If you’re building a website, chances are you’ve heard of both Framer and WordPress. They’re two incredible platforms, but they work in very different ways. One is sleek and modern, the other is tried-and-true. But when it comes to connecting domains and app integrations, which one does a better job?

TLDR:

Framer is quick and modern with super clean design. WordPress is more powerful, flexible, and has been around longer. Domain connection is smoother on Framer, but WordPress wins in integration variety. If you want easy setup, go with Framer, but for more complex sites, WordPress might be your friend.

What is Framer?

Framer is a web-based site builder. It’s drag-and-drop, clean, and easy. It started as a design tool and evolved into a no-code website platform.

It’s perfect for designers and small business owners. You get great animations, fast loading speeds, and modern styling — all without writing code.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a powerful open-source content management system (CMS). It’s been around since 2003. And it powers over 40% of all websites online today.

With WordPress, you can build anything — blogs, shops, portfolios, forums — you name it. It’s super flexible, but it takes a bit more work to set up.

Let’s Talk Domains

Framer makes it super easy to connect a domain. You just buy one or bring your own, and follow a few simple steps.

• Go to “Settings”
• Click on “Domains”
• Enter your domain and follow the DNS instructions

Framer even checks if things are live and correct. You don’t need to touch code or mess with advanced settings. Super beginner-friendly.

WordPress can be a bit more complex. If you’re hosted on WordPress.com, you can connect a domain fairly easily. But if you’re using self-hosted WordPress.org (with a host like Bluehost, SiteGround, etc.), you’ll need to:

• Buy a domain
• Point DNS records to your hosting provider
• Adjust settings in your hosting dashboard AND WordPress admin

This gets easier once you know how, but it’s definitely an extra step or two compared to Framer.

Custom Domains Comparison

Framer:

• No need to install plugins
• No coding knowledge required
• Automatic SSL certificates

WordPress:

• Domain setup depends on your hosting provider
• SSL setup may require a plugin or manual config
• More manual DNS work (especially for email services)

Verdict? Framer wins on simplicity. But WordPress isn’t hard once you’ve done it once or twice.

Integration Station – Let’s Plug Things In

Now let’s look at how well each platform connects with third-party tools.

Framer Integrations

Framer has a growing list of native integrations. Things like:

• Google Analytics
• Email collection (Mailchimp, ConvertKit)
• Chat widgets (Crisp, Intercom)
• Forms, Calendars, Social embeds

You can also drop in custom code (like Stripe, PayPal, or scripts). But it’s not unlimited. There’s no plugin store — everything is done manually or through snippets.

Great for small and medium sites. Not ideal for big custom projects. Also, no built-in CMS (yet). You have to use Framer itself to create and edit pages.

WordPress Integrations

WordPress is the king of integrations. Thanks to plugins, you can hook up almost anything:

• eCommerce (WooCommerce)
• Membership systems
• CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce
• Learning platforms, forums, email tools
• Custom forms, calendars, directories — everything

The downside?

• It can get heavy
• You need to update plugins often
• Some have security risks if not maintained

But if you want serious integration options — WordPress is the clear champ.

CMS vs. No CMS

This is a big one.

Framer doesn’t have a traditional CMS. You edit directly in your site’s design. This keeps things fast and simple but limits content dynamicity.

(Pro tip: Framer is working on adding CMS features — so that might change soon!)

WordPress is a CMS at its core. You can create pages, posts, custom types, categories, taxonomies — it’s endless. Perfect if your site has lots of changing content.

SEO Tools

This one is closer than you’d think.

• Framer: Built-in SEO options like meta tags, Open Graph settings, URL slugs, and speed optimization
• WordPress: SEO plugins like Yoast or Rank Math, deep control of every SEO element

If you want simple and fast — Framer’s is great. But WordPress SEO options go deeper for experts.

Cost Breakdown

Let’s look at pricing, too.

Framer

• Free plan (Framer domain only)
• Paid plans ($10–$30/month per site)
• Includes hosting

WordPress

• WordPress software = Free
• Domain ($10–$20/year)
• Hosting ($5–$30/month depending on provider)
• Plugins/themes = Free to premium ($0–hundreds)

Framer includes more out of the box. WordPress can scale cheaper or more expensive depending on what you add.

When to Choose Which?

Use Framer if:

• You need a modern site fast
• You love simple tools and clean designs
• You don’t need massive integrations or CMS features

Use WordPress if:

• You’re running a blog, store, or content-heavy site
• You want unlimited plugins and custom functionality
• You know your way around hosting and plugins

Final Thoughts

Framer and WordPress are both excellent — but for different needs. Framer is the cool, modern skatepark of website builders. WordPress is the grand stadium — robust, reliable, and full-featured.

Framer makes domain connections super simple. WordPress takes longer, but does more. Integrations? WordPress wins for quantity; Framer wins for ease.

So pick the tool that fits your project. They’re both awesome in the right hands.