step guide available for exporting the HTML of a Webflow site to be hosted on platforms like GoDaddy or Amazon?
TL;DR
- Export your Webflow site’s HTML, CSS, JS, and assets via the Export Code option and download the ZIP file.
- Unzip the files, verify your site using the index.html, and upload all contents to GoDaddy’s cPanel (public_html) or Amazon S3 (with static hosting enabled).
- Ensure index.html is in the root directory and configure DNS settings for proper domain routing.
Webflow allows you to export your site’s HTML, CSS, JS, and assets if you're on a paid workspace plan. Here's a detailed step-by-step guide for exporting and hosting your Webflow site on platforms like GoDaddy or Amazon S3.
1. Prepare Your Webflow Project
- Finish designing and publishing your Webflow project to ensure all assets are up to date.
- Only static sites (no CMS or form handling) can be exported.
2. Export the Code from Webflow
- Open your Webflow project.
- Click the Export code </> icon in the top-right of the Designer.
- In the modal, click Prepare ZIP and then Download ZIP.
- This ZIP file contains all HTML, CSS, JS, and image assets.
3. Unzip and Review Files
- Unzip the downloaded file on your computer.
- You’ll see folders for css, js, and images, plus your HTML files.
- Open the index.html in a browser to verify it displays properly.
4. Upload to Your Hosting Platform
GoDaddy Hosting:
- Log in to your GoDaddy account > My Products.
- Under Web Hosting, click Manage on the desired domain.
- Open cPanel > File Manager.
- Navigate to the public_html folder.
- Use the Upload button to upload all files/folders from the unzipped Webflow export.
- Make sure the main file is named index.html.
Amazon S3 (Static Website Hosting):
- Go to Amazon S3 Console > Create a new S3 bucket.
- Enable Static Website Hosting in bucket settings.
- Upload all Webflow-exported files to the bucket.
- Under Permissions, ensure public read access is enabled for objects.
- Set up a Bucket Policy if needed to allow public access.
- Use the URL from the Static website hosting endpoint to access your site.
5. Configure DNS (Optional but Common)
- For GoDaddy hosting, DNS is set up automatically if your domain is registered there.
- For S3, update your domain’s A record (using Route 53 or external domain) to point to Amazon S3 endpoints or use CloudFront for better scalability and a custom domain.
Summary
To export a Webflow site for hosting on GoDaddy or Amazon, download your project’s HTML package using Webflow's Export Code feature, unzip it, and upload all contents to your hosting platform (e.g., via GoDaddy cPanel or Amazon S3 console). Make sure your index.html is in the root directory and DNS settings are correctly configured for your domain.