Static vs. CMS Pages in Webflow: A Simple Guide with Examples

TL:DR

• Static pages are for fixed, unique content, often built with Components
• CMS pages are for dynamic, scalable content using templates and a database.
• Most Webflow sites combine both for flexibility.

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Creating a website in Webflow? Understanding the difference between Static Pages and CMS Pages is key. Let’s break it down in plain language with real-life examples.

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What Are Webflow Static Pages?

Static Pages are fixed, standalone pages where you manually add and update content. They’re perfect for parts of your site that rarely change.

Examples of Static Pages:

• Homepage: A welcome screen with your brand’s core message.
• About Us: Share your company’s story, team photos, or values.
• Contact Page: This page includes a form, address, and phone number.

Paddle Insight: Don’t be fooled by the word ‘Static’. A Static page does not mean you cannot or do not change content. It simply means a page that is not generated by a CMS. Using Webflow Components makes changing content on Static pages easy.

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How Static Pages Work:

Imagine painting a picture on a canvas. Each static page is like a unique painting. You design every detail from scratch. You edit the page directly if you want to change something (like updating your office address).

Static pages should be used for pages that are not reliant on rolling out at scale, such as a blog. But there is a way to scale similar static pages via the use of Webflow Components and Webflow Page Builder.

Components in Webflow are reusable sections that can be used across your website. Think of a call to action section that you reuse on many pages, or a testimonial slider. We are big fans of Components at Paddle Creative, as they enable consistency of design while allowing marketing teams to move quickly with autonomy. We can combine Components with Variables, which are elements of a component that can be edited without changing the overall structure of the component. A Variable could be something such as a heading, text content, image or a link. So the same Component could have dozens of variations across the site.

Now your static pages just became easier to create, edit and manage with the use of Components and Variables. Note that Webflow has a limit of 200 static pages on most sites.

Pros:

• Full design control (every element is customisable). 
• Simple for small sites with few updates.
• Components allow consistency and ease of updates.

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What Are CMS Pages?

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CMS (Content Management System) Pages are dynamic and pull content from a CMS Collection (a database). They’re ideal for content that is frequently updated or revised, and that you may need to scale up or down.

The downside of CMS pages is that they can sometimes be more restrictive than Static pages, as the content needs to be bound to the CMS data.

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Examples of CMS Pages:

• Blog Posts: Each post uses the same layout but different text/images.
• Product Pages: Details such as price and description vary per product.
• Portfolio Projects: Showcase work with titles, images, and client names.

How CMS Pages Work in Webflow:

Think of CMS Pages like a fill-in-the-blanks template. For example, if you run a bakery website:

1. Create a CMS Collection called “Cakes.”
2. Design a template with placeholders for cake name, image, price, and description.
3. Add entries to the “Cakes” collection (e.g., “Chocolate Fudge Cake,” “Red Velvet Cake”).
4. Webflow automatically generates pages for each cake using your template.

Pros:

• Save time: Update all CMS Pages by editing the template. 
• Scalable: Add 100 cakes without manually designing 100 pages.

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Key Differences

Content Source

Static Pages: Added directly to the page.

CMS Pages: Pulled from a CMS Collection.

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Updates

Static Pages: Edit each page individually.

CMS Pages: Change the template or CMS entries.

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Use Case

Static Pages: One-time content (e.g. Contact page).

CMS Pages: Repeating content (e.g. Blog posts).

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Design Flexibility

Static Pages: Fully customisable.

CMS Pages: Follows a template (consistent layout).

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When to Use Each

Use Static Pages for:

• Small websites (e.g., portfolios, small business sites).
• Pages needing unique layouts (e.g., a custom-designed homepage).
• Where Webflow Components make more sense than CMS use.

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Use CMS Pages for:

• Blogs, team members, resources, news, or e-commerce stores. 
• Content that grows over time (e.g., adding new products weekly).
• Content at scale, such as products, locations, and resources.

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Real-Life Scenario: A Bakery Website

Static Pages:

• Homepage: Hero image, tagline, “Order Now” button.
• About Us: History of the bakery, owner’s photo.
• Contact: Map, phone number, hours.

CMS Pages:

• Cakes Collection: Each cake has its own page with details pulled from the CMS.
• Blog: Weekly baking tips, with posts auto-generated from the CMS.

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Can You Mix CMS Items and Static Pages in Webflow?

Absolutely! Most sites we build at Paddle Creative combine both page types. For example: 

• A static homepage featuring a dynamic list of “Latest Cakes” (pulled from the CMS). 
• A static “Services” page alongside a CMS-driven “Menu” section.

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SEO & Maintenance

• Static Pages: Manually set SEO titles/descriptions for each page.
• CMS Pages: Automate SEO by pulling meta tags from the CMS (e.g., each blog post has a unique SEO title).
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Conclusion

Static Pages = Often Component-driven, individual pages.

CMS Pages = Template-driven pages that grow with your content.

Choose Static for one-time pages and CMS for scalable, repeatable content. By combining both, you can create a flexible and easy-to-manage website in Webflow.